An absolute haul of Maine's RAREST Shells + Shell cleaning!

[@felixzapata9058]

Rewatched this video again as I wanted to watch you dipping the shells in the acid and rinsing them....am doing this today as a friend gave me a basket of Florida seashells she purchased at the goodwill store...lol....many very beautiful and perfect and I didn't have to weather any storm or cold...lol...and thanx for taking me along.....again...lol...~!~🤟

[@thebexcomplex]

Hard core 8 hr round trip drive!!! Thanks for taking us along. Love how they cleaned up

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Long drives = the best shells... most of the time 🤣 Thanks for watching!

[@indyfan2056]

Loved seeing Maine and all the wonderful shells. Having the island all to yourself must have felt so peaceful and grounding. I felt like I was there! Great work on the video!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thank you so much for the great feedback 😃 This island is certainly beautiful. There are thousands of little islands like this along the Maine coast, and each one has it's own unique personality and charm. Thanks for watching!

[@guadalupeknippen528]

Congratulations on beautiful photography. The scenic views of the wave patterns on the vast wet sand beaches is breathtaking. 🥰🐕🇺🇸

[@solaceinshelling6552]

The scenery you describe is so uniquely characteristic of the Maine coast, and exactly what I attempt to capture when shelling/filming here. 🐚💙 Thanks for watching!

[@nancycross2228]

Love your videos..how you take the time and give us a local tour of the beauty of the land. And of course your amazing shells ! Thank you again !

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thank you for watching!

[@rachelleandrichard]

Thanks for taking us on a road trip. Four hours each way, that's dedication to shelling! I love the character of these shells, pitted, regrowth, and a bit battered. They're more appealing to me then the shiny ones sold in shops. Seeing the shells transform after cleaning is satisfying as scouring the beach and 'finding' them in the wild. Much thanks. Rachelle, Australia. 🐚

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Yes, I couldn't agree more! I have so many beautiful cold water shells in my collection, and many are pretty neutral(white's, grays, blue grays etc.) in color, or are covered in calcification, and crud - but they have character. However, it is amazing to see how some of them can transform, and I wanted to highlight this transformation in this video. Thanks for watching!

[@kathyjund7212]

Oh my gosh..there were Neptune's everyehere.. too bad you couldn't get that one out! They are beautiful cleaned up! Thank you for showing us the process and enduring an 8 hour drive! Take care!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hi friend, these shells really do clean up amazingly! I may do another similar video soon, with more Neptune magic! Thanks for watching!

[@JoAnnSmith-bu9nl]

Jamie would be so jealous of all 0f the neptunes and Stimsons you found!!!

[@robinsegnitz3649]

Fantastic Neptunes! I just love the scenery in Maine.

[@solaceinshelling6552]

IMO, a whole Neptune in great condition is like finding a Junonia in Florida, lol - some of my fav's to find. Thanks for watching!

[@amazontrish]

That little island looks like it would be an awesome place to get away and just camp out for a few days by yourself.

[@solaceinshelling6552]

I love to camp, so I would absolutely love such an experience. I have camped and shelled on Cayo Costa a few times(videos are on this channel). Thanks so much for watching!

[@kims4529]

How beautiful! Those ridges on the Neptune's are really striking. I love when you record your Maine beach hunts. To me those are the most beautiful beaches.

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Maine beaches are truly magnificent, and can differ so much in character! Thank you so much for watching!

[@Lisa.Sparkman]

Well what a trip you had to DownEast. The shells were gorgeous, the scenery was gorgeous and you did a spectacular job of capturing it all on video

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thank you for the wonderful feedback, and thank you for watching!

[@linds3317]

Those neptunes though!! 😍

[@felixzapata9058]

Did you feel me watching you every step of the way!?...Did you have Ukie with you this time around...? Beautiful coastal world to wonder through...I love America and you for bringing such quality videos!!!!!.....and thanx for letting me come along on this adventure; even though I didn't have to take that 4 hour drive in either direction....lol...!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hi friend, Yuki didn't come with me on this particular adventure, but I do try to bring her along as often as possible. Thank you so much for coming along!!

[@annatydniouk5739]

Thank you for sharing the beauty, excitement and enchantment of shell collecting in Maine!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thank you so much for watching - Maine is certainly enchanting 💙

[@rashfarasheed6949]

Great finds😊, love the neptunes❤

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Neptunes are the best! Thanks for watching!

[@tishrathman731]

It was so peaceful!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thanks for watching!

