Cutting and laying reclaimed quarry tiles in a hearth

[honestsam]

Hello
Bit of advice needed. I've bought some thick reclaimed quarry tiles to put down on a hearth. However they are all of varying thickness from just under an inch to under an inch and a half. What's the best way to tile? I guess just plan it well and mortar in each one individually adjusting for height?

The other thing is I need to cut them, one cut being an L shape. Would a standard / cheapo tile cutter do the trick? Only a few I've seen cut more than an inch thick.

Something like this?

http://www.wickes.co.uk/450W-Tile-Cutti ... nvt/186878

Thanks

[dave.m]

Have you thought of an angle grinder with a diamond blade.
Lots of dust but you get a good clean cut edge.

dave

[honestsam]

Yes but they scare me too much!

[tictic]

sort them out in thickness and using the thickest ones start with theses from the centre working out the way,, then using the thinest for the outer area(just add more muck) to keep level.

as for cutting them,that wet cutter would do the job...
or as above angle grinder..

cutting quarry tiles years ago,we just used to score/scribe the face off the tile 3-4 times then turn it over and tap it with a small pin hammer(4oz) and hey presto tile cut..give it a try,....

[honestsam]

Thanks tictac. Yeah good planning and prep is always the key, but I just like a level of confidence before I start otherwise problems occur and I get an attack of the sweats and swearing.
Even though the tiles are thick I guess the "quarry" material is not that hard and should be relatively easy to cut.
Because they are reclaimed I don' think the scouring(sp?) and and tapping will work due to probable weak points picked up over the years. I couldn't build in much wastage because they were hard to get.

[honestsam]

Just to update, I bought the wet tile cutter and it worked a treat. The cutter sprayed me from head to toe with red quarry water. Wife said she'd thought I'd cut an artery!!

[tictic]

next time kneel of centre of the wet saw when cutting you wont get wet as much..