Slotted Square Inlay - Paua Abalone

In stock
SKU
IN-011-202
$3.80
  • Buy 6 for $3.00 each and save 21%
Paua Abalone slotted square for fingerboard markers or bridge decorations - 5 x 5mm - 1.25mm (0.050") thick - Natural shell Paua Abalone comes from the seas of New Zealand. It has an excellent colour range and great iridescence making it an ideal material for fingerboard inlays in both dark and light coloured fingerboards. It has a darker and richer colour than Mother of Pearl or other Abalones with hues of green, blue, pink, purple and red. Slotted diamond and square inlays are often used in place of dots on guitar fingerboards. They're a great way to dress up a guitar and aren't overly complicated to install. They should be installed into a cavity made by routing or chiseling. Always wear a dust mask when sanding and cutting pearl as the dust may be hazardous if inhaled.
Paua Abalone square diamond inlay for fingerboards

A cavity needs to be made in the timber for the inlays to be installed in. The best way to create this is with a Dremel router and small downcut bit.

If a Dremel isn't available the cavity can be made with a small sharp chisel.

The diamonds/squares should be set in using epoxy with some sanding dust mixed into it. The sanding dust should be the from the timber being inlaid.

Once the epoxy has dried level the diamonds/squares to the timber using a hard sanding block or fingerboard radius block with sandpaper attached with double-sided tape. This hard block will help keep the surface level.