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New flight of concrete steps to house looked drab. Got a good deal on some beautiful gray/green slate, 1 1/4″ thick. It made great treads for the steps, but the rough concrete risers now cry for a thin slate veneer. Got some Vermont green 1/4″ stuff, but not gray enough. Can’t find the right color in local slate yards, so looking for a technique to slice 1/4″ tiles from my left over 1 1/4″ stock. My left overs are 6″ by 12″ by 1 1/4″. Any suggestions how I can neatly cleave or slice to produce 1/4″ thick stuff for the risers? Contractor friend suggested an old planer blade. Any other ideas? What shape should the leading edge of the slate slicer be (Straight like a planer blade, or slight curve like a paper cutter)? What bevel, if any? Should edge be “driven” into the slate block with sharp blow, or slowly pushed using steady pressure, such as from a vise or hydraulic jack?
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New flight of concrete steps to house looked drab. Got a good deal on some beautiful gray/green slate, 1 1/4" thick. It made great treads for the steps, but the rough concrete risers now cry for a thin slate veneer. Got some Vermont green 1/4" stuff, but not gray enough. Can't find the right color in local slate yards, so looking for a technique to slice 1/4" tiles from my left over 1 1/4" stock. My left overs are 6" by 12" by 1 1/4". Any suggestions how I can neatly cleave or slice to produce 1/4" thick stuff for the risers? Contractor friend suggested an old planer blade. Any other ideas? What shape should the leading edge of the slate slicer be (Straight like a planer blade, or slight curve like a paper cutter)? What bevel, if any? Should edge be "driven" into the slate block with sharp blow, or slowly pushed using steady pressure, such as from a vise or hydraulic jack?