I’ve been replacing some broken tiles, following instructions at This Old Spouse. The list of tools (http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/print/0,,1629572,00.html) includes tile nippers–but the ones they recommend don’t look like any I’ve ever seen.
Turns out they are actually “plastic laminate nibbling shears” made by Klenk. The website ((http://www.klenktools.com/Main/Products/LaminateShearsNew.asp) doesn’t say anything about using it to cut tile. I can’t tell if this was a misprint, or if they actually recommend using this product.
Can these be used on tile?–and does it make a neater cut? Another webpage recommended using a “rod saw with carbide-grit blade” because it was more accurate (although it’s slow going).
Thanks,
Janet
Edited 6/10/2008 5:48 pm by jyang949
Replies
No
that tool is for plastic laminate
steve
Like Steve said, that tool won't work.
You need ceramic tile nippers. Here are three:
http://www.tiletool.net/Tile_Nippers.asp
You should be able to easily find one at Lowes, Home Depot, or any such outlet, or ceramic tile supply stores.
Be sure to take very small bites with the nippers. Start with a scrap piece of tile to get a feel for how they work.
They are slow going, but they get there.
Rich Beckman
PeachFest!! $85 per adult, Children under devouring age will be $25, Children under 5 - Free
Make out checks to David Doud
Mail the check to Rich Beckman, 3324 S. 600 E., Marion, IN 46953
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I've never seen that gadgety looking thing before in my life! :D
Sometimes I think Bob Villa is still secretly working for them. It's bad advice. Use regular nippers.
The rod saw works okay for soft tile, like ceramic wall tiles. For anything harder you could be cutting for a long time, like 1/4" an hour. A good option in lieu of a rod saw would be a carbide blade in a jigsaw, works a bit faster. Both the rod saw and the carbide jigsaw blade don't have teeth, but are instead abrasive blades.
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Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
Edited 6/9/2008 5:53 pm by Ted W.
Also, where is the tile you are replacing?? It may not be necessary to mix thinset. If they are wall tiles in a dry location you can purchase mastic (premixed adhesive). If you're on the floor or in a wet location , then you need the thinset.
Rich Beckman
PeachFest!! $85 per adult, Children under devouring age will be $25, Children under 5 - Free
Make out checks to David Doud
Mail the check to Rich Beckman, 3324 S. 600 E., Marion, IN 46953
View Image
My husband already bought the mortar. He went to a neighborhood in Anaheim known as "Tile Mile" and asked for thinset, and received a bag labeled Multiset--not sure that it's the same (I can feel some fine grit in it).
In that case, there is no reason not to use it.
Rich Beckman
PeachFest!! $85 per adult, Children under devouring age will be $25, Children under 5 - Free
Make out checks to David Doud
Mail the check to Rich Beckman, 3324 S. 600 E., Marion, IN 46953
View Image
Anybody else go to that "Tile Mile?"
It's more than a mile, on both sides of the road, nothing but tile and granite shops, warehouses, stores, wahatever to do with tile.
I swear, some of the individual store yards are bigger than 10 acres. Totally filled with slabs.
Thanks for all the advice. I bought some inexpensive tile nippers that *would* have worked well if I were strong enough to close the handles easily. Fortunately, Lowe's let me trade them in on a pair of "compound" tile nippers. They have a pair of levers that applies more cutting force with less effort. I don't understand the physics of it, but they are much easier on the hands.Pete,
Alas, I could not justify a trip to see Tile Mile--not with the price of gasoline. It's really putting a cramp in my lifestyle. Janet