Batons

[michaelb4348]

Has anyone ever used the baton stands from rubi? i have a job to do where i have to baton out the bottom normally i would screw the wood in to the walls. The problem with this job is its going to be tile over tile as they are in sand and cement on the wall and costs etc i mentioned in another post. Now instead of trying to drill through the tiles was wondering if anyone has used the tile baton stands?

[Sir Ramic]

Yeah i have a set, useful when needed but used not that often.

[mikethetile]

they can be usefull in certain situations

just dont keep kicking them when your working

they are not that dear from tradetiler so may be worth ordering some

[whitebeam]

I use the karl dahm ones and find them a good bit of kit

[michaelb4348]

I use the karl dahm ones and find them a good bit of kit

where you get them?

[whitebeam]

Tradetiler

[Alan.P]

Why can't you put the bottom row in first ?

[Sir Ramic]

TradeTiler.Ltd

[michaelb4348]

Why can't you put the bottom row in first ?

ll

you mean set it all out get my lines up put a line for the bottom cut?

[pete f]

baton stands are very useful ive used them a few times a good tip is use a spirit level as the baton

[Alan.P]

ll

you mean set it all out get my lines up put a line for the bottom cut?

Basically yes, I use a laser though, set out, set up the laser to the top of the bottom tile, cut and fix using packers to get the levels right and fix fix fix, well that's how I do it now .... normally.

[hillhead]

I would work out bottom line.and stick bottom row on.wedge them up to get perfectly level then tile away! Then cut floor to wall and this will cover your cuts at bottom.works well in this situation.

[Alan.P]

Snap lol

[michaelb4348]

Basically yes, I use a laser though, set out, set up the laser to the top of the bottom tile, cut and fix using packers to get the levels right and fix fix fix, well that's how I do it now .... normally.

see what your saying i have never tried this i do have the dewalt laser its brilliant. May give this a go.

[Fekin]

Never used stands, though might get some to have a play with at some point.

[Sean fsy]

use some masonary nails in the batons and put them through a grout line. always wear safety goggles when hitting masonary nails though as they can put your eyes out.

[andy8758]

baton stands are very useful ive used them a few times a good tip is use a spirit level as the baton

I agree with Pete - I tend to use my stands with a spirit level as support. I have also found that a good grip adhesive (I prefer BAL white star) means that as soon as you have that row level you can remove the level, and the tiles stay in place, although if you want to be really certain not to lose your line, do the second row before removing the level.

I also use a Stabilo laser - I guarantee to get levels spot on around all 4 walls when tiling an entire room every time when using the laser to set out. But then I am still a bit of an amateur compared to some of you guys - bet there are plenty of experienced tilers who find lasers an unnecessary expense!

[Sean fsy]

- bet there are plenty of experienced tilers who find lasers an unnecessary expense!

I always set out using my laser, wouldnt have it any other way. Spirit levels arent accurate enough. I use good quality machined edges spirit levels and they state on them that like over 1.2 metres they can be 1/2 a mm out so if you do a bathroom with 8 linear metres to go round you can be as much as 4mm out. Maybe doesnt sound a lot but it means your tiles and grout lines wont line up.

[Alan.P]

If anyone does use a level to get a datum a good trick is to turn your level around each time, ie: mark the ends a and b, start off your datum drawing a line from a to be, the turn your level around so that your marking from b to a and so on, this way if your level is out by 1mm you know that each time you draw a line it is only going to be out 1mm and then corrected on the next line, if you see what I'm saying, a kind of up and down effect but on a small scale.

[mikethetile]

this is the correct way to set out a datum with a spirit level

the most accurate way is with a water level

but if you have a laserlevel thats the way to go

[andy8758]

Alan is spot on about turing the spirit level around to counteract the error. However, it seemed to me that this left you with a wavy lined datum line - and no guarantee that it was not 1 mm out on the last mark. I have customers who would pick that up in a flash. So I am with Sean on this one - only 100% accuracy is laser level (when used correctly - lol!)

[doug boardley]

I've a set of batten stands, useful items at times, although I normally tile from a datum including my cuts to the floor, as I go these days

[mikethetile]

Alan is spot on about turing the spirit level around to counteract the error. However, it seemed to me that this left you with a wavy lined datum line - and no guarantee that it was not 1 mm out on the last mark. I have customers who would pick that up in a flash. So I am with Sean on this one - only 100% accuracy is laser level (when used correctly - lol!)

throw your level away if its that inaccurate

about as much use as a chocolate teapot

[Alan.P]

Alan is spot on about turing the spirit level around to counteract the error. However, it seemed to me that this left you with a wavy lined datum line - and no guarantee that it was not 1 mm out on the last mark. I have customers who would pick that up in a flash. So I am with Sean on this one - only 100% accuracy is laser level (when used correctly - lol!)

Obviously you wouldn't leave the wavy edge look, straighten up with a straight edge, but it's been a while since I've done it 'old school' lol, laser all the way for me now

[Dave Ramsden]

Id laser a line on and screw a plug if masonry nails didn't get it. We used to have to do this all the time working on costa coffee shops. Usually it was as simple as nailing through the joint!

[grumpygrouter]

Alan is spot on about turing the spirit level around to counteract the error. However, it seemed to me that this left you with a wavy lined datum line - and no guarantee that it was not 1 mm out on the last mark. I have customers who would pick that up in a flash. So I am with Sean on this one - only 100% accuracy is laser level (when used correctly - lol!)

You ever checked the tolerances on a laser level.....some are further out than a good spirit level!!

[mikethetile]

You ever checked the tolerances on a laser level.....some are further out than a good spirit level!!

this is true but laser accuracy is improving

the most acurate way to transfer levels from one point to another is still a water level

[Superally]

I use them and find them very usefull. only really use them when your tiling in tanked areas where you cannot use a screw to fix the batton

[terry the tiler]

can anyone recommend a good accurate laser ?

[Alan.P]

can anyone recommend a good accurate laser ?

How much do you want to spend £100 up over for anything half right