On Oct 12, 9:53*am, Heathcliff wrote:
I'm installing 12X12 ceramic tile in the basement. *I've been doing
the whole tiles first, but to finish the job I will need about 100 cut
pieces for around the edges, doorways, floor drains, etc. *I tried the
scribe and snap method but that does not work well for me on these
tiles. *So I think I need a saw. *I am leaning toward buying rather
than renting since I don't think I can (or want to) do them all in one
session.

I have checked around at a couple big box stores and at Harbor
Freight, which has a store in my area. *There seem to be two main
kinds: the kind that's like a small tablesaw, where the blade is
fixed and you move the tile; and the kind where the blade moves back
and forth along rails above the work. *The latter are more expensive -
are they worth it? *-- H

UPDATE - many thanks to all who responded. In the end I did not buy a
saw, but found a better way to score and snap. I found that after
using the tile cutter to score the tile, I could deepen the score by
going over it with a carbide scoring knife, the kind you use to score
tile backer board. The tile could then be snapped reliably by various
methods. For full-width scores I put an unfolded cardboard box on the
floor, lay a quarter-inch diameter steel rod in a crease (so it
doesn't roll around), put the tile on it and step or stomp on it to
snap. Other pieces I put in the bench vise, etc. Going over the
score with the scoring knife three or four times made the snapping
work almost all the time. The only thing I couldn't do, of course,
was "go around a corner" - i.e. every cut had to be across the full
width of the piece. It's been a little laborious but suits my work
method, which has been to do a couple hours at a time evenings and
weekends. -- H

"Heathcliff" wrote

It's been a little laborious but suits my work
method, which has been to do a couple hours at a time evenings and
weekends. -- H

You got it done, and you are happy with the results. What else matters?

But tile saws ARE fun to work with if you are doing a big job, or exacting
stuff.

Steve