Cutting in an old work box

[SethB]

Need to cut in an old work box into a tiled wall. Never attempted that before. I'm thinking use my milwaukee OMT to do it, but not sure what blade is best? Diamond grit, Carbide grit? which brand is best?

 

[Jim greengo]

It might be easier to pop off the piece of tile and cut it,or just cut a new piece to to put back in its place.
Cutting tile on a wall *****.

 

[Toolfool]

Diamond blade designed for cutting tile. And a shop-vac.

 

[SethB]

After some research, I'm getting these:

https://www.rykerhardware.com/colle...mond-oscillating-saw-blade-75-wide-x-1-5-long

Makes sense to have a helper with the vac ready, thanks.

Plan B will be to pull the tiles and replace, but it's subway tiles and then I have to get a wetsaw from a buddy and I hate tiling almost as much as painting.

 

[rlitman]

What sort of tile. Porcelain? Good luck. Ceramic can have a tough surface, but cut like butter once you've broken through. I've used a similar diamond blade, and it wasn't that bad.

Also, it might make sense to drill the corners first.

Can you line the box up on the edge, or better yet corner of a tile, so you're cutting grout lines?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

i wouldnt cut it on wall. could pop the tile out or grout. easier to remove tile and cut elsewhere. also easier clean up....

 

[tab2]

Backsplash? It is probably ceramic so it will start slow, but will get easier once you're through the surface. A multi-tool or Dremel with the correct blade will work. If is all about the blades.

That grout cutting one is terrible.

It will be annoyingly loud

 

[sparky 1971]

I've done it a few times with a diamond grit blade in my M12 multi tool. It wasn't fun and took forever. Not sure how much of it was the gutless tool and how much was the tile. I now have a corded Rockwell that blows the M12 away, but haven't had to cut a tile with it yet.

 

[joablynn]

I like a diamond wheel in an angle grinder. Can make a mess, but cuts well.

 

[The Cobbler]

trying to get a tile off the wall without damaging it will be next to impossible.
can you locate the box at the corner of a tile so you only have to cut 2 sides?

 

[Mr_fixit]

Dremel is what I used, with a reinforced abrasive blade. Cut a 4" round hole in a ~4 inch square tile.
I'd cut a 2 gang hole, maybe.

 

[nadogail]

When I have removed Kitchen Sinks in tile countertops I have found that the Carbide tipped blades in my oscillating tool cut the tiles like a hot knife cuts warm butter.

 

[exranger06]

I used a Dremel with the 562 tile cutting bit once before. It worked very well.

 

[rlitman]

I used a Dremel with the 562 tile cutting bit once before. It worked very well.

They make a solid carbide version of that bit that's actually a really useful tool (I'm not in to HSS for that use). Look for the 570. I most often use it with a drill for cleaning tire punctures before plugging, but it'll cut tile too. Carbide can be brittle, so do be careful, but used with care, it will way outlast the HSS version. I sometimes use mine in a turbine grinder up to 65kRPM. Speeds that would trash the HSS bit.

 

[rburke65]

Watch out for the studs!!

 

[Terry D]

I would use a 4 1/2 grinder with a diamond wheel to do most of it. You won't be able to get the corners cut, then use your multitool with that diamond blade to finish it.

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[SethB]

So here's how it went:

Drilled corners with tile bit, then cut out tile. Took 2 diamond blades and a 3.0 and a 4.0 battery on my Milwaukee OMT, non-fuel. Dusty as hell and LOUD. Ran the shop vac and wore hearing pro.

Not a fun job, but all done

 

[The Cobbler]

cool!

 

[yeldogt]

Drilling the corners = smart