DIY Tips : What tools do I need to do my own tiling job - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

**Fekin** · 27-11-2007

So, your thinking about tiling your own bathroom, or kitchen splashback, but what tools will you need to get the job done.

Tile Cutters

Tile cutters come in 2 variations, wet and dry.
A dry tile cutter is a manual cutting device that cuts the tile in straight lines using a scoring wheel to weaken the tiles face, then a breaking arm is pressed firmly onto the tile face and splits the tile along the scored line, and requires no water for coolant.

A wet cutter is just that, it uses water as a coolant on the cutting wheel which is power driven by a motor.
The cutting wheel does not exactly cut through the tiles as the wheel has no teeth compared to the like of wood cutters, but instead wears through the tile as you move the tile into the wheels path.
Wet cutters are used for many reasons, mainly for cutting out shapes that could not be done with using a manual dry cutter, like U bends and doglegs etc.
Also some natural stones cannot be cut very well with a manual dry cutter as the breaking arm can end up splitting the tile along the natural grain of the stone tile, instead of the straight line you require.

Trowels\floates

Trowels\floats are used to apply adhesives and grouts to the walls\tile joints.
Trowels come in different notch sizes depending on the depth of adhesive required to lay the tiles.

Most common size of notched trowels are..

4mm
For the likes of Mosaic tiles "small pieces of tile attached to a net backing", you would generally need a 4mm notched trowel to apply the adhesive to the wall.

6mm
Generally used for a standard sized ceramic wall tile.

10mm
Generally used for standard floor tiles.

There are other notch sized trowels, but in general these 3 are the most common.

A grout float is a lightweight float designed specifically for tile grouting; pure gum rubber face bonded to dense rubber pad, then cemented to aluminum backing with a smooth handle. Edges are beveled and the two front corners rounded for ease of spreading grout evenly over the tile.

Tiles spacers are needed to give uniformed grout lines between your tiles which come in many sizes, most common are between 2mm to 3mm for wall tiles and 3mm to 5mm for floor tiles.

Misc tools

Spirit levels
Stanley knife
Sponges
Sealer gun
Tile nippers
Tape measure
Eye protection
Tile File
Assorted screwdrivers
China pencils\marker pens
Radio "just for penno"

There are many other tools a tiler will end up adding to their list, but for the novice DIY'er, this near enough gives you everything you would need to start your own project.

Happy tiling

penno · 27-11-2007

Can't believe a radio isn't listed in the Misc section

Mosaic Mike · 08-08-2008

Do you know of anyone that manufactures a power nipper? I use hand nipper for cutting inticate shapes out of ceramic tiles, but this has to be done intermittently as the strain on the hand is pretty nasty after spending a day doing this... and something more heavy duty than those available in the US for thin mosaic tiles would be ideal...
Mike

**grumpygrouter** · 08-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mosaic Mike

Do you know of anyone that manufactures a power nipper? I use hand nipper for cutting inticate shapes out of ceramic tiles, but this has to be done intermittently as the strain on the hand is pretty nasty after spending a day doing this... and something more heavy duty than those available in the US for thin mosaic tiles would be ideal...
Mike

How about this mike -> Revolution Tile Saw - The Stained Glass Web-Mart - 888-452-7796