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Ludowici Interlocking Tile Installation Manual <br />21www.ludowici.com <br />Cutting, Notching and Drilling <br />Cutting <br />NOTE: Unnecessary cutting and drilling time can add <br />substantial cost to the job. Carefully consider tile layout <br />before starting the work to minimize cutting and drilling. <br />Tiles should be cut wet on the job with a masonry or tile <br />saw equipped with a diamond blade. Segmented blades <br />will be the most efficient. Slight surface chipping will <br />occur during the cutting operation. The sliding saw table <br />and tub should be as large as possible to accommodate <br />cutting the tiles diagonally. <br />Ludowici tiles are extremely hard, which provides the tiles <br />with low moisture absorption and long life. Dry cutting <br />techniques used on softer tile products will not work as <br />fast with Ludowici’s hard tile. Dry cutting with a good <br />segmented “turbo” diamond blade is possible. Best results <br />have been obtained using a 4" diamond tipped segmented <br />blade mounted on a small right angle grinder motor. <br />Notching <br />One time saving option to drilling through the tiles is to <br />notch it with the small 4" diamond blade saw and then nail <br />or wire in place. If using a field tile for the starter course or <br />ridge, “dovetail” notches are cut. Make sure cuts are wide <br />enough for a nail or screw (see Figure 23.1). <br />Drilling <br />Additional nail holes may also be drilled if necessary. <br />High torque electric drills may snap the carbide bits in <br />the extremely hard Ludowici tile. Drills should be battery- <br />powered, adjustable clutch-driven types. To drill out holes, <br />the tile should be set in a pan with water to extend bit life <br />and avoid the risk of eye injury due to fragments. Expect <br />to drill only about 6 holes per carbide bit. <br />Figure 21.1 Examples of Cut and Notched Tile <br />WARNING: <br />Dry drilling may result in serious eye injury. Always <br />use protective eye and face wear when drilling tile or <br />operating a masonry saw. <br />Never use 115-240 volt AC-operated drills in water. <br />Electrical shock could result.