Help!: How do I cut 1.5" thick slate

[Wendy Lane]

Please can any tell us how to cut slate which has been taken from an old snooker table. We want to line the fire place with it. Many thanks Wendy

[doug boardley]

I'd use a wet cutter Wendy,for what you'd want it for you could get a relatively cheap one from DIY centre, alternatively you could use an angle grinder

[TilingLogistics]

Welcome to the forums Wendy. I would use a Wet cutter: Wash the slate thoroughly asfter cutting to remove all slurry and allow to completely dry prior to fixing and sealing thumbsup:

Kev

[user123]

Hi Wendy,
and welcome to the forum Yes, the wetcutter, have done this ourselves in the past and it works, just wanted to add - get ear protectors (I double up with earplugs) - it's a noisy affair....especially with the echo of an empty room or garage.

[jonash]

Hi Wendy,
If the slate is in large sections it's going to be too heavy to move to a wet saw, grinder would probably be the best bet.
jonny

[user123]

Hi Wendy,
If the slate is in large sections it's going to be too heavy to move to a wet saw, grinder would probably be the best bet.
jonny

AHA! good point...we used a skateboard and lots of male musclepower at the time...after a while I volunteered to make tea and sandwiches ...oh it's great to be a woman...

[faithhealer]

A standard wet saw won't give you 1.5" depth, you would have to come from both sides perhaps but might look a bit ragged. Do you know any builders who might have a stihlsaw who might do the job for you for beer money. (Agree with the weight issue Jonny)

[jonash]

I got a cheap 240 volt 9'' grinder from b&q would probably cope with 1.5''.
jonny

[Dave]

A standard wet cutter won't cut that size stone......a grinder will take ages but will do the job....i would go with faithealers choice and hire a stone cutting saw from a hire shop...much quicker and cheap enough to hire one...

[frogeye]

Or....... find a place that makes headstones.

We bought a piece of slate from one and had a few cuts made when we used it as a hearth.
I told my mom it was a headstone where they had spelled the name wrong on the other side
....ho ho

[enduro]

Or you could put the details where your from and there must someone on here near you with a wet cut machine that could do it for you.

[user123]

The wet saw we used at the time in Cornwall (1984) was provided by a roofer who specialized in renovating old slate roofs, and somehow connected to Delabole - I remember because I did all the phoning around, large table, large wheel, very noisy, but it did work in one cut, slate being around the same thickness and more even, still have a corner piece in the garden now as a low table supported on a red brick base. I'd google slate in your area and see what comes up....

[Wendy Lane]

I live in Blackpool on Newton Drive. I'm gobbsmacked at all the helpful stuff from the forum and I cant thank everyone enough. I sure know where to come every time I get stuck in future. THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO HAS REPLIED TO ME. Wendy