Preserving trophy abs "recomendaitons"

Got my nicest ab sitting in the window and after seeing AbKing's trophy wall I'm thinking   But ya know what? for my skills, my abs Rock...

noticed how clean the abs were on the wall wondered is there a process to get the crude off and make the gleam??? anyone have some input ???...

thx...

After scrubbing all the stuff from the shell, I like to use some muratic acid to clean them with. You can buy it at OSH. Do outdoors and dilute it with water.

I do it like the Fish Master.   

I hang them on a nail on the fence with sunny exposure for at least a month or two and periodically spray them down with the garden hose high pressure nozzle to blow the dried up algae and seaweed off.  Once it's pretty free of the extra organic matter it left the ocean with I might use a brush to remove the rest, but always do that while wetting your work, because abalone shell dust is highly "poisonous" (it ruins your lungs).  The muriatic acid dip is never to remove bulk organic matter - it's really the final cleaning and it will bring out a brilliant red on the back of the shell.  Many people use carnuba wax or vaseline on the interior of the shell for the muriatic acid dip so the raw mother of pearl won't be etched.  I've never protected the interiors of my shells because I'm mainly fond of the exteriors, and I've found that the appearance of the interiors is only slightly softened by whatever etching occured.  The muriatic acid is strong and I probably go with about a 1 to 4, acid to water mix.  In the bucket the acid mix is clear, calm and slightly green tinted.  When you put your pre-cleaned shell in there it looks like a giant donut frying!  I go 10-30 seconds depending on the strength of the acid mix and the nature of the shell.  After rinsing off the acid I hang them on the fence again and within a day or three I get some liquid plastic (verathane) spray on the backs of them.  Some use mineral oil for the preservative - it looks good but it needs maintenance.  The verathane has lasted many years, but I do think there's been some fading.

My wife told me a few months ago maybe it's time to take the ab wall down in the living room...     It's been there, growing, for 17 years, so I'm trying for another few years (we'll see if she puts her foot down!).   

Same process as FM1 & Abking but I also tried using Hydrogen Peroxide to give it a two-tone or tri-tone colors.  Make sure you wear rubber glove, mask, & goggle while etching them as the fume is toxic.

A couple of my etched shells

How I did mine.

Thanks for the come back FM1... Man that's art work guys... Don't take down that Ab wall AbKing...and sailfish how big were those...I like the fish tank display slammer...thx guys...

What's the best way to dispose of muriatic acid, preferably without driving it somewhere?

I have recently tried drying my shells on my porch for a week or so, then scrubbing them in warm water. The  growth on the shell comes off pretty well, although not as clean as with muriatic.

The acid can be neutralized with a base (baking soda?...)

What's the best way to dispose of muriatic acid, preferably without driving it somewhere?

Muriactic acid is actually pretty strong Hydrochloric Acid  (HCl in water) SO, gloves and goggles are a requirement for safe handling.....However it is not harmful to the environment once it has been diluted way down (100 to 1).  Muriatic Acid does not affect copper or plastic pipe either.

Or a little neutralization with baking soda will work, but be careful the reaction might get a bit rowdy.

Another easy way to neutralize it is to throw an old ab shell in there and let it go till it stops gasing off. If the shell dissolves completely, throw in another.

Again, this stuff is not harmful to the environment once neutralized or diluted. 

Thanks for the come back FM1... Man that's art work guys... Don't take down that Ab wall AbKing...and sailfish how big were those...I like the fish tank display slammer...thx guys...

They're 9.5" and 9.75".  I'm still hunting for my "perfect" 10" 

So how do I know when it is neutralized? Do I need to measure the PH? If so, how do I do that?

FYI, I recently tried drying the shells in the sun for a few days, then soaking in warm water and scrubbing with a metal-bristled brush. Several came out nice and red, but some had too much organic matter and might need the acid treatment.

I recently pulled this 9.5" (far left). It is 10.5" with the barnacle. Notice that round shape just in front of the barnacle - that's a rock scallop! Anyway, this shell is a beauty and deserves the ol' acid treatment.

Just for grins I tried using a small pressure washer that I bought for home and vehicle cleaning. I blasted shells a couple weeks old and some that were several years old and all the organic stuff came off. I have done the acid dip in the past but wanted to try something else. Now I want to see if acid will change the color or not.

Nice! Malibu_Two... If u ground the barnacle flat it would work as a display mount...but take away from that 10.5 measurement... have u got that 10" yet?

fishshim...I've got a power washer that's industrial caliber...gona give it a try...thx...

Now I want to see if acid will change the color or not.

The acid should bring out a more brilliant red than just cleaning alone.

Great abs, Andrew.   

It's actually just under 9.5" although with that barnacle it's really hard to get a good measurement. I'm leaving the barnacle. That's the kind of thing that makes each shell unique.

Still looking for that 10.