Table of Contents
What is abalone veneer?
Shell veneer sheets are made from the thinly sliced shells of abalone, agoya and awabi. They are used to add color and accents to glass gilding, carpentry, art and crafts projects, custom jewelry, fishing rods and lures, and many other creative projects.
How is abalone veneer made?
Abalone veneers are made from thinly sliced pieces of shell, glued together and sanded flat to form continuous sheets. The material is mainly used for surface overlays and inlays. Each sheet is between 0.3-0.5 mm w (0.004″ and 0.0005″) thick.
What is paua inlay?
Luméa Veneers have been carefully sliced from our whole shells. An intricate process that turns a curved shell into a flat and versatile product solution using thin strips of shell called feathers which are pieced together like a puzzle to form the full sheet.
How do you soften abalone shells?
The shell can be clear coated with laquer or varnishes and then cut under water with scissors. Bandsaws can be used and work best with the smallest of blades available Shell may also be softened in Salt water then molded into shape and then clamped to be left to until completely dry.
What is Mother of Pearl veneer?
Genuine 100% shell veneer made of natural Mother of Pearl with hues of white, cream, yellow, pink, silver and grey with a gloss or matt finish and opaque backing. Shell pieces are cut into a random mosaic pattern. Light and versatile.
How do I make my paua shell shiny?
Soak your paua in the bleach solution for a minimum of 30 minutes. For best results, let them sit for several hours, or even overnight. The bleach will sterilize the shells gradually as they soak while also loosening stuck-on grime, brightening their vivid hues, and neutralizing any unpleasant fishy smell.
How do you glue abalone?
Once you’ve cut the sheets, the standard and premium ranges of abalone and mother of pearl can be stuck to any surface using glues. Superglue (cyanoacrylate glue) is highly recommended, but we’ve seen people use clear varnishes and similar products as a bonding agent.
How do you make abalone shells shiny?
- Remove any pieces or barnacles or worms by hitting them with a small metal bar. Remove as much as you can.
- Scrub the outside of the shell with a wire brush.
- Fill your bucket 3/4 full with water.
- Apply a small amount of vitamin E oil to your fingertips and rub onto the inside and outside of your abalone shell to polish.