First the tools you will need to buy / steal / borrow...
You need some Jeweller Blades. These are the ones I get from StewMac. As you can see they are very thin. Comes in pack of 10. And they have around 50 to 60 teeth per inch that you will use to cut on the DOWNstroke.
Now, if you have some Jewellers blades you naturally will need a Jewellers SAW! (Go figure!)
Here is mine acquired from Australian Luthier Supplies.
Now there is a trick to putting the blades into the Jewellers saw.
Step one is to unravel the extremely thin wire StewMac wrap the blades in and carefully remove a blade.
Step two, grab a plain wax candle and coat the blade by running the blade gently once or twice through the candle. This ensures less friction when cutting your MOP (mother of Pearl).
Then loosen the two keys on the Saw that will hold each end of the blade. Insert the blade and TIGHTEN ONLY the SAW HANDLE END.
Press the handle (pointy end) against your stomach and compress the space between the two keys so that you can tighten the 'loosed' key to hold the blade in place. This manoever essentially tightens the blade so that it is taut and ready for use.
Next up, we need to make a 'birds beak' out of wood. This apparatus will be used to position the MOP on top of the jaws of the beak so that you can begin to cut your MOP.
Below I have marked out roughly the shape of the beak on the wood. (I have used a scrap piece to show this.)
Off to the band saw, but any saw (other than your brand new Jewellers saw will do). And cut out the beak like so!
Ok - so thats the tools handled. Other than a clamp that you will need to hold the birds beak onto your work bench and possibly a good lamp so that you can see what you are doing!
Last edited by Gavin1393; 16-09-2015 at 06:39 PM.
Noice one Gav
I get my MOP from www.mopsupplies.com
These guys are great to deal with and have a massive range of shell products
This is my shell cutting doovalacky, a different take on the theme but it works well.
Last edited by dingobass; 16-09-2015 at 07:20 PM.
There is always a workaround for glitches, mistakes and other Guitar building gremlins.....
MOPsupplies are indeed terrific and the only ones I use! Of curse I mean of course the USA wont supply anyone outside of America so really great we have a local distributor!Originally Posted by dingobass
Noice one Gav
I get my MOP from www.mopsupplies.com
These guys are great to deal with and have a massive range of shell products
This is my Pearl shell cutting doovalacky......(Having an issue with my picture uploads all of a sudden... apparently unless I took them with my phone they are not formatted correctly....
I am still scratching my head as to why the US Government has banned the export of shell....
Its a real dumbarse move considering they source most of their shell from New Zealand!
There is always a workaround for glitches, mistakes and other Guitar building gremlins.....
Good tutorial Gav and DB, I'll have a read tomoz
Current Builds and status
scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck
Completed builds
scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
