Official Luthiers Forum!

I figured I'd start by asking here cause I know one of you has done it..... I have a build coming up where my well traveled client is providing some materials from his adventures to be incorporated into his guitar. One thing he brought me is a large , complete MOP shell. Wants inlay from it.

So, what is the procedure to make some blanks from it?

Thanks in advance.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Hide it and buy some to use.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

lol, that's probably easiest.

You can either make blanks and cut inlay pieces from them, or cut inlays straight from the shell and then grind to thickness.

I cut a logo inlay from a medium-sized clam shell for this guitar http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=632268#p632268

I used a jeweler's saw and diamond stone. But if you don't have a really coarse stone, then you could buy a lapidary disc and grind on that by hand (the machines for them are unreasonably expensive). Or perhaps fit it on a pottery wheel since that's basically the same thing but much cheaper. Or you could use plain old sandpaper, but then you'd have to do it dry, in which case be very careful of the large quantity of dust you'll be making.

I briefly considered that.... But I like odd requests and figured it was a great oprtunity to learn something.... Like saying no next time

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Get your hands on "Pearl Inlay" by James Patterson. I'm pretty sure he has a chapter on preparing blanks if I remember right.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I did it-45 years ago...
I still have some pieces laying around
I cut up a bunch of abalone shells-simply cut pieces on the bandsaw and sanded them flat by hand on a carbide coated disc on my tablesaw to around .060.

Made a lot of nasty dust.

I am very far from an expert but I do use things like tagua nuts and sea shells for inlay. For the tagua nuts I put the flattest side against the fence on my band saw and cut slices. Then I double stick tape the pieces to a board and run them through the drum sander. for shell I just hold the outside of the most promising part of the shell against a belt sander and flatten a section. If the shell is large enough I may flatten two or more areas. then I cut out the flat areas with a carbide blade on my band saw or a masonry blade on a grinder. Then it's double stick tape on to a piece of wood and the drum sander. You will need to turn the pieces over a few times as you go.

It probably would be easier and cleaner if you have a wet table and lapidary stone cutting set up or tile saw.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I cut up a large abalone shell on my 12 in BS. wear a mask preferrably one that circulates fresh air. After slabbing the pieces I would open up the shop garage door and sand down the outer shell on a 80 grit 6 by 48 sander, Cut and saw the desired shape . Wouldnt do it again ! Just not worth it . when you can get wonderful inlay designs from commercial producers, I get mine from Depaule supply in oregon. Like dennis I picked up some nice clam and mussel shells from the meramac river in e. MO . I wound up crushing them with bone, silver, and coloured rocks , in an epoxy matrix. IMHo the shells are tricky to saw with a jewellers saw as they are too soft.

Hey...

It just so happens i made a video about this... hope it helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov33LC5Z6qM&t=

G.

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www.leddingtonguitars.com

Thanks Gary!

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

If it came from Califonia and was taken WITH a game liicense you hand it back to the nice man and say sorry cant use it. If its red abalone and came from California and was found on the beach use a tile saw and cut it into pieces that will produce flat sections. You can grind a surfaces flat quickly with side of the tilesaw blade. Don't think you are safe from dust just because you are using a wetsaw. The mist off a wetsaw is just as bad as dust. After you have flattened one side you can double stick to a board and drum sand only (If you have good dust control)

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Michael F Smith
Goat Rock Ukulele
http://goatrockukulele.com