Breaking tiles with tile saw... help needed

[Keybored]

Hi..... I need some guidance, I am trying to use a borrowed B+Q PTC500 tile saw to cut 450x450mm ceramic tiles 9mm thick

My problem is cutting a straight line thru the tile results in the tile 'breaking' when it gets within the last inch of the cut.... I have tried cutting in at what would be the exit of the cut first and then sawing up to this cut ... but the tile breaks as sone as first contact is made between the two cuts.... if I look at the cross sectoion of the cut tile the break point is almost triangular in shape the point of the triangle at the bottom of the triangle being the point where the two cuts touch (hope that makes sense)

What am I doing wrong ?

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome...

Do you have a sliding cutter you could use for the straight cuts..

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

As mark above, for ceramic tiles a manual cutter should suffice for straight cuts.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

For those tiles the wet saw is only for cutting the L shaped tiles, its much quicker and neater to use a manual cutter but as a diy'er is it worth spending £100 for a half decent entry level cutter? Maybe, maybe not. Does your mate not have one?

 

[tommyzooom]

Sorry if I,m stating the obvious, but are you using plenty of water?

 

[jwatson]

as the rest of the guys have said...... but when i have to use a wet cutter on a "slither cut" to help stop breaking i run a tile parrael to the cut tile to keep sustainded pressure.. hope my method helps

 

[Keybored]

Hi All, Thanks for the feedback...... My mate doesnt have a manual cutter to borrow, I should have added that I have some 'old' tiles which are 330mmx330mm and 150mmx150mm and have tried them and get the same result..... I am using plenty of water... I had hoped to be able to avoid the expense of buying a cutter at this time...

The other size of tile I have for this project is 500mmx25mm..

I had hoped to avoid the expense of a manual cutter, athough I realise it is the best solution.

 

[Mortarforker]

It sounds like the blade is SHOT..Get a new blade or..Try lifting up the arm of the saw, and scoring the tile a few times as you lower the blade it will cut thru..

 

[Bolter]

It sounds like the blade is SHOT..Get a new blade or..Try lifting up the arm of the saw, and scoring the tile a few times as you lower the blade it will cut thru..

Good advice, I would say the blade is either a) crap b) worn out or c) both.

 

[Keybored]

Hi All,

Thanks to everyone for their help...... I took a longer look at the saw and found that the bracket that holds the water gaurd was slightly out of allign and touching the cut tile on one side as it passed through, no noticable resistence, but I guess enough pressure / vibration to instigate the break over a long cut..

one other point i would loo for guidence on is tile spacing for the wall tiles, they are 500mm x 200mm, dont want to get myself into difficulties.... have used 3mm on the floor

cheers fr the feedback

 

[White Room]

2mm will be fine