best way to cut tile in place

diy888 · 02-04-2011, 07:54 AM

If you could buy any tool-and-blade combination to cleanly trim away a half inch of 5/16 porcelain floor tile, in-place, around the perimeter of the toilet flange, after the tile has been laid and set with thinset, what would it be?

PVC toilet flange is not yet glued in place. Tiler did not leave a big enough hole for the flange to be set flush with the tile surface, and so the rim of the flange is sitting on the tile. Carefully trimming the tile in-place, if that's possible, is preferred to raising the toilet on a mat or hard insert.

Thanks

**oh'mike** · 02-04-2011, 08:14 AM

A 4" angle grinder with a diamond clipper blade--(dry cutter) That's the standard method---

4" grinders are cheap--less than $20--if you get lucky--blades are cheap,too.

Get some wire brushes and use it to clean your grill--Just handy to have around the house--

Good luck--wear goggles--practice on a scrap first.---Have fun---Mike---

**oh'mike** · 02-04-2011, 08:23 AM

I moved this to the tile section.

DrHicks · 02-04-2011, 08:30 AM

Mike's right, of course.

You're not going to get a nice, perfectly round circle that looks beautiful. You'll have lots of little 1/2" to 1" cuts. But don't worry, the toilet base covers that part anyway.

diy888 · 02-04-2011, 01:51 PM

I will just have to say proudly that I cut that dodecahedron myself.

DrHicks · 02-04-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diy888

i will just have to say proudly that i cut that dodecahedron myself.

big word alert!!!

**oh'mike** · 02-04-2011, 05:44 PM

DrHicks---He made that word up.

Alcarte · 02-04-2011, 06:06 PM

Absolute the easiest method

nap · 02-04-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diy888

I will just have to say proudly that I cut that dodecahedron myself.

I presume you meant: dodecagon. A dodecahedron is 3 dimensional shape (polyhedron) while a dodecagon is a 2 dimensional shape (polygon).

geesh. I wish I knew how many times I have to make corrections like this before people will learn.

diy888 · 02-06-2011, 10:59 AM

But what do you call a 3-D cylindrical shape with 12 faces? I suppose that would be a prism.

**oh'mike** · 02-07-2011, 12:08 PM

Uh,oh---word challenge for Nap----

md2lgyk · 02-07-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diy888

If you could buy any tool-and-blade combination to cleanly trim away a half inch of 5/16 porcelain floor tile, in-place, around the perimeter of the toilet flange, after the tile has been laid and set with thinset, what would it be?

PVC toilet flange is not yet glued in place. Tiler did not leave a big enough hole for the flange to be set flush with the tile surface, and so the rim of the flange is sitting on the tile. Carefully trimming the tile in-place, if that's possible, is preferred to raising the toilet on a mat or hard insert.

Thanks

I haven't tried it, but maybe one of those "multi-tools" would do the job with a lot less mess.

Kiwi. · 02-08-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md2lgyk

I haven't tried it, but maybe one of those "multi-tools" would do the job with a lot less mess.

Dremel multi-max or similar. Although more expensive than a angle grinder, but maybe more useful.

Tile Pro · 02-09-2011, 11:08 PM

Since the cut is under the toilet, neatness isn't too important. A 4" angle grinder with a carbide cutting wheel does a good job. I hold an old wet grout sponge against the blade when I'm cutting in a house where neatness counts. It catches the dust great and no air-borne mess, but a little thrown dirty water.
A dremel with the very thin diamond wheel, the 1" or 1 and 1/4" size, cuts like a scalpel even on soft stone and slate.

DrHicks · 02-09-2011, 11:26 PM

^ Great info. Thanks!

02-04-2011, 07:54 AM	#1
diy888 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 147	best way to cut tile in place If you could buy any tool-and-blade combination to cleanly trim away a half inch of 5/16 porcelain floor tile, in-place, around the perimeter of the toilet flange, after the tile has been laid and set with thinset, what would it be? PVC toilet flange is not yet glued in place. Tiler did not leave a big enough hole for the flange to be set flush with the tile surface, and so the rim of the flange is sitting on the tile. Carefully trimming the tile in-place, if that's possible, is preferred to raising the toilet on a mat or hard insert. Thanks

02-04-2011, 08:14 AM	#2
oh'mike Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kane county,Illinois Posts: 16,762	best way to cut tile in place A 4" angle grinder with a diamond clipper blade--(dry cutter) That's the standard method--- 4" grinders are cheap--less than $20--if you get lucky--blades are cheap,too. Get some wire brushes and use it to clean your grill--Just handy to have around the house-- Good luck--wear goggles--practice on a scrap first.---Have fun---Mike--- __________________ New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

02-04-2011, 08:23 AM	#3
oh'mike Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kane county,Illinois Posts: 16,762	best way to cut tile in place I moved this to the tile section. __________________ New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

02-04-2011, 08:30 AM	#4
DrHicks A Little Of Everything Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 2,042	best way to cut tile in place Mike's right, of course. You're not going to get a nice, perfectly round circle that looks beautiful. You'll have lots of little 1/2" to 1" cuts. But don't worry, the toilet base covers that part anyway.

02-04-2011, 01:51 PM	#5
diy888 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 147	best way to cut tile in place I will just have to say proudly that I cut that dodecahedron myself.

best way to cut tile in place