Replies

1. 
   JeffBuck | Aug 29, 2007 01:02am | #1

   "Isn't there a tool or something that would at least make this job a little easier??? "

    

   medium size child.

    

   long handled floor scraper/blade ...

   mechanical scraper that'll most likely chew the hell outta yer subfloor and rattle the houe apart.

   self leveling compound over the whole deal that'll raise the sub a bit ...

   or what I do on most small to mid size baths I work in ... demo the old ply and lay new subfloor.

   No easy way that I've found.

    

   on concrete basement floors at least U can rent a big floor grinder and make lotsa dust and mud.

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   DDay | Aug 30, 2007 02:49am | #12

   Thinset that has cured for a few days will soften with some water. I've never dealt with it down the line, is there a full cure like cement or will water still soften it? If it will still soften it, then mist it and use a stiff putty knife or a shark prybar.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Aug 30, 2007 02:57am | #13

   pretty much once it cures it cures.

    

   I'm sure water would soften things a bit ... but for scraping a floor probably impractical.

   might be a good test for those loose tiles though.

   set them over a week in a bucket ... see what happens?

    

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   Luka | Aug 30, 2007 03:24am | #14

   Good idea.They are 1' x 1', so I'll use a cat litter box filled with water.Maybe add a bit of white vinegar...

   Yeh... That'll work.

2. 
   junkhound | Aug 29, 2007 01:39am | #2

   Saw the title and thought it was Jeff asking the easiest way to get the mortar off recycled 12" tile.

   That is a good query for this thread also.

   Edit to not confuse, the Luka 'Jeff', not the buck, replied before I read his reply.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/28/2007 6:40 pm ET by junkhound

1. 
   JeffBuck | Aug 29, 2007 06:23am | #4

   for yer Q the easiest is buzz the back with an angle grinder ...

   Jeff

    

        Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   Luka | Aug 29, 2007 08:07am | #6

   Thank you.I'll give that a try.Just a rough grinding wheel, or wire brush, or anything special ???

   Yeh... That'll work.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Aug 29, 2007 08:55am | #8

   masonry wheel ...

    

   or since I usually have a coupla old/dull diamond wheels in the box I use them.

   I use a grinder alot with the tile installs ... and am pretty good at just "waving" them over the tile.

    

   tile in one hand or laid down ... and just kiss the edge of the wheel to the back.

   I do a sweeping side to side motion .... pass back and forth ... first the left side of the wheel buzzes it ... then on the return pass the right side.

   hard to explain ... but I'm tipping the grinder form close to a 30 deg angle left to right ... to a 30deg angle right to left.

   just go back and forth. It's all in the wrist!

    

    

   ok ... now that I'm really thinking about this ...

   even though I grind with my right hand ...

   but play tennis left handed ...

    

   it's the same as a forehand/backhand switch in tennis!

    

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   Luka | Aug 29, 2007 12:03pm | #9

   That's about what I was thinking.Sounds about as delicate, (and yet rough), as sculpture.I'll probably look for one of those real cheapo diamond wheels.I'd like one to cut them with anyway. Art suggested scoring and snapping them, but I'm afraid I'd break too many of them that way. Besides, I'll never get a good corner cut that way.Thanks Jeff.

   Yeh... That'll work.

2. 
   JeffBuck | Aug 30, 2007 02:31am | #11

   remember ...

    

   U don't need all the stuff removed ...

    

   just need most of the tiles to have the same roughness.

   then ... plan on back buttering the tiles ... and laying down more thinset than usual.

    

   more mud means more level / flatness wiggle room.

    

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

2. 
   Luka | Aug 29, 2007 08:06am | #5

   Now cut that out !!!Get outta my head !;o)I read the title to the thread and came in here hoping for the answer to just that question. And meaning to ask it, if that wasn't the actual question.LOL=0)What IS the best method for removing grout or thinset, or mastic, or whatever the heck is all over the back of these tiles ? (Without breaking the tiles.);o)(On some of the tiles, the stuff stuck so well that pieces of the cement board were ripped up along with the tile...)

   Yeh... That'll work.

1. 
   fishnskiguy | Aug 30, 2007 09:12pm | #15

   I had the same problem in our kitchen. I removed the thinset with a six inch belt sander and 60 grit belt. Wifey held the shopvac hose behind the sander and followed me around the floor. That helped alot, but there was still beaucoup dust everywhere that took a half day to clean up.

   Chris

3. 
   mwgaines | Aug 29, 2007 05:03am | #3

   Pitch this question to the group below.  You'll find a very friendly group with lots of tips and tricks for tile related issues. 

   http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1

   New knowledge is priceless. 

   Used knowledge is even more valuable.

4. 
   geoffhazel | Aug 29, 2007 08:41am | #7

   I had to do this a while back and would have used the grinder if I had adequate dust containment. I had a 4' x 4' area to tackle and it was pretty brutal work with the hand chisel, hammer, and occasional use of the blue-bar (flatbar).

   Actually, it made quite a bit of dust anyway.

   Since it was on the actual subfloor, it would have been pretty involved to cut out and replace.

   I wonder if a small handheld pneumatic cold chisel wouldn't be a nice tool for the job?

5. 
   Waters | Aug 29, 2007 06:55pm | #10

   Fein multimaster with their stiff scraper blade.

   or

   Small Rotary hammer drill on 'hammer' only with a flat chisel bit.

6. 
   JasonG | Aug 30, 2007 10:47pm | #16

   I asked the same question this past spring . . . trying to remove thinset from a plywood subfloor after prying up 8" ceramic tiles. Response was to use the hammer drill and chisel, which didn't work for me at all. I returned it to the rental center and tried the grinder suggestion. That was returned,too. Finally, the guy asked what I was trying to do. When I explained, he said I should have just started with wood floor sanders.

   I rented an edge sander (big orbital sander used for wood floor refinishing) and the coursest sanding disks they had. Took me about 3 hours to do 400 sq'. In retrospect, I would also get one of the drum sanders for open areas. Bending over a 40lb sander that is trying to twist out of your hands for hours really makes the back ache!

   I now have an immense amount of respect/sympathy for anyone who does this regularly as part of their job . . . ranks right up there with septic pumping in my book!

   Jason

1. 
   Comic | Sep 02, 2007 08:01pm | #17

   Jason:

    

   Didn't the floor sander make a lot of dust from sanding the thinset on the plywood. I would think that attempting to remove thinset would kick-up a lot of dust and I am in a finished area. I did get most of it off with a scraper, wood chisel, and hammer. Not a very pleasant experience.

   Thanks.

    

7. 
   vinniegoombatz | Sep 05, 2007 06:12am | #18

    

   scraper for small areas, abrasive discs on a backer w/ arbor mounted on a CHEAP drill u don't mind getting that dust into   might wipe out the motor     shop vac running helps     could use a more expensive tool like belt sander and hook shop vac directly onto tube for dust collector bag, not good for the tool     wear a good mask and eye protection    not a fun job, but underlayment has to be pretty smooth to do a good tile job