Buying a good tile saw?

[Shane361]

About to remodel the bathrooms and eventually kitchen, livingroom, hallway. What would be a good tile saw to get this job done. Price is important..hoping less than $300 if possible. Thanks in advance for any insight.-Shane

[REDRAGTOPRS]

I have a large chicago electric one with a colapsible stand that I will let go for $120....Sells new for $250.....Works great!

[Shane361]

I have a large chicago electric one with a colapsible stand that I will let go for $120....Sells new for $250.....Works great!

Interested, have a part number or online info?

[ForceFed4g63]

I actually just finished re-tiling my kitchen last night, I borrowed a Plasplugs saw from a friend, they're cheap and work great. Used it for about 200 sq ft. worth of floor. The key is to get a good blade, I recommend DeWalt.

[AverageJoe]

Get a 4" grinder with a diamond blade, cuts tile like butter. Will be dusty though.

[04ctd]

i did my last house.

got a cheapo $99 wet saw, and an expensive blade (like $45, IIRC)
prolly from Home Depot.

i did a ~30 foot hallway, with the tiles centered, and a half tile on each side.

i had my daughter bring a friend over, went over basics & safety,
setup a rip fence on the saw,
and had my daughter cut tile, and her friends rinsed & stacked them.

took them two evenings taking thier time & breaks for the cheap saw.

but it got it done.

FWIW, i would buy the above used saw.

mine was such a pain to store, i gave it away soon after i was done.

the good blade is the key, and cutting slow.

[Shane361]

Thanks for the info guys, really appreciate it. Been debating on the route you took with the tiles cut instead of square with the room. It will def look better but be alot more work.

[LXtasy]

Come to the house and pick my wet tile saw. You can use it and just return it when you are done

[Shane361]

Come to the house and pick my wet tile saw. You can use it and just return it when you are done

Awesome, I'll buy a new blade and not use yours. Thanks Jr.

[LXtasy]

Dont worry about it. Its nto a big ole commercial grade one, but it is what i use in my home for all my tile work

[04ctd]

FWIW, i laid smaller tiles in my hallway (6 or 9 inch?)

and it got repetitive, so i wanted to lay bigger tile (18 inch) so it would go faster in the kitchen.

NOT. you usually have a pile of tile you are moving with you, and you can't really move a pile of 18 inch tile when you are sitting on the floor. i should have stuck with smaller tiles.

and FWIW, do not buy the tiles with the pattern painted/printed on them, they are clear coated afterwards, and are SLICK when your feet are wet.

my small tiles were textured, and you could walk on them out of the shower or pool.
a lady got of the pool & walked direct into kitchen & fell & broke her arm on the slicky tile

YMMV.

[ForceFed4g63]

FWIW, i laid smaller tiles in my hallway (6 or 9 inch?)

and it got repetitive, so i wanted to lay bigger tile (18 inch) so it would go faster in the kitchen.

NOT. you usually have a pile of tile you are moving with you, and you can't really move a pile of 18 inch tile when you are sitting on the floor. i should have stuck with smaller tiles.

and FWIW, do not buy the tiles with the pattern painted/printed on them, they are clear coated afterwards, and are SLICK when your feet are wet.

my small tiles were textured, and you could walk on them out of the shower or pool.
a lady got of the pool & walked direct into kitchen & fell & broke her arm on the slicky tile

YMMV.

I used the bigger ceramic textured tiles in my kitchen. I don't like the slick ones.

Another tip is to mix up the tiles when you get them, that way there won't be a group of tiles in one spot that all have exactly the same color, which will stand out.

Also, there is a sealer you can buy and use instead of water when you do the grout that self seals, so you don't have to go back a couple weeks later and do the sealer. Kind of expensive but worth it, saves you a decent amount of labor.

[Shane361]

I used the bigger ceramic textured tiles in my kitchen. I don't like the slick ones.

Another tip is to mix up the tiles when you get them, that way there won't be a group of tiles in one spot that all have exactly the same color, which will stand out.

Also, there is a sealer you can buy and use instead of water when you do the grout that self seals, so you don't have to go back a couple weeks later and do the sealer. Kind of expensive but worth it, saves you a decent amount of labor.

Good info:cheers I'd appreciate any tips I can get being my first time doing this. :bigthumb:

[Shane361]

Another question..

When painting the walls above the shower should I use a specific primer? We dont get alot of water on the walls but the moisture from the heat rises naturally. We are installing a 3" tile around the top of the shower walls.

[LXtasy]

I always use KILZ primer.

[ForceFed4g63]

I always use KILZ primer.

x2

[Shane361]

Thanks, I'll look that up and see who sells it.

[ForceFed4g63]

Thanks, I'll look that up and see who sells it.

You can pick it up at Lowe's, good stuff, indoor and outdoor use too so you can keep some around.

[LXtasy]

Any hardware store sells it

http://welcometoheardmont.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/kilz2.jpg

Make sure you stay AWAY from oil base

[AverageJoe]

Zinsser 123 is much better than kilz and is also available at lowes, hd and most hardware stores.

[Shane361]

I have a large chicago electric one with a colapsible stand that I will let go for $120....Sells new for $250.....Works great!

Thanks for the sale, saw works great! :cheers

Come to the house and pick my wet tile saw. You can use it and just return it when you are done

Really appreciate the offer but in the end I think I'll be doing this alot in the future so scooped up the other saw. :cheers

Zinsser 123 is much better than kilz and is also available at lowes, hd and most hardware stores.

Lowes also mentioned this was the best so I grapped it! :cheers

The tile went down pretty easy, not a hard task. I did learn a good bit and had to tear up one tile and relay it. I guess I moved it somehow before it set. I also layed too much mortor down and had to chisel it out of the cracks before grouting. Cutting the circle under the toilet took a while and made numerous straight cuts to get it done. The tile on the shower wall was done mostly due to sheet rock damage just above the shower. Whole bathroom is being done in neutrals. Still got the haze and will get it off tonight but here are a few pics. Thanks for all the help. :bigthumb:
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/shane361/FloorTile.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/shane361/TubTile.jpg

[ForceFed4g63]

Looks good! One thing I found that helps is while the mortar is still malleable, use the 4 point plastic spacers to run along the line between the tiles. It will scoop up the extra mortar between the tiles before it gets hard, chiseling it out after it gets hard is a bitch!

[Shane361]

Looks good! One thing I found that helps is while the mortar is still malleable, use the 4 point plastic spacers to run along the line between the tiles. It will scoop up the extra mortar between the tiles before it gets hard, chiseling it out after it gets hard is a bitch!

Good info...live and learn! :mrgreen: