Post #406444 by Louiethefish on Sun, Sep 7, 2008 10:42 AM

I was wondering if any of you multi-talented carvers have worked in Pearl or abalone shell, or other shell. I have been carving hooks and fish from shell for over 30 years, so I have learned a few tricks about shell which I would be happy to share with any interested carvers.
Finding shell is also a big problem, and I am constantly on the hunt for big thick shell. Usta be that Black Lip Pearl shell was the most common in large sizes, but harvesting wild shells has been outlawed in many island countries, and only small farm raised black shells are easily available. For large gold shells, the western Pacific is the best area, with great golden color ones coming out of the Solomons and New Guines, but finding a source is hard. For California red abalone, you really need to know someone who dives for them and has a stash they are willing to sell, and it can be very difficult to find abalone that is not riddled with sea worm holes. Anyone got a good source they would like to share?
Here are some pics of my work in shell........Vinaka vaka levu, Louie (Na Ika)