This method is ideal if you need to split a slate brick by height. When constructing a slate brick wall, it’s beneficial to create a "live" effect in the wall by avoiding continuous horizontal layers. In practice, this means you should lay bricks with varying heights in horizontal rows. Consequently, you will occasionally need to adjust the height of the bricks. Slate is a layered material, so you can easily split the brick along its natural cleavage planes with simple tools. These cleavage planes appear as marked stripes along the face of the brick.
Locate a natural cleavage plane in the brick that best matches the height needed for your wall.
Place the chisel directly on the stripe (cleavage plane). Strike the chisel with short and precise blows until the brick splits.
Sometimes, parts of the next cleavage layer might remain, causing a rough edge. This is easily “trimmed” away by positioning the chisel relatively horizontally against the remaining part of the cleavage layer and striking it off.
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