So,
I pressed two slates earlier with a slicon mat.
Both slates were pressed with the same image so I could see a comparison (my boys!).
Slate 1 was pressed with medium pressure for 6 minutes at 195 degrees.
Slate 2 was pressed with medium pressure (It was slightly tighter) for 7 minutes at 205 degrees.
SubliSlate_01.jpg SubliSlate_02.jpg
After the 1st slate I noticed that some colour didn't take and some of the edges were faded (image not taken).
So, I adjusted the pressure, time and temperature for slate 2.
Points to note:
1. This is a natural product so the surface won't be 100% flat. The silcon mat does help in places but perhaps a little longer may solve the faded areas (however, you don't want an image that's too saturated in places .......... catch 22).
2. The surface once pressed is a kind of matt finish. Don't know why but I was expecting a gloss finish - probably spent too long looking at placemats!
3. The slates come in bubble wrap, in a sealed box with the stands complete. The box is of a plain (but suitable) design. I was going to push these out as 'Welsh Slate' but the box has text on it and colour is spelt 'color' so they're now 'Welsh Slates, imported from America!'.
4. Check your slates, on taking the second one out of the box I saw that some of the white surface had chipped off. I know that this is a natural product but I wouldn't be able to sell this particular slate as it looks damgaged - not natural (I will check the rest of them and e-mail Martin on this).
5. All in all a unique product that looks pretty good indeed. It's different and the weight of them give that unique selling point that you could add a little more (in price) too.
Apologies if there's any spelling mistakes in this - I did a little "speed typing" but having fingers like bratwurst sausages doesn't help with a laptop keyboard!