[@LindsayLola_]

This is great information! I hope to increase my shell knowledge. Thanks for sharing!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thanks for coming along! I appreciate your viewership!

[@cathyjay2569]

What a shell day! Thank you for taking me along!!❤TN Nana

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@kelliem2937]

Great beach finds! Also interested in how to dispose of acid after use.

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hi friend! This is a really great question. I don't think there is a perfect way to dispose of muriatic acid, however a recommended method is to dilute the acid mixture down with a gallon or two of water and some baking soda. Once the mixture has been neutralized, you can pour down drain while continuing to flush the running water for a minute or two. This is generally the guidance that i follow when using it. There is a great article with info on this process here - swimmingpooldaily.com/how-to-dispose-of-muriatic-acid-safely/

[@HGB365]

What a beautiful area! I've never been to Maine but we'd definitely like to take a road trip to the New England states at some point. Great to know of possible shelling too! I do have a question abut the Muratic acid dipping. I've seen people mention doing it and the before/after pictures they share. I've never used it but have some shells I'm considering trying it on. I used vinegar once and it cleans shells up nice but it leaves them with this chalky feeling, which I'm not a fan of. Does Muratic acid leave shells feeling chalky? But wow, what a difference with your beautiful finds!!! Thanks for sharing!!! I'm really hooked on your videos. Hopefully NC next week for us (Holden)!

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hello! Interesting questions all around. In my own experience, I have found that muriatic acid helps to brilliantly restore color to shells that have been gunked up or calcified. With that said, muriatic acid should not be used on shells that are glossy, or have a finish(like olives or cowries), as it will strip the finish. It should also not be used on shells that are particularly thin, as the acid will eat through the shell. From my experience, acid does not leave the shells chalky! Bleach bath's also work wonders to remove algae and grime, and this process isn't as potentially destructive to your shells!

[@gaylescovel7308]

Absolutley beautifull❣ I got to ask as no one i know has ever said how does the muretic acid get disposed of? Is it safe to flush down the sink?

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thanks so much for the great feedback! So this is a really great question, and one that I think many shelling content creators(who use muriatic acid in their videos) encounter. I don't think there is a perfect way to dispose of muriatic acid, however a recommended method is to dilute the acid mixture down with a gallon or two of water and some baking soda. Once the mixture has been neutralized, you can pour down drain while continuing to flush the running water for a minute or two. This is generally the guidance that i follow when using it. There is a great article with info on this process here - swimmingpooldaily.com/how-to-dispose-of-muriatic-acid-safely/ Thanks for watching!

[@linds3317]

I love seeing them transform in muriatic acid!

[@sarahmackey6471]

Oh my! I have been so afraid to use acid on my son’s Neptune finds. Maybe I will try one.

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Muriatic Acid can reallly help to transform shells. If Neptunes, have calcification or, crud, it may help quite a bit to restore!

[@susandube505]

You found some gorgeous shells! How do you dispose of the Muriatic acid?

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hi friend, this is a great question! I don't think there is an exactly perfect way to do this, however a recommended method is to dilute the acid mixture down with a gallon or two of water and some baking soda. Once the mixture has been neutralized, you can pour down drain while continuing to flush the running water for a minute or two. I usually follow this guidance. There is a great article with info on this process here - swimmingpooldaily.com/how-to-dispose-of-muriatic-acid-safely/ Thank you so much for watching!

[@leanncarpenter9138]

Beautiful

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thanks for watching!

[@douglasstemke2444]

Nice finds. I'm curious, have you ever found a Arrhoges occidentalis (American Pelicans foot)?

[@solaceinshelling6552]

I have actually, but not in Maine. I found a battered one about 10 years ago in a wrack line at Plum Island, Mass. I also found a juvenile there recently! They are certainly around, but they are pretty uncommon beach finds in the Gulf of Maine region! Thanks for watching!

[@pasionporlamalacologiamine5571]

😍🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚🥰

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Thank you for watching!

[@kimberlyaustin6677]

Whoa...are those Neptune's?

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hello! Yes, there's a few Neptune's found in this video, and a couple at the end that were cleaned up! Thanks for watching!

[@grahamalastairkrebs2241]

You find the grave yard for old Shell's.

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Shell graveyards many times give the best finds, lol! Thanks so much for watching!

[@cloudy_rains2184]

You should check out Virginia beach

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Hopefully some day, I'll be able to get there! Thanks for watching!

[@christianmarshall6250]

Muriatic acid also destroys stainless. So those tongs? Not a great idea tbh

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Yeah the tongs are not in good shape anymore, but they still work, lol.