Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 2, 2019 13:54:17 GMT -5
Several years ago I found this heart shaped piece of what I believe to be Abalone shell that has been naturally ocean beach polished to a gorgeous gloss. I have done nothing to it in regards to polish or shaping. I found it on a beach in northern California and showed it to my wife who immediately fell in love with it and has checked in with me from time to time just to remind me that she still loves it and looks forward to wearing it as a pendant one day. I thought maybe I can get it done this Christmas ... It was hard to photograph - the fire flash is really beautiful in hand. I was inspired by our new member ᎡᎵᏔᎻ to post these photos (and video) and maybe get some design ideas for it. The 'top' when oriented as a heart is the thickest point at around 3/8 of an inch (1 cm) and contains multiple curves and a hollow backside (as shown in the video) so simply drilling a hole is problematic - as is what damage would occur to the piece from direct contact from a cord or chain going through the hole. Should I fill the backside so I can drill it and have it lay flat? What material would work best for filling? It's pretty large already and I don't want to add a lot of weight. Should I create a small cabochon that fits in the hole in the center? What material? What color? I would probably have to dremel out a 'girdle' inside the hole in the shell for a nice secure surface to glue the stone to. Should I create a second tiny cabochon that fits in the depression to the left of the main hole when in heart shape orientation? Would that look too gaudy? Anyway, I'm looking forward to any and all comments and design ideas if anyone has them.      |
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Dec 2, 2019 14:10:16 GMT -5
What a beautiful shell.
I would put a small cab in the center. Color to compliment one of the flash colors.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Dec 2, 2019 14:36:33 GMT -5
Awesome! At about 12 seconds, you can see a "lip" on it. I bet you can cut that lip off around the shell to make it more flat. You could probably use a jewelers saw or dremel cut off wheel. Then I would just clean it up and use as is - with the hole. I like the hole. It adds interest. I wouldn't put a cab in it. Can you drill a hole on the pointy end? Can you wrap it?
|
|
|
|
Post by miket on Dec 2, 2019 15:44:04 GMT -5
I like it the way it is, it sounds like your wife does also. It's a very beautiful piece. I agree with Tela about maybe flattening it out a bit and not putting a cab in the hole. What about just gluing a finding on it so you can keep it oriented as a heart shape? Keep in mind that I'm brand new at this and just shooting out an idea.  |
|
|
|
Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 2, 2019 16:32:50 GMT -5
Beautiful shell. Hope your able to work something out with it.
|
|
ᎡᎵᏔᎻ
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2019
Posts: 57 
|
Post by ᎡᎵᏔᎻ on Dec 2, 2019 17:21:15 GMT -5
Looks like a piece of Red Abalone I think it looks good like it is. If you was wanting to make it into a necklace I think you might be able to drill a hole through the back side to between the ridges on the top if that makes since. You can use diamond Rotary tools to put a hole in it. Just be sure not to get it to hot (best to do in water) then maybe a bead to keep it from coming back through. Something like this.  |
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 3, 2019 11:57:39 GMT -5
Awesome! At about 12 seconds, you can see a "lip" on it. I bet you can cut that lip off around the shell to make it more flat. You could probably use a jewelers saw or dremel cut off wheel. Then I would just clean it up and use as is - with the hole. I like the hole. It adds interest. I wouldn't put a cab in it. Can you drill a hole on the pointy end? Can you wrap it? Thanks. I've thought about that but cutting the lip off from the fattest side would mean removing most of the thinner side and then no more heart shape. I thought about doing this when I first found it - removing that side would also eliminate the smaller unsightly hole on the left side. What stops me is structurally I don't think I think the cut would come too close to the larger center hole and I don't trust myself not to ruin it. I could drill the pointy end but then I'd have to stop calling it a heart shape  |
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 3, 2019 12:01:07 GMT -5
