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Post by fernwood on Apr 25, 2020 3:22:33 GMT -5
A friend asked me to make her a pendant and earrings from some local snail shells. She wants a tumbled stone in the aperture. A bell cap at the top. These shells are very thin. Is there something I could use to strengthen them The shells were fresh from the beach when I took the photo.  Thank you. |
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Post by RickB on Apr 25, 2020 6:18:44 GMT -5
Heck, I'd fill one up with epoxy or poly and see how it does. Might make it a little heavy though for an earring.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2020 9:31:05 GMT -5
I agree that a thin epoxy would be a solution. Just sure to bake them in an oven to dry out any moisture and cook off any organics before coating (otherwise, they're going to give off smells at some point). Those would also make nice bases for electroforming (similar to things MsAli has shown us). Electroforming would also make it easier and more secure to attach wires and other metal components to turn them into jewels. |
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wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 447 
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Post by wpotterw on Apr 25, 2020 12:57:14 GMT -5
A friend asked me to make her a pendant and earrings from some local snail shells. She wants a tumbled stone in the aperture. A bell cap at the top. These shells are very thin. Is there something I could use to strengthen them The shells were fresh from the beach when I took the photo. Thank you. You could try a 3-pack of Hot Stuff. Start with the runny stuff, then the ticker gap filler and then the ultra gap filler. Not sure how much they would weigh, though. |
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Post by rmf on Apr 25, 2020 13:41:33 GMT -5
Take epoxy, mix with ethanol to thin and mount the mouth on a dowel. then drip/paint the outside of the shell with the thin epoxy and the surplus should drip off. you may have to clean the area around the opening if there are drips (epoxy stalagtites)
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Post by MsAli on Apr 25, 2020 14:45:10 GMT -5
I agree that a thin epoxy would be a solution. Just sure to bake them in an oven to dry out any moisture and cook off any organics before coating (otherwise, they're going to give off smells at some point). Those would also make nice bases for electroforming (similar to things MsAli has shown us). Electroforming would also make it easier and more secure to attach wires and other metal components to turn them into jewels. Agree that they would be a good material to try to electroform |
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Post by 1dave on Apr 30, 2020 17:53:09 GMT -5
I agree that a thin epoxy would be a solution. Just sure to bake them in an oven to dry out any moisture and cook off any organics before coating (otherwise, they're going to give off smells at some point). Those would also make nice bases for electroforming (similar to things MsAli has shown us). Electroforming would also make it easier and more secure to attach wires and other metal components to turn them into jewels. Electroplating is the way I would go! Hummmm - brass, gold or platinum   |
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