slate any use ??

[donwatson]

I have been given a (large) piece of slate. It is about 14" square (ish) and 1 1/4" thick.
I had asked if he had any broken pieces and this was the result.
I originally wanted a pen blank size piece to see if I could make a pen.
My problem is will this stuff machine easily.?? Do I need special tools ?? Will it cut on the bandsaw (small Delta)?? Does it drill ok ?? What would be the best way to get some pen blanks from it ??, and indeed would it be worthwhile getting some pen blanks from it??
Has anyone worked slate in their home workshop ???

take care
Don W

 

[Bigblackdog]

slate as in stone? I wouldn't put it anywhere near to a lathe. if you need to drill it, you will need a masonry bit as a minimum.

 

[yorkshireman]

It’s very brittle Don, I doubt you’d do owt with it.

 

[Phil Dart]

I have no direct experience of working with slate Don, so this comment is theoretical only, but I would think that you need to be aware that the make-up of slate is in layers, which are fairly easily separated from one another. Working it on a lathe may well lead to those layers flying apart all too easily - and something in the back of my mind also seems to tell me that you need to lubricate slate when it's being worked (but I could be wrong)

 

[Penpal]

Slate is like laminated plywood only no glue between. With thousands of tree blanks to choose from my choice is to avoid non solids normally. I freely admit to occasionally setting myself a challenge as you have now accepting trial and error rather than foreknowledge.

Have a long chat with Slate workers.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

A number of years ago the was a phase where every man and his dog ere turning Alabaster,

Alabaster Turning, How To Part 1, Max Krimmel

Marble?

Turning marble on the lathe

they turn granite dont they?

Stone Lathe Turning Machine for Marble Granite Baluster, Column, Balustrade, Rails SYF1800 - YouTube

 

[Lons]

slate as in stone? I wouldn't put it anywhere near to a lathe. if you need to drill it, you will need a masonry bit as a minimum.

I'm of the same opinion and wouldn't have it on my lathe it'll stuff up the bearings when the dust gets in. I've worked with it many times in a building capacity and used it a few times for flooring but that's al it's good for imo. As said, why bother when so many alternatives are available?

BTW Ozzie Mark it's nothing like alabaster ( but you already knew that :wink:)

 

[donwatson]

Thanks for that guys. There is too much work involved getting a small piece for trying out so I will let this one go.
There is also some of the modern resin type substances he uses as fireplace surrounds would these be suitable ?? They look like marble/granite but are warm to the touch and are man made.

Don W
PS I think the other materials are Corian

 

[Lons]

There is also some of the modern resin type substances he uses as fireplace surrounds would these be suitable ?? They look like marble/granite but are warm to the touch and are man made.Don W

Many of those are similar to the solid surface kitchen worktops such as Corian and Mistral so would definitely be suitable however not all !! Some of them might have a higher stone content which will make them difficult to work and messy. Best bet Don is to get what you can and try to work it before trying on the lathe, if you can cut it with an old chisel or handsaw or try using a jigsaw, circular saw or bandsaw then most likely it will turn well.

Ideally use HSS tools on the lathe or carbide tips if you have them.

Edit: Just noticed you mentioned Corian

 

[Dalboy]

Don't waste it Don can be used to make some nice stands for turning

 

[donwatson]

Thanks Derek,
If it wasn't as heavy I would post it down to you.
The chap is coming on Monday to fit the coals in the fire and I will ask if he has an Corian type stuff
I have used Corian that was a part of a kitchen worktop and it turned and finished very well.

Don W

 

[bigbob]

Hi Don if you make boxes the slate could be used as a top inlay but I have no idea how you would cut it to size.

 

[monophoto]

I would imagine that working with slate requires special tools and some really exotic skills. So I wouldn't expect that there would be a natural way to go from turning wood to turning slate.

However, it might be fun to spend some time in a slate mine/milling operation to learn some of those skills.

And one way that slate might encroach on the pen-making world is if you were to acquire those skills, it would make an awesome stand for a desk pen.

 

[Lons]

What Derek said about bases / stands.

I've used it many times but here's an example of a spare Indian slate floor tile I cut up to make a base for a soapstone hippo I brought back from South Africa.

I shaped it mainly using a 4" grinder and "flaked" bits off the top to produce the effect.

 

[loftyhermes]

The only time I've used slate was cutting old roofing slates on the scrollsaw using slates that had come off of the family home. I cut the word HOME for each of the family as a memento when the bungalow was sold. It cut well with ordinary blades but did blunt them a little quicker than when cutting wood.

 

[Penpal]

Beautiful Hippo and stand, wonderful use of Slate for the family momento.

Peter.

 

[Lons]

Beautiful Hippo and stand, wonderful use of Slate for the family momento.

Peter.

I had to skick it together and do some repair carving Peter after bl**dy KLM broke off all 4 legs on the flight back to the UK

 

[Dalboy]

That is exactly how I would use it but for some rustic type turning. Shame Don that it is too heavy