Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

Further to our Tiling antics, things are going really well and we are well pleased with the results. However, we are struggling to successfully cut these very large tiles.

They are 600x300mm Ceramic Tiles. We have a Simple Tile Scribe, which we have tried to use unsuccessfully. We have a Manual Wotsit, where you operate a handle to scribe the tile, then break it. Again unsuccessfully. We also have a Plasplugs Compact Plus Water Cooler Cutter. I have always got on really well with this, but not this time.

The tiles are too big to be able to make use of the Guide Bar, so we have to cut Freehand. This means that you either get wet because you can't use the Guard or use the Guard and cut blind.

We also find that when we get to the very end of the tile, it is breaking the corner off.

We have looked at bigger Water Cooler cutters, in the hope that we will be able to use the Guide Bar. We hope that this will get rid of all the problems, but aren't sure if a larger Water Cooler cutter is necessarily the answer.

So, those that do it professionally, what would you recommend? I have seen several devices, some up to £750 in price. Obviously we can't spend that kind of money, but here's a couple of examples......

This has a larger surface than our current one......



Rest of details here : http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=115156

Or a hardcore manual job like this......



Any other suggestions/tips?

Or I might be forced to put up some photo's of me tiling in a Leather Thong.

The Youth.

iTrader: (1)

grinder with stone cutting/ diamond tipped disc?

presume this would work

steve

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

Great in every way, except when you need a PERFECTLY straight edge!!!

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

Here's another idea.



Diamond cutter with Laser Guidance. Looks like a good idea??

I know these devices are cheaper than the pro's will be used to using, but we will probably only need it to do this bathroom, so only needs to do the job!

Lee Reynolds

You can use a grinder but the wet cutter is the best way.

In reference to your corner breaking off. A tip: when you have marked the tile with pencil, scribe the ceramic with the hand scribe cutter a few times before cutting with the table saw!

This way i have NEVER had a corner break off!


as for the gaurd...sometimes you just have t put goggles on and get wet im afraid!

Lee Reynolds

you are looking at spending far too much money Christian to do what can be a simple job!

The wet table saw is fine!

Lee Reynolds

you just use a straight piece of wood clamped in place Christian. Large floor tiles are cut like this mate

S3an

the way to stop snapping the end off is to put a little cut wid the water fed cutter on the opposite side you start on. i have a snap cutter capable of doing 600 mm tiles, you need one of these! there is no way on this earth you will cut a 600 mm tile with the water fed cutter properly and straight come to think of it. you will find you are trapping the blade with the tile and eventually burn the motor out. by the look of the pic it only has a small blade, you need one with a blade with a diameter of about 200mm, 8". if you want to talk my msn details are v16ean@hotmail.co.uk. if you are struggling and wasting tiles its gonna end up costing you more than it would to pay for a specialist to do it, ive seen this all before ends up costing double than what it should. im not having a go just saying what goes on. despite what every one thinks tiling is not a DIY job(within boudaries) of course. look forward to speaking on msn ill give you all the help i can. where abouts are you at?

Lee Reynolds

agreed. Tiling is one of those jobs that if it is ever so slightly 'DIY'd standard...it looks a pig

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

Guys, I hear what you are saying about the DIY thing. Trust me, we haven't just suddenely decided to have a go at it having not ever tried anything else. Our house was TOTALLY derelict when we bought it (had been empty and unchanged for 10 years). We have done EVERYTHING ourselves with only a couple of exceptions.

That includes Constructing Stud Walls, Replacing Ceilings, Fitting Coving, Fitting Carpets, Tiling, Building and Fitting Kitchen, Household Electrics, Plumbing etc etc.

The tiles that we have fitted so far are spot on. We have the time to take time making sure that every gap is spot on and every tile is level. Once it is finished it will look superb, that I know. My only problem is the fact that these tiles are HUGE!!

Lee Reynolds

It wasnt a dig in no way Christian...i was just saying in most diy cases ive seen they have been bad!

Not everyones the same tho

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

One of the main reasons we have opted to do it ourselves, other than the achievement of having done it is that we MUST keep the Bathroom usable, which means doing the tiling in stages.

There is no way a Professional Tradesman would work around that.

I didn't take it as a dig. I know that there are DIY'ers out there that should stick to their day job, but we do try that little bit harder!

Lee Reynolds

dont forget to post some pics up of the finished job mate

we will be starting out new project after xmas! more late nights

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

CheeRS everyone.

Especially BIG UP Sean who has been chatting to me on MSN for AGES and has taught me by the power of t'internet how to cut tiles using a manual Scriby thingy that we had all along!!!

We will see how that goes!! Nice one!

dangerous - reyland

you could always mark the tiles you need cutting, lable them & take to your local tile man to cut for your you

there is normally one around that helps like this

Gee

Easy,clamp a steel straight edge along the line you want to cut

But obviously cut on the side that is waste

Andreas

Christian, any pics of your tiler getting soaking wet?

RC4

you can hire tile cutters,the proper ones , from any main hire shop

xr-stu

was gonna sugest what this man said. i did a massive tilling job, about 800 square feet (most of it was stairs ) with my old man in the summer and we borrowd a free standing jobbie with a 10" blade. pissed through everything.

i found the way to stop the end breakign off is to stop about an inch from the end, turn it round and cut the last inch from the other dirrection. do it carefully and itll work everytime.

big saws like we used make it so much easier and quicker, plus if youve got a steady hand you can get curves and corners and stuff perfect!

S3an

what can i say