Art of Quahog Shell Creations (Jewelry)

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

I made wampum jewelery for many years, i used general lapidary tools with water, works fine!

[@islandgyal507]

The jewelry at the end was absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing your work.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Eza E....Polishing Quahog and many other shells. Simply purchase a Rock Tumbler and there will be approx. 5 levels of Carbon Grit. Read all instructions. Add Dove Bar Soap 4 table spoons full. Drop shells in Rock Tumbler. Make sure thecshells are totally submerged. Coarse grit then to the polishing grit. The entire cycle could take up to 2 weeks to complete the polishing process. NOTE: ONLY add Dove at the end of Grit cycle. Be patient, those shells, rocks and more will come out beautiful. Called Burnishing the pieces inside. Goodcluck and take your time. Do not put Oil on shells, as that substance will not allow the shell to polish to its fullest potential. Thanks for watching!

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

Another way, if u have the patience and time!

[@labtrainer09]

I just shucked four dozen gorgeous Maine quahogs and thought, "KZbin must have videos on making jewelry from these shells." And there you were. I am SO glad you added something (below) about the rock tumbler, which you mentioned once-without elaboration-in the original video. Wouldn't the burnishing process be worthy of another filmed session in and of itself? It sure sounds tricky to me!

[@x-tremevidpro]

The whole Quahog Jewelry making is exciting. So much DUST particles everywhere. Breathing the fumes from the mix to the cost. I hope you liked the video, just letting people understand you can't learn it in a day. I made slot of mistakes like Bubbles in the mold. Then cracks due to Resin overheating in the mold. I stopped because around every corner, was a problem of some kind!😭

[@penibeni1085]

Very nice. Thank you for sharing. Your jewelry is beautiful!

[@x-tremevidpro]

Use an approximate 3/32 high speed bit. Use light pressure on drill or yes it will shatter. Practice and when you hear a squeeking sound use a water spray bottle to cool the shell and do not run drill at a fast speed as the shell will get too hot then crack! I carve Ivory and after 12 yrs. I learned. Practice makes perfect! Be patient!

[@historyhuntsman6950]

X- Tremevidpro drill the pieces under water. If you try to do tube beads a spray bottle will not work. Use triple ripple diamond drill bits. Ive been making wampum a long time and by far the best bits you can get.

[@SeashellSuppliesPhilippines]

Oceans are one of the wonderful place in the world. Where there a lot of 😍 beautiful shells 🐚!!! And shells are really nice to make as jewelry. Which i have millions of collections too 😊. This was a great video. So inspiring.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Thank you for your interest in my work. 🙏💯🐚

[@SeashellSuppliesPhilippines]

@@x-tremevidpro yes it was so inspiring. By the way i already subscribe to your channel. Maybe you would help me too.

[@XxShadiaxX]

Thank you for this! I've just started making my own jewelry and this really helped me!

[@sisnce]

is the dust really bad for you like some of the other shells?

[@cherokeewarrior]

It is severely toxic and will cause silicosis.....all of this should be done using water, I lost a good Shinnecock friend to it, he was an Amazing wampum bead maker.....I make beads myself and this is scary to watch. That dust is sooooooo bad for you.

[@jennycavemartinez9155]

BEAUTIFUL JOB, LOVE YOUR WORK THANKS FOR SHARING ,JENNY FROM THE ISLAND GUAM.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Thank you very much! Appreciate that!

[@elsasanchez9565]

Beautiful job!!! Thanks for sharing ☺

[@SwtTrisha8]

So beautiful! I found many of these not long ago and had no idea the color is so pretty inside. Thanks for sharing. I love shells and just learning how to use a dremel tool.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Thank you!

[@x-tremevidpro]

Kingston: I have lots of Shells & 12,000 year old Ivory to work with. I checked out your ETSY page. Nice shells the Round ones cause Air Bubbles in the Pyramids. Thanks for watching!

[@jedalm]

Espetacular!👏👏👏👏

[@katherinescheunemann3558]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@dostovovocigan2797]

Good info on cutting them, thanks! Sometimes it might just be easier to comb the beach for pieces that have already been broken and smoothed out by the surf naturally. Like seaglass almost but shell pieces.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Dostovo Vocigan I have made many jewelry pieces. What u see is the best way to accomplish this. If you grind and it gets too warm it will chip badly! Practice makes perfect!

[@x-tremevidpro]

Dostovo Vocigan You have to get the white out of the center. Then place them in a Rock Tumbler. You'll be pleased in the end!

