New Shells!

[Mermaid Seraphina]

Hi! I wasn't really sure where to put this post, so sorry if it's in the wrong area. I have these shells that I've had for a while, but I don't know what to do with them. Any ideas?

[Winged Mermaid]

Some people make tops with them, has a natural look when the abalone are unpolished. You could try and polish them yourself, but it takes certian tools and a lot of time. Also the dust from those is toxic and can cause lung disease as well, so you have to be very careful by wearing a p100 respirator mask or work so they're underwater so the water catches the dust (or both), when doing any work involving sanding or drilling abalone.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Hair clip, necklace, belt?


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[Princess Pearl]

How big are they? It's hard to tell the size from your photo.

[OceanWhisper]

If that's a pillow underneath, I'd say they're pretty big o.o
they're a nice color, even when unpolished

[Mermaid Seraphina]

How big are they? It's hard to tell the size from your photo.

They are about the size of my face... A little bigger than a dvd case.

[Mermaid Seraphina]

Some people make tops with them, has a natural look when the abalone are unpolished. You could try and polish them yourself, but it takes certian tools and a lot of time. Also the dust from those is toxic and can cause lung disease as well, so you have to be very careful by wearing a p100 respirator mask or work so they're underwater so the water catches the dust (or both), when doing any work involving sanding or drilling abalone.

Ok, Thanks so much! How would I polish them? Is that just sanding them?

[Mermaid Reiko]

You will be sanding forever without a sander and if you don't coat them with something like resin there will be a fishy smell to them like rotting fish. That's what happened with my top when I tried swimming with them. I guess since everyone is saying the dust is lethal, I will as well but thought it was common sense. The dust is lethal, use a respirator.

[PearlieMae]

Not only that, but inhaling the dust from sanding shells can be lethal!

[Mary Marine]

I know some people dip their shells in acid to remove the hardened ocean gunk (when cleaned abalones are red on the outside I think?) or soak them for longer to remove the natural finish and leave only the mother of pearl on both sides. But the fumes are poisonous, the acid is corrosive to EVERYTHING, and you have to dispose of it properly. It can also dissolve your shells if you let them soak too long.

[Mermaid Seraphina]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I really appreciate them!

[Nyx]

I know some people dip their shells in acid to remove the hardened ocean gunk (when cleaned abalones are red on the outside I think?) or soak them for longer to remove the natural finish and leave only the mother of pearl on both sides. But the fumes are poisonous, the acid is corrosive to EVERYTHING, and you have to dispose of it properly. It can also dissolve your shells if you let them soak too long.

I don't think that would work with abalone (tried it myself).
The acid removes calcification(?I think it's what it's called), to get the mother of pearl you have to sand it down for sure. Taking layers off the actual shell would take forever if it IS possible. It might even make the shell brittle from all the acid.

[xaccer2]

Econ

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127.1

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инте

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Unkn

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Kall

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DISC

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Wind

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изда