Cutting Granite

[tileman2]

Hi

What is the best tool for cutting Granite, ie wet saw

Looks like ive got a fair few jobs comming up all granite tiles

Any info would be much appreciated

Regards

Kevin

 

[Leatherface]

Hiya
you need a half decent wet saw or at the worst a grinder.
In my view the key is which blade you use - phone david neave at trade tiler - he has good Marcrist blades. There are also blades avaliable by Beava and a few other suppliers.
These blades are not cheap but will do the business.
My wet saw has a 300mm blade - replacements are £200 upwards - ouch.

 

[Concept PHT]

The key is a good blade and plenty of water - if using a grinder, then make sure your labourer is ready with the hose pipe, spraying it down

 

[Leatherface]

Aye to that !!!!

 

[tileman2]

Any particular brands to stay clear of or any you use yourself

 

[Concept PHT]

Go for good branded blades - you can't go wrong. Try and tear clear of the 'silverline' stuff, and the ones you see at the car boot for '3 for a tenner'.

 

[tileman2]

So would a plasplug master tiler (top of the range) with a decent blade in do the job

Regards

Kevin

 

[Leatherface]

So would a plasplug master tiler (top of the range) with a decent blade in do the job

Regards

Kevin

It may just about do the job, but not very efficiently. If you are seriously thinking about doing a lot of granite & natural stuff then you would be well advised to invest between £400 & £1000 in a good quality wet cutter - Rubi or similar.
I have a cuople of Rubi wet cutters. The largest has a 300mm blade & 2000 watt motor Cost me the best part of £800 with a good blade. Look for my earlier post on Wet Saws thread for pictures.
David Neave at Trade Tiler can do you a very good Rubi ND200 - HAS 850 watt motor & 200mm blade - for around £398.00 - I have one , they are very good.
It sound a lot of money to spend, but you are investing in your future. Your first few granite jobs should pay for it easily.

 

[Concept PHT]

Tileman, it depends how thick the tiles are. The thinner the better. But if you are going to do a lot of granite work, invest in a more powerful cutter with a big water well etc. As Leatherhead says, it will be worth it.

If its just the odd one or 2 large contract jobs you will be doing, go to the local hire shop and use one of them, instead of forking out wads of cash for something your not really going to be using that much in a domestic environment.

 

[Leatherface]

I agree that there is some truth in Concepts comments, but...
By the time you have forked out hire fees a couple of times & possibly burnt out a couple of cheaper cutters you would have been better off investing in a good one at the start. A good cutter will last you many years & not need replacing - Rubi sell spares for all their cutters in the unlikely event of a fault.
Regards

 

[tileman2]

Leatherface/ Concept

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated

Looks like im certainly going to be gettin a fair bit of granite work, An old pal of mine works in natural stone store with a massive selection of granite. Hes just put 3 jobs to me yesterday to go and quote.

Only told him i was tiling last week, so certainly looks like im going to have plenty to do.

I think the rubi that leatherface mentioned is a wise choice. Have you got address for trade tiler.

Regards

Kev

 

[Leatherface]

Look at the banner on the top of this page

 

[Concept PHT]

Its well worth investing then if your going to get plenty of granite work. The thing is, buy a smaller (plasplugs type) one too for your bathrooms / en suites etc that contains the water. A big industrial cutter in somewhere like this isn't going to please mrs smith when it splatters all over the place lol

 

[UKTT Darren]

Depending on which dry cutter you have, if you have a dry cutter with a rubi tx type breaker on it , the wide bar that pulls down, try and score heavely with a 10mm wheel and a quick snap, more pressure on the snap, i do it all the time with 30x30 10mm thick stuff, takes a little practice as the breaking pressure has to be broke at just the right pressure. Not sure if it will work on a Rubi TS breaker, worth a try if you have any spare pieces, the cut it gives you is fine for up to the wall cuts, that can be hidden a little if skirts are going back on or tiles meeting.

 

[UKTT Darren]

If your wanting a decent wet cutter for granit/ naturals etc, you cannot go far wrong with the Rubi DW220 overhead wet cutter, thats what i use with a macrist blade in it, sorts it out no problem, stick with your plasplugs if only doing bits and bobs as its a lot of dosh to fork out if its going to be doing nothing most of the time, like my post above , sometimes you can get away with the technique above, its worth a try first, saves you loads of time if it works, doesnt work on any of the other stones, just some types of granit

 

[Deleted member 15]

small plasplugs are no good, they dont have the motor for granite or marble.It will burn them out I have a rubi dw250 lps with a Marcrist blade cuts granite with no probs

 

[mark1966]

if you have a trade depot near you they do a wet cutter with 700mm bed and 1500 watt motor french machine on legs £200 with blade will cut 1in granite no probs better than my rubi

 

[tileman2]

Not heard of trade depot, What is the machine called as might be able to pick one up elewhere.

Where do trade depot hve stores

 

[mark1966]

trade depot have stores all over as far as i know they are part of the kingfisher group whic own b&q and screw fix as for the name ofthe cutter im not sure will have a look its big and yellow i have seen it else where but cant remember where abouts as soon as i do i will let you know mark

 

[tileman2]

Thanks Mark, much appreciated

 

[Paul Sh]

Try Topps, i was in the one in Newcastle the other day and they are selling their's off for £199.00 ,it's labelled as a professional cutter (If that means anything nowadays), might be worth a look, it's big and yellow so you can't miss it, one problem with it is, it weighs a tonne so i don't know how the hell you would get it out of your van.

 

[mark1966]

thats where i see it does weigh abit and comes with wheels (complete ****e) best have a extra shreddie wheat worth the money for sure