[@thatdumbass8962]

This is exactly what I do. Though drilling the hole takes a really long time.

[@bridgettebrown6689]

Beautiful. Thank you for r sharing yourself knowledge

[@x-tremevidpro]

Sorry late getting back to you. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Sorry late getting back to you. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Monica-rt1nj]

Very nice, thank you for sharing.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Thanks for viewing! They are a beautiful shells.

[@patrafferty3910]

Invest in a ring saw you can cut in any direction like its butter!

[@x-tremevidpro]

Too much dust. Living in New place am done with dust! Thx for info.

[@pofty2]

what kind of polish did you use on the shells at the end to make it look so shiny? could anyone here tell me what would be a good kind of polish to use on shells (besides nailpolish and baby oil)

[@x-tremevidpro]

Eza E....Polishing Quahog and many other shells. Simply purchase a Rock Tumbler and there will be approx. 5 levels of Carbon Grit. Read all instructions. Add Dove Bar Soap 4 table spoons full. Drop shells in Rock Tumbler. Make sure thecshells are totally submerged. Coarse grit then to the polishing grit. The entire cycle could take up to 2 weeks to complete the polishing process. NOTE: ONLY add Dove at the end of Grit cycle. Be patient, those shells, rocks and more will come out beautiful. Called Burnishing the pieces inside. Goodcluck and take your time. Do not put Oil on shells, as that substance will not allow the shell to polish to its fullest potential. Thanks for watching!

[@pofty2]

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such a descriptive response!

[@historyhuntsman6950]

Ive been making wampum for a long time. I just posted a short video of some of my stuff.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Cool! I will check it out!

[@gloriaesquivel-lopez3870]

how do you get such a great shine on the pieces. They're so beautiful!

[@garyandrews141]

Gloria Esquivel-Lopez toothpaste

[@x-tremevidpro]

You have to put 4 tablespoons in your rock tumbler. Tumble until you see a brilliant shine.

[@TheSimmy77]

Gorgeous shell! I didn't know wampum shell is also called quahog shell.

[@x-tremevidpro]

Yep and you don't want to breathe the dust when grinding.

[@alwaysgoodmedicine-5655]

Please tell me your saving all the pieces that your chipping off

[@x-tremevidpro]

I did! Put them in my Rock Tumbler to burnish them.

[@lauralawson3593]

Hi! I have a unique project I'm trying to do. Recent dredging brought up a ton of quarter sized quahog or quahog-like clam shells. I have a couple hundred. I'm looking to smooth them down in a rock tumbler, drill press holes in them, seal them then string them up to create a shadow box piece of art. I'm not looking to lose all shape of the shell but definitely smooth it down. Do you have recommendations about order of operations (specifically drillpress) and grit in the rock tumbler?

[@lauralawson3593]

Also this is my loosely based inspo for the project: www.neimanmarcus.com/p/palecek-adrift-coco-wall-decor-prod188180239 Thank you in advance for your help! Ib was excited to find someone who'd understand my vision

[@x-tremevidpro]

Definately use coarse until you have reached what you are looking for when Tumbling your shells. If you use a drill press odds are many will crack due to speed of drill.Place the shell onto a thick cloth and drill them wet and slow. Good Luck and take your time!

[@sea_hous]

When you did the bit at the end to get the white off, was that a different attachments on the multitool? Looked like the blade you used at the beginning.

[@x-tremevidpro]

I used a pair of side cutters & a Dremel. The dust is really bad. Ventilation definately w/mask!

[@sea_hous]

@@x-tremevidpro What attachment at the end though?

[@whitebearmuskogeetribaltow8028]

What drill are you using (name/brand)

[@x-tremevidpro]

+White Bear Muskogee Tribal Town Titanium very slow speed. Once you start to break through, switch to opposite side and complete hula slowly or will chip or crack. Thanks for watching.

[@x-tremevidpro]

+X- Tremevidpro That was about 5 years ago I made those. Time to move forward.

[@Qwerty-tx9tb]

Anyone know if you can apply this same process to abalone? Just starting out and got bunch of abalone shells I can work on. Thanks

[@x-tremevidpro]

Abalone will shatter if you do any grinding. Crack as well. Shells are tricky, try different methods.You'll come up with something!

[@donnagray3779]

Would it cut cleaner if it was cut wet?

[@x-tremevidpro]

Yes, most definately. Cuts down on dust...Thanks for watching.

[@59beadsbishop]

Why not have bit in water? Cools and cuts down on dust.

