Larryreitz
Member
Some time ago (penturners.org/threads/abalone-strips.176656/#post-2177999) I asked a question which generated quite a bit of interest. I have finally made a few and while I think I have a fair ways to go I thought I'd share what I have learned so far. For what it's worth here goes:
1. An excellent stating point is the tutorial in the resources library by Cody Walker--Making Jewel Beetle Wing and Abalone Shell Blanks: I wish I had found and read it before I started playing with abalone.
2. Glues tried: CA --don't bother.
3M 77 heavy duty adhesive -- good glue but too messy for me to deal with.
Clear finger nail polish -- slow but works and is what I used for the most part.
Adhesive backed sheet-- Only for flexible (thin) abalone.
3. Abalone thickness options:
1.5 mm w/o adhesive back. requires glue. Difficult to cut
0. 17 mm somewhat flexible, probably will crack (my experience_ when
rolled around a tube. Cuts with scissors. adhesive backed
0.07mm thin and can be rolled around a tube. Adhesive backed, but, has cross
hatch pattern from manufacturing process
4. Casting-- I used Alumilite Clear Slow polyurethane and John U's vertical casting system.
5. Cutting-- My brother does all cutting of the 1.5 mm strips with his 10 watt laser enclosed in a fume
hood. All in all a rather expensive set up. It may be over kill and lower wattage lasers may well work.
If you want to go this route please don't do it w/o a good hood to exhaust or other wise capture the fumes.
Likewise everyone has to determine what cutting settings work best on their equipment.
Here are a few pictures:
first image: 1.5 mm thick Abalone in1/8 in
second image: 0.17 mm thick abalone rolled onto tube
third image: 1.5mm thick abalone in 1/8 in strips
fourth image:
1. An excellent stating point is the tutorial in the resources library by Cody Walker--Making Jewel Beetle Wing and Abalone Shell Blanks: I wish I had found and read it before I started playing with abalone.
2. Glues tried: CA --don't bother.
3M 77 heavy duty adhesive -- good glue but too messy for me to deal with.
Clear finger nail polish -- slow but works and is what I used for the most part.
Adhesive backed sheet-- Only for flexible (thin) abalone.
3. Abalone thickness options:
1.5 mm w/o adhesive back. requires glue. Difficult to cut
0. 17 mm somewhat flexible, probably will crack (my experience_ when
rolled around a tube. Cuts with scissors. adhesive backed
0.07mm thin and can be rolled around a tube. Adhesive backed, but, has cross
hatch pattern from manufacturing process
4. Casting-- I used Alumilite Clear Slow polyurethane and John U's vertical casting system.
5. Cutting-- My brother does all cutting of the 1.5 mm strips with his 10 watt laser enclosed in a fume
hood. All in all a rather expensive set up. It may be over kill and lower wattage lasers may well work.
If you want to go this route please don't do it w/o a good hood to exhaust or other wise capture the fumes.
Likewise everyone has to determine what cutting settings work best on their equipment.
Here are a few pictures:
first image: 1.5 mm thick Abalone in1/8 in
second image: 0.17 mm thick abalone rolled onto tube
third image: 1.5mm thick abalone in 1/8 in strips
fourth image:
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