Shell Cleaning Technique | Muriatic Acid | Bring out Colors in Shell! | Tutorial Tuesday Ep. 2

Muriatic Acid: amzn.to/2svtHiC
In my second Tutorial Tuesday, I explain how to clean seashells! No, I don't mean just rinse the sand off; this method causes the colors of the shell to really pop and gain dimension. Watch the video to learn how you can make your shells bright and see the stunning before and afters!
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[@CraftersAutonomous]

Here's a follow-up video! Once my shells were cleaned in the muriatic acid, I sprayed them with polyurethane. Watch the video to check out the results: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGPEepWIeNCIpJI

[@billieflegal6841]

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[@SaltyReflections]

Loving the ambient lighting of those lightning bugs in the background! Great video! Thank you for sharing with us. I'm going to watch they polyurethane one next!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@meganstott266]

Hey great video! Only tip I would give you is to use some tongs to dip the shells in the muriatic acid. It’s safer than using your hands! Your shells came out beautiful!!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Appreciate the tip!

[@riccihard]

I am happy to see nothing exploded 💪🏼🙌🏼

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So was I! lol It's very acidic so for sure take the appropriate precautions when using the muriatic acid, but as long as you handle it carefully it's nothing to be afraid of. Thanks for watching!

[@flyingcheff]

You can do it longer, do it until you like it. Also, use bamboo or plastic tongs so the place where you hold it gets some acid. The "instant" detail is because they are WET too, not just the acid. Muriatic acid is pool cleaner, it's just far more dilute when people are swimming in it. Great video, be brave!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Thanks so much for the tips! This makes me want to go shelling again soon so I can clean more shells lol

[@dawnjones726]

Thank you for the information. I was definitely concerned.

[@SlumberPartiesbyAnna]

Where is the best place to find shells like yours? So pretty and not broken! 😍 🐚

[@CraftersAutonomous]

My parents collected these while on a trip to Fripp Island, SC, but not on the island itself. There's another island just off of Fripp that I think is called Bull Island, and you have to take a boat to get there. They were able to get such "perfect" shells for a few reasons. First, they went in May, so it was before the tourist season had started up again. Also, Fripp is a private island, so the only people that can collect shells on the island are residents or those like my parents who rented a property on the island for a vacation. So there were plenty of shells washed up on the beach to collect. My family took a trip to the outer banks in NC a few years back, and took a boat over to an uninhabited island. This trip was towards the end of summer, and the shells weren't quite as "perfect" as the ones in this video. But there were tons of shells washed up on the beach and we collected some really nice shells there too. So I think the trick to getting good shells is to go to places with lesser amounts of traffic, and time it before the tourist season picks up so there isn't as much competition for good shells.

[@JerseyShoreShellingMama]

I did this lastnight with a ton of whelks and they turned black. I’m so mad. I don’t like the black that it brings out. I saw yours did the same thing.

[@boom5914]

thx for this tutorial, i know this Technic is efficient to clean, and all the shells look amazing (while they are wet) but when they dry again, they lose the color! what do you recommend for treatment after to keep the color ?

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Glad you enjoyed this tutorial! Different people do different things, depending on what they are using the shells for. I sprayed mine with a glossy polyurethane (link to a video showing this step: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGPEepWIeNCIpJI). Some people prefer shining it with mineral spirits or coating the shells in an epoxy resin. I went with the poly because it was the easiest, cheapest method since I'm just a casual shell collector. The poly can yellow over time, which is why some don't like that method, but my shells were dark enough in color to not notice the yellowing much. Hope this info helps!

[@kddk7262]

After acid dipping, I let them dry and then I rub all my shells down with a light layer of mineral oil (not mineral spirits!). They always look great and no discoloring of them! Hope this helps!

[@sweetsummer0897]

Very cool.....

[@trbig67]

Fireflies in the background.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Nice observation skills!

[@wangi5159]

I really want to bring back the colour in my seashells but is there any cheaper alternative way?

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I'm no expert on shell cleaning, just a crafty person who enjoys trying out fun DIY projects. 😉So while I don't know of an alternative way that is guaranteed to give the same results as the method shown in the video, here is an article that talks about some other methods. www.wikihow.com/Clean-and-Polish-Seashells I'm sorry I don't have a better answer, but I hope this still helps!

[@zerowolf7783]

Bleach bath would do. Also applying mineral oil also helps.

[@caseyhthompson]

do the shells retain the enhanced color once they are again dry? that would be a helpful photo comparison!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Great question! When they dry, the colors have a more matte look, whereas some clips on this video show them with a bright sheen. If you want to keep that wet look and make the colors really pop, I've got a video where I show how I sprayed them with polyurethane. Here's a link! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGPEepWIeNCIpJI

[@samholleman7195]

What about when they dry?

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Thanks for the question! When the shells are dry, they retain the color but not as much shine. Check out this video to make the shells shine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGPEepWIeNCIpJI

[@catsmith233]

Shark eye!!

