Trimming ceramic tile

[rvr6000]

I need to trim some jagged pieces of ceramic tile around a floor drain so I can install a new floor drain cover. I would like to cut a circle in the tile about 1/2"-3/4" bigger than the new cover and have a nice grout edge all the way around. I'm not much of a flooring guy so any advice on how best to do this would be appreciated.

Oh....as far as tools at my disposal; 4" angle grinder, cordless drill, Dremel

Thanks.

 

[rvr6000]

You know....I might have just answered my own question. What if I just get a cement grinding wheel for the grinder and work my way around the floor drain (woking from the center out to the outer edge of the size circle I want).

I can stuff something down in the drain so it doesn't get full of grindings/dust, etc.

 

[les_garten]

Is the hole in the center of the tile?

 

[les_garten]

This is the best forum for finding answers about tiling.

John Bridges book is the "Bible" for learning how to do tile. This site will have answers to your questions.

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2127

 

[rvr6000]

This is tile that has already been laid around the floor drain. The existing floor drain is old and gross and the tile around it is in rough shape too. Want to grind the existing tile into more of a nice round circle and install a new floor drain grate. The new drain grate is about 6" diameter so I suppose I want tile ground down to about a 7" circle. I wouldn't have to remove a whole lot of material.....just want to smooth it out.

 

[les_garten]

You're gonna need diamond and water cooling to cut the tile. Get the smallest diameter you can find to use on your grinder.

Or look for a Rotozip cheap http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM4824822901P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

These things can use tile bits and blades and what not and are great.

You'll need these things

1) High speed
2) Diamond bit or blade
3) Vacuum while you are doing it, if not using water because dust will be un believable.

p.s. and EYE PROTECTION AND IDEALLY A MASK

 

[slickgt1]

Grab a grinder like you first realized. Grab another pair of hands to hold you vac for you. Once you get the grinder going, Just follow the hole you want to cut out. You need to be holding the grinder almost parallel to the tile, so you are not cutting like you would a pipe. You are basically laying the grinder on the tile, and cutting with the forward most edge of the blade

. Hope that explains it. The natural circle of the wheel will let you follow around the edge, giving you a nice cutout.

 

[Kevin54]

If the tile is already down but you are wanting to open it up to 7" from 6"....or at least that is the way I am reading it, you can do it with a Dremel and a carbide bit in it. It will be slow and dusty, but all in all not too bad. Just mark on the tiles where you need to cut and go for it. Just make sure you have safety glasses and gloves. You don't want porcelain dust or a chip in your eye, and the tile can be as sharp as a razor.

 

[les_garten]

If the tile is already down but you are wanting to open it up to 7" from 6"....or at least that is the way I am reading it, you can do it with a Dremel and a carbide bit in it. It will be slow and dusty, but all in all not too bad. Just mark on the tiles where you need to cut and go for it. Just make sure you have safety glasses and gloves. You don't want porcelain dust or a chip in your eye, and the tile can be as sharp as a razor.

It'll eat a lot of those little blades. Water might help keep the blades from going so fast.

 

[Kevin54]

It'll eat a lot of those little blades. Water might help keep the blades from going so fast.

It shouldn't eat them if you get the carbide that looks like a drill bit or a small endmill. It will dull them down eventually, but should get him through this job

 

[les_garten]

It shouldn't eat them if you get the carbide that looks like a drill bit or a small endmill. It will dull them down eventually, but should get him through this job

I use those in my Rotozip, never used them in a dremel, but that would work if the dremel has the nutz to turn it.

 

[shoot summ]

As mentioned, use an angle grinder with a diamond wheel for ceramic and a good vac. Will take much less time than a dremel, but harder to make a pretty cut.

 

[dipper]

once you get it close, you could probably use a course drum sander in a drill press to give it a perfect round shape.

 

[snorky18]

I'm not sure a dremel would survive this task (says the guy who's toasted 2-3 of them doing similiar tasks).

Personally I'd try find a way to do it wet. Obviously this eliminates the use of electric tools.

I used an air angle grinder from HF ($20-30), a water hose, and a shop vac to reduce the mess. A helper to use the vac was quite useful.

 

[slickgt1]

Angle grinder will make the best looking, fastest cut, trust me. If I find any pics of the holes I have done, you will be shocked.

 

[shoot summ]

once you get it close, you could probably use a course drum sander in a drill press to give it a perfect round shape.

I'd like to hear your thoughts how he will get the drill press to the tile that is already laid as stated....

Remove the head and take it in the shower?

 

[shoot summ]

Angle grinder will make the best looking, fastest cut, trust me. If I find any pics of the holes I have done, you will be shocked.

+1, I've cut alot of different stone/ceramic products with an angle grinder and the right diamond wheel. I cut all of the edge pavers(1" quartzite) along the stone garden edging on my front porch that way.

 

[slickgt1]

+1, I've cut alot of different stone/ceramic products with an angle grinder and the right diamond wheel. I cut all of the edge pavers(1" quartzite) along the stone garden edging on my front porch that way.

That looks really nice. I am going to be doing my back yard with with this in the summer.

I am too lazy to look for pics, but here is one from my garage. Look, angle grinder, perfect circles. Big and small.