Drilling sea shells?

[geekette]

I have a million shells, some are perfect. I have glued some to vases or picture frames, but was thinking there has to be a way to put them on a necklace or make earrings, even use as "buttons" or as zipper pulls (I'm making lots of whack stuff, clothing, purses, hats...).

Any experience with drilling holes in sea shells? Does this require a diamond head? Water cutter? Or any ole tiny drill bit will do? It is time for me to have a Dremel, having somehow made it through most of my life without one (borrowed many).

Then, for the inevitable breakage, has anyone made "shell inlay"? yeah yeah, I can google anything, but I'd rather hear from actual people. They will tell me straight, this was easy, yikes big pain, etc.

In my cleaning the other day, I again ran across shells and started thinking, why the crap do I have these if I'm never going to do anything with them???

Other creative ideas for them are welcome. I've got rainy days coming up.

 

[bbodb1]

@geekette - for a moment, I thought this was the start of a tongue twister and / or alliteration thread!

 

[bbodb1]

On a more useful note, if I had extra shells like this I did not want anymore, might you have some low spots in your yard? Or could shells be used as a drainage base below a plant?

 

[DrQ]

I would recommend a Dremel tool with a high speed dental type burr.

 

[bbodb1]

...or...I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier......

 

[Sea Six]

Hi speed dremel does not work. My wife uses a slow speed hand cranked drill. If you do use anything high speed, wear eye protection because the bit will break off.

One like this! Not very high tech, but that's what works.

 

[geekette]

On a more useful note, if I had extra shells like this I did not want anymore, might you have some low spots in your yard? Or could shells be used as a drainage base below a plant?

Not looking to dispose of them, but use them in my ever expanding art therapy repertoire and maybe sell some seashell "art". If I can use them as buttons or otherwise closure apparatus, that would really help me out.

 

[geekette]

Excellent, thanks folks! I do have safety glasses and even hardhat!! I thought it possible that a shell could shatter and fling sharps. won't know what happens until I try. By hand would make it a bigger chore than I want, maybe. I'll have to see. Appreciate Fiskars tip, a brand I trust.