Life and Times of a Kitchen Axe

[Rupert Lucius]

"Glass" platens are made from clear, high temperature, tempered ceramic, called Pyroceram. They use it for glass fireplace doors, and you can get it from any full service glass shop.

If I remember, it's about the same price for 1 or 3 pieces of 2"x 10". I have cut it the short way with a diamond blade on an angle grinder, but the cut wasn't great.  

I can't say they cut down on heat a bunch, but they're much harder than steel, so if you you keep glass on your platen, it will remain flat and new WAY longer.

I don't use it on 1' machines, but all my 2x72s have them, because big platons are pretty pricey. I never use 1x42 platens very hard, and  I've never heard of anyone putting Pyroceram on a low speed grinder.

http://usaknifemaker.com/ceramic-glass-p...0-192.html

There are other cut to size "glass" platens on the market.

A fellow sharpener uses ceramic tile cut to order at his local Lowes and or Home Depot on his 1x30's, 1x42"

Very inexpensive fix in his opinion.

Rupert