Slate

[stelhrse]

Good Afternoon all,

I have the opportunity to get a piece of broken pool table slate approximatly 2' X 3' cheap. Is this material okay for stamping of should I look for a piece of granite? Will the slate affect the leather by "rubbing off" on it? Thanks.

[whinewine]

Good Afternoon all,

I have the opportunity to get a piece of broken pool table slate approximatly 2' X 3' cheap. Is this material okay for stamping of should I look for a piece of granite? Will the slate affect the leather by "rubbing off" on it? Thanks.

Slate cleaves very easily along one axis, plus it is certainly NOT as hard as granite. While slate is perfect for pool tables and laboratory bench tops & blackboards, because it is chemically inert, I would feel that direct pounding (such as a mallet upon a stamp upon leather) would, over time, cause the layers to cleave (de-laminate) along that weak axis. For myself, I would try to get a piece of granite (or, at the very least, a piece of marble) from someone who cuts tombstones or does granite countertop installations- often you can get the pieces for free just for the asking.

[stelhrse]

Slate cleaves very easily along one axis, plus it is certainly NOT as hard as granite. While slate is perfect for pool tables and laboratory bench tops & blackboards, because it is chemically inert, I would feel that direct pounding (such as a mallet upon a stamp upon leather) would, over time, cause the layers to cleave (de-laminate) along that weak axis. For myself, I would try to get a piece of granite (or, at the very least, a piece of marble) from someone who cuts tombstones or does granite countertop installations- often you can get the pieces for free just for the asking.

Thanks very much for the response and great advice. Thats the route I'll go with. Thanks again.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Slate breaks very easily, and is fairly soft. I have quite a few pool table slates. It can be carved, and it can be used for other projects, so you may want to pick it up anyway. You could make an old fashioned slate chalkboard for one.

[stelhrse]

Slate breaks very easily, and is fairly soft. I have quite a few pool table slates. It can be carved, and it can be used for other projects, so you may want to pick it up anyway. You could make an old fashioned slate chalkboard for one.

That's a great idea and the price is right on the piece of slate. Thanks again to all that have offer their responses. The more I learn about leather carving and stamping, the more I am really starting to enjoy it.