Lynn,
The idea of adding lighter fluid is to make a thinner coating of oil
on the shell. You put the oil/lighterfuid mixture on the shell,
then the lighter fluid evaporates, leaving a very thin layer of oil.
I've been told this works wonderfully, but have never done it myself.
Peter Egerton


>Walter Sage, before he was at the American Museum, maintained a nice
>collection which he sold when he went to New York to become Collections
>Manager at the AMNH.  He oiled his shells, and he always mixed lighter
>fluid with his mineral oil before applying it. He swore by this formula,
>and I always wondered what the lighter fluid did. He only said, when
>asked, "Works better!" Anyone know? I never tried it, being at the time
>a smoker and afraid I'd light my shells (or myself) on fire.
>
>Lynn Scheu
>Louisville KY
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>
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Peter Egerton, Vancouver, Canada
Collector of worldwide Mollusca
http://www.intergate.bc.ca/personal/seashell/index.html
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