How To Polish Abalone Shells Like a Pro! Contour and Level Polishing Paua, Pink, & Midas Abalone!

In this one we tackle a subject I have covered before in the past, how to polish abalone shells! I wanted to readdress a video that I made a looooong time ago(Literally my second video) and that one is rough; let's just say my videos have gotten MUCH better in the three years I've been doing this and this is a subject that deserved to be done justice! We take three different species of abalone(Pink Haliotis, Paua abalone, and midas abalone) and show 3 different methods for polishing them. You can either go with a level polish, or go the very time consuming but so worth it route of doing a contour polish! The end result is truly incredible! I highly recommend that everyone try this at some point in you life; there is nothing quite like a polished abalone!
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#TheFinders #Abalone #Shells

[@cynthiaguthrie8303]

Abalone is very special to me. When I was a kid growing up on the Southern California beaches, there were more abalone shells than one could pick up. Now they are so endangered here that rarely can even a little chip can be found

[@TheoKellison]

Man i cant even imagine seeing abalone like that😱 it is some of my favorite stuff on the planet but they have unfortunately such a long history of overcollection in some areas😞 farming and reintroduction efforts have been productive in helping them out but i doubt theyll ever fully return to their former numbers. Which is sad because they are such amazing shells and amazing animals!

[@pocasanchez]

I'm here watching this video bc I have a bag of abalone shells from Mendocino that my sister and I collected after the tsunami(2010, I believe). I've had them in storage and she asks about them at least once a year and I finally found them and want to polish some up to gift her😊 We didn't plan on collecting shells at all and were just walking on the beach but we started seeing them and then kept climbing the freshly tousled rock slope bc there were so many up there. Our feet were literally bleeding but we just couldn't resist their beauty! Lol good times😊

[@mastadon7771]

@@TheoKellisonactually it was not over-harvesting. There was a disease that nearly wiped out the population down here. They were literally here one year, gone the next. I still see them but not very often.

[@jasperjudd]

People have already mentioned the over harvesting and disease issues, but another big and often unexpected factor is actually purple sea urchins. Their populations have grown out of control and in the last decade they ate roughly 90% of Californias kelp forests. Without the protection of the kelp forests, abalones are in even greater danger. A few years ago a bunch of divers volunteered at a beach/park by my house to collect as many sea urchins as possible and relocate them to crystal cove. Since then, the kelp forest has been growing back wonderfully and abalone shells can once again be found at the beach! It’s only a tiny portion of the coast, but it gives me hope to see them coming back to that park!

[@raygay3375]

When I was in high school I played saxophone 🎷 in our band. The keys on my instrument were all mother of pearl. Beautiful stuff!

[@reeyoenoka]

I'm from Aotearoa New Zealand...Paua shell is a thing of beauty, the colours off the universe, awesome work bro🔥😎👍🏽

[@kaijuk]

I love that you wet sand and express the safety, people don't realise breathing in shell dust can give you some nasty stuff even heavy metal poisoning which can be fatal. I love your work the Dremel carved ones look amazing with the texture, I wish we came across shells like this in the UK. I must try to find some online unpolished for a decent price and get my Dremel out,I feel inspired 😊❤️👍🏻✌🏻

[@donnalantz7981]

I love the look when they are all polished. Just stunning. And you are so so right about your earlier videos and how different they were. Over the course of many many days I have now watched every video you have put out on here. We all got to watch you blossom and grow into the confident young man you are now. You do truly amazing work no matter what you are working with at the time. Thank you for sharing your artistry with us all.

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!☺ that truly means so much! It has been a journey for sure! And well worth the time and effort but some of my earliest videos definitely deserve a redo😅 we wont make a habit of it though😂 thanks so much for watching!😄

[@meetabose6340]

You R A Genius with the polishing & bringing out the True Beauty of the Abalone Pearly Shell! Quite Awesomely & Stunningly AMAZING! Not all or anybody with tools can coax out the Charrming Beauty of the Abolone Shell! Just My Opinion, it takes An Artist to Truly Bring Out the Art!

[@mariehillard1742]

They are all gobsmackingly beautiful! Love it!

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

* Those shells are Fabulous. I could never do that. Thank You for taking the time to do it right & make them Beautiful. Much Appreciated..

[@jerlynneallison6361]

That purple on that last one was GORGEOUS!!! 🥰💜🥰💜🥰💜🥰💜🥰💜🥰💜🥰💜🥰

[@TheoKellison]

Right!?😄 gotta love those vibrant colors!😁

[@justjulee9135]

Abalone is very beautiful! I was amazed at the colors that popped out! Thanks for the video!

