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Getting slate into powder for blanks

MrJoshua

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Joined
Mar 24, 2015
Posts
100
Location
United Kingdom
First Name
Jim
Hi guys

I want to use some local slate to mash into powder/duct in order to mix up with resin and try to make my own stone blanks. I gather the trustone ones say 85% stone and I'm not sure I can do that sort of density with normal polyester resin, but the bit proving tricky right now is mashing up the slate pieces into a nice powder/dust, without getting everywhere but where I want it.

Does anyone have any good tips on how to do this sort of thing please? I'd be grateful.

Thanks!
 

Lons

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Northumberland
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Bob
I've slated a lot of roofs in my time and it's easy to create dust if you scrape it. Try using an old sharp wood chisel. Turn yourelf a mortar and pestle if you need to refine it.

You don't live anywhere near me do you? I have a stock of old slates and happen to have a cutter / guillotine which makes dust and fine flakes when it cuts the slate.
 

MrJoshua

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Mar 24, 2015
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United Kingdom
First Name
Jim
Thanks chaps

I've nicked the wife's mortar & pestle from the kitchen but the bashy half of it is wood, so not proving very useful. I might try sticking the bits inside an old sock then hammering it, as that should mostly contain it.

Hadn't thought of scraping but I'll try it, and I'll try a file too (& maybe grinder.....)

Bob - sadly nowhere near as I'm on the isle of man mate, but thanks anyway. :)
 

Buckeye

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Oct 15, 2013
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Blend it.

Peter
 

MrJoshua

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Mar 24, 2015
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Jim
Doubt she'd be too pleased if I chucked bits of stone in the blender mate - even by my standards I'd be pushing it. I like the idea though I must admit.

And we don't use it often......
 

Dalboy

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Mar 20, 2014
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Derek
Doubt she'd be too pleased if I chucked bits of stone in the blender mate - even by my standards I'd be pushing it. I like the idea though I must admit.

And we don't use it often......

Look on freecycle then do it in the shed don't matter if you bugger it then and even better no grief from the missus
 

MrJoshua

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Mar 24, 2015
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United Kingdom
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Jim
Don't think we have a coffee grinder. I hate the stuff and she rarely has it.

She probably wouldn't miss the blender though to be fair. It's very very tempting. In fact, I bought that in the first place!
 

Lons

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Dec 17, 2013
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Northumberland
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Bob
Another way if you don't need mountains of the stuff, have plenty of slate and time is just get a large masonary drill and drill loads of holes. It creates lots of very fine dust and you could still grind up the bits left over.
 

Penpal

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May 26, 2013
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Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
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Peter
Jim with no ncoffee in our house for fifty five years I kept my eye out at garage sales for a hand one found a ripper mounted it to the wall in the workshop I found the chippy or curly scrapings of Ebony a pain to use but ground they turn seamless as infill in burl, I will go take a pic of mine in a while this morning and put it on another post mate.

Peter.:thumbs::thumbs:
 

Philly

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Jul 14, 2014
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Wirral
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Phil
Put water in with it before grinding. It keeps the air clear and is easily dried out on the windowsill.
 

Twister

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Jun 18, 2014
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2,202
Location
kent
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Steve
i never read the whole post sorry
have u got a wet tile cutter?
just keep slicing it and collect the slurry
dry it out in the oven

Steve
 
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