I don't doubt the acid bath helps, but dipping a dry shell in water will show colors better as well briefly until it dries. Like putting a gummy bear in your mouth, they're super clean/clear while wet then they dry and they're cloudy again.
My friends had parents who owned a sea shell shop. They did this hydrochloric acid dip to all their shells in order to clean them up and make them more saleable. They inhaled these acid fumes for years. When COVID came both parents died within about 10 days of each other.
Many many years ago, my mom found some starfish at the beach when I was a kid. She wanted to bleach them so they were preserved and could be painted on. Well... she soaked them in bleach for a day or so, everything dissolved except for like a skeleton thing. It was one of the worst smells I've ever experienced.
Muriatic Acid I think. Used it in exactly the same way years ago to clean red abalone shells. Do NOT breathe the fumes as shell cooks. Coat very lightly w baby oil and color will stay bright longer.
this is what acid does to bones. so when you spill acid on your skin it doesn't melt your flesh always but it does travel through to your bones and has a fun time.
That depends entirely on the kind of acid. Most notably, what you describe is similar to what hydrofluoric acid does, but hydrochloric acid simply eats the skin.
At low concentrations, acetic acid just makes you smell funny.
Lots of much less dangerous acids could probably handle that. No reason to play around with acid that could potetially permanently damage your eyes for this.
Used in swimming pools as well. Not sure what for, but it is. Works well for cleaning abalone shells (which are not calcium carbonate, and can be left to soak.)
Its to lower the pH of the pool water when its too high. Muriatic acid is just an archaic name for hydrochloric acid and thats the most readily available and cheapest acid there is.
Thanks! I actually have a lot of shells that have this white osh thing over een and they are mostly dull coloured. I'll see if I can get some of this acid and see how it works 😀
I did this with some cowries I found diving once but nobody told me to only have them in the acid for a few seconds so I put them in for a few minutes and they were completely destroyed when I went to get them. It was devastating for 14 year-old me.
Actually I shouldn’t be surprised, someone gave me a piece of lead when I was a kid because “you can write with it.” Thankfully there were smarter adults also in the room
When I was that age, there was a rumor that cola was so corrosive you could dissolve meat in it. But all that came out of my experiment was a disgustingly slimy lump of meat.
I mean sure probably, but so can stomach acid lol. The real meat eater is pineapple juice. Bromelin? I think. Why I and many others get canker sores from pineapple
youreathing
30 second videos where the last 3 seconds show the results are the best. /s
poscduke
Real acid?
HandoB4Javert
Sibbykins
I don't doubt the acid bath helps, but dipping a dry shell in water will show colors better as well briefly until it dries. Like putting a gummy bear in your mouth, they're super clean/clear while wet then they dry and they're cloudy again.
LeftRightThere
danner1251
My friends had parents who owned a sea shell shop. They did this hydrochloric acid dip to all their shells in order to clean them up and make them more saleable. They inhaled these acid fumes for years. When COVID came both parents died within about 10 days of each other.
thegraphiteknight
Well... that's depressing.
Cranbananarama
So we don't just throw away the three shells and get new ones?
Jaqdakloun
Ooh, back in the water I gaaaaaaaaaaaaarrgh! -the clam probably
LogicalLimes
Sally’s Secret
CrimeSceneShoe
I saw vid of live scallops moving around on the ocean floor, I find it very cute. I don't eat them.
SuperfluousMeh
Their eyes are neat
MatureDendriticCell
I wonder if there's a way to do this with something less caustic, taking much longer ofc but with household product like lemon or something...
EstoyPoopis
Bing Bing ... Bing
TupacAintDead
Is…is the scallop gonna be ok?
drunkbs
Many many years ago, my mom found some starfish at the beach when I was a kid. She wanted to bleach them so they were preserved and could be painted on. Well... she soaked them in bleach for a day or so, everything dissolved except for like a skeleton thing. It was one of the worst smells I've ever experienced.
HandoB4Javert
HandoB4Javert
You still haven't visited the Oval Office in 2026...
Morduks
Muriatic Acid I think. Used it in exactly the same way years ago to clean red abalone shells. Do NOT breathe the fumes as shell cooks. Coat very lightly w baby oil and color will stay bright longer.
jamiedBreaker
Does the color fade as it dries? Wet shells always look more vibrant
Mlatimudan
Yes the “wet” appearance boosts the color but doing few hands of clear coat over it will last for many many years and will keep its “wet” apperance.
jamiedBreaker
Ohhhh, excellent idea!! I have a sea urchin shell I've been wanting to improve upon, thanks for the tip
AntaNce
Muriatic acid is Hydrochloric acid. The vapors are chlorine gas. So yeah, do not breathe the fumes.
