Mother of pearl????

greshamblades

greshamblades

Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
64
I've recieved 2 big shells of mother of pearl and i'm not sure how to cut or sand it. I'm afraid to start on it in fear i'll crack it from heat/pressure. Any input would be great!! Also, I think it's goldlip, anyone know how to tell the difference? thanks...
 
Ditto on the Good Quality Respirator.MOP and Abalone are both toxic.
If you are going to cut your own you really need lapidary equipment with water spray to do it right.If you are still determined to do it yourself,with knifemaking equipment,here is a rough procedure.Remember,everything around where you work will be coated in the dust,so work outside,and clean up well.Saw it on your metal cutting band saw at slow speed, use a good hacksaw, or jewelers saw.Grind it with new belts at slow speed.Shape and finish with files,fine stone wheels (dremmel) ,diamond burrs and wheels,and wet or dry sandpaper (use it wet).Polish with matchless white or white rouge.If using a buffer,go easy,it will burn quickly.The 3M finishing papers (those multi-colored sheets)from 400 to 8000 work excellent for hand finishing.
 
bullet proof stuff. The Gold Lipped Clam is BIG!! (many of them are 6 in. in length or more...) they produce the famous South Sea pearls... mostly black or green in color and very expensive. I sell'em. Like Stacy says, use new belts and use a resperator. It's really easy to work ... its "Father of Pearl" you gotta watch out for.

:) m
 
Thanks for the info guys! I did not know mop was so toxic?!?! Maybe i'll just hang on to it for a while....
 
MOP dust is no more toxic than 90% of the chemicals you have under the kitchen sink.you are more likely to be in trouble sanding exotic wood. a good dust respirator is always good for any type of dust condition,but you are much less likely to kill yourself from MOP dust than burning the zinc off a galvanized pipe.

http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/other.html
 
Shakoudo,I am not trying to pick on you,but there is a serious issue here.This forum is used by many novices to find out how to do things.They do not have the skill or knowledge to understand the products they are working with usually.When you tell them that XYZ (in this case MOP dust) is less poisonous than galvanized pipe fumes they don't know the difference.The point is that both are dangerous! MOP dust can make you quite sick and is harmful to the lungs,abalone is even worse.To put into the terms that anyone can understand..........
getting shot with a 22 is not as bad as getting shot with a 357mag,but who wants to get shot in the first place?
Sorry to sound like a hard ass,but safety is not a casual matter - Stacy
 
There is something in the new blade maga bout drilling pearl I think.....
 
Stacy, maybe you should try reading my post and pay attention to the line i stated to use a respirator. most people that read these forums are adults and scare tactics really don't provide a service here. if your medical background has documented proof that MOP dust is toxic in all cases and not just with a very who have preexisting health problems post it so everyone can be informed.

http://www.knifehandles.com/mophealth.htm
 
A few things and I'll leave it.
First,many of these forumites are NOT adults.
Second,taking health seriously is not a scare tactic - it is just good sense.
Third,the site you listed does state that MOP dust can cause sever lung damage.
Fourth,I never said MOP was fatal,I said it could make you sick.There are much worse things than killing yourself quickly- struggling for every breath is a slow excruciating way to spend your end years (there are several old timers on this site who can attest to that).
Finally,If you want to do risky thing yourself,it is your right.But don't suggest others do them just because you don't care what it does to you.
 
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