Could anyone offer guidance to a capable DIYer on cutting granite tiles please?
I COULD use my B&D 4in Angle grinder with a diamond disc but I really want something to produce absolutely straight cuts to make upstands for the skirting. A bit less dust would be welcome, too!
Table wet saws seem to have problems unless you get the guide rail absolutely parallel to the blade (some seem to be out of true and I'm not sure they would be up to cutting 10mil granite anyway.
So I'm pretty well decided to get a used radial saw. It needn't be big, as the tiles are 12in (305mm) but Rubi is out of the question on price grounds (£250 plus). I've seen some from Silverline, Rexon, Norton / Clipper, Titan, Berlan, ToppsTiles, Axminster and others. but there seems to be a strong similarity between some of them that makes me think they're all made in the same factory (probably in Beijing) and finished in different livery for retailers.
Can anyone offer me some advice on what to go for, or what to avoid? Better still, can anyone offer me a saw? I'm looking for a used one that I can sell on afterwards, rather than hiring (as I tend to take my time).
Thanks given to all who respond.
Z

FOLLOW UP:

Something I've been looking at is a Rexon RTC200a (which has a 700W motor and a 200mm disc. Its cheap and well used but I figure that a decent new blade should do it?

Anyone have experience of it? Any doubters?
z

I used to have the Rexon cutter yoou mention or a similar one. Power wise you will have to take it slow when cutting but if you equip it with a good quality cutting wheel it will have no problems cutting. The actual machine is a decent tool, power is lacking and of course they only supply a cheap wheel, that said i used mine for a few years with no problems.

Thanks, Sir Ramic. Just out of interest, which wheel would you have used on it for 10mm granite?

I thought 700W might be verging on mediocre and have seen another make with a more powerful 900W motor. But I also thought it would be a whole lot better than a 550W desktop or an angle grinder. I think it will do then, especially as I'm not in a hurry (as you can tell from my timetable!)
Thanks,

Z

Have a chat to Tradetiler and he will be able to sort you out a wheel.
I always use Marcrist or Rubi wheels if i can.

zygo,

Where abouts are you?

If you are anywhere near Spennymoor in County Durham I have tile saws of all makes, shapes and sizes I could lend you?

For cutting Granite mate use a Rubi Granite wheel, they are made specifically (however you spell it ) and cut the stuff perfect.

I would personally get a cutter from a shop that is "tiling the nation" ,do the job and return it as it is "burnt out" somehow
"no i dont want it exchanged i want a refund"

DEWALT: Unbelievably kind offer mate. But why are all the best tilers Up Norf - Fraid I'm down here in Essex!

Really nice of you all the same. - If you have some for sale, I might be interested in a trade - I don't mind a bit of travelling as I can incorporate it into another trip one day. but I was in Derby at the weekend and might be able to make one more visit (to collect) but no more planned after that (to return it).
Cheers, all the same. Z

PENNO: Marcrist and Rubi seem to be the best but at £50 a pop, they seem a bit overkill for my little DIY job. I was thinking more like £20 tops. Still, the advice is welcome. Thanks. Z

Mate the price of blades may seem expensive but you are honestly not going to pick up a blade for £20 that will do the job that you need.

Maybe get all your full tiles down and get all your cuts marked up, hire a cutter for one day and get them done.?

Mmm. I may need to rethink this through then.
Thanks for that tip. If I'd wasted £20 on a wheel that wasn't up to the job, I really have been fed up.
Z

Looks like I shall be spending more on a wheel than on the cutter!

Z

Originally Posted by zygo

Looks like I shall be spending more on a wheel than on the cutter!

Z

Think of it this way Zygo, how much would you have spent getting a pro in to do the work? £60 on a blade becomes small beer in comparison. You could always sell it when you have finished and recoup some of your money.

Don't ruin the job by scrimping on things you really need. You will be much happier in the end.

OK. I know you're right. There's no answer to that
cheersa,
Z

If there was a tiler on here near to you, another option would be for you to mark the tiles and take to the tiler and he/she could cut them for you and you bung him a few quid.
Any takers ?

Actually, Sir Ramic, cost is not the sole issue. I've done each stage of this conversion myself, with a sense of achievement. So I'd quite like to do the tiling myself now. Nuts, I suppose, but it's good to feel you have created it yourself. If there are any wheels other than £50/60 Marcrists that can cut granite, I'll compare the cost.
Z

I've almost exclusively used norton discs for at least 5+ years and only because they work. We've moved onto their aerojet range which are nice, prior to that it was pro-xt.

Then again it all depends on the type of cut you need, are the cuts being seen? If so I find a continuous blade better, if it's just raw cutting power than a serrated blade is quicker in my experience.

That's a very astute (and helpful) observation, frankenfurter. Thanks. The wall edge cuts will be hidden by the skirting but I have not decided yet whether to cut granite skirting, where the cuts WOULD be visible. If I did, they would still be unpolished - is there any simple way to polish the edges - with a fine emery or something?

Are Norton discs widely available? (I'm in Essex). Are they cheaper than Marcrist and Rubi?
Z

Around same price, the norton aerojet kinda polishes the cut edge. Get them direct from screwfix from around £50.