Cutting Large Format Tiles for Wetroom

[Werz]

Hi
Can anyone please give me some advice on the best method/tile cutter to use when tiling an embedded shower tray (1500x800mm) with s/s centre drain. The tiles I want to use are 750x750mm porcelain. I realise using this method will create many large diagonal cuts to the drain from the outer edges of the tray. I would like to get the grout lines accurate and therefore a good quality tile cutter will be required. I have read that the Dewalt D2400 tile cutter is a good tile saw but this won't be large enough to do some of the cuts.

Would you professionals use a manual cutter for this type of job or is there a decent quality bridge saw I could hire/buy?

Cheers
Werz

 

[Old Mod]

Hi and welcome to the forum Werz.

Difficult to use a mechanical cutter for this as it doesn't actually remove any material from the tile. You need to do this in order to create a groutable joint. U can open the joints up, effectively making the tile 5mm bigger on each axis, but only if it doesn't effect surrounding tiles. (Joints will miss)
To use a wet machine, you have two options, something with a 1200 bed or a table top, with the table top you have to push your cut in a straight line over a small bed, can be tricky with large pieces.
Or use an angle grinder with a decent blade and cut freehand, which is the way I do it.
Takes practice tho.
One last option is to make a detailed and accurate template of your tiles and take them to be water jet cut.

 

[Werz]

Thanks - I don't think I can do this freehand - can you recommend a decent wet bridge tile saw - the ruby one has had a lot of flack on some reviews. Not sure if it's warranted or not.

 

[Old Mod]

If this is a one off, mark all your cuts and hire for a day if you can. Anything you can find with a 1200 bed should cope with straight forward cuts.
Just take your time and don't force your piece through. Let blade do work.

 

[Werz]

Thanks again - sounds like good advice. I'll hire one from Jewsons then.

Cheers
Werz

 

[Tilerdurden]

Overhead wet cutters are the best tool for the job imo. Cutting centre of marked line will give you a 2mm grout spacing and keep it all uniform.