Flooring Tile - cutting ceramic tile
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drmax
01-01-03, 10:39 AM
I have a 2 small bathrooms and my kitchen and dining area, that I am going to tile. Would I be money ahead, to purchase a tub saw? Menards has one with 1/2 h.p. motor and 7.5" blade, for $69. (stainless steel top) The kitchen area will have some diagnal cuts, so this is why I was thinking going with a saw. If there is a different way of doing this, please let me know. I want to accomplish my projects with the greatest of "ease". Also, if there are any other inexpensive tub saws you would recommend, I'm all ears. Thx, DM
adanac
01-01-03, 07:13 PM
Hi
That's not a bad saw for the money..it has lots of power....but it is difficult to cut straight with it...especially on the diagonal. You will have to mark a line on each tile, and follow it free hand. Straight cuts are ok, since you can use the guard. But with a little practice it's pretty good. You could rent a decent saw for a few days for the same money...but buying one give you more time to experiment...and when you are done, you can just sell it.:)
That's not a bad saw for the money..it has lots of power....but it is difficult to cut straight with it...especially on the diagonal. You will have to mark a line on each tile, and follow it free hand. Straight cuts are ok, since you can use the guard. But with a little practice it's pretty good. You could rent a decent saw for a few days for the same money...but buying one give you more time to experiment...and when you are done, you can just sell it.:)
mikewu99
01-02-03, 12:32 PM
I have successfully cut up to 12" tiles diagonally with a regular snap cutter. The method takes a lot longer to describe than it takes to do:
(1) Use the snap cutter to scribe the tile along the line you want to cut.
(2) Take a piece of steel wire, around 1/16" in diameter and 1 to 2 feet long. Put the wire on a solid floor.
(3) Place the tile over the wire so that the wire runs along the scribe line.
(4) Put one foot on the tile on one side of the wire to hold it to the ground.
(5) Put a wooden board larger than the tile on the tile on the other side of the wire. Step firmly on the wooden board. The tile will snap cleanly along the scribe line.
I have also found this method useful for making very narrow snap cuts (<1") - I have had problems with tile breakage when making narrow cuts with the snap cutter in the past.
Usually there will still be a few tiles that require more complex cuts - I just mark these tile and take them to Home Depot for them to cut (4 free tiles, $1 per tile after that).
(1) Use the snap cutter to scribe the tile along the line you want to cut.
(2) Take a piece of steel wire, around 1/16" in diameter and 1 to 2 feet long. Put the wire on a solid floor.
(3) Place the tile over the wire so that the wire runs along the scribe line.
(4) Put one foot on the tile on one side of the wire to hold it to the ground.
(5) Put a wooden board larger than the tile on the tile on the other side of the wire. Step firmly on the wooden board. The tile will snap cleanly along the scribe line.
I have also found this method useful for making very narrow snap cuts (<1") - I have had problems with tile breakage when making narrow cuts with the snap cutter in the past.
Usually there will still be a few tiles that require more complex cuts - I just mark these tile and take them to Home Depot for them to cut (4 free tiles, $1 per tile after that).
WJS_SR51
01-03-03, 06:58 AM
Spend the money and buy the saw . Sell it when through-- The top is more likely polished aluminum or steel rather than stainless steel for $69.