Cut ceramic tile with circular saw?
 

Got ceramic tile (over plywood) in the kitchen, and I'm replacing the island with a larger one so need to cut some of the
tiles away. Luckily it's all straight cuts!

Question: can this be done with a circular saw (I've got a 7-1/4" Ryobi)? Do I use one of those fiber masonry blades or
something else?

Thanks!

Eric Law

"EL"

Question: can this be done with a circular saw
(I've got a 7-1/4" Ryobi)? Do I use one of those fiber masonry blades or
something else?

Those fiber blades are good for backer board at best. A diamond blade will
work, but you may want to weigh the cost of buying a decent one against the
cost of renting a little tile saw for a day. The diamond blades without the
sectioning along the circumference tend to be cheaper, but produce far worse
quality cuts because as the blade heats up, it warps - often a lot. The
sectioning helps prevent that, but these blades tend to cost more.



- Nate

"Nate" wrote in message
...

EL said"
Got ceramic tile (over plywood) in the kitchen, and I'm replacing the
island with a larger one so need to cut some of the tiles away.

Nate replied
A diamond blade will work, but you may want to weigh the cost of buying
a decent one against the cost of renting a little tile saw for a day.
- Nate


He said the tile is over plywood. How do you use the tile cutting saw with
a piece of plywood countertop?

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
news:0hUFd.1631$Vn2.1565@trndny06...

"Nate" wrote in message
...

EL said"
Got ceramic tile (over plywood) in the kitchen, and I'm replacing the
island with a larger one so need to cut some of the tiles away.

Nate replied
A diamond blade will work, but you may want to weigh the cost of
buying a decent one against the cost of renting a little tile saw for a
day.
- Nate


He said the tile is over plywood. How do you use the tile cutting saw
with a piece of plywood countertop?

i think he's thinking of the floor, and i don't think you can get the tile
saw down that far.

makita makes a hand wet saw with a diamond blade. i've used a 4" dry diamond
blade in a 4" hand circular saw, but there is a lot of dust to worry about.

you could also install the new island on top of the tile.

Save yourself a lot of grief and rent a water saw.

Curious - what kind of grief?

Just to clarify, these are floor tiles I'm cutting, and I'm hoping to cut them in place so would be using a portable saw.
Seems like using water in this situation could create quite a mess, no?

Is there any difference between a dry "tile saw" and a regular circular saw? They look the same in photos. Different RPM
maybe?

Eric Law

"Dee" wrote in message ...
Save yourself a lot of grief and rent a water saw.

Curious - what kind of grief?


Breaking tiles and blades. Plus you can work faster by not having to worry
about overheating the materials.

"EL"

Just to clarify, these are floor tiles I'm cutting, and I'm hoping to cut
them in place so would be using a portable saw. Seems like using water in
this situation could create quite a mess, no?

Yes. Dry blades don't need water, but are limited in how long and hard you
can run them. The segmented (dry) ones work great, but cost 35-50 bucks.
The non-segmented ones warp very fast with the heat, and will be very
difficult to make a straight cut with.

Is there any difference between a dry "tile saw" and a regular circular
saw? They look the same in photos. Different RPM

The diamond blades you buy for your 7 1/4 saw are designed for typical 7 1/4
saw RPMs. They don't need water either. Someone figured this out for you
when they decided to sell a 7 1/4 " diamond blade for your circular saw.

This is really an easy thing. And, no, I wasn't suggesting putting your
counter top under a tile wet saw - sheesh - just renting a small portable
~4" one instead of buying a decent blade.

But forget all that - why are you cutting your tile floor up when it sounds
like you don't need to? An island? Put it on top of the tile. In the
kitchens I've done, I put tile wall-wall before I put the counters in.
Saves a whole lot of fitting, cutting, measuring, shimming etc. for minimal
extra material and labor cost. Appliances slide right in.

- Nate

Nate,

Thanks for the info!

Primary reason I'm cutting tile is there's already an island there, sitting directly on the subfloor. We're just replacing
it with a bgger one, but in some places the new island wouldn't have any tile to sit on.

That and I think it just looks a little more "finished" when there's a little grouted gap between the tile and the wood.
Much bigger "PITA factor" though!

Eric


"Nate" wrote in message ...

"EL"

Just to clarify, these are floor tiles I'm cutting, and I'm hoping to cut them in place so would be using a portable saw.
Seems like using water in this situation could create quite a mess, no?

Yes. Dry blades don't need water, but are limited in how long and hard you can run them. The segmented (dry) ones work
great, but cost 35-50 bucks. The non-segmented ones warp very fast with the heat, and will be very difficult to make a
straight cut with.

Is there any difference between a dry "tile saw" and a regular circular saw? They look the same in photos. Different RPM

The diamond blades you buy for your 7 1/4 saw are designed for typical 7 1/4 saw RPMs. They don't need water either.
Someone figured this out for you when they decided to sell a 7 1/4 " diamond blade for your circular saw.

