Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ... - eXtension

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage 8Acid DippingThe acid dip is a simple and quick procedure used to remove white encrustingmaterials from the shells of certain clam species in order to bring out the vibrancy and depthof the underlying shell colors. Acid cleaning is rarely, if ever, needed on clam species whoseshells are all white naturally, such as T. derasa and T. gigas. Using acid on these species is,we feel, just a waste of time because bleach alone will get the shells perfectly white andmarketable.However, bleaching is only the first step of a two-step chemical cleaning process forthe colorful giant clam shells, especially T. squamosa and H. hippopus. The second essentialstep is the acid dip.A word of caution about the acid dipping process is in order before describing it.Because strong acids, like strong bases, can burn skin, eyes and lung tissues on contact, it isessential to wear suitable eye protection and gloves and to use these chemicals only in a verywell ventilated area—preferably outdoors. Never work alone with these materials and alwayshave immediate access to fresh running water in case of an accidental spill or splash. Discussthe potential hazards of these materials with your employees in advance of their use andoutline a practical first aid strategy for dealing with chemical burns that could occur on thejob-site.Most hardware stores carry a product called muriatic acid, which is a 30 percentsolution of hydrochloric acid (HCl). Muriatic acid is commonly used in the building tradesfor cleaning concrete or bricks.First, fashion a simple dipping tool (Figure 6) by making a cradle of 14-gauge wire onthe end of a small aquarium dip-net. A 2.5-gallon, lidded bucket is used for the acid dippingprocedure. Begin by adding one gallon of clean, fresh water to the bucket. Then add one-halfgallon of muriatic acid. Always add acid to water, never the reverse, to prevent dangeroussplattering.Next to the acid bucket, set a five-gallon bucket of flowing, fresh water. This will beused to rinse acid off the shell after the acid dip. The flowing fresh water is also a good safetyprecaution in case of an acid burn.Place a dry, previously bleached shell into the dipping cradle and immerse it fullyinto the acid for no more than a few seconds (Figure 7). Then quickly remove it, andimmerse it in the fresh water bucket (Figure 8). Place it in a plastic tray in a breezy area todrip dry (Figure 9). When fully dried, the shells are ready for sale “as is” or for crafting intoother products. With a little practice, you’ll be able to judge both the strength of the acidsolution and the length of time required for the dipping.June 1996