Porcelain Tiles - Bosch GTR 30CE

[transitboy]

For insurance purpose i think mate

[Technojunkie]

Nothing in my Liability Insurance about tool voltage. Surely, a 240v tool connected to an RCD is as safe, if not safer, than a 110v !

[transitboy]

I was told to use 110v

[Technojunkie]

I was told to use 110v

I'm specifically referring to domestic and not "on site" where, predominantly, 110v is compulsory.

[royaloakcarpentry]

the reason for professionals to be using 110v in domestic properties is because you are turning that home or a room of the home into an area of construction. Health and safety.

If you were running 240v and had each tool plugged into an rcd plug then, yes it would be safe, especially if you could guarantee that some one else isn't going to use on of the tools and just plug it in, unprotected.

Clients at times have kids about and you know what kids are like lol.

[wine~o]

I'm sure the fact that the tools run on 110V as opposed to 230V won't stop children playing with your tools whilst your back is turned...

[Technojunkie]

the reason for professionals to be using 110v in domestic properties is because you are turning that home or a room of the home into an area of construction. Health and safety.

If you were running 240v and had each tool plugged into an rcd plug then, yes it would be safe, especially if you could guarantee that some one else isn't going to use on of the tools and just plug it in, unprotected.

Clients at times have kids about and you know what kids are like lol.

Agreed, all valid points. However, I would NEVER work domestic and allow kids to be around..... anywhere near the work area.

[royaloakcarpentry]

I'm sure the fact that the tools run on 110V as opposed to 230V won't stop children playing with your tools whilst your back is turned...

Good point, well presented. what if they tried cutting the lead? Sticking a screwdriver in the tool?

It isn't just about just playing with tools. What about your own health and safety if you accidentally cut into a lead?

personally I don't allow 240v onto my jobs. Which is handy because the only person I know who uses them is a bodger and he is banned from my jobs anyway.

[haveagohero]

toys for show, grinder for dough! I use my grinder for profiling, pretty easy and quick when you get the hang of it. I would definitely trim the architraves and slide the tile under, save your money on the bosch thing and buy a fein for trimming archs

Thanks for the info haveagohero.

Based on the excellent advice received on this thread I've definitely decided against the Bosch. Are your grinder and Fein the 240v or cordless versions ? I much prefer cordless but their so damn expensive !

I use 18v and 240v grinder in different situation, the 18v is good for splashbacks or bathrooms where you are mainly doing socket cuts or taking corners out for windows etc. but for floor tiling or soil pipe cut outs etc. I use 240v. My fein is 240v but I am very tempted by the Makita 18v oscillating tool as I have already got quite a bit of the Makita 18v gear

[Technojunkie]

Thanks for the post haveagohero. I've bought a 240v grinder and a couple of diamond tile drills which I'll use with a 36V Bosch cordless.

[haveagohero]

Thanks for the post haveagohero. I've bought a 240v grinder and a couple of diamond tile drills which I'll use with a 36V Bosch cordless.

Should have added that a good tile cutting blade is a must with a grinder, cheap blades will just chip the glaze. I use these:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p90418

They are expensive but i get 6 months out of one using it most days

[royaloakcarpentry]

You can get some good blades on ebay from Hong Kong. Not used them but one of the commercial tilers on here whacked a link to them yonks ago.

They do all the big hole cutters too.

[All The Gear]

I bought that bit of Bosch kit last year when I was doing some site work in a hotel that had already been fitted out so it wasn't possible to use any wet cutters and I've got to say it's a great tool. If you're cutting ceramics it is a superb bit of kit but if you're cutting porkys it hasn't really got the guts. I had to cut out a load of very large holes in full tiles where the shower valves were coming through and, although it's slow going, it's very accurate and easy to handle but you also need to have frequent stops to let the milling bit cool. Be aware though, the base unit with the tile clamp is essential and that was another £70 or so but that bit of the kit makes an appearance on nearly every job now, the cutter I only use occasionally if I've got curves or shapes to cut out. It's fairly pricy for what it is but it's a very useful tool to have handy when you need to cut shapes.

[Technojunkie]

Thanks for the post All The Gear.

[Technojunkie]

I thought the tile dock looked a useful bit of kit when I first saw it particularly as, despite whats stated in the Bosch description, it can obviously be used as a "stand-alone" item and not exclusively with the GTR 30CE.