Three Ways to Give Slate Tile a Hand-Hewn Edge
Instead of the precise, factory-style edges left by a wet saw, you can break or chip slate tile by hand to achieve a rugged, quarry-like finish in whatever dimensions you choose.
By Blake Wood3 steps
You can rough cut slate in a variety of ways to create natural-looking pieces.
A tile wet saw is the fastest option for cutting slate, but it leaves a commercial, factory-style edge that is very straight and well suited to modern, contemporary installations. For a more rugged, natural appearance — one where the slate edges are ragged and seem as though they were hewn directly from the quarry — several methods let you rough cut the tile to the dimensions you want. The finished result is a set of cuts that is entirely custom.
Step 1
Use an angle grinder to rough cut the pieces. On the back of the slate, mark where the cut needs to be made. Grip the grinder with both hands, switch it on, and score the back of the piece approximately 1/8 inch into the stone. Holding the piece securely, snap the waste edge down against the ground so the tile breaks along the scored line. The cut you get will be ragged.
Step 2
To create a rough-hewn look, work the cut with a hammer and chisel. Mark the top side of the tile at the intended cut line, then score the top edge of the slate along that mark using the hammer and chisel. Break the piece off by snapping it against the ground the same way you would a back-cut piece, or chisel the edge away when the cut is too small to snap.
Step 3
If you want the roughest edges possible, break the slate into smaller pieces at natural break points. Wrap the slate in an old towel and strike it firmly with a rubber mallet. The outcome is somewhat unpredictable, but you can influence where the breaks occur to some degree by hitting the piece with the mallet along an edge close to the point where you want it to break off.
