cutting curves in limestone for a toilet

[ross lewiss]

the tiler i worked with yesterday showed me how to cut around a toilet without removing it. he was laying limestone and he marked and drew the curve to be cut. i asked him why he didnt take out the toilet and he said the builder insited he did it that way so, heres how he cut a curve in limetone. he marked the curve, took it to the over head rail wet cutter and cut off the corner strip of the tile were the ends of the curves started. he then cut a v - shape reducing the curve. he then cut lots of paralell strips out around 5-8mm wide till the blade reached the edge of the line of the curve. he kept back for the curved line by about 1mm. he then got his snippers and broke off each strip along the entire edge of the curve. and finally he smoothed the remaining 1mm that was left on by running around the wet saw blade untill it wad reletively smooth.
so to recap.
mark curve on tile
cut the corner of the tile off from the tip of the curve to the other uing wet saw
then cut a v shape out of the tile as close to the curves as possible
than cut lots of strips about 5-8mm up to 1mm from the line of the curve, following all the curve!!
use snips to break off strips, then run the jagged edge around the wet saw in a controlled movement cleaning off the jagged edge.
i didnt know you could do this. he claimes you can use an angle grinder but he said hes a tiler not a stone mason. he also says you can do this method on any natural stone
thanks, ross

[Dave]

That's the way to do it...saves nibbling the whole lot out.......but you are better off finishing the curve with a tile file...much neater edge on stone.......