Pot out of slate

[xtolord]

Hi all,
I got my hands on a piece of slate.
30x30x3.5 cm

I was wondering if any ever did carving on slate to carve out a pot?
Or should I use another method to create a bonsai slate pot?

I'll post pictures of the slate piece later on.


Regards
Xavier

[Craig]

Xavier, i would think if you hollow out slate it will become more fragile than it was before , not saying you can't but wouldn't it be better to use it as a slab instead

[bonsai_blair]

Hi,
You could try it, but slate fractures very easily! Dont get dissapointed it it cracks and you lose a whole side of it. You would be better off using it as a stand with a polised timber frame and feet or something.

Regards, Eli

[Booga]

Slate's real hard to work with as it separates in layers.
If all you want is a divot for the soil and plant I would try using some type of high speed abrasive grinding wheel or an acid that will dissolve the slate

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Xavier you could try just building a muck wall and mound up some soil. I do grind out a depression with a diamond wheel in an angle grinder, but that is on stone slabs and it helps to lighten them. I have also seen over on wee trees some slate slabs that have a "wall" of slate built up to retain the soil.

[xtolord]

Thanks for the inputs

Here are some shots of the slate :

[Craig]

no way you'll be able to carve that slate without the edges fracturing off, it will end in tears.
the idea Bougy fan gave is a nice option

[kcpoole]

Trimming the edges by chipping to make an irregular shape is the go. Like the Chalk drawing, but do not make both sides the same shape.

Ken

[xtolord]

Thanks for the several inputs.
I wont be going for the carving out option
I'm going to try to split it out and make something out of the splits.


My first attempt was not that great, but here is i've achieved so far.
There's still like 65~70% of the original piece intact.


Here's the piece I've managed to split off [ its a lil bit smaller than what I intended, but close enough.
The potting area is roughly 10x15cm.






I've taken other smaller fragments to create some boundary/wall around the edges.
Nothing regular, just to give some rocky feeling.





What I have in mind :

I'm thinking to use it for a shohin literati chinese box that i'm training. The size should be right.

I've not yet cemented the rocks - just placed them to get a feel.
Only stuff I have lying around I think I could use to "cement" those rocks is some abalastin filler.



Here you are.
I'm taking my time on the chunk left.
Will try to complete this one first.


Xavier