Removing paint from slate

[Dan McLaughlin]

Has anyone used a paint stripper or some kind of chemical to remove paint (probably latex but can't be sure) from a piece of slate? The previous owners painted over a piece of slate in front of the LR fire place. We would like to restore it (rather than replace it) but I'm not sure what effect a chemical stripper would have on the slate, if any? Slate's not pourous, right? Thanks

[Jamie Buxton]

Slate is pretty soft for stone, and can be porous. For instance, when slate is used for kitchen counters, it is often gets a penetrating oil finish --- just like wood. I'd be careful about strippers. That's not to say I wouldn't do what you're considering, I'd just approach it carefully. Test a prospective stripper on a small piece of the slate, or buy a slate tile to try it on.