TS55 for cutting engineered marble?

[spober]

I’ve begun working on hotels installing engineered marble shower panels.  They are large sheets cut down to fit the shower area. You may have seen them if you have stayed at a Marriott or Hilton. (About 1/4”-3/8” thick)

I’ve used a handheld tile saw, and a regular circular saw with a diamond blade to cut them.  It makes the cut but the dust it produces is unbearable.  Have any of you used a track saw coupled with a vacuum to make similar cuts?

I know the ts is designed for wood, and not the intended purpose. But I have seen a couple videos on YouTube of someone cutting a sheet of drywall and a ceramic tile.  Both seemed to produce good results with the dust extraction.

 

[Sanderxpander]

Neither of those are nearly as hard as marble I would think. I don't know if water would damage the TS55 (or VAC)  that way but I'd suggest using plenty of it to cool and run the saw slow, if you do try.

 

[Cheese]

Engineered marble is actual marble particles compressed with polyester filler into a sheet or form.
I assume you’d still use a diamond saw blade. Festool just recently released a diamond blade for the TS 55.  That may possibly work.

I use my TSC 55 with a CMT polycrystalline diamond blade for cutting cement board. It works well with almost no dust.

 

[Fezbollah]

I’ve got a buddy who cuts quartz with his track saw. What I can’t recall is if he might have the 75 though.

 

[tjbnwi]

ATS diamond blade. You'll need to have it imported.

It works really well. Make sure you connect to a CT, I'd suggest getting the cover plate.
https://www.atsdiamondtools.co.uk/product/bushboard-m-stone-or-max-top-quartz-diamond-blade/
https://www.festoolproducts.com/fes...8Uw7TZkbhEBYkzSLyEVeEQkG8wseYolMaAlH3EALw_wcB

Tom

 

[sancho57]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]

I got mines ATS

 

[ART at WORK]

That's a handy tip.
Thanks Tom
I've got a broken marbel top off and old dresser.
I want to cut it to size so it will fit over a kitchen worktop.
Just need to do some more research about glueing on an edge and rounding and polishing.

Pip

 

[Cheese]

ATS diamond blade. You'll need to have it imported.

It works really well. Make sure you connect to a CT, I'd suggest getting the cover plate.

Hey Tom, have you tried this blade on porcelain tile?

 

[Brice Burrell]

I know the ts is designed for wood, and not the intended purpose. But I have seen a couple videos on YouTube of someone cutting a sheet of drywall and a ceramic tile.  Both seemed to produce good results with the dust extraction.

Festool just came out with a diamond blade for the TS55, to cut fiber cement board (part# 202958).  This certainly confirms that Festool intends the saw to be used for more than just wood.  Its probably not the best blade for your project, and its fairly pricey.

 

[Sanderxpander]

I think they have the dsc-ag 125/230 for that kind of cutting.

 

[tjbnwi]

ATS diamond blade. You'll need to have it imported.

It works really well. Make sure you connect to a CT, I'd suggest getting the cover plate.

Hey Tom, have you tried this blade on porcelain tile?

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]

Yes, it chips the edge a very little, nothing a diamond sponge wont take care of.

I have to see if ATS has a continuous rim, it might cut cleaner.

Tom

 

[Cheese]

Yes, it chips the edge a very little, nothing a diamond sponge wont take care of.

I have to see if ATS has a continuous rim, it might cut cleaner.

Thanks for the info Tom [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] ...do you think the use of blue painters tape might mitigate some of the chipping?

What grit diamond sponge do you suggest using?

I noticed that ATS suggests a maximum cut depth of 6mm to 7mm per pass. I'll be cutting 10mm porcelain so I'll do it in 2 passes.

 

[Peter_C]

I noticed that ATS suggests a maximum cut depth of 6mm to 7mm per pass. I'll be cutting 10mm porcelain so I'll do it in 2 passes.

Curious why you wouldn't just use a wet tile saw for cutting that thick of porcelain? Is size an issue?

 

[Cheese]

Curious why you wouldn't just use a wet tile saw for cutting that thick of porcelain? Is size an issue?

Just timing...I'd like to get this bathroom project back on track. We've still got 2' of snow on the ground and the temp this morning when I got up was 14º. [sad] Not exactly wet saw weather.

With the TSC, a rail and a vac, I can cut this stuff in the basement where it's around 64º.  [smile]

 

[Tinker]

I have used diamond blades to cut stone way back about 39 years ago. I used those blades to cut everything from nails to concrete to marble using my Milwaukee 8-1/4 circular saw. I go the blades a my mason supply but don't recall th company. I got very little chipping but used wet sand paper to clean up the edges. As I remember, Slate was the most difficult to saw without chipping the edges. I cut very little marble and granite. When I did, it was usually a "one-off" its my fingers crossed.

Note: I have not done any stone work since 1981. I quit when my chin started fighting with my knees for space.
Tinker

 

[spober]

Thanks for the great advice!  I’ll post some results the next project I have.