Basic Porcelain tile tools?
Hudson Valley Carpenter
| Posted in General Discussion on
I’m in the middle of a bathroom remodel, total overhaul. I’m going to use 12″X12″ American Olean porcelain tile on the floor and as base trim, cut 6″X12″. I’ll probably move on to do the other bathroom floor with the same material. The kitchen too.
It’s been a while since I set tile, never 12X12 porcelain. I’d like some advice on tools for this job. So far, I’ve bought a Rubi TS40 tile cutter. What else will I need? An angle grinder has been suggested. Is that the easiest way to cut the inside corners, etc.? Thanks for your help.
Replies
Personally, if you have not started yet, I would take back the Ruby cutter and buy a wet saw. You can get a MK for about $250 that will be good enough for the little work you have planned.
The angle grinder with a diamond blade will work, but it will be dusty.
Are you asking about hand tools also?
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I was able to get through a couple of tile jobs using the crappy $88 tablesaw-style tile saw at Homedepot.Motor started going downhill after that, but for the money it was worth it compared to spending more or renting.JT
ditto on the tile saw, heaven help you if you have to drill holes for plumbing in the mddle of a tile ... you can drill smaller ones with a dremmel tool, a diamond point, lots of time, running water and patience, for the bigger holes mark them and take them to a tile or grannite outfit ..
I got a 1 1/2" diamond hole saw at a pro tile place, about $75. It does a very neat job. So far, I've been able to live without any other sizes. ;-)
-- J.S.
Re: Wet saws...I'd like to have one of course but I can't justify the expense at this point. The Rubi cutter is very fast, easy to move and doesn't make a mess in the house. I watched a demo on how to cut out the toilet hole, pivoting the tile on the cutter. Looked pretty simple but I haven't tried it yet. BTW, the TS 40 is available on Amazon for $149 w/free shipping. Best bet would be to have both the Rubi cutter and a good wet saw.
I did a slate porch last spring, using one of the cheapie plastic model wet saws from Home Depot, this one about $150. It had a strong motor but the fence was a pain to adjust and it had other problems. I returned it after the job. They gave me an argument but took it back after I pointed out that the advertising on the box declared it to be professional quality, which it definitely wasn't/isn't. I believe that they've since discontinued selling that brand.
Other tools: Yes please, I'd like to hear what you're using. Carbide nippers? Diamond hole saws? Any other advice about porcelain tile?
porcelain ez to work w/ cuts cleaner then ceramic usually grade 4 or 5 for long life, about 3/8" thick so it cooks flat during manufacture some cheep ceramic is under 1/4" thick, cooks w crown up in center, mud doesn't grab, allows hairline cracks to form on tile surface think Lennox makes diamond hole saws for the occasional water feed pipe coming up thru the floor, but, if close to wall, cut a neat slot w wet saw and backfill w trimmed piece of tile to rear of pipe, grout fills skinny cut line drop a chrome bezel onto pipe or get one that hinges open and put it on, so hole saws not needed toilet flange areaz- mark onto tile w compass and cut w grinder w diamond wheel or use wet saw to cut slots and nip them out or use a grinder good advice on $250. MK wet saw, will last many jobs makes life ez-er buy the nips and a rubbing block to soften sharp edges that may get contacted w bare feet
I have had a fear of buying tools from harbor freight, but a friend of mine bought a wet saw on sale for $199.00. He said it works great, for just his own work it will outlast him.
I have a little MK wetsaw ...
a bigger Rubi ... TS 60, maybe? It'll cut 18's on the diagonal.
Plus ... 2 grinders ... the 4" makita is the tile tool ... always has a diamond solid rim blade in it.
I used to have access to a big MK 101 ...
but that's not convient anymore ... so I'm looking at the new DeWalt for my nest big tile job.
For 99% of my tile work ... the Rubi and the little grinder do 100% of the work.
I also have a smaller Brutus snap cutter ... think from HD?
that's for the real straight forward jobs where I don't feel like lugging that huge Rubi case around.
my advice ... get a set of horses and a half a sheet of ply ... there's yer grinder station. Grinder is way easier for toilet cuts and such ... just gotta learn to draw the circle and follow it around lightly with the grinder .. same with any other hole ... round or square ... sometimes U plunge ... sometimes U make tight little circles.
some holes ... I'll score the face ... then flip and do an over-cut on the back.
with a good touch and a fresh grinder blade ... I can get finish quality cuts on most any tile. And ... how many cut edges are really exposed?
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Why do you use a solid rim blade in the grinder?
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
solid rim will give a smoother cut ..
Useful links.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=37739.1
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=39842.1
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=57039.1
If you go that route, they sell "disposable" diamond hole saws for $5.00
WSJ
At work we do it all with a wetsaw and diamond drill bits......
I started doing my own jobs and my friends, and I didn't have the money for the wet saw, so I popped one of HD's 10$ diamond mini grinder blades on and WAh LAh I've got a tile cutting machine.
Takes a little getting used to, but like jeff said, with a steady touch, you can get a finish grand cut. Can do curves easy too.
So get yourself the minigrinder, a notched trowel, a grout float, and a mixer paddle, and you're just about set to go! Have fun!
When in doubt, get a bigger hammer!
What do you mean when you say "mini -grinder"? -- 4 1/2" angle grinder, dremel, etc?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Thanks to all for the good information and personal experience.
Jeff, I bought the TS40 because I don't forsee doing any 18" tile in the forseeable future, and because...as you said...the TS60 is a bit big to move around. BTW, I saw the new TS series at the tile supplier's the other day and it has an improved breaking mechanism, so they say. Thanks for talking about your methods with the angle grinder. I'll get the 4" Makita and put it to good use.
Jon, Lots of good information in those threads. Thanks for digging them up for me. The MK for $149 is tempting but I think I'll try to work through this first bathroom with the Rubi cutter and the angle grinder, just to see how well that system works. The salesman I've spoken to at the tile supplier told me that most tile setters now use just a Rubi cutter and the 4" angle grinder.
Peter
I recently installed a frameless shower door and it was too close to the other panel. So the only thing I could do was recess the hinges into the porcelain tile. I outlined it with a pencil and used a Dremel with a tile bit. Boy did that work great. I cut an 'H' shape for the hinge 1/4" into the tile. I think it would work for cutting large circles for pipes etc. as well. I haven't tried their grinder yet.