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Cutting floor tiles: Electric or Hand Operated cutter?
(Jon Weaver) wrote:
Hello Jon
JW| I am about to lay some floor tiles. When I was initially
JW| contemplating this project, I was planning to use the
JW| opportunity to buy an 'Water Cooled Electric Tile Cutter'
JW| considering they are only 30-40 quid.
JW| However, the tiler who lives opposite me has said that
JW| electric cutters are only used for 'complex' cuts.. Most
JW| tilers will still use a standard 'hand operated' cutter for
JW| "straight cuts".
Yep. Cheaper (for a good quality one), faster (in experienced hands),
just as accurate, not as noisy (drowns out radio 1) and far cleaner.
JW| So, I was tempted to buy a standard diamond cutter for
JW| around £15 inside, and borrow an electric cutter for the
JW| complex cuts.
Some of the cheapie ones are just crap. Especially those all-plastic
ones that flex when you apply pressure.
JW| After reading about cutting tiles on this forum, I am
JW| thinking that my original plan (i.e using an electric cutter
JW| for ALL cuts) is the best way forwards.
JW| Considering that 90% of my cuts will be straight across the
JW| tile, would I be better of using an electric cutter or hand
JW| operated?
Maybe.  Personal taste, really. I like a good quality metal hand
cutter, but it's a problem using one for edge cuts and twiddly bits.
Preferred would be both, but you can do everything with an electric
cutter (albiet slower, messier and noisier), so that may be your best
path.
JW| With a hand cutter, I am limited to cuts of around 400mm, so
No. With *some* hand cutters.
JW| my plan of laying them 'diagonally' is out of the window. If
JW| I go down the electric route, I am guessing that I will be
JW| able to go back to my original (diagonal) plan as the
JW| cutting width is going to be big enough to cope with a
JW| diagonal cut.
Probably.
JW| Does anyone have any advice about electric cutters. I was
JW| going to go for a cheap 'generic' version (i.e Blackspur),
JW| but I have also seen the Plasplugd model which is roughly
JW| the same price.
I know the plasplugs is blessed by one or two users in here, but I
don't personally have any experience of them.
--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK
uk.d-i-y FAQ: http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/
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