The information below is based on our years of experience working with Mother of Pearl (MOP). It is intended as a basic introduction to the methods of working the material and is in no way intended to be a definitive guide to the subject as the ways of working the material are limited only by the imagination of the person doing the job, After over 100 years of supplying MOP we are still finding new ways of doing things as new tools come on the market or new requirements from our customers cause us to scratch our heads and work out how to adapt existing tools and machines to cope. If in the course of your work with MOP you come across any new tools which seem to work well with the material we are always interested to hear from you as none of us ever stop learning. We can always supply one or two off cut pieces if required for you to practice your technique before starting on your best piece.

Although to the best of our knowledge the dust created when working M O P is non toxic, it is still important however to take care to avoid breathing it in as in common with any other fine dust it may cause discomfort if inhaled into the lungs. If using power tools it is important to ensure good ventilation and ideally an extraction system of some kind should be used ( a domestic vacuum cleaner pipe held near to the work area is often all that is required). When working with hand tools dust is not usually a problem but if in doubt, wearing a basic dust mask (available from DIY stores) will give adequate protection. In our long association with MOP we have never encountered anyone who has had a problem or adverse reaction of any kind to skin contact with MOP or its dust. The dust is easily removed from hands with soap and water

Hand tools

MOP can be cut using hand tools such as a hacksaw or jewellers piercing saw . The blades used in either case should have relatively fine teeth and be in good condition ie sharp and with no broken or missing teeth which may cause the material to snag and break. The most important precaution when cutting MOP especially thin pieces, is to ensure the piece is adequately supported in a vice or clamped to a bench or block of wood keeping the line of cut as close to the vice as possible. This is to avoid the blade dragging and snapping the piece instead of cutting cleanly through. As although MOP is relatively strong it can be quite brittle in thin sections. If you are using a vice without soft jaws it is worth using a thin piece of wood either side of the MOP to avoid the metal jaws damaging the surface of the piece.

Power tools

When using any power tools on MOP it is vital to ensure the instructions on workpiece support and dust control detailed above are followed to ensure a successful cut and comfortable work environment. Band saws or circular saws are the most suitable power tools for cutting MOP. The blades used in either case should ideally be fine toothed metal or diamond edged. The cutting should be done slowly to avoid over heating either the blade or the work piece pausing if necessary to let things cool off. Alternatively if your saw has the facility to work wet this is ideal as in addition to cooling the work, the water also helps to keep the dust under control. We have found that oscillating saws such as jig saws are not usually very successful when used on MOP due to the difficulty in supporting the work piece adequately.

Shaping Mother of Pearl

Hand tools

Basic hand tools such as files and abrasive blocks and papers are ideal for shaping MOP using the same support guidelines as detailed in the cutting section. Use coarser grades for bulk material removal and finer grades for final shaping. Using saws as described above can also be useful when shaping if grooves or slots are required. Holes can be drilled in MOP using standard high speed steel twist drills either by hand or using a power drill (see below for precautions if using a power drill)

Power tools

Most power tools using abrasives, milling cutters, burrs etc can be used to shape MOP. Large carborundum wheels can be used for bulk material removal. Small rotary power tools such as the Dremel range have proved particularly useful for intricate shaping and cutting work with the wide range of accessories available. As ever the support of the work piece is critical and dust precautions should be taken when using any power tool. When using a power drill to drill holes in MOP it is important to avoid the drill bit overheating as this can cause the MOP to scorch . If possible water should be used while drilling to keep the bit cool. If this is not possible due to electrical safety considerations for example then drilling should be done slowly and carefully pausing occasionally to allow things to cool down.

There are various stages of finish that can be achieved with MOP depending on your requirements.

Natural finish

This is when the natural appearance of the inside of the shell is retained with all its undulations and natural shine. This is limited to certain pieces for example in jewellery making where accurate shaping is not needed and every piece can be a one off shape. The back of the piece would still require finishing as the back of the shell has a rough bark coating

Satin finish

This is a pleasant finish which is smooth with a slight sheen . It can be achieved by using successively finer grades of wet or dry carborundum paper until the required appearance is reached. The finer the grade of paper used the smoother the final finish will be especially if the final stages can be done with the paper wet (the water will not damage the MOP but take care if any other materials are involved that they will not be damaged for example if the MOP is inlaid into wood).

Gloss finish

Before either of the methods below are used the MOP should be finished to satin as described above. A high gloss finish can be applied to MOP if required using a polishing buff or dolly mop in an electric drill or on a spindle and a suitable polishing compound The compound we use is called whitex and is primarily sold for stainless steel finishing. Other compounds also work for example jewellers rouge which is useful if you want to finish MOP combined with silver or other precious metals. If power polishing is not available or not desirable due to the location of the MOP a lacquer can be used to give a shine. Many types are available and all should be fine used over MOP however it would be worth trying it out on a piece of scrap before coating the finished job. The level of shine and the durability are totally dependent on the quality of the lacquer used.

Sticking Mother of Pearl
If you wish to attach Mother of Pearl to itself or to another material many adhesives would be suitable. We have found two part epoxy resin seems to work well giving a strong bond with good gap filling properties. If you are unsure whether a particular adhesive is suitable it is best to experiment by sticking two scrap pieces first. Always follow manufacturers instructions when using any adhesive products.