[@TheoKellison]

Its some amazing stuff!😄 so much color in those things!

[@amberdarnell7909]

Just wow those are beautiful 😍 ❤

[@michellestenton6430]

They are all gorgeous. The colours are amazing and of course, you are the master at what you do. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing Theo

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄 gotta love the abalone!😄 such vibrant colors!

[@maiguapa8]

Wow Theo! You really inspire me. I’m here up north (Sta Cruz, Ca) and my friend has abalones 3 giants and 1 small one. I showed her this video so she says she will give me one so I can do what you do. Pretty exciting. Tomorrow we are heading home to LA and so if I’m not working, I will start cleaning/polishing my shell. I cannot thank you enough for the tips I learned. I can’t wait next year to start with the faceting too! I appreciate you Theo! Thanks much! 🙏🏼💕

[@TheoKellison]

Oh awesome!!!😄 you will love watching those shells tranform😁 it is so amazing seeing that color come out more and more! And seriously thanks so much, that really means a lot!😄

[@gabeee4332]

Love this I collect the big shells always loved the way the inside looked never polished them on the outside the color reveal is absolutely beautiful I think I'll try this...🤞

[@cordymarchione3471]

They are so beautiful. You do such fabulous work. You are so under appreciated.

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much! That really means a lot!☺

[@michelemartinez4989]

Those are beautiful your amazing

[@rendaowe]

I had no idea that they were just as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside, incredible. I really enjoyed watching this thank you very much. ❤️👍🏼

[@davidgrove481]

Stunning colors!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@bobhicks2762]

crazy beautiful colors

[@beloitrose]

Those look otherworldly! Gorgeous

[@nimblesofwimbledon]

I work at a hybrid abalone farm in Australia. It's definitely "a-buh-lo-nee". Also, thanks for the video! I'm just about to start carving the shells for jewellery

[@raystevens687]

Well another fine job hope you can keep doing your craft for a long time.

[@donnal.hanrahan2824]

Love it had no idea it was doable . Stunning!

[@ninjatv3179]

Those are so cool! Thank you so much for these how to from start to finish videos. I love learning how to do new things like this.

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much for watching!😄

[@reiki11]

Hi Theo! Thanks for sharing!

[@anniesvensson2182]

They are beautiful!!

[@scottowens1535]

Awesome. Just back from Alaska and picked up a few. Now I'm golden on what to do. Thanks Theo

[@tamiw1903]

Loved that purple flashy one when it was finished...

[@TheoKellison]

Right!?😄 the heart on those things is just incredible😄

[@millie-mayprice891]

Your pronunciation of Pāua is a pleasant surprise. Most non-kiwi folk absolutely mangle te reo Māori (and tbh so do a fair amount of locals 😅) I'm always so prepared to cringe whenever I hear foreign youtubers talk about Māori anything, so this was just so nice! Good on ya mate.

[@soutsadavanthida3955]

Wow! You did an amazing awesome jobs with those abalone shell's! Great job Theo!

[@beckiburke781]

Wow I just saw this. I have one and had no idea. I cant wait to polish it. Thank you for sharing and teaching us how to.

[@deniseview4253]

Gorgeous! I love this shell.

[@inareyneke2343]

It is absolutely stunning!!

[@HARD2KNOW.]

lol “the super boring clams not good at parties” literally my next move was I hit the subscribe button. Good stuff man

[@barbaraearle4194]

As always Theo 👍👍👍. Thanks

[@olmilfishrock]

Very cool !!! They all looked AWESOME when you were finished! My favorite was the one you got into the heart of . Thanks for sharing!! Keep rockin!!👍😎

[@TheoKellison]

Right!?😄 i dont go that deep very often but man oh man does it look good when you get a shell thick enough to do that with😁

[@annettehalliday8892]

Beautiful Theo, the last one is spectacular. Merry Christmas 🎄 🎅

[@juliemckenna514]

Awesome video! Abalone, so Beautiful! So colourful! I love the last one, the green colours looked like the northern lights❤️

[@TheoKellison]

Its some truly amazing stuff!😁

[@cindyhorn8397]

I thought I was the only one that loved this. I m so glad to find out I'm not Alone I have shells I have jewelry I have a wreath That is covered with shells. Now that I know there are some species on the endangered list I will treasure them even more I believe they are the most beautiful of God's Creations with all their colors and brilliance. Thank you for sharing how you polish these. I'm an old lady but if I were younger I'd want to learn this craft from you.

