Slate Cutting tips needed!!!

[pricey1200]

I have been looking for a way of cutting intricate detail into slate. I was wondering if there was a circular file type blade available for a jigsaw to enable sharpe changes in direction, i've tried various tools and techniques with simple shapes but for more detailing i need something else... Any suggestions very greatfully recieved.
Cheers Matt

 

[Burnerman]

You could use a tile saw, I guess...these have something like a coping saw frame, and they hold an abrafile type circular file blade. If they can go through ceramics, perhaps slate would oblige too?
John

 

[pricey1200]

Yeah i've tried that but found it very slow going.... is there a mechanical tile saw i wonder?? Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

The only thing I can suggest is looking at an electric scroll saw (Screwfix 20397) and seeing if its possible to adapt tile saw blades somehow.....
John

 

[pricey1200]

Thats exactly what i initially had in mind John but didn't have a clue what it was called, i remember using something similar in D.T in school, thanks for your help.... Now to see if you can get circular blades!!!

 

[Burnerman]

Hell pricey I was a D&T teacher for 33 years
Delighted that you've remembered something!
Good luck with your project - I'm sure we'd like to see photos of the finished article, if possible.
John

 

[joinerjohn]

Hell pricey I was a D&T teacher for 33 years
Delighted that you've remembered something!
Good luck with your project - I'm sure we'd like to see photos of the finished article, if possible.
John

I actually went to Loughborough College of Education for 2 yrs doing the teaching certificate to become a D&T teacher. Thoroughly enjoyed my teaching practices. But things were starting to change when I was there. All of a sudden schoolkids had rights. The right to not do anything at all basically. So sadly I left at the end of my second year.
Never regretted it either. One of the lecturers (Mr Rose) made my last few weeks there a living hell simply because I was leaving.

 

[Burnerman]

I trained at St John's, York, and qualified in 1974 with a teaching certificate after 3 years - a B.Ed degree would have taken another year.
After all these years, I still reckon its the best job in the world, and would recommend it to anyone.
It was the politics of the job that finally did it in for me, so I left as a scale 5 curriculum head.
Selling the Big Issue now
John

 

[joinerjohn]

Wow. York was my second choice. I was lucky enough to get into Loughborough though.
Great times being a student. The antics some of them got up to. I wouldn't have wanted some of them teaching my kids though.