[@x-tremevidpro]

I use a water spray bottle from time to time. But yea there is too much dust as it is. No longer do the Jewelry thing. On my next project will be on in 2hrs. Pretty cool idea! Thanks for watching.

[@ronnieandren1339]

Thanks for showing this... these shells are really nice... My question to you is how did you drill the holes so it doesn't shatter? Thanks and hope you answer my question...

[@x-tremevidpro]

Drill hole with tiny drill bit with cool water running over the shell. If it get very hot, it will definately CRACK!

[@jcofortco]

Great information. I like watching this video. and Bless You for trying to talk us thru it all, but as soon as you start up the tool, you start talking - I haven't caught hardly a word you've said while you're cutting. ;) Also, I understood a mask was necessary due to the dangers of breathing in 'pulverized' ;) Silica from the shell dust? I'm looking forward to trying these methods out now, thanks! :)

[@x-tremevidpro]

Eza E....Polishing Quahog and many other shells. Simply purchase a Rock Tumbler and there will be approx. 5 levels of Carbon Grit. Read all instructions. Add Dove Bar Soap 4 table spoons full. Drop shells in Rock Tumbler. Make sure thecshells are totally submerged. Coarse grit then to the polishing grit. The entire cycle could take up to 2 weeks to complete the polishing process. NOTE: ONLY add Dove at the end of Grit cycle. Be patient, those shells, rocks and more will come out beautiful. Called Burnishing the pieces inside. Goodcluck and take your time. Do not put Oil on shells, as that substance will not allow the shell to polish to its fullest potential. Thanks for watching!

[@chrisannevogt1544]

What grit did you use in tumbler? did you do 4cycles?

[@x-tremevidpro]

Yes all 4 grits seperately. Then Burnished them.

[@gdottie]

Great video. Hard to see what is happening with the camera angle at the back of the drill. I found myself moving my head to look around the drill...sheez :)

[@x-tremevidpro]

When one person does it all you can't get it all! I'm sure you will get some great tips!

[@seamus9305]

Thanks man!

[@x-tremevidpro]

Your welcome! Glad you enjoyed you the video.

[@atlanteanproductions5330]

How did you remove the calcium on the back?

[@x-tremevidpro]

Dremel disc going almost flat back and forth till it smooths out. Dry is best but very dusty.

[@thatdumbass8962]

I heard somewhere that if you soak it in water for a few days it will soften up the calcium so you can scrape it off easily

[@jaishreehotchandani]

Great job !! very helpful video for jewellery making process. Mind listing the tool names? Also Mind telling me how you go to know about indians using shells as currency? it would be a great help to me as I'm doing my project on sea shell crafts.

[@viccolasvic9461]

jaishree hotchandani Actually it was only used as currency when colonizers mistook the meaning of wampum. Wampum was more of a fancy gift or an invitation than actual currency.

[@tattoofthesun]

A quick googling will give you the history of settlers and wampum beads. He’s using a dremel you can get online, Lowes or Depot.

[@tattoofthesun]

He’s also got a Diamond bit cutting wheel where he can polish the edges. If you don’t have any kind of lapidary machinery, the dremel bits should all be able to cut, polish and all that

[@pronouncetoday1025]

well done. Is the powder not diatomaceous earth?

[@x-tremevidpro]

It has an odor to it and too much dust.

[@Dawn24Michele]

Great but how did the Indians make beads from this?

[@x-tremevidpro]

Not certain how the Indians did it, I wasn't born yet! Good question though...Thanks for 👀!

[@andremarshall7714]

Bead production went up in wampum when they started trading furs that were sold in Europe for metal tools like pots, nails, drills. Wet stone was how it was shaped and drill bit for the holes. Before first contact beads were made with stone tools also shaped by wet stone and patience.

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

@@andremarshall7714 -I read that a woman working in a shop could make her height in beads in a day.

[@hartmandeetz5854]

the dust is poison. take care not to breath and also with the clean up in the workshop

[@x-tremevidpro]

Hartman Deetz I made theses about 10 yrs. ago and always wore a mask. You are correct about the dust build up. That dust was everywhere...thanks!

[@historyhuntsman6950]

Use a bench ventilation system. The dust is similar composition to asbestos. So you know what thats capabke of.

[@nazimsaifiartwork]

Price

[@x-tremevidpro]

$20.00

[@kathybrewer1459]

Finger nail polish remover will take the ink off

[@x-tremevidpro]

Magic Marker will come off when they go into the Rock Tumbler. Thanks... :-)