I’m looking at using some one square foot “mats” composed on 1″ tile – this particular one has black dots interspersed with a white field. The individual tiles are glued together (no fabric backing that I can see) and are oriented on a 45 degree angle.
How do you go about cutting these mats or sheets? I can just see the little pieces flying when trying to cut with a wet saw. I don’t envision them being easy to cut with a simple “score and snap” cutter either.
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Replies
I'm having a problem envisioning what you are trying to cut ... no mesh backing, glued together? Anyway, get some good clear packing tape, not the stuff that's advertised as "easy to tear". A roll of tyvek housewrap tape from home depot/lowes would work. Put a length of tap across the face of the tiles, along the cut area, and then run it throiugh your tile saw. The tape will keep the pieces together, and you can use a sharpie to make cut lines on the tape.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Great idea! While I can`t imagine the product he`s talking about, that sounds like it would work.J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
You have probably seen this stuff, looks like little dots of yellowish, rubbery glue in between the tiles, to make a mat.
No backing as in mesh or paper.
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Eric,
You're right on the money regarding the little yellow glue dots. Any tricks to laying this stuff?
I'll give the taping technique a try when cutting the sheets as suggested by ECLID72.
Only mats like that I've seen are lik 2x2 or so.
If the truly are 1" squares..............nippers. And patience.
Layout the floor to try to minimize cutting. Full tile allong the two most visible walls or whatever the tiles butt to.
Some mosaics have 1/2 tile available, or so I have heard.
Last year I did a glass mosaic. The tile on the sheets were 3/4x3/4. All nipping, and had my son rub them smooth and square an some silicone carbide sand paper. (floor paper)
I've heard and read about the tape thing. Apparently there is a proprietary product for just this use.
Good luck.
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
No floor tile worth ####d a m n would be able to be cut with a score and snap method. Wall tiles, which are generally softer, are perfectly appropriate for this type of application. Floor tiles must be harder because they receive more abuse.You will have to cut them with a wet saw, hopefully in a straight line, and clean up any knibs with a grinder. I would not recommend cutting these with nippers as it would be very time consuming and the edge would be very ragged and would likely involve significant clean up with a grinder.Good Luck.Regards,
Boris"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
I got it now. DalTile sells commercial tiles that way. Usually 12"x24" sheets, and the tiles arte thinner than normal, but they are porcelain so they are plenty strong. They only trick is to be sure to clean the ooze out of the joints as you go along.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
get some good clear packing tape, not the stuff
That's a good way, but I like the "mosaic" tape the good tile shops (should) have. It's tough and also "easy" release, and doesn't seem to gum up a saw like some paper tapes will when wet.
Edit: Hey, yur Ed agin, an' not elCid like last week . . . <mild curiosity>
Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Edited 1/26/2005 6:46 pm ET by CapnMac
Agreed, but if he's asking how to cut tiles, I assume he hasn't foiund a real tile supply house.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
how to cut tiles, I assume he hasn't foiund a real tile supply house
May have left before asking the right question, too <g>. It happens. Where's that stinkin' tape measure now . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I have done this many times, and I know exactly the rubbery connecting stuff you are talking about between the little tiles. I have even done it with glass mosaics (see pix) that are about 3/4 x 3/4 --- as others have noted. No way you could score and snap.
My technique is to make an L-shaped 'sacrificial' sled from a 12 x 12 or 16 x 16 tile that is about the same thickness, but can be any material (marble, ceramic, whatever you have left over). Then capture your matt in the crook of the sled, and slide it through your wetsaw. It's not that hard if you keep moving your hand to maintain downward pressure on the tiles that are currently going through the blade, so that they don't shift around or bunch up. Because wetsaws are inherently pretty safe, the danger of having your fingers 1/2" from the blade is nowhere near like what it would be on a Unisaw.
The toughest yet for me was to do this REALLY fast for glass tiles mounted on paper backing (well really fronting) that is desiged to come off with water. You have to get it through the wet saw and dried off before the tiles let loose from the paper. Same technique as above.