We use a cheap ultrasonic cleaner made for cleaning jewelry. It is great
for bulk cleaning of many shells at the same time. It will knock off dirt,
inside and out, but will not loosen encrustations or remove stains. You can
use it with straight water or with a little cleaner - we use Comet. Let the
water "buzz" for a few minutes to de-gas for best results. We have never
lost a specimen to cracking or shattering, but it can certainly happen. If
they haven't cleaned up in 4-5 minutes, they're probably not going to. For
very small specimens, put them in a glass vial full of water and put the
vial (stoppered) in the water in the machine. Again, we have never
shattered a glass vial, but it could happen. Our cleaner only cost ~ $100.
We're currently cleaning several hundred Cerion and it is a definite timesaver!
At 01:21 PM 12/2/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Shell Cleaners,
>
>I have searched the archives for information about ultrasonic cleaning so
>not as to ask the same question again. I didn't really find indepth
>information. Can you share your expertise please?
>
>1. Are there different kinds of ultrasonic cleaners? If so, which work
>best for loosening grime and coraline algae deposits?
>
>2. What solutions when used best clean without damaging the shell?
>(Is it a multi-solution process? If so, what are the steps?)
>
>3. How long should a shell be in the cleaner? Can it be left in too long?
>
>4. Are there steps to be avoided so as not to damage the shell?
>
>Thank you for your time,
>Jubei
>
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G. Thomas Watters, PhD
Curator of Molluscs
Museum of Biological Diversity
Department of Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology
The Ohio State University
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
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So join the Freshwater Mollusc Conservation Society at:
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