This is really an easy thing. And, no, I wasn't suggesting putting your counter top under a tile wet saw - sheesh - just
renting a small portable ~4" one instead of buying a decent blade.

But forget all that - why are you cutting your tile floor up when it sounds like you don't need to? An island? Put it on
top of the tile. In the kitchens I've done, I put tile wall-wall before I put the counters in. Saves a whole lot of
fitting, cutting, measuring, shimming etc. for minimal extra material and labor cost. Appliances slide right in.

- Nate

"EL" wrote in message
m...
Nate,

Thanks for the info!

Primary reason I'm cutting tile is there's already an island there,
sitting directly on the subfloor. We're just replacing
it with a bgger one, but in some places the new island wouldn't have any
tile to sit on.

That and I think it just looks a little more "finished" when there's a
little grouted gap between the tile and the wood.
Much bigger "PITA factor" though!

Eric



Considering the expense, labor and mess you are about to make and clean up
after for a year or so, may I suggest that you remove the old island, fill
in the gap with some odd lot tiles and set you new island on top of the
floor.

If you don't think so now; by the time you are finished doing it your way
you will firmly believe that a clean crisp caulk line is far more beautiful
than "a little grouted gap".

Either way, have fun!


Colbyt

Eric,

I had the same problem with a tub. I ended up using a masonary blade in
a circular saw to cut the tile and mortor bed. I set the blade to cut
the tile but not the sub floor. I would remove the tile first and the
cut the plywood with a regular blade. I don't know how well the
masonary blade works on wood. Go slow wear wear full protection (long
sleves, gloves, pants, eye and dust mask) just in case the tile chips
or the blade blows up. I didnt have a problem with the tiles cracking
or chipping but it could. Also the tules could loosen and you might end
up having to reset the tile and grout. I have also use a masonary blade
to cut thick tiles but a wet saw is far superior.

Just to clarify, when I suggested renting a water saw, I thought he was
cutting ceramic floor tile.

Just to clarify, when I suggested renting a water saw, I thought he was
cutting ceramic floor tile.

hey, maybe he wants an all day, dust bomb kind of ordeal for the sport of it
:)

Bill


"Colbyt" wrote in message
...

"EL" wrote in message
m...
Nate,

Thanks for the info!

Primary reason I'm cutting tile is there's already an island there,
sitting directly on the subfloor. We're just replacing
it with a bgger one, but in some places the new island wouldn't have any
tile to sit on.

That and I think it just looks a little more "finished" when there's a
little grouted gap between the tile and the wood.
Much bigger "PITA factor" though!

Eric



Considering the expense, labor and mess you are about to make and clean up
after for a year or so, may I suggest that you remove the old island, fill
in the gap with some odd lot tiles and set you new island on top of the
floor.

If you don't think so now; by the time you are finished doing it your way
you will firmly believe that a clean crisp caulk line is far more
beautiful
than "a little grouted gap".

Either way, have fun!


Colbyt

On 1/15/2005 10:02 AM US(ET), bill a took fingers to keys, and typed the
following:

hey, maybe he wants an all day, dust bomb kind of ordeal for the sport
of it :)

Bill


I recently took up a tile floor with 9" glazed clay tiles glued to thin
plywood. We just cut in the grout lines, so we could get manageable
pieces of tile covered plywood that didn't weigh 100 lbs each.
Expecting to get a lot of dust, we covered all the door openings into
the kitchen. Then, using a diamond blade in a Craftsman 7-1/4" Circ.
saw, we began to cut with the saw depth set to the thickness of the tile
and plywood base. After a few minutes of sawing and seeing the rapidly
building up of a cloud, we went to a semi-wet operation. My nephew used
the saw and I continuously sprayed the blade front with water from a 1
quart plastic spray bottle. We just traded dust for mud. It's a dirty
job either way.



"Colbyt" wrote in message
...


"EL" wrote in message
m...

Nate,

Thanks for the info!

Primary reason I'm cutting tile is there's already an island there,

sitting directly on the subfloor. We're just replacing

it with a bgger one, but in some places the new island wouldn't have
any

tile to sit on.


That and I think it just looks a little more "finished" when there's a

little grouted gap between the tile and the wood.

Much bigger "PITA factor" though!

Eric



Considering the expense, labor and mess you are about to make and
clean up
after for a year or so, may I suggest that you remove the old island,
fill
in the gap with some odd lot tiles and set you new island on top of the
floor.

If you don't think so now; by the time you are finished doing it your
way
you will firmly believe that a clean crisp caulk line is far more
beautiful
than "a little grouted gap".

Either way, have fun!


Colbyt





--
Bill

Years ago a coworker was talking about hanging drywall in his garage or
wherever, and he was
complaining about all the dust.... Huh?

