O
Old Mod
so I'm currently undertaking a project at the moment with 1800 x 800 x 10mm Florim porcelain.
This tile is harder than Ray Winston and Bob Hoskins rolled in to one!
Anyway my point is that it's extremely brittle, as hard as it is.
One piece in particular was giving me sleepless nights when it came to the thought of not only cutting it, but fixing it to the wall without it snapping clean in half.
I know this because I had broken one already.
I won't bore you with the knock on effect of this.
My problem was taking two cut outs from it, one 600 x 250mm out the centre, and the other 500 x 100 letterbox below it, and all this in the lower half of the tile, making it extremely top heavy and the top half weighing a good 20kg.
All the signs for a second disaster were there, I even cut a large hole in my table so that I could fabricate the tile without moving it even once.
Next concern was trying to fit it to the shower wall.
Having met Derek @Sigma UK several times and as he's such an incredibly nice guy I gave him a call to see if he may have a solution to the problem.
So not only did he offer advice and a solution in the Kera Lift lifting system, but he actually brought one to site, demonstrated it, and even helped me fit the offending beast of a tile.
What an incredibly kind thing to do!
I'll admit I had my concerns as to how successful it would be, these tiles have NO flex in them at all, they just snap with no tell tale squeaks or groans.
So I was understandably concerned about the outcome of this trial, knowing there is slight flex between rail and vacuum cup.
Turns out, I was just worrying for no reason, not only does Derek have vast product knowledge, he also knows how to handle the equipment too.
I know that may sound somewhat patronising, but it truly isn't, he really knows his stuff!
All too often we see products demonstrated by pure academic types who wouldn't even know how to hold a hammer.
So with Derek's guidance we clamped the Kera Cut to the tile, stood it on the floor and trowled the back with complete ease using the systems A frame supports with wheels.
It was so simple to apply the adhesive to the tile without a struggle of skimming it on the table and then trying to move it off, that's how it broke the first time.
The frame itself made from extruded Aluminium is very robust and lightweight.
Unlike some other lifting systems eh Harry!
It comes in under 17kgs A frame included.
It has two 2m rails extendable to nearly 4m and two cross members for support.
A fail safe bracket which hooks under the tile while being transported and 6 excellent suction cups that work with textured tiles too.
We did in this instance add another two, but only because I wanted it supported in several different places.
Once fixed the whole frame became rigid and firmly affixed to the tile, very firmly.
If you wish you can add different brackets that will accept vacuum pumped lifters.
We lifted the piece straight up and on to the wall, some 460mm off the deck, and leaving the frame in place we used this to agitate the tile to ensure it was fully bedded.
It was simplicity itself, honestly.
All these lifting systems are hellishly expensive, without exception.
So buying the right one for you is paramount. I'm sure there will be some members will have had successful experiences with different systems.
I can assure you tho, the Kera lift is something I will be buying very shortly, maybe quicker than that haha
They also do a smaller system which is a mere
1m x 1m, but actually seems very useful for someone like myself who works predominantly on his own.
It's all interchangeable and every piece can be used across each system.
It's also a stock item at @Pro Tiler Tools
I can genuinely recommend this system and it is already on my next tool to buy list.
So this is this installed piece, and for some truly inexplicable reason I didn't take a photo with it all in place, really sorry, annoyed with myself.
By the time I remembered, we had packed the large system away and had only left out the 1 x 1m and Derek had to get back to Hampshire, so that had to do unfortunately, but it shows you the concept.
This tile is harder than Ray Winston and Bob Hoskins rolled in to one!
Anyway my point is that it's extremely brittle, as hard as it is.
One piece in particular was giving me sleepless nights when it came to the thought of not only cutting it, but fixing it to the wall without it snapping clean in half.
I know this because I had broken one already.
I won't bore you with the knock on effect of this.
My problem was taking two cut outs from it, one 600 x 250mm out the centre, and the other 500 x 100 letterbox below it, and all this in the lower half of the tile, making it extremely top heavy and the top half weighing a good 20kg.
All the signs for a second disaster were there, I even cut a large hole in my table so that I could fabricate the tile without moving it even once.
Next concern was trying to fit it to the shower wall.
Having met Derek @Sigma UK several times and as he's such an incredibly nice guy I gave him a call to see if he may have a solution to the problem.
So not only did he offer advice and a solution in the Kera Lift lifting system, but he actually brought one to site, demonstrated it, and even helped me fit the offending beast of a tile.
What an incredibly kind thing to do!
I'll admit I had my concerns as to how successful it would be, these tiles have NO flex in them at all, they just snap with no tell tale squeaks or groans.
So I was understandably concerned about the outcome of this trial, knowing there is slight flex between rail and vacuum cup.
Turns out, I was just worrying for no reason, not only does Derek have vast product knowledge, he also knows how to handle the equipment too.
I know that may sound somewhat patronising, but it truly isn't, he really knows his stuff!
All too often we see products demonstrated by pure academic types who wouldn't even know how to hold a hammer.
So with Derek's guidance we clamped the Kera Cut to the tile, stood it on the floor and trowled the back with complete ease using the systems A frame supports with wheels.
It was so simple to apply the adhesive to the tile without a struggle of skimming it on the table and then trying to move it off, that's how it broke the first time.
The frame itself made from extruded Aluminium is very robust and lightweight.
Unlike some other lifting systems eh Harry!
It comes in under 17kgs A frame included.
It has two 2m rails extendable to nearly 4m and two cross members for support.
A fail safe bracket which hooks under the tile while being transported and 6 excellent suction cups that work with textured tiles too.
We did in this instance add another two, but only because I wanted it supported in several different places.
Once fixed the whole frame became rigid and firmly affixed to the tile, very firmly.
If you wish you can add different brackets that will accept vacuum pumped lifters.
We lifted the piece straight up and on to the wall, some 460mm off the deck, and leaving the frame in place we used this to agitate the tile to ensure it was fully bedded.
It was simplicity itself, honestly.
All these lifting systems are hellishly expensive, without exception.
So buying the right one for you is paramount. I'm sure there will be some members will have had successful experiences with different systems.
I can assure you tho, the Kera lift is something I will be buying very shortly, maybe quicker than that haha
They also do a smaller system which is a mere
1m x 1m, but actually seems very useful for someone like myself who works predominantly on his own.
It's all interchangeable and every piece can be used across each system.
It's also a stock item at @Pro Tiler Tools
I can genuinely recommend this system and it is already on my next tool to buy list.
So this is this installed piece, and for some truly inexplicable reason I didn't take a photo with it all in place, really sorry, annoyed with myself.
By the time I remembered, we had packed the large system away and had only left out the 1 x 1m and Derek had to get back to Hampshire, so that had to do unfortunately, but it shows you the concept.
