What tile cutter?

[Liamjay]

Hi all,

You probably have heard this question a thousand and one times.......

Ive just bought a load of must have kit today (trowls, spacers, squeegys, scribers etc) But after looking around alot of the cutters seem pretty rubbish build quality.

Im wanting to start out self employed as a tiler so i want something that will last me, however i dont want to be paying well over the odds.

Firstly, what size do i need?? Is bigger better??? I nipped into topps and had a look at some Rubi's (TS 60 Plus, TS 60, TS40, TS 40 Plus) but ive heard alot about sigmas, but obviously prices vary depending on model and size, so which is best?!?!?

I dont want to be paying massive amounts as well, for something that has facilities i not use, i would rather have something to fit the job in hand (if that makes sense).

Again with Rubi's i think you get more with your money then the Sigmas, and Rubi spares are more easily available ive been told?

My budget is around £200ish.....So whats your thoughts???

Please help! 🙂

 

[White Room]

I started off with a rubi ts40 but the tiles were smaller then, now there getting bigger and have just purchased a sigma 3DM for 900mm tiles.....you will need a variation of cutter sizes but a 600mm would be average now.....

 

[Liamjay]

Thats what i was thinking, i might get a second hand Tx700n as i think i can get one of these in my price range, as i cant justify £300 for a TS60 Plus brand new from the likes of topps,

Do you have any advice on the best websites online to buy new?

 

[White Room]

Remember you will have porcelain to cut, from my understanding is the TS plus can struggle a bit...

I just sold a TX 700n for £235 and the guy told me he had been looking for 2 months and had lost to higher bidders, so if you can get one for £200 your doing well...

The big clinker dos'nt seem a bad buy to start with, maybe worth a look..

 

[Liamjay]

Remember you will have porcelain to cut, from my understanding is the TS plus can struggle a bit...

I just sold a TX 700n for £235 and the guy told me he had been looking for 2 months and had lost to higher bidders, so if you can get one for £200 your doing well...

The big clinker dos'nt seem a bad buy to start with, maybe worth a look..

My budget is around £200 lol,

The Big clinker....Is that the QEP one? Ive seen it for £109.99, seems a good price but whats the quality and and spare parts etc like compared to the likes of a rubi, sigma or even montolit?

Thanks again

Liam

 

[White Room]

If your starting out the clinker would be a good choice, when you find your feet then you be able to buy a better one later on....

 

[Liamjay]

have you used one? whats the quality and feel of it like?? Ive played with the rubi, and i want something quality (if that makes sense) as i know im just starting out, but i wanted to buy something that will last along time. I would rather pay double and keep it for 10 years then half and get rid of it after a year (if that makes sense) :-S

But you know better then me..........Im confuesed lol...Clinker or not to clinker haha.

 

[Stef]

You can get a Sigma 3cm for £300 off e-bay.

I wouldnt bother with a ts 60+, they can cut porcelain but not very good, i have a ts 60 & it cuts porcelain better than my mates 60+.

I got a tomecanic supercoup 75 off e-bay for £200 & it eats porcelain but im seriously considering selling it to my uncle & buying the Sigma as i keep hearing how good a cutter they are.

 

[White Room]

Or there is Genesis which do a few sizes, I have a 400 which I have used but now in storage..

Super Pro 600mm Tile Cutter 987 - £70.99 - www.protiletrim.co.uk

 

[Liamjay]

would you recommend the big clinker or the genesis?

 

[Ian]

I had a clinker before I got a TX700, great cutter but not the best build quality, it started cutting off line and got a bit wobbly after 6 months or so, a disposable cutter IMO.

 

[White Room]

If you could push to £250 now this would be the one Sigma 3BM MAX SERIES Tile Cutter - 60cm Cut Length from Tool Venture

 

[Liamjay]

that is very very very tempting!!!! But what are your views on montolit's?

 

[White Room]

Never used a Montolit but I have one of them sigmas:drool5:

 

[ruairi mac]

If you go for the sigma, as long as you treat it right the only parts you will ever need for it is a replacement cutting wheel.

 

[bugs183]

I use a montolit. I was using a TS60+, but i didn't get on with it, didn't cut straight as the bars flexed. Bought a montolit and i've been very pleased with it. But the Sigmas are getting rave reviews here.
I wouldn't buy anything under a 600mm cuttting length as tiles are large at the moment.

 

[bowlegs]

I got hold of a Big Clinker off EBay for £45, it had been used once for a DIY job, normally a couple of them listed on the site. The cut tends to be about 2mm on the large side, but you soon get used to allowing for this. Lots of better cutters on the market but this could buy you some time while you decide which is the best for you then you can always keep the Big Clinker as a reserve cutter.

 

[Rookery]

I got hold of a Big Clinker off EBay for £45, it had been used once for a DIY job, normally a couple of them listed on the site. The cut tends to be about 2mm on the large side, but you soon get used to allowing for this. Lots of better cutters on the market but this could buy you some time while you decide which is the best for you then you can always keep the Big Clinker as a reserve cutter.

Agreed. The Big Clinker is a good cutter for the money. I bought one from Topps a few years ago and it cuts porcelain at least as well as my mates TX700N and it'll cut up to about 630mm. Topps will let you try one out if you ask and they'll have a few ex-display or damaged porcelain tiles in the back to have a good go at. Other than a new wheel now and again I've never needed any spares.

 

[Peter]

You should be able to get a Sigma 3B 63cm for around £220 - a friend got one for that price about a month ago off a local tile shop.

 

[Liamjay]

Thank you everyone, I purchased a big clinker for £87 so i thought it was a bit of a bargain to be fair!

Im on the look out for a wet tile saw now, to do all the niggly bits 🙂

 

[martin1c]

I got a TX700n from ebay a while ago and it's good at cutting porcelain but has its limits. I find that it won't cut anything less than a 40mm sliver without breaking the tile. Has anyone else had this? Or is it just my cutter - I suspect it might be...