Abalam Laminated Sheet: Green Sea Snail — Surface Inlay

Creamy, lightly green-tinted sea snail shell with a distinctive dome-like rolling movement of light. Cut from strongly curved shell, it has an elegant vintage character prized since the 1930s instrument trade.

Abalam laminated veneer-ply sheet, approximately 9.5 x 5.5 inches. Unlike thin veneer, Abalam fuses shell layers into a thick, stable ply: deeper and more consistent color that will not sand away, fewer and less obvious joints, and no natural fracture lines — it breaks evenly where solid shell would follow a fault.

Specifications

• Shell: Turbo marmoratus; Japan
• Sheet size: approx. 9.5" x 5.5"
• Thicknesses: .030" – .060"
• Sold: per sheet
• SKU: VP-SNAIL

Working with this shell

Saw, rout or carve like a dense hardwood; the laminated ply cuts cleanly without the fracture lines of solid shell. Sand through grits and polish for a deep wet look. Do not soak to soften — test any wet technique on scrap first. Wear a respirator: shell dust is hazardous.

Please note: Large curved pieces form a distinctive lengthwise “S” pattern across the sheet.

SURFACE INLAY ONLY: this laminated sheet is thicker than veneer stock and is made for surface inlay work — carving, sign making, and inlay into wood, stone and similar surfaces. Not recommended for reverse glass work due to thickness.

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