Cutting quarry tiles?

[skier-hughes]

Whats the best way of doing it?

I'm going to get down to relaying the floor tiles probasbly on Tuesday, and I'm going to have to cut a few tiles.

Here's what I thought

I cut along the line with an angle grinder with cutting disc and snap the tile.

Is there a proper type of saw for doing it?

Should I borrow one of those big cutters that do bricks and things so I can go right through the tile?

The tiles are 6" square normal red clay??

 

[Lime]

I was doing just this a few weeks ago.
I used a small angle grinder and a diamond disc bought in QD for £3.
I cut the tile on both sides completely through as snapping wasn't always successful and left a ragged edge anyway.

 

[skier-hughes]

I thought about the ragged edge and decided that grinding it with a grinding disc would work.

I didn't know if I could cut from both sides and accurately join up in the middle leaving me with something to grind off anyway

 

[Gervase]

Angle grinding is one way, but it's hellish noisy, messy and quite dangerous. If you're doing the job over a weekend it would be worth hiring a clip saw from your local tool hire place - it'sa dirty great water-cooled 12-inch diamond blade held fast in a mounting above a table which allows you to cut the tiles quickly, accurately and much more safely. You'll pay around £40 for a weekend's hire, and you'll be glad you did!

 

[Moo]

Yes, definitely hire one of those wonderful machines. We used one when I tiled son's kitchen and it was a boon and a godsend.

 

[middi]

Yes, a diamond disc tile cutter( tile saw) is best but if you make a small wooden jig to hold the quarry tile in and you have a steady hand you can make an acceptable job with an angle grinder and d/disc.

 

[bower1]

And if you use an angle grinder and diamond disc, dont keep using it when it is getting 'blunt' as it gets VERY hot and you end up with black burn marks on the tiles. Have a spare disc ready. Learnt by experience!

 

[skier-hughes]

Checking on my tiles, I only have to cut about 4 - hopefully!!! As I am only replacing some loose ones and others that we took up because we removed a couple of rads or they were broken.

I'll try with the angle grinder and if that doesn't work on number one I'll grab a cup of tea and do something else instead :wink:

I have to go out and get some drainage pipes so I'll pick up a diamond disc while I'm there.

Graham

 

[borischarlton]

You could try checking with a local tile supplier as some of them offer a tile cutting service for a very small fee, Just make up a template and take it along, they should be able to do it while you wait.

Off topic but have you been yet, skiing that is or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Rob

 

[Penners]

if that doesn't work I'll grab a cup of tea and do something else instead

My preferred solution to any and all problems.

 

[skier-hughes]

Rob,

I go on the 10th March, La Plagne this year, but it's a sore subject at the moment. My son changed girlfriends and we had to change the name on the ticket, after we tried to persuade him not to, or if we did to take a male friend... yep, she didn't last.....

He knew best, now we have to change the name again!!!!!

As for the tile cutting.....

My father in law came over today to do the flashing on the rebuilt chimney, and he had his big cutter, so he could cut the roof tiles so I quickly marked out the ones I needed and left them ona pile for him to do when he came down from the scaffolding - along with a cup of tea.

Which is a good job, as the buildrs merchants didn't have the right size drainage pipe which made me forget to get a cutter