abalone veneers

[Comedie]

Hydrogen Peroxide works to soften some types of shell. Perhaps abalonen too.

[flatliner]

Originally Posted by AMAYIMOT

i did some research on this and found this post on Rod Builders Forum. I have the abalone but am waiting to use it on a blank worthy of it. keep in touch, i'd like to know how you do with it.

here's the post...............

Posted by: kevin knox (---.direcpc.com)
Date: February 16, 2008 07:42AM


Before I begin, I want to say that Rodbuilding is all about sharing ideas. Without this sharing, each and every one of us would not be where we are today in Rodbuilding. Each and every one of us are responsible for the advancement of the craft, and it is in that spirit that I share the following. If you have some time or interest, I reccommend trying it. It's beautiful and certainly easy.

How to prepare Abalone for application:

1. Purchase RAW abalone. The supplier that I use paints one side and has an adhesive on one side. The adhesive is the same that they use on rearview mirrors on car windshields. This stickyback abalone is easy to apply, but once its on, it's on.

2. Measure in 1-2" increments over the area that you wish to apply abalone to get OD of the blank. I get the OD by wrapping tape around the blank and overlapping the tape. Then, use a razor and cut the tape at the overlap and that will give you an easily transferrable measurement of the tape. Do this for however many icrements that you wish and transfer to the abalone shell. When placing on the shell laminate, do so, so that the tape is going "across the strips of shell. In other words, the shell strips that make up the abalone sheets are going up the blank.

3. Once your tape marks are transferred onto the laminate, I ad about a 1/8" to allow for a tight fit around the blank. Place the abalone on a paper cutter (guillatine style) or use a laser cutter that any trophy shop would have and cut the shell sheet in a slow and steady fashion. I found that the softening process causes some minor shrinkage.

4. Once cut, take a tupperware container (I use one that is 8" x12 flat). Place abalone shell in the bottom of the container and cover with vinager. Either white vinager or the regular brown will suffice.
Leave it in the container and start monitoring the veneer for 48 to 72 hours. While it is in the vinager, the adhesive is impervious to to water, so it will still work.

5. Remove the abalone from the vinager and dry on a flat surface with paper towels or towel. When the abalone has soaked and softened, it will be stiff but pliable when removed from the vinager.

6. Take the adhesive back off the sheet and place on the blank. It is important that the sheet is placed perfectly on a line STRAIGHT up the blank. Start with just the edge applied to the blank and slowly and methodically press the veneer to the blank making sure that you work in a parallel line around the blank.
7. Bring the two edges together and trim any excess to give a nice seam. If you have a gap, I found that you can cut a sliver and place it in the gap at the seam making it barely noticable.

8. Once applied to the blank, you will see that some portions of shell will pop up. Work with each spot and press to the adhesive.

9. At this point, there will still be some spots that pop up. I take d thread and wrap an "underwrap" like I would for a butt wrap over the entire length of the abalone and I do it rather tight. I leave this on for 1-2 hours and then remove. Once removed, the abalone is in place and can be finished.

If you look under the misc. section in the photo section you can see the butt wrap that I did on a 50 class IGFA Trolling rod. Again, this isy method and I want to thank those that sent me in the vinager direction. I am sure that there are other methods out there, but this is what I am doing. I will add more tonite.

I will edit more and add more info this weekend. Have fun and keep sharing ideas!

I have been approached and will be putting together a PDF file containing complete instructions and photo's on how to do it. STAY TUNED!!!

Kevin Knox
Anglers Envy Custom Rods

Guys,
I have been on this board for a few weeks now, but wanted to modify my post from above to say that once cut, this veneer only needs to soak about 3 hours. When I posted this originally, the soak times were in a colder environment. Now that it is warmer, the soak times has decreased.
If anyone has any questions, please pm me.

Kevin Knox
Angler's Envy Custom Rods

[Capt. G]

I read the above posts, and realized that there are many way to do the same thing. The shell material that I use is not the "abalone tape/sheet" type--it is very thick and cracks (thank God, or it would not go on the way I do it). I am sure my way is not the best way, but it looks OK.
You can send me a PM if the aforementiond methods are not to your liking/style.