A guy at the supply yard said 'just cut it wet' for a tricky tile layout

I was picking up some 12x24 porcelain for a bathroom remodel in Springfield, and the older guy behind the counter saw my layout sketch. He pointed at a tight corner and told me to run the saw with water but not to let the tile dry before setting it. Said the slurry helps with adhesion on tricky cuts. I tried it on the job yesterday, and it actually worked better than my usual method of cutting dry and then back-buttering. Has anyone else used this wet-cut-and-set trick for tight spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.nathan2mo ago

That wet slurry trick is a lifesaver for those thin cuts that usually crack on you.

eric3592mo ago

Ever tried that with a really old piece of wood? I had some dry, brittle oak that was a nightmare. The slurry trick sort of worked, but I ended up having to back it with masking tape too, which was a whole extra step. It got me thinking about how the wood's age changes everything. What works for a new thin cut might not save an old one.

theabennett2mo ago

Masking tape as a whole extra step? It's just tape. Sometimes these old wood threads make simple fixes sound like major surgery. A bit of slurry and some tape gets the job done without all the drama about wood age.