Horatio Buck wrote:
>
> At 04:26 PM 2/6/98 EST, you wrote:
> >I had a phone call from a lady yesterday who heard about our shell club...she
> >said she had lots of shells she and her husband had gotten in Panama back in
> >the '60's.  She described a few shells that I recognized, and then asked if we
> >would like to have them.  She said she didn't want to sell them.
> >
> >I told her we often have auctions, and also fill lamps with the profits going
> >to our scholarship fund.  (I was so excited to get these Panamic shells!!!!)
> >
> >We've made plans to meet tomorrow and she'll give us the shells.  Before she
> >hung up, she said, "I don't know if this makes any difference or not, but we
> >varnished the shells."  (There went my balloon!)
> >
> >If there are any really good shells in this donation, is there any way the
> >varnish can be removed without ruining the shells?  (I'm assuming it was clear
> >varnish.)
> >
> >Carol
> >
> Carol - I don't know for sure, but i don't know of any component of a good
> varnish remover that would harm shells.  You might pick one or two of the
> lesser  desirable shells and try some.
> Horatio
Just got an E Mail from Shelloak (John Bernard). He says he has used the
sonic cleaner on varnished shells and it works well.
Bobbi