Cutting slate tiles

[mjd]

I am trying to cut slate tiles with an average thickness of around 10mm. I picked up an electric tile cutter with diamond blade for this, but it refuses to cut. I have run an old ceramic tile through no problem, but the slate wont even progress even a fraction. Anyone come across this before, or is it just a schoolboy error on my part?

 

[Maccapacca]

 

[TripleT]

Guess it depends on the power of the saw in general, should go through it fine with a diamond blade so guessing it's not up to it?

Wet Table saw's are recommended for slate though.

 

[mjd]

Thanks for the video macca, I had watched a few prior to trying this and as pointed out by triple T, a wet saw is advocated as the best solution. I don't fancy chancing it with an angle grinder as I need as near as straight a cut as possible if its to look anyway reasonable. Perhaps the included blade is a bit naff I suppose.

 

[TomO]

I did slate floor tiles at my old house and used a wet saw for it. Had a cheap one at first and that still managed, but upgraded mid way through to a c.£80 one with more power and a bigger blade which made things easier going.

 

[Skiddley]

I hired a basic wet cutter from HSS for a slate floor I laid. Was like a hot knife through butter.

Cost less for 24hrs than most diamond discs! laid all the full tiles first, and marked out all the cuts i needed beforehand so i could do all the cutting in one stint.

 

[mjd]

Well I ditched the included blade and bought a new one from screwfix......same problem.
This was the first slate I'd tried to cut so it hadn't dawned on me that it might be the slate rather than the wet saw at fault. Flipped the slate around and off it went! I'm sure there is probably an award for this level of plonker
Suffice to say its been plain sailing since that first cut.
Thanks for all the replies nevertheless, and apologies for robbing you all of a few previous minutes.

 

[Hyburnate]

Excellent