Inlaying Mother of Pearl

The first step in inlaying Pearl or Abalone is to obtain a suitable piece of around .050 to .060 inch thick. Draw the desired design on a piece of white paper. Using white glue, glue the paper on to the pearl piece and let it dry for 30 min.

Use a jeweler's saw with no. 8/0 blade for carefully cutting out the design. Using a downward pulling stroke, a very intricate design can be cut. Use an aquarium air pump to blow away any dust accumulation so the design lines can easily be seen. After the design is cut out, carefully inspect for rough or uneven edges and sand or file smooth.

To prepare the surface for inlay, finish sand the stock to be inlayed to a very close tolerance of the final size. Using a light color Tempera paint, cover the area to be inlayed, being careful not to cover it too heavy. On simple designs the cut-out piece can be held in place while tracing around it with a sharp scribe or razor knife. On complicated designs the cut-out should be lightly glued in place. After tracing, remove with an exacto knife or soak in warm water. Large or complicated designs can be done by cutting the design into sections or pieces and proceeding as described above.

To route the design cavity, use a Dremel Tool with a router base and No. 111 engraving cutter. The cavity should be cut slightly shallower than the thickness of the pearl to be inlayed. After routing, test fit the Pearl. Sharp corners can be cut with a razor knife.

If the piece fits, use a fine coating of Epoxie to glue the piece in place. After drying, use the dust from some scrap stock to mix with the Epoxie to fill any void around the inlayed piece. Please note that a finely and carefully inlayed piece will require little fill.

After drying, wet sand the surface with 400 then 600 wet or dry paper with Mineral-spirits. Polish with any good polish. I prefer aluminum oxide.