Found out that he was cutting the drywall with a circular saw!
I was pretty much speechless.

bill

"willshak" wrote in message
...
On 1/15/2005 10:02 AM US(ET), bill a took fingers to keys, and typed the
following:

hey, maybe he wants an all day, dust bomb kind of ordeal for the sport of
it :)

Bill


I recently took up a tile floor with 9" glazed clay tiles glued to thin
plywood. We just cut in the grout lines, so we could get manageable pieces
of tile covered plywood that didn't weigh 100 lbs each.
Expecting to get a lot of dust, we covered all the door openings into the
kitchen. Then, using a diamond blade in a Craftsman 7-1/4" Circ. saw, we
began to cut with the saw depth set to the thickness of the tile and
plywood base. After a few minutes of sawing and seeing the rapidly
building up of a cloud, we went to a semi-wet operation. My nephew used
the saw and I continuously sprayed the blade front with water from a 1
quart plastic spray bottle. We just traded dust for mud. It's a dirty
job either way.



"Colbyt" wrote in message
...


"EL" wrote in message
m...

Nate,

Thanks for the info!

Primary reason I'm cutting tile is there's already an island there,

sitting directly on the subfloor. We're just replacing

it with a bgger one, but in some places the new island wouldn't have
any

tile to sit on.


That and I think it just looks a little more "finished" when there's a

little grouted gap between the tile and the wood.

Much bigger "PITA factor" though!

Eric



Considering the expense, labor and mess you are about to make and clean
up
after for a year or so, may I suggest that you remove the old island,
fill
in the gap with some odd lot tiles and set you new island on top of the
floor.

If you don't think so now; by the time you are finished doing it your
way
you will firmly believe that a clean crisp caulk line is far more
beautiful
than "a little grouted gap".

Either way, have fun!


Colbyt





--
Bill

"EL" wrote in message
m...
Nate,

Thanks for the info!

Primary reason I'm cutting tile is there's already an island there,
sitting directly on the subfloor. We're just replacing
it with a bgger one, but in some places the new island wouldn't have any
tile to sit on.

That and I think it just looks a little more "finished" when there's a
little grouted gap between the tile and the wood.
Much bigger "PITA factor" though!


I would consider the idea of breaking out the tiles to fit, and then for the
gap retile the area with some spare tiles left over from the original job,
or tile with a complimentary but different tile around the base.

Another idea would be to make your new island with the same footprint as the
old one, but design it with some sort of gussets to support a larger top.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

"EL" writes:
Got ceramic tile (over plywood) in the kitchen, and I'm replacing the island with a larger one so need to cut some of the
tiles away. Luckily it's all straight cuts!

Question: can this be done with a circular saw (I've got a 7-1/4" Ryobi)? Do I use one of those fiber masonry blades or
something else?

I too need to cut a straight row of tile in-place, but in my case the
ceramic tile is on the wall. The need for cutting the tiles is to
extend the line of cabinets to match the originals which have the tile
cutout.

What is the *best* way:
A. 7-1/4" (cordless) circular saw with diamond blade (preferably
segmented)

B. Special (rental) 4" rotary saw with tile cutting blade

C. Roto zip tool with diamond tile bit

D. Dremel with special attachment (not sure which one but I am sure
Dremel has one :)

"blueman" wrote in message
...
"EL" writes:
Got ceramic tile (over plywood) in the kitchen, and I'm replacing the
island with a larger one so need to cut some of the
tiles away. Luckily it's all straight cuts!

Question: can this be done with a circular saw (I've got a 7-1/4" Ryobi)?
Do I use one of those fiber masonry blades or
something else?

I too need to cut a straight row of tile in-place, but in my case the
ceramic tile is on the wall. The need for cutting the tiles is to
extend the line of cabinets to match the originals which have the tile
cutout.

What is the *best* way:
A. 7-1/4" (cordless) circular saw with diamond blade (preferably
segmented)

B. Special (rental) 4" rotary saw with tile cutting blade

C. Roto zip tool with diamond tile bit

D. Dremel with special attachment (not sure which one but I am sure
Dremel has one :)

b if the rotary saw is a wet saw. otherwise i'd do a with someone following
me with a shopvac.

c & d are the same.

"Charles Spitzer" writes:
"blueman" wrote in message
I too need to cut a straight row of tile in-place, but in my case the
ceramic tile is on the wall. The need for cutting the tiles is to
extend the line of cabinets to match the originals which have the tile
cutout.

What is the *best* way:
A. 7-1/4" (cordless) circular saw with diamond blade (preferably
segmented)

B. Special (rental) 4" rotary saw with tile cutting blade

C. Roto zip tool with diamond tile bit

D. Dremel with special attachment (not sure which one but I am sure
Dremel has one :)

b if the rotary saw is a wet saw. otherwise i'd do a with someone following
me with a shopvac.

c & d are the same.

Not sure that 'c' and 'd' are really the same. The rotary saws that I
have seen (including the Ryobi one I have) seem to be much coarser,
much more apropriate for cutting, and built more like a router than
the Dremel that I have that seems to be a much finer and multi-purpose
tool. I have never seen someone use a rotary saw for polishing and
conversely I have never seen a real tradesperson use a dremel to cut
drywall (not that it couldn't...)