Hello, I was wondering if anyone has ever used a piece of pool table slate as a flat surface. I have an old pool table with a 3 piece slate (without the felt) and I was wondering if I could use this as a flat surface to restore some of my older hand planes. I believe it's pretty flat so what do you think. Please let me know.
Allanwoodworks
Useing billiard slate to flatten the sole of a hand plane
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- plane question sharpening
That should work, but it will probably be pretty big and heavy. I use a piece of corian countertop material.
I bought a $4.50 granite flooring tile at HD as my ""flat" surface. They are also cheap to replace and full sheets of sandpaper fit well on them. So, unless you are NOT going to restore your pool table I would look at cheaper alternatives. If the pool table is history, then go for it.
Like horizontalmike, I use a piece of marble windowsill from HD/Lowes. Rectangular wet-dry sandpaper fits perfectly with a bit of spray adhesive. I like to rub the surface down with acetone first. I don't see why the slate wouldn't work. It might be nice to have a really large surface to work with.
One other tip…. I like to keep rolls of PSA-backed sandpaper on hand in various grits. It comes in handy for this sort of application, as well as for making sanding blocks in any size or shape you might need for a particular situation.
^totally agree. With spray adhesive, I always seem to spray it where I don't want it. I've hung up on overspray before and inadvertently flattened my knuckles to a mirror finish.
Thanks for all of your answers! The pool table is junk so I think I'll give it a try. Any suggestions on what type and grit of sandpaper to use to smooth out the sole and sides of my planes?
my only worry would be the slate could be too soft, and may wear away under the sanding pressure.
220 peel and stick from the auto body store is what I use, with an hd tile
220 peel and stick from the auto body store is what I use, with an hd tile
180-400 sand paper, why not rebuild the pool table useing the handplanes that would be a great little project.
check this out, http://eaglelakewoodworking.com/post/Pool-Table.aspx
check this out, http://eaglelakewoodworking.com/post/Pool-Table.aspx
Slate from a pool table may not be flat. If you are going to use is you may want to check for flatness. I don't advocate using the slate from the pool table. Not because I have anything against it, except that I like to play pool.
Sometimes flat surfaces really are not flat so check very carefully. Woodcraft sells a granite surface block for about $30 and it really is flat with attached papers giving the test results for that block. I have one and it is off by .0004" in one corner and for me that is flat enough.
you can usually go to a granite countertop shop they should have kitchen sink cutouts that they throw away. look for absolute black. it is usually the flatest. you will probably gring your planes into slate it is very soft
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