Learn How to Drill Seashells

I have a confession to make…I LOVE THE OCEAN! Just listening to the ebb and flow of the tides can sooth a troubled soul and make worries disappear. I’m never more relaxed than when I’m stretched out on a lawn chair, listening to the sea gulls and the surf.

Another reason I love the ocean is because of the treasures it leaves between tides. It’s a lot like treasure hunting and you never know what you’re going to find!

Hubby and I are fortunate enough to have family that own a timeshare in Florida. Every September for the last few years, we get away from it all and chill out on Manasota Key. We spend our days searching for treasure and our nights enjoying what the local food establishments have to offer. I know…it’s a rough life but someone has to do it!

Needless to say, I have amassed quite a collection of seashells and pretty pieces of coral and sea glass. If you love the ocean as much as I do, I’ll bet you have quite a collection too!

I don’t hoard seashells

Although an outsider might think otherwise. No, my goal has always been to put all these pretty seashells to good use. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making jewelry with seashells. Making a seashell wind chime has been on my list forever. Also, I’ve got a nice list of craft projects to do when the grandkids come to visit.

Oh, so many ideas!

The one thing that has held me back is that I didn’t know how to drill seashells for some of my projects. I was concerned that I might break more than a few in trying to figure it out. Seashells are a bit on the fragile side. I didn’t want to waste them.

Eventually, my seashell basket started overflowing. I knew it was only a matter of time before I would need to make a decision about what to do with all these seashells. In the course of  scouring the internet for ideas, I came across this little device called a Pin Vise Hand Drill.

The Pin Vise Hand Drill

The Pin Vise Hand Drill is operated manually. There were no instructions with my Pin Vise when I received it. But, after further investigation, I found that you don’t really need them. It’s a simple tool to use. According to Google, you place your palm on the top of the vice and apply slight pressure while at the same time turning the bit manually with your other hand.

As you can see in the above photo, I used my forefinger to apply the pressure and I turned it with my other fingers. This action reminded me a lot of the ratcheting screwdriver I received as a gift. (Shout out to darling husband for getting me tools I actually need!)

Holding the Pin Vise like a pencil (sorta) allowed me to see my progress a little better.

Since there were no directions with the Pin Vise, I don’t know if water should be used to cool the drill bit or not. But I had no issues making holes without the water. There were no cracks or breakage either. I’m guessing that because the drill bit wasn’t spinning fast enough to create friction, there was no need to cool it down with water.

I was impressed with the number of different size drill bits that came with the Pin Vise drill. They make it possible to drill any size hole you want. The tiniest drill bit is about the size of a sewing needle.  Additionally, the largest bit might accommodate rope, cord or twine.

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Before You Drill

Whether you’re using a power drill or a Pin Vise, there are a few things that you need to do before drilling:

First:

Make sure your seashells are clean and dry. By clean, I mean that they are free of any creature that used to live inside of them. You will know if a seashell is not empty by the horrible smell.

You’ll need to remove the critter as carefully as you can without breaking the seashell. I have found that curved needle-nose pliers work pretty good.

Once your seashell is empty, you can give it a quick wash with dish soap and water. Let the seashell air dry for a couple of days and any foul smell should be gone. Alternatively, you can avoid this issue altogether by choosing seashells that have no inhabitant.

Second:

When drilling seashells of any size, it’s a good idea to wear a mask since inhaling the seashell dust can be harmful. I also suggest eye protection when drilling larger seashells. You never know when a seashell will shatter or chip. Better safe than sorry.

Third:

Whether using a power drill or a Pin Vise, it’s a good idea to place a small piece of tape over the spot where you want to drill. You can use either painters tape or masking tape.

There are some who believe the tape will keep the seashell from cracking. But the majority agree that it also keeps the drill bit from slipping and sliding. Use a pen to mark the spot on the tape where you want the hole to be.

Finally, you need to protect your work surface. I use an old wooden cutting board…a few more cuts and gouges won’t hurt it at all.

Once again, whether you use a Pin Vise or a power drill, I recommend practicing on a few “ugly” seashells first. This will give you an idea of how much pressure you need to apply. Also, you get a general idea of how long it’s going to take to drill one seashell.

When using a power drill, you need to keep the drill bit cool. Do this by placing your seashell on a wet sponge. The wet sponge should be resting in a shallow dish of water. This should keep the drill bit from leaving burn marks on your seashells.

With the power drill, you need to be mindful of how much pressure you put on the seashell. Remember, the drill bit should do the work while you apply gentle, steady pressure. Too much pressure and you’ll ruin the seashell.

It’s all about personal preference

And the size of the seashell you’re drilling. The Pin Vise is great for small seashells but it also takes more time to create a hole. On the other hand, a power drill may be overkill for small seashells but might be a better option for the bigger, thicker seashells. I don’t know about you, but I like options![/vc_column_text]

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