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does anyone know how to break open a cowrie shell for easier sewing? all the shells i've gotten from the craft store aren't opened, but i keep seeing shells for sale online that are opened for ease of sewing.. I WANT DAT. help?
xo
greer
xo
greer
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St. Louis
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Fri, November 6, 2009 - 12:46 PMI take a thin knife and push it through the shell from the front, which causes some cracking and a small hole. Then I use the knife to scrape away at the back until it's open enough.
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Fri, November 6, 2009 - 12:57 PMPerhaps a rotary drill such as a dremel? -
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Fri, November 6, 2009 - 1:04 PMIf using a Dremel make sure to use a DIAMOND bit and dip it in cold water periodically... it will get hot and melt otherwise =)
I've drilled copious ammts of cowries and cutting off the backs are easiest with the Dremel -
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Fri, November 6, 2009 - 1:13 PMalas, i do not has... :(
i guess i'll do it the brute force way :D -
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Sat, November 7, 2009 - 6:01 AMFire Mountain Gems has two kinds. I've used the backless ones for cowrie falls and belts and they are great! I have not used the pre-drilled ones, so I can't comment on those. If you don't need that many, you could split the bag with someone as I did. Good luck!
One is with the backs shaved off
www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp
and the other is with two holes drilled
www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Sun, November 8, 2009 - 6:40 AMI've drilled through shells and pig tusks with an ordinary, variable speed power drill and a good bit.
Just make sure you do this on a thick, old scrap board!! You do NOT want to drill a hole in your craft table!
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Re: how to break open the back of a cowrie shell?
Sat, November 14, 2009 - 3:02 PMI take a hammer and tap the back till it collapses then take a needle nose plier and pull the rest off. File it down with either sand paper, or if I am sitting outside I slide it on the cement till smooth. I broke about 45 of them one lovely afternoon in about 45min.
