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

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage 10Caution: If you are not very careful with this method, you can easily destroya shell by leaving it in the acid dip too long. Be careful not to damage thelovely glossy surface of the concave inside of the shell; if the gloss is gone,you’ve overdone the acid dip. Under no circumstances should a shell be leftindefinitely in the acid dip. It will get smaller and smaller and, eventually,disappear entirely.After the acid dip and the fresh water rinse, lay the perfectly clean shells in a plastictray to dry . When dry, they are ready for sale directly or for use in making any other type ofshellcraft product.A final note on chemical cleaning of giant clam shells. The acid dip is always thesecond step in the cleaning process. It should never be used if chemical bleaching has notbeen completed first. The reason is that acid dipping will not easily remove the proteinaceousmaterial that sodium hypochlorite, used in step one, is so effective in stripping.June 1996