Abalone question???
- Thread starter casblah
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crazytooguy
New member
Re: Abalone question???
Well, it depends on what you want to do with it. I really like it and use abalone of various kinds for all of my fingerboards. I'm not good at the fancy stuff, but I do simple inlays like blocks and geometric shapes all the time.
The stuff is brittle, but all you need to do is cut carefully and it'll be fine. I've used my Dremel to cut pieces as well as a jewelers saw and I've never had any real problem with it. I think it looks a lot better than mother of pearl, too. I get mine from Andy DePaule (www.luthierssupply.com). He's very knowlegable about shell and is really helpful. Also have a look at Larry Robinson's book on inlay. It'll give you some ideas about how to approach whatever you want to do. Just be aware - if you cut it with a dremel, it smells just like having a tooth drilled at the dentist!
Well, it depends on what you want to do with it. I really like it and use abalone of various kinds for all of my fingerboards. I'm not good at the fancy stuff, but I do simple inlays like blocks and geometric shapes all the time.
The stuff is brittle, but all you need to do is cut carefully and it'll be fine. I've used my Dremel to cut pieces as well as a jewelers saw and I've never had any real problem with it. I think it looks a lot better than mother of pearl, too. I get mine from Andy DePaule (www.luthierssupply.com). He's very knowlegable about shell and is really helpful. Also have a look at Larry Robinson's book on inlay. It'll give you some ideas about how to approach whatever you want to do. Just be aware - if you cut it with a dremel, it smells just like having a tooth drilled at the dentist!
Bludave
New member
Re: Abalone question???
Abalone comes in a varitey of ways. It does really depend on what you want to do. For the purpose you described (truss rod cover), I would see about buying a sheet of abalone. Once you have the material i would use the original truss rod cover as a pattern to trace on the sheet. Most people use Exactos, Dremels and small surgical scissors to cut and shape the material. Here is a place you can buy it if tou want to experiment. Larry Robinson has written much material on the art of inlays. It would be good for you to have a copy of his book. I think you can get it here also. Good Luck!
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondproducthead.asp?CategoryName=Shell/Inlay
Abalone comes in a varitey of ways. It does really depend on what you want to do. For the purpose you described (truss rod cover), I would see about buying a sheet of abalone. Once you have the material i would use the original truss rod cover as a pattern to trace on the sheet. Most people use Exactos, Dremels and small surgical scissors to cut and shape the material. Here is a place you can buy it if tou want to experiment. Larry Robinson has written much material on the art of inlays. It would be good for you to have a copy of his book. I think you can get it here also. Good Luck!
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondproducthead.asp?CategoryName=Shell/Inlay
