Slate question

["Ian Marr" <ianmarr@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

  Dear Taunya, First, I wonder if the slate that you are using is of the
right quality: it shouldn't break & laminate so easily.

               However, if the problem is grip & stability, try to find a
piece of sawn sandstone larger than your slate & heavy enough to stabilise
it . Protect slate with Gladwrap (so you don't have to clean plaster off the
stone), then use plaster of Paris to set slate: you can use it at, say, four
points.If the stone is uneven, you can even bed it down on the plaster.Then,
as you do he carving you described, your chisel can strike down into the
sandstone,if & where necessary.To carve the edges where the plaster is,
re-set the stone. This method gives great stability, & protection to edges,
but will imply working horizontally. Hope that helps, Ian Marr.