Laundry bleach is great except for the nacreous apertures and inner surfaces
of shells, for example, of Haliotidae and
Trochidae. Bleach will turn these surfaces a chalky white. This can be
avoided by applying a liberal coating of Vaseline or silicone grease to
protect the nacre.
Also, I have used a commercial sand blaster with powdered walnut shells as
the abrasive. This works great to remove stubborn calcareous deposits in
hard to get to areas. This done after first bleaching and drying the
specimen. It takes a little practice. But with care the shell surface is
not harmed.
Paul Kanner
Los Angeles, California
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 1:07 AM
Subject: Re: cleanning seashell industrially
> >Can Someone tell me how they clean in quantity seashells? Or, could
> >you advise me a technique or machine to do it?
>
> Laundry bleach, which is a solution of sodium hypochlorite (those
> "Moss, Mold & Mildew" and path-cleaners are basically bleach). Use it
> at 100% concentration, it won't hatrm any shells except those with a
> higher-than-usual conchiolin component eg Pinnidae, Pteriidae,
> Isognomonidae, Torellia, Paryphantidae.
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin
> New Zealand
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
>
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