[@jenniferbeasley9966]

I just dip mine in the acid no water added

[@jenniferbeasley2397]

Think their call them unknown she'll you mentioned a shark eye?

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I just googled what those look like, and I think that's what it is! Thanks for the help.

[@jo-nareegross9295]

Where do you buy the materials

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I'm not sure if these stores are options for you, but near me I can find muriatic acid at Walmart, home improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot, and sometimes at pool supply stores.

[@rarerepair]

They look like fossils. Cool idea.

[@thanrose]

Two ways to neutralize the muriatic acid solution: One, keep using it, keeping it covered and in a safe place outside the home when not using it, until it isn't working all that well. Then you can drop in shell bits that you don't want and let them dissolve until they don't anymore. Second method is quicker: add washing soda, or even baking soda in quantities sufficient to stop the acid etching.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Thanks for sharing this tip! Helpful info.

[@dawnjones726]

Yeeesss! Disposal is key with this product. Thank you so much for sharing that IMPORTANT information.

[@sarahmoviereviewer4109]

What do you do with the buckets when you're done?

[@CraftersAutonomous]

We thoroughly rinsed them out and continued using them for outdoor projects.

[@shericreates]

You rinsed them out but where did you dispose of the acid bucket? Dump on driveway or sink? Wouldn’t it hurt your plants and grass if you just dump in lawn? Curious about that too.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Great question. Acetic acid is a very strong chemical, so proper disposal is important. Acetic acid can potentially be rinsed down a drain, depending on circumstances. If the acetic acid is being dumped down a drain, ensure the drain flows to a wastewater treatment plant, run tap water to dilute the solution as it is being drained, and verify the ph level of the solution is at a safe level. Acetic acid typically meets a safe ph range for draining, so select a drain that feeds to a wastewater treatment plant and run plenty of water down the drain with the acid. Here is a link to a website outlining safe conditions for dumping acetic acid down a drain: www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/2009/10/drain-disposal-of-chemicals#.Wy1QlRJKhmA

[@ThirdCoastElectronics]

Acetic acid is not the same as muriatic acid. Vinegar is diluted acetic acid. Muriatic acid is a dilute form of hydrochloric acid with a lower ph than acetic acid, and is much stronger than acetic acid. To neutralize muriatic acid, you should use water & baking soda. Fill a 5G bucket half way with cold or mild temp water, add a good amount of baking soda, and stir it up a bit. Do this outside only, and do not stand down wind. Also be sure to pour the acid into the water/baking soda solution, and not the other way around. Pouring water into acid solution can cause bursting reaction, and can be dangerous. The solution will fizz and bubble so pour slowly. When you have finished, you can test it by adding a pinch of baking soda. If it fizzes, then the ph is still in the acidic range. When done, you can dump it pretty much anywhere, but don't do anything stupid. So, don't dump it in your pool, or out in the yard where people walk.

[@donnastovall8340]

Is there a natural solution to use instead of the acid

[@ffionb2337]

Its a shark eye

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Thanks for sharing! Guess I should quit calling them belly-button shells...lol

[@ffionb2337]

Crafters Autonomous haha

[@SaltyReflections]

@@CraftersAutonomous Yes. They are Shark Eye Moon Snail Shells. Although I know the real name, my family has always called them Bulls Eyes (not because they look so much like an eye which is why they are named Shark Eye but because it looks like a target bulls eye - LOL). I like the "belly button" name though I'm gonna have to mention that one.

[@kingamalinoski5553]

beautiful video, but please use a tong to be more safer...

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Great suggestion! Safety comes first.

[@nonie4178]

Tongs you should be using tongs to dip the shells instead of your hands,,,it remov es calcium build on the shells, they have plastic tongs

[@colintickner2419]

0:32 umm what?

[@SaltyReflections]

LOL!!! I had to replay it a few times before I realized what your question was about! SHE SAID CONCH! :P Hahahahaha. She said, "it is a whelk it looks kinda like a conch." :) (Insert several skull emojis & crying laughing faces - too bad I'm not on my phone)

[@nonie4178]

Chanel SWF Beach life

[@sunshinemagicalrainbowunic4004]

Omg - mind numbing

[@traveltip1427]

It's Mur-i-a-tic ..... 4 syllables

[@rapa5371]

I have sea shells can you buy

[@lindab8397]

You should be using metal tongs....... 😱😱😱😱😱 what if it melts your gloves your fingers are next in line.... so dangerous

[@anonimouse3842]

Great vid! Conch shell btw Not welk

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Thanks!

[@anonimouse3842]

Keep up the great work hun🤗

[@AndromedaFollowsMe]

No..those were all whelks. They all looked like knobbed whelks.

[@arelfarrington9943]

@@AndromedaFollowsMe yup you both are right I stand corrected. Sorry 😅

[@adlap0152]

Crafters Autonomous No you’re right, those are definitely Whelk shells. Not Conchs.

[@Thechristiangodisajoke]

Note: muratic acid is environmentally unfriendly

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I was not aware of that. Thank you for sharing.