Hi Seamus,

We recently laid Travertine and slate floors in out home and put California
Gold slate on our fireplace and black slate in one of our bathrooms.
After this experience I will say no, that a tile cutter will NOT work to cut
the stone.
Slate has a grain, much like wood. When you score it and try to snap it, it
breaks along the grain unlike tile. This leaves you with jagged edges.
Slate also varies greatly in thickness from tile to tile. A single 12"
square stone may go from 1/4" thick on one side to 1/2" thick on the other.

To set these stones, some of them were 21" square most 18" we used the best
quality of thinset available to us in our area.
C Cure full contact 907.
Yes it DOES cost more but it hangs on. With the expense of a stone floor, no
one wants to take a chance on the tiles popping.
We decided to use the better thinset simply because we knew that if we
couldn't afford to do it right the first time, we would never be able to
afford to do it over again.

For cutting we purchased a tile saw at Harbor Freight Tools, and a couple of
spare blades.
We bought this one
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92386

They put them on sale fairly regularly for $249
HOWEVER... little know fact.
If you buy your stone from Lowes, they will make your cuts for free!
You just have to have them marked before you go in. That can be a hassle
though.
If the area you're tiling is small, than it would be an inexpensive way to
go.

On a side note. If this floor is intended as a dining room floor.....
Chairs don't move very easily on it.

We put slate insets in our Travertine. The chairs screech to a halt ever
time they hit a piece of slate.

Best of luck!

Kate
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"Seamus J. Wilson" wrote in message
...
Over the years I have installed ceramic tile for many family members. Now,
one wants slate tile installed.
Can slate tile be cut with a ceramic tile cutter or do you need a wet saw?
Is the same thinset used on slate tile?
Advice and recs needed, please.
Thank you,
Seamus J. Wilson