Using Chuck Erikson and Larry Sifel's patented (and trademarked)Abalam speeds up the process of purfling a guitar with abalone strips. Each strip is 4-3/4" long, and they can be nipped for butted joints with the same type of cutters that you use for cutting your fretwire, although the cutting edge of the nipper probably needn't be ground to such an acute angle. Measure the perimeter of your instrument and divide by 4.75, and voila you have the number of strips you need! Widths are .063". Above guitar by Michael Keller.
