help ID this abalone species?

[Tippet]

I just got this stuff, I think I got a good deal on it. I'd like to find out the species and approx. value, and any tips on how to use it's dish shape on a knife handle would be appreciated. I guess fill in the hollow with epoxy, and sand it flat? The oval is 3-1/4" x 2-1/2". I paid $3 for it, and $2 more for a smaller piece.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Answered in the other forum,too.

No way to really tell the species once it is cut up.
Make a display stand or a belt buckle.
Worth about what you paid.
MOP is cut from abalone, but yours is of a different type and badly eaten by the borers.

 

[Tippet]

I thought you could tell the species by the look of the irridescence.

Yes the boring critters got this one for sure, but i still like it. I hve an idea to use it on a knife handle. I'm not into making belt buckles yet but I like the display stand idea. Thanks for the comeback.

 

[A C Richards]

you can tell by the outer shell which has been polished off on this one. You could take a guess based upon the shape but it would be a guess. Looks like possibly a red but it kind of looks short so possibly a black. In this form it really does not make that much difference. Please be careful in grinding this material. It must be done with a jewelers grinder and with water. The dust can be hazardous and abalone gives off toxins in the smoke if done dry.

Most use a mosaic handle design when using abalone. As you have found it is hard to get good flat pieces. Then the worm holes make it even harder to get good sections.

 

[Frank Niro]

I've never seen it loaded with worm holes like that. It certainly is attractive to me. I think I would try one folder for sale with the worm holes intact. Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

My brother in CA was an abalone diver many years back. He gave me many red abalone shells. Most were eaten up by the borers. I still have a stack out in the shop. Belt buckles are really nice from this stuff.

Fill the holes with either clear epoxy, or better, the inlace filling compound from TKS. You could use the gold, silver, or blue to get a great look. When the resin is polished flush with the surface, the abalone should look exquisite.

Abalone dust is bad to breath for as lot of reasons, but contrary to what I was taught as a younger jeweler, it is not especially toxic. It can make you nauseous, and give you a headache. Wearing a good respirator, and removing all the dust when you are done will solve most problems.

 

[Tippet]

Thanks guys. I really like the bore holes, they have patterns all their own so they do bing something to the table. I plan to use it with hollow part filled in, to get flat mounting surfaces. I think I can make an arguably ergonomic design from the options left me by this challenging shape. Sure will be fragile though.