[@janetchan5257]

Beautiful! You have a stunning tools! Thank you for sharing!

[@robynbarricks762]

Just Beautiful!

[@donnabeaudin9114]

Unbelievably gorgeous colors !! Theo, I enjoy all your videos!!👍😃

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄

[@stevezozuk9622]

Very very cool shells. You are correct when you say cameras don't pick up the colors and that is unfortunate. I love the colors as you do. I am getting into metalsmithing and I find your content absolutely wonderful to watch. Thanks for sharing with us. Hope you have a great weekend Theo

[@TheoKellison]

Thabks so much!😄 it means a lot to know that my videos can assist in any way! And absolutely can be so frustrating when trying to get videos or pictures of abalone😅 they look vibrant on camera but they are even more so in person

[@kendramanuel1276]

Absolutely beautiful 👍

[@FICCENT_MorningCalm]

Absolutely gorgeous ! 🤩👍

[@johnsaucerhunter]

That was a great 'blast from your past' episode.

[@kylaabegglen1275]

All beautifully done, as always. Can't pick a favorite. Thanks for an amazing video on abaloneeee😁 Theo!✌🤠

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄

[@naomimakin1908]

Absolutely amazing and well worth the effort in my book, Thankyou Theo 👌

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄

[@garnetstar28]

Thank you for all this info! I just found a bunch of abalone shells and fragments on a beach in Mendocino County today, and wasn’t sure how to clean and polish them. Your video was super helpful!

[@tenaedmonson1213]

I love this video!! I could watch it over and over. Thank you. Tena Dayton Nevada.

[@lolajo2850]

You are so talented Theo!

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄

[@jamesrexsannatracy8318]

Your awesome. Great teacher.

[@yourduchess2558]

I'm about to go and polish some Pounamu and I love chucking your vids on while I carve. I practice grinding off the outside of a paua and got one thin spot and slightly broke it but its still very sturdy so I'm pleased.

[@ruksrocksandadventures.5800]

Funny you post this video, I was a deckhand on paua boat's for a good portion of my life, and that's the way I've always pronounced abalone, the same way you do but paua where I come from it's pronounced more like paawa. I'm actually going to be doing an experiment with paua shell one of these days soon. 😁👍

[@TheoKellison]

Oh thats so cool! Im a total nut for abalone, and paua is as good as they get😁 my dad is a luthier and makes guitars from scratch so i process all of his abalone for use in inlay so ive spent a lot of time with those shells but man i cant imagine being a deckhand on a paua boat! That sounds amazing! Thanks so much for watching!😄

[@chrisreinhardt5843]

I have a abalone from you!! And I love it

[@nicolagraynewzealandrockho8976]

The Paua looks great. I tried soaking some in citric acid, it kinda worked. I'm in Nz so I find lots of these on certain beaches. The colours are incredible.

[@TheoKellison]

Gotta love that paua!😄 ive also tried to dissolve the shell with muriatic as well and it is just a bit too risky😅 the pearl dissolves slower than the outer shell but it still does get eaten away by acids so i just stick with this method now

[@xiaomiredmi9c397]

​@@TheoKellisonBagus sekali cara anda menghindarkan resiko bahan kimia tapi sekalian memberi solusi praktis skill ide bagus cara baru yang tidak banyak orang pikirkan secara manual bahkan bisa dikatakan tradisional yang profesional. Semoga Anda menjadi orang hebat di masa mendatang dan banyak memberi inspirasi positif kepada semua orang yang mengenal Anda.terima kasih juga telah mengundang inisiatif saya untuk memahami karya inspiratif yang bisa dicoba pada cangkang yang lain atau mutiara dari ekstrak erang berbeda..

[@user-rq8ig2qw1j]

😍 oh! Beautiful 👍

[@billluster4335]

Wow we wow those came out so nice🤩great work🤌🏼

[@tishsmiddy71]

What you did is awesome, Thank you ☺️ 🤟🏻❤️

[@marcellawynja2372]

now I know why they are so expensive I will value them more now. One of my favorite shell to make jewelry with.Thank yo for showing how to polish takes a long time. Amazng what nature can do.

