I have seen the beautiful signs carved in slate and married with teak or mahogany to make some very dramatic pieces. Rob Cooper of NZ did a very nice article in SignCraft (Mar/Apr 2001). I have been to just about every rockyard in a 75 mile radius to collect samples. They are all way too hard for carving and the shale is too soft and crumbly. So, anybody toying with this craft?? I am still having a very hard time dipping a finely honed chisel into a ROCK !!! And, I have tried carving HDU and other composites and painting it to look like slate, but, it's just not the same.
Posted by Joe Endicott (Member # 628) on :
John, I went to the local entertainment business (arcade games and pool tables). They let me take as much slate from their pile o' broken pool tables as I could carry. It is VERY consistant. I think it's about 3/4'' thick, I haven't had much luck with quarry stuff either. Good Luck.
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
If you are just looking to do small personal carvings, find a roofing company and ask for slate shingles. Slate isn't too popular as roofing anymore; it's expensive, and acid rain degrades it, but a good roofer will always have some slate around for repairs.
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Don't forget about the Craft end carving! Dick Blick carries a Bermuda Sea Green soap stone that looks exactly like marble throughout. They also have an"unusal carving material simmilar to soap stone.Exceptionaly beautiful grain." Also Stan Brown's arts and crafts has slate and resin slate you might be able to use. Hope this helps
