Cutting these 18" tiles yesterday. The saw itself was about 1/8 inch out
across the full travel but fortunately this could usually be countered, with
a bit of cleverness, by the fact that the tiles were also out of square,
though not by as much.

All in all, while I got the cuts made it was really a frustrating
experience. I expected to be able to set up square cuts against the fence
and cut. Ha. Even the simplest cuts had to be setup by shimming the tile
against the fence and clamping it with a 2x4 scrap and cardboard.

Is this how it usually is for these large tiles? Or did I just get a bum
rental tile saw?

I don't expect saws, especially rental ones, to be square, but I do expect
them to have adjustments to make them square. This saw, an Ihmer, was a
single welded unit. Apparently that's sold as a feature, i.e. "It will
never go out of square." Right, til the first time someone drops it out of
their pickup.

wrote:
Cutting these 18" tiles yesterday. The saw itself was about 1/8 inch out
across the full travel but fortunately this could usually be countered, with
a bit of cleverness, by the fact that the tiles were also out of square,
though not by as much.

All in all, while I got the cuts made it was really a frustrating
experience. I expected to be able to set up square cuts against the fence
and cut. Ha. Even the simplest cuts had to be setup by shimming the tile
against the fence and clamping it with a 2x4 scrap and cardboard.

Is this how it usually is for these large tiles? Or did I just get a bum
rental tile saw?

I don't expect saws, especially rental ones, to be square, but I do expect
them to have adjustments to make them square. This saw, an Ihmer, was a
single welded unit. Apparently that's sold as a feature, i.e. "It will
never go out of square." Right, til the first time someone drops it out of
their pickup.

Imer advertises: " The stainless steel construction of the Combi 250V
II frame structure ensures a rigid, yet light weight saw. Out of the
box it can cut 24" tile or stone to within 1/32", the best in the
business!"

I'd be more concerned with the tile being that far out. You can adjust
the saw for square by shimming or building a jig, similar to what you
did, but out of square tile of that size would be a major pain in the
ass - particularly if you're trying to have tight grout lines.

Always check tile saws for square before you take them from the rental
shop. I stopped renting years ago because of such problems. Now I buy
the tool and either keep it or sell it when I'm done.

R

Incidentally, here's another question. How do folks usually deal with the
fact that the round blade leaves a bit of waste that has to be trimmed out
of corner cuts? I cut it out by cutting further than the actual cut on the
rear of the tile. This works fine but I wonder if this doesn't leave a spot
that says "crack here!". Do you all just clean it up by hand w/one of these
tile coping saws?

thanks
ml

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:23:25 GMT, wrote:

Incidentally, here's another question. How do folks usually deal with the
fact that the round blade leaves a bit of waste that has to be trimmed out
of corner cuts? I cut it out by cutting further than the actual cut on the
rear of the tile. This works fine but I wonder if this doesn't leave a spot
that says "crack here!". Do you all just clean it up by hand w/one of these
tile coping saws?

I bought a small MK 170 tile saw for my kitchen tile job (4.25" tiles
on backsplash). I had to cut every tile on the top row and had plenty
of corner cuts to fit around electrical boxes. (Just counted the cuts,
94 tiles, some with two or more cuts).

I'd make the cut as close as possible, then freehand the inside
corners by tipping the tile up to run perpendicular to the blade axis.
Keep your fingers out of the way.

BTW, the saw was only $130 w/free shipping from:

http://www.constructioncomplete.com/...uctsMK170.html

The fence is adjustable but a little cheesy in it's attachment, I used
an adjustable square to check it before cuts. All in all I am very
happy with the saw.

thanks
ml

DJ

wrote:
Cutting these 18" tiles yesterday. The saw itself was about 1/8 inch out
across the full travel but fortunately this could usually be countered, with
a bit of cleverness, by the fact that the tiles were also out of square,
though not by as much.

All in all, while I got the cuts made it was really a frustrating
experience. I expected to be able to set up square cuts against the fence
and cut. Ha. Even the simplest cuts had to be setup by shimming the tile
against the fence and clamping it with a 2x4 scrap and cardboard.

Is this how it usually is for these large tiles?


Bum tile.

Or did I just get a bum
rental tile saw?

Bum saw.


I don't expect saws, especially rental ones, to be square, but I do expect
them to have adjustments to make them square. This saw, an Ihmer, was a
single welded unit. Apparently that's sold as a feature, i.e. "It will
never go out of square." Right, til the first time someone drops it out of
their pickup.

That can happen...

wrote:
Incidentally, here's another question. How do folks usually deal with the
fact that the round blade leaves a bit of waste that has to be trimmed out
of corner cuts? I cut it out by cutting further than the actual cut on the
rear of the tile. This works fine but I wonder if this doesn't leave a spot
that says "crack here!". Do you all just clean it up by hand w/one of these
tile coping saws?

thanks
ml

What corner cuts?

"G Henslee" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Incidentally, here's another question. How do folks usually deal with
the
fact that the round blade leaves a bit of waste that has to be trimmed
out
of corner cuts? I cut it out by cutting further than the actual cut on
the
rear of the tile. This works fine but I wonder if this doesn't leave a
spot
that says "crack here!". Do you all just clean it up by hand w/one of
these
tile coping saws?

thanks
ml

What corner cuts?

I think the poster is referring to inside corner cuts where there is a small
bit of left over rubble.

wrote:
Incidentally, here's another question. How do folks usually deal
with the fact that the round blade leaves a bit of waste that has to
be trimmed out of corner cuts? I cut it out by cutting further than
the actual cut on the rear of the tile. This works fine but I wonder
if this doesn't leave a spot that says "crack here!".

Do it as you did. The fact that the cut extends a bit past the corner
doesn't matter, the tile will be fully supported by the grout, grout
will fill up the cut too.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On 15-Jun-2005, "Mike Lewis" wrote:

I think the poster is referring to inside corner cuts where there is a
small
bit of left over rubble.

exactly.