[@MrsOx-jz9fg]

Truly stunning. I have always wondered if could get rid out the outside shell and know I now I can. Thanks Theo. I have everything to give this a try expect for a flat lap. but unfortunately gotta wait till spring. Thank you for sharing your knowledge & skills

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄 and You definitely dont need to have the flat lap it just saves you a bit of time is all😄 normal dremel set up is perfectly fine too! I hope you get some amazing results!😄

[@MrsOx-jz9fg]

@@TheoKellison you are very welcome. I truly truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge and skills with us. I've come to find that a lot of the skills tips and tricks are guarded and not shared openly. When someone as skilled as you shares and pretty much teaches openly its sooo appreciated. I can't wait till the nice weather comes back even more. Have a Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 Theo to you and your family .

[@FknNefFy]

Wow pretty!

[@hihosh1]

I love it so much, I wish people would grind it down into gem shapes, they're more beautiful than diamonds

[@WorldofRockhounds]

This'll be a good video to follow once I get around to polishing the abalone I've got

[@silverback5033]

Another very professional video, everything where it should be, all equipment and materials clean and tidy, clearly thought out presentation, well scripted and commentated, the odd nervous laugh to cover stuff ups, yes Theo you “ aced it” 😂😂😂😂😂😂. Enough of taking the #iss out of you. I actually enjoyed it and did get some good hints and your pronunciation is correct. Keep Safe & Keep Rockin Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

You're A Definite MASTER CRAFTSMAN / ARTIST / AND MOST OF ALL SKILLFUL AND VERY TALENTED YOUNG SIR. MANY BLESSINGS UPON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

[@danyel8849]

Thank you so much for this video. I have 12 big abalone shell's and i was wondering how to polish them a safe way. Thank you

[@FATHERSOFBASS]

Sooooooo dope I love this it has been a favorite seafood all my life but hard to get

[@jimlancaster6120]

They all turned out great but I think the one that took the longest was my favorite.

[@TheoKellison]

Gotta love those contour polishes😁 they take sone time but man oh man is it worth it!

[@jimlancaster6120]

@@TheoKellison They just look so good!

[@grey019]

The thingie? That is what happens to me too! Too cute....

[@Erica-yr3gf]

Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you. 👍❤️🌎🇺🇦☮️💚🙏🏻🌷💕

[@YvonneSebastian1980]

Wow that was fabulous.. I love your work.. such a true artist!.., I like the smooth one the best.. but they so cool how can you pick a fav..❤️☮️

[@TheoKellison]

Thanks so much!😄

[@raziel3726]

Craftsmanship👍👍

[@bombasticborneo]

These are so beautiful compared to the ones I bought from the Philippines. I'm your fan now😅👏🏾💝

[@shakenbakedrake]

Breath taking -

[@heatherrochellemoore]

Nice work! Wondering where I can find a water/drip system like you were using with the dremel…

[@margaretgould1521]

lol the thingy!! I say that all the time, those abalone shells are so different to the ones we get in New Zealand, havent seen the ones with big ridges. thank you I learnt a lot from this. hang on are abalone and paua different, wow ok.

[@YukonJack]

Great looking shells, those pinks/purples on the paua look amazing. I can't even imagine how much better they look in person. I know a respirator and wet sanding is a must, have you ever felt any ill effects from the dust getting kicked up? Besides the obvious silicosis risk, I've heard of people getting really bad headaches, nausea, and overall feeling like hot garbage when exposed to the dust. I'll start grinding some soon and I figured I'd have it submerged in water for most of it, and I'd still take all the necessary precautions in addition.

[@NoCantsAllowed]

It is quite obviously "abalonĒ"; always has been; always will be. Maybe don't give people power through recognition if they are arguing for ignorance... it's quite often what they're after. Cool shells, man. Looking forward to learning this skill.

[@DonohueLabs]

I can see the appeal of both, but also prefer the ones with the ridges intact. Either way, very cool!

[@TheoKellison]

Gotta agree with ya😁 those contour polishes are just so cool!

[@entie_kat8578]

So pretty 😻 I'm curious, could you/someone go back over that first one or would that ruin the finish on the other bits?

[@Zviedruvikings]

Hi Theo! I got four pauas sitting without varnish. Tried twice with two different varnishes both came out bubbly, had to scrape them off... Can you please advice on best way to varnish them with 3D look, UV protected, no bubbles in the coat? Thanks a million, Martin

[@rhysalexander8642]

hey legend cheers for the great how to video. Much love Im in south west Australia and we are loaded with green lip brown lip and all sorts of abalone. Just curious on your grinder wheel. IS it called a bench grinder ? and is it ceramic wheel. we are keen to get into it Mann

[@user-wv8rs7pu2j]

👍 شكرا انت مبدع . 😮

[@nobodykid7527]

if i don't have a polisher, will dipping the abalone seashell for days! and nights! in muriatic acid be able to remove the coat?

