Red Copper Abalone Shell Veneer (5.5" x 9.5") with 3M Adhesive

Thickness: 0.18-0.4mm

Size: 9.5” by 5.5”

New Zealand Abalone (Pāua) Veneer
Our veneers have been carefully sliced from whole shells. An intricate process that turns a curved shell into a flat and versatile product solution using thin strips of shell called feathers which are pieced together like a puzzle to form the full sheet. Perfect for inlay, this shell veneer maintains the vibrant natural colors of the shell and is predominantly used to embellish wooden home furnishings, ring inlay, jewelry inlay, project inlay and musical instruments.

A sheet of 3M brand adhesive backing that is also 9.5" by 5.5". This is not attached to the shell veneer so you may use it depending on your application.
To attach the 3M adhesive, lay the shell face down on a flat surface and attach the 3M adhesive by removing one side of the 3M adhesive masking and gently but firmly adhering it. If the veneer is flat and on a flat surface gently roll over the masking with a small roller.
At this point you can either attach the shell to another material such as wood veneer, wood, acrylic or whatever you want, or you can cut it as is with a laser, blade or scissors.

To cut it with the laser
Lay the shell face up with the 3M backing down on your laser bed.
Pin the shell down carefully with honeycomb pins to keep it in one place when you start cutting. Sometimes the air assist fan can blow it out of place if you don’t pin it down. We suggest Glowforge cut settings of 250 speed full power. It will cut at a faster speed but since everyone’s lasers seem to cut differently, this is a good setting to start at. You can score on the shell as well. The settings we use for this are 500 speed full power.

Note: Shell veneer is made of natural, yet brittle materials, making them vulnerable to small imperfections such as holes, cracks, or variations in color.