Mlatimudan
Just do the clear coat over it after acid cleaning and it will stay the same for decades.
ugopb4me
I have that jar on the left… weird.
devasto
This kills the clam
TheFoodBaby
That's what she said
dontask
This cleans the clam.
captninx
Acid bleaching the remains of a dead scallop kills 0 clams.
Thorketil
I bet you're fun at parties.
captninx
I am the party.
devasto
This kills the dead scallop
TheOneWhoWasLeft
...to death.
vorodar
It kills the clam's soul, so it will never be reborn again.
CMonster556
wargames
this is what acid does to bones. so when you spill acid on your skin it doesn't melt your flesh always but it does travel through to your bones and has a fun time.
Tarmaccian
That depends entirely on the kind of acid. Most notably, what you describe is similar to what hydrofluoric acid does, but hydrochloric acid simply eats the skin.
At low concentrations, acetic acid just makes you smell funny.
wargames
that is why i said "if it doesn't eat your flesh"
Vortexhelios320
Also at low concentrations, Ascorbic acid is good for you, it keeps your teeth in!
Kemi337
Immune support as well! Vitamin C babbyyyyyy
Kemi337
At low concentrations, acetic acid is a food ingredient (Vinegar is around 5%)
Tarmaccian
Exactly… and it smells funny.
ProCycle
What kind of acid?
BeaverOnFire
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1MWxpcDBqYXEyOWZnOWxkN3k5Z3JoNWFwZDJxcXdkanFtdWt6c2N4cCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/2a6bO2uFP5W4owUE5w/200w.webp
Funkypeeg
Did not fuck around with the concentration, Jeez! Check out them bubbles!
seenunseen
Lsd
thomn8r
LSD for the most vibrant colors
meme2theextreme
4 way windowpane.
Anaphriel
What do you do with it afterward? Drink it?
lujotu
Hydrochloric
lezgetfukkinreal
Hydrochloric acid... >.>...<.<...>.>...
Bobdole010
Could be vinegar, could be hydrochloric, could be lsd, we will never know
jewelergeorgia
Thank you for the gentle chiding of op. Information must survive
LebistusReticulatis
Don’t use lsd on your clams. Too expensive and doesn’t clean well
LetThemEatPie
What about using lsd on your butthole?
LebistusReticulatis
Doesn’t clean that either
Exyr
Hcl would work fine for that amount of time. But I would rinse in bicarbonate water to nueteilize it.
mrsdowneyjr
I was thinking neutralizer too
OrkenMork
MMMMM, nutella!
gronzilla
Annie's pretty young. We try not to nueteilize her.
zHurk777
um, probably want to use dilute HCl.
countervail247365
Apparently muriatic acid, like you use to clean stone or bricks.
YippeeKayakOB
Lots of much less dangerous acids could probably handle that. No reason to play around with acid that could potetially permanently damage your eyes for this.
divingin
Used in swimming pools as well. Not sure what for, but it is. Works well for cleaning abalone shells (which are not calcium carbonate, and can be left to soak.)
Idontknowjustgivemeaname
Its to lower the pH of the pool water when its too high. Muriatic acid is just an archaic name for hydrochloric acid and thats the most readily available and cheapest acid there is.
LenneSamunai
Thanks! I actually have a lot of shells that have this white osh thing over een and they are mostly dull coloured. I'll see if I can get some of this acid and see how it works 😀
EmployedEnglishMajor
I did this with some cowries I found diving once but nobody told me to only have them in the acid for a few seconds so I put them in for a few minutes and they were completely destroyed when I went to get them. It was devastating for 14 year-old me.
lujotu
Someone let a 14 year old play with hydrochloric acid?
lujotu
Actually I shouldn’t be surprised, someone gave me a piece of lead when I was a kid because “you can write with it.” Thankfully there were smarter adults also in the room
Thorketil
When I was that age, there was a rumor that cola was so corrosive you could dissolve meat in it. But all that came out of my experiment was a disgustingly slimy lump of meat.
tentacularfleshscape
I mean sure probably, but so can stomach acid lol. The real meat eater is pineapple juice. Bromelin? I think. Why I and many others get canker sores from pineapple