Slate Colour Enhance / Seal

[Tile Shop]

Thanks Paul, I have oiled slate very lightly before engraving, then washed it before sealing but even though it slightly darkens the slate, it needs to be washed so well before sealing that it hardly shows.
I am very worried that most enhancers penetrate too deep.

I see your point but don't think you need to worry. After sealing first, with either with Oil or a Clear Synthetic sealer, later scratches on slate will still show up much lighter as will engraving as the hardened sealer is also being agitated. Its only when sealing after engraving that there is a chance the colour will alter. Clear sealers should leave the engraving that much lighter shade. but the oils darken it beyond recognition.

Its a common problem with honed slate. Sneeze on it an it will scratch. Awful stuff! So needed to find a solution to blend it in. After using the LTP Mattstone (both the solvent and the H2O) and their Colour Intensifier to seal first, as well as after deliberately damaging the tile, the scratches were still just as bold as before they were treated. The Stone oil and Linseed were the only ones that made it disappear.

But different slates may react in different ways, hence why you need to test a few pieces first.

 

[LizzieLee]

Lovely work Liz. As said above lithofin stain stop plus is a good enhancer and sealer. Perhaps seal first then engrave so your your sealing into the bits you gave engraved ?

Will try and contact Lithofinbob for advice. The sealer over the top would have to be invisible and not react. The only other option would be to make them suitable for indoor use only, eliminating the need to seal the engraved lines until I find dark slate.

 

[LizzieLee]

I see your point but don't think you need to worry. After sealing first, with either with Oil or a Clear Synthetic sealer, later scratches on slate will still show up much lighter as will engraving as the hardened sealer is also being agitated. Its only when sealing after engraving that there is a chance the colour will alter. Clear sealers should leave the engraving that much lighter shade. but the oils darken it beyond recognition.

Its a common problem with honed slate. Sneeze on it an it will scratch. Awful stuff! So needed to find a solution to blend it in. After using the LTP Mattstone (both the solvent and the H2O) and their Colour Intensifier to seal first, as well as after deliberately damaging the tile, the scratches were still just as bold as before they were treated. The Stone oil and Linseed were the only ones that made it disappear.

But different slates may react in different ways, hence why you need to test a few pieces first.

Thanks, that's really helpful info. I just haven't got the money to order lots of products at £20-30 a bottle so am trying to narrow it down ☺.

 

[Qwerty]

I will give Bob a shout out now...... @Lithofin BOB !!!!

 

[Dumbo]

I know @Lithofin BOB will give the definitive answer but my thoughts are lithofin colour intensifier prior to engraving and then to seal and weatherproof lithofin mn stainstop . These products will not react to each other as I have done this on slate myself .

 

[LizzieLee]

I know @Lithofin BOB will give the definitive answer but my thoughts are lithofin colour intensifier prior to engraving and then to seal and weatherproof lithofin mn stainstop . These products will not react to each other as I have done this on slate myself .

Thanks, that's great to hear. Sounds like the way to go?!

 

[LauraCTW]

@LizzieLee the stain stop plus is the colour intensifier and stain stop combined into one. It is very difficult to remove if you don't like the finish, but should provide the look you want for a lot less money and save on buying two products!

 

[LizzieLee]

@LizzieLee the stain stop plus is the colour intensifier and stain stop combined into one. It is very difficult to remove if you don't like the finish, but should provide the look you want for a lot less money and save on buying two products!

Thanks, I think it depends on wether engraving into the stainstop is going to remove too much of it to still be water proof or if it might clog up my engraver burrs.

 

[Dumbo]

If you remove enough if the stone to get a lighter colour I doubt it would still be waterproof that is why you should use colour intensifier first to darken stone before engraving then mn stainstop which is a clear impregnating sealer and shouldn't alter the colour of the stone very much or maybe not at all to weatherproof . Don't be tempted to go for hg sealers which are fairly easy to get hold of because the are more viscous than lithofin products there for I think more likely to block your cutters .

 

[LauraCTW]

Thanks, I think it depends on wether engraving into the stainstop is going to remove too much of it to still be water proof or if it might clog up my engraver burrs.

It is very very thin, I doubt it would clog up the engraver burrs. I think it will be a case of test as you go. It is possibly worth finding a local stockist of lithofin to see if they have open bottles you can try? I know it is something we have done if someone popped into one of our branches to help out as rather you got it right and we have them open to use on display material!