Help! Advice needed for precision cutting

[Roger Sofarover]

My first post here, so as so many others have said in similar situations, please be gentle, as on this subject, I know nothing!

I have an area of floor that I want laying with a 60 cm white tile and then have a 10cm Black tile put in at the meeting of 4 white tiles, every 2nd white (120cm) I guess you understand. The tile is Granito, and to top it off I live in Thailand.

The problem is that the way the Thai tradesman lay the tiles is to put all the white down first on cement and then cut the square out once everything is set in the cement then place in the smaller Black one. The white has been done and the finish so far is fantastic. I am concerned that whilst cutting out the squares using an angle grinder (their tool of preference) etc, that there will be 'overun' with the blade, leaving cut marks beyond the edge of the 'square'. The overun has been happening on the white tiles when cutting around walls, but those marks are all hidden by skirting board.

My question is therefore, is there a smaller cutting tool on the market used for precision shapes that I can buy? Or should I forget the Black squares? Can I 'etch' a square in the tile with acid? (I am just brain storming here guys, sorry if they are stupid ideas), then lay a thin 'veneer' of black tile in the square hole?

Any ideas? I am out of my depth and don't want to see a really nice floor ruined with a poor finish to the squares. The tradesman is excellent but I know having watched him, the tiles are a pig to cut at the best of times. I am willing to buy a specialist tool for him in order to get a beautiful result. To me the simplest thing would have been to cut corners off the appropriate tile when laying them, to leave a neat square, but all Thai tradesmen here do like to choose the most difficult way of doing things (any plumbers or electricians would faint if they saw what goes on here ). thanks very much in anticipation of any help.

[Alan.P]

Hi Roger, welcome to the forum.

Yes, it would have been far easier to have cut the corners off first, that's how we would do it. There are tools on the market, one of our sponsors sells a range of tools.

Tradetiler.com Home

Having said that you still have the problem of possible over run and chipping. Why not ask your guy how he does it in a ' I don't believe it can be done' type way and ask him to show you how, he can cut one in an inconspicuous spot as an example so if it doesn't go to plan all is not lost and it's back to the drawing board.

[Roger Sofarover]

Thanks Alan

I have managed to find a shop in the town that sells a Japanese Diamond tipped wheel. I will get the guy to try a few for me in the cupboard under the stairs then make a decision whether or not to go ahead.

I am told the system here is archaic. My floor had to come up 5 cm and is typical here they will not lay a concrete floor say 4cm let it set then tile, they build the floor up tile by tile. I am told by Brit tradesman that the method here is not the way to do it but trying to convince them otherwise when this is the way their Grandfathers grandfathers did it is difficult. It leads to a lot of 'hollow' spots in the floor which need correcting after the concrete has set.

thanks again.
Roger

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

yes it's third world stuff, but ia'm full of admeration for them little guys,the tools we would go and buy ,would reprecent in money probs 20 years income so fair play to them

[Roger Sofarover]

gooner59

You are so right. I have never seen such resourceful guys in my life. They can achieve almost anything with the absolute minimum of resources.

[365drills]

If the white tiles have all been laid (because thats what you said) then my suggestion is that your installer will have to use an angle grinder to cut the lines.

Obviously he will have to stop short to prevent over-run.

Once cut across the tile it will have significantly weakened so he can snap the corner bits off.

Obviously it will leave a rough edge at each end of the white tile.

In that case as he lays the black tiles he will have to grind them underneath to fit over the white tile "tabs".

That's how I'd do it.

[Colour Republic]

I wonder if the fein tool has an attachment for this??? a cross between the semi-circular grout rake and the wood/metal cutting balde

[crash]

hi roger, one very easy way is to leave it without the black squares until oct next year and i will cut them in for you(for a small fee)i dont have over runs and i sand the edges with diamond paper to get rid of the chips.comming to thailand for a holiday and the rc worlds. there is one tiler there named ning and his wife tar, he has funny teeth and speakes good english. he is one very good tradesman, he worked for me here but was a overstayer that did not do anything about it so was shipped home
good luck to you
swatdee kup
mark

[Roger Sofarover]

Crash/Mark

Hee hee! It is a done deal. limitless beers, G+T's and BBQ's and a free bed in a nice town not far from the beach (although they might cause over runs!) and the small fee of your choice. Check your personal messages.
Thanks a lot