[@silverpassion3588]

Vid nicely done. Don’t you need to apply lacquer ?

[@sbmiller7477]

Theo I have some shells with attached pearls these shells have a brown layer covering the pearls and mother of pearl on the shells. Any idea how to remove this brownish layer? I want to make these into pendants eventually. Thanks for the advice.

[@bola8611new1]

hey bro here in Mexico its easy to get but i watched a video cleaning with muriatic acid, does it work for abalone???? best regards

[@dustinfindsrocks]

Yeah not enough rockhounds care about shells!!! 😂🤣😂🤣 Thumbs up 👍🏼

[@yicao4039]

I have got a lot of paua pieces, they all have light colors. My question is how can I make them slightly deeper like the one sold from shops.

[@jessejames4400]

What is the rotary tool you are using and are the bits 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch shanks?

[@user-by2sx2fw8f]

What diamond bur bits do you use for grinding?

[@timquain5341]

Amazing job! Also, you should google how to pronounce paua. Hey what is that tool you're using? The detailed one. I'd like to get one. I collect paua regularly.

[@yicao4039]

Do you use polishing creams?

[@Wingednemesis]

Where'd you get the bits, I struggle getting them.

[@Debbie4729]

Man,I have a few of these.Never knew how it was done.Can you sell them for a decent amount afterwards?

[@nancycampbell6800]

I saw the thin spots on that last abalone, but I'm curious how thin and fragile the others might be. The all look amazing, I can't pick a favorite.

[@TheoKellison]

The last shell definitely had some thin spots but it should not be an issue, abalone are very rigid so as lomg as it doesnt get dropped or anything, it should be perfectly safe😄

[@kaitiakiheke9174]

Paua is a Māori word and is pronounced PaaWaa or Pa-u-a, your pronunciation of Abalone is perfect... Now you can practice how to Paua instead power 💯❤️👍🏽

[@rowenascott45]

Wow

[@debbiewilson6806]

In the last video, you used Meguiars car show polish, which I ran all over town to find. Do you still use it on your shells? You also mentioned it can be used on some rocks, which ones? I found a couple of old shells at the second-hand store, can they be too old to still get a good polish? Thank you, Debbie Love your videos!

[@TheoKellison]

Yes! Forgot to mention meguiars in this one but i do usually buff the shell with it when im all done! The only place ive found that reliably caries it is harbor freight. And it does work on certain stones but generally only soft stones, for example i always use it to buff my fossils😄 and as far as age, pearl is very resilient stuff so it does not typically age in a way that would affect the color; so long as their is some pearl it can absolutely be polished😄

[@YukonJack]

@@TheoKellison do you have any experience with Mother's mag and aluminium polish? I also have a finish called Renaissance Wax that's super expensive, but very high quality. It was originally developed for the British Museum back in the day, and it is a finish that imparts a great luster on many things from ivory to wood. I'll have to use some on some abalone I'll grind out. I have a shell that has some seriously intense blacks going through the shell. I've actually never seen one that looks so dramatic, and I'm itching to get it banged out 👌

[@janicescragg2388]

I have an abalone shell that I bought years ago with the thought of making something out of it. Now I realize I actually do have all the tools to do this project I might just have to dig it out and play. Now...which box of treasures is it stored away in? Hmm.....🤔😁 Thanks for sharing this Theo. Your very much an inspiration. Oh yeah. What do you use for the water drip?

[@TheoKellison]

Oh cool!😄 i hope you give it a go! It is sooo much fun to watch these tbings transform before your eyes😄 and as a said in the video, my camera does not do them justice at all; they may look vibrant on camera but they have twice as much color in person!😁 and for a drip tube i use the drip bucket from my faceting machine but actually the best and cheapest drip setups to find if you dont want to make your own can be found in pet stores! They are a little drip system that is designed for controling humidity inside of reptile enclosures and also serve as a "water dish" for things like chameleons, whom drink the drops off of leaves and what not and can not directly drink from a standard bowl. There are many ways to make drip feed systems but those are by far the fastest and easist 😄

[@janicescragg2388]

@@TheoKellisonThanks. I am thinking of trying a small water feature pump that I got from a thrift store but the pail system sounds like it might be a simpler approach. Any idea who would supply the fittings?