Slate question

["Taunya Callantine" <namastes@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hi - I am new around here, as well as new to stone carving.  I found my
passion for this activity quite by accident recently &now it is consuming
every spare minute of my time!  Everyone seems so knowledgable in these
round-about discussions, I am hoping someone out there can help me with a
problem I am having.

I am trying to give the edges of my slate work a rough chiseled effect.
Thisworks nicely for a quarter to three-quarters of the piece until,
inevitably, a large chunk will break off - or the whole piece will break in
two.  I am primarily working with 16x16" or 12x12" slate pieces - less than
1" thick. (Metric conversion: 1" = 2.54 centimeters)

I have tried firmly securing the piece while only suspending the very edge
I'm working with; using different sized chisels, gently using a hammer
&carving a slight "fault line" for it to follow... yet still have not
finished successfully.  The fault line was the closest, but also took away
 from the rugged-natural look a bit.

With some of pieces I have seen on your websites - I know this is small
potatoes... but would be extremelly grateful for any advice on the matter.

Sincerely,

Taunya Reid

Mortgage Banker & Stone Enthusiast

Portland, Oregon - USA