Traditional Straight Strips: Paua Abalone

Paua abalone — the most colorful nacreous shell in the world — in spectacular butterfly-wing blues, greens and purples. Sought after, hard to obtain, and unforgettable once inlaid.

Traditional solid-shell strips cut from genuine solid shell — not laminate — in random lengths averaging about 1 inch. Strip ends are not squared; square them with a file or nip them with sharp side-cutters. Figure about 70 inches per large guitar body edge and 15 inches per soundhole rosette; a Martin D-45 style guitar takes about 290 inches.

Specifications

• Shell: Haliotis iris; New Zealand
• Sizes: .047" x .050" – .098" x .050"
• Sold: per strip (random ~1" lengths)
• SKU: TRAD-STR-PAUA

Working with this shell

Always order extra, especially for color-matched work. Take care matching adjoining ends and joints become almost invisible; or deliberately fade from one color to another for a graduated effect. Wear a respirator when sanding — shell dust is hazardous.

Please note: May include heart material.

SORRY NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING due to law, Shell SHIPS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES ONLY