How To Cut Slate?

[big rockpile]

Wanting to make up some Turkey Calls but don't know how to cut the Slate

big rockpile

[moopups]

A rotary bladed, fluid cooled masonry table saw. Stone is ground through not cut.

[big rockpile]

Oh this is not good for just a couple Turkey Calls The pieces of Slate will be just about the right size,just need triming down.

big rockpile

[Rocky Fields]

Hey.

A dremel tool with fine grinding stones can be used for fine shaping.

Caution: slate is brittle!

For carving slate:

Italian Black Slate

Tools: Fine steel chisels, tungsten carvers chisels used with small steel club hammer.
Advantages: : Very fine grained very good definition of detail. Strong enough to make thin panel carvings, for example house signs or number plaques or carved figures
Disadvantages: : Hard to work, will chip easily while carving. Not for exterior use.
Conclusion: : Good start if you want to carve slate.

RF

[Ed Norman]

I have knocked the bumps off the edge of slates for turkey calls with a bench grinder or belt sander. I would find one almost the right size then smooth it up with the grinder.

[TNHermit]

Use a side grinder with a 1mm masonry blade. should be able to get one at the local borg. They use to have "slate cutter" that they used to put roofs on. PM pyrodon he may have more info

[farminghandyman]

you can buy cheap diamond blades from harbor freight, for 4" grinders,

[redgreenbluegil]

Try using an old fine-tooth metal file if you don't have too much to remove.

[Junkmanme]

FarmingHandyMan has it right. Diamond blade (similar to lapidary blade). It will work better if you use a wet sponge to keep the cut area as moist as possible.

just my 2 pesos worth,
Bruce