I like it the way it is, it sounds like your wife does also. It's a very beautiful piece. I agree with Tela about maybe flattening it out a bit and not putting a cab in the hole. What about just gluing a finding on it so you can keep it oriented as a heart shape? Keep in mind that I'm brand new at this and just shooting out an idea. Thanks! I would have to take another look at it on how and where to glue a bail on - with the backside so hollow it doesn't lend itself to gluing anything on unless I could hide it behind the upper curvature of the fatter section. |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Dec 3, 2019 12:02:11 GMT -5
Awesome! At about 12 seconds, you can see a "lip" on it. I bet you can cut that lip off around the shell to make it more flat. You could probably use a jewelers saw or dremel cut off wheel. Then I would just clean it up and use as is - with the hole. I like the hole. It adds interest. I wouldn't put a cab in it. Can you drill a hole on the pointy end? Can you wrap it? Thanks. I've thought about that but cutting the lip off from the fattest side would mean removing most of the thinner side and then no more heart shape. I thought about doing this when I first found it - removing that side would also eliminate the smaller unsightly hole on the left side. What stops me is structurally I don't think I think the cut would come too close to the larger center hole and I don't trust myself not to ruin it. I could drill the pointy end but then I'd have to stop calling it a heart shape  Ok. I bet it could be netted as is very nicely. |
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 3, 2019 12:04:59 GMT -5
Looks like a piece of Red Abalone I think it looks good like it is. If you was wanting to make it into a necklace I think you might be able to drill a hole through the back side to between the ridges on the top if that makes since. You can use diamond Rotary tools to put a hole in it. Just be sure not to get it to hot (best to do in water) then maybe a bead to keep it from coming back through. Something like this. Thank you for the input. This is something I hadn't thought of - drilling and putting a bead on the inside. My biggest fear is stability and I've worried that any kind of drilled hanging mechanism would eventually cause the fragile shell material to crack and break BUT now I can picture surrounding and stabilizing the bead and drilled area with epoxy. |
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 3, 2019 12:14:05 GMT -5
Ok. I bet it could be netted as is very nicely. Maybe, but with MY skill level and ability to accomplish a decent looking result, I would have to outsource to someone with talents that I don't possess Probably the reason I've sat on it for this long. I picture my wrapping looking like this...  |
|
julieooly
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721 
|
Post by julieooly on Dec 3, 2019 16:03:12 GMT -5
I'm on the other side of this conversation, I think it should have a cab in the middle. Also, if you turn it upside down and drill the pointy side then it's a butt/boob-shape and you can tell your wife it reminds you of her......
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 3, 2019 20:29:53 GMT -5
I'm in the au naturale camp. I'd be concerned that putting a heavy cab in the middle would be detrimental to the shell. I'm guessing it would have to be expoxied in there somehow and that if the expoxy failed it would rip off some of the nacre and ruin the shell. Also, being heavier if it should happen to swing forward and hit something ...
Tommy - you might consider drilling the hole like ᎡᎵᏔᎻ suggested, but inserting a very small piece of sterling tubing to put the cord through to protect the shell. |
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Dec 4, 2019 6:05:19 GMT -5
Was holding back, as I am no means an expert. In the past I have used the Dremel to drill through Abalone shells 1/8" or less thick. It works, with lots of water and going slowly.
I have also set cabs within other stones/shells. I did use a pre-made setting for all recently. In the past, I made my own settings.
Have you considered placing a backing on the shell? Then a cab setting could easily be attached in the "hole". That is how I did it in the past. I soldered the setting within the hole on the backing. Then set the stone in the setting.
Sorry. this was in the 1980's and 90's. Have no photos.
Understand what a special present this will be.
Wish you well on this project.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 4, 2019 10:22:01 GMT -5
Also, if you turn it upside down and drill the pointy side then it's a butt/boob-shape and you can tell your wife it reminds you of her...... That's always a solid plan but what it turns out to look more like a pair of man-danglers?  I can't risk it - plus she was the one who noticed the heart first and calls it as such. |
|
I can't risk it - plus she was the one who noticed the heart first and calls it as such.
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew