Solid Shell Blanks: Black MOP #1

Smoky gray to solid black mother of pearl, often flashing enough color to read as abalone at an angle. Dramatic and modern, it is the go-to dark shell for light-colored grounds and maple work.

Traditional solid-shell blanks: random usable shapes and sizes, uniform thickness with no taper, perfectly flat, hand-trimmed of bad edges and corners. Each blank is checked free of worm holes, cracks, dead areas, discoloration and hollow spots — the weight you pay for is fully usable inlay stock. Sold by the ounce; it takes about 1–2 ounces to inlay a typical guitar or banjo neck.

Specifications

• Shell: Pinctada margaritifera; Tahiti
• Thicknesses: .030" – .060"
• Sold: by the ounce
• SKU: BLANK-BLACK-1

Working with this shell

Saw or jeweler's-saw your shapes, rout the cavity to match, and glue in. Thicker blanks suit curved surfaces; thinner blanks cut faster and need shallower routs on flat work. Inlay gold and black MOP as deeply as possible — their color layer is thin and sands away fast. Always wear a respirator: shell dust is hazardous to breathe.

Please note: Solid black to very dark brown on the face; color layer is thin — inlay as deeply as possible.

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