Frequently Asked Questions Sigma Related Questions
How long does the Sigma scoring wheel last. It´s all down to usage. An example would be twice-a-year if you are cutting ceramic and not too often. If you are slicing porcelain tiles on a frequent basis we recommend you change the wheel about every 6 weeks or so. They are not that expensive anyway to replace. Do Sigma cutters cut any tile. The Sigma covers quarry, stone, ceramic and just about any tile. There are materials like marble and granite that usually have to be cut on a wet cutter but in our own experience some marble can be cut on the Sigma. We´ve scored four or five times before we get a successful cut. You would need to be sure if your Sigma will cut specific granites and marble before you start a project. Get a few broken tiles first and practice a couple of cuts and then you´ll see if you require a wet cutter or not for a marble or granite project. What cutter do you recommend out of all the ranges. The most popular is the Sigma 63cm but it all depends on what kind of tiler you are. Tilers who do large projects would need a 63cm tile cutter and probably upwards as tiles are getting bigger each year in the UK and Ireland. A 63cm cutter is a safe bet but don´t discount the other types. The smaller ones are great for small projects; like if you are on a contract for shower cubicles only and the tiles are small; then the 50cm, 51cm and the 53cm cutters are great. If you want, why not buy the baby Sigma. These small and smart cutters are very useful for kitchen work tops and small tiled areas like shower cubicles. They are light, comfortable, economic and very very reliable. I would say if you are just starting out go for the 50 ranges and if you are experienced buy the 63cm and upwards. You might not require the 93cm cutter unless you are tiling with very large tiles. It would not be recommended to buy the giant 93cm cutter unless you were very sure. They are not very practical in size if you are tiling domestic projects. They are sometimes longer than the bathrooms you would find yourselves in. What advice would you give to anyone who isn´t sure about the Sigma. What I would say is the Sigma is a cutter you don´t have to get used to. It is a natural process to pull-score rather than push-score so the Sigma offers this natural way of cutting. The wheel is precise, you can look at the wheel whilst you are sizing up and cutting. Think about it: it is easier to pull towards you than to push away from you; that´s one of the advantages that sways Sigma´s way. Sigma does offer the Klick-Klock version to give both sides of the argument some substance. I fancy the Sigma 63cm cutter but it looks a bit different to the 62cm even although there is only a slight difference in cutting size of one centimetre. Should I go for the 63cm. The 63cm cutter is a top-class cutter with unique shape and style. They are not meant to be the same cutter. If you are left handed I would suggest the 63cm because you can cut on the left side of the table. If you are looking for more options then the 63cm cutter is for you but the 62cm one is the most commonly used and it seems to be the most popular according to our research and experience. Both are special cutters and not that much difference in price. We don´t have any favourites as all the cutters are unique and great for different cutting tasks. I am stuck between the 50cm cutter standard and the 51 with diagonal facility. Can you advise. Having a cutter with diagonal cutting facility is an obvious option but if you don´t think you´ll ever cut diagonally then go for the standard. If you come unstuck, however, and you find yourself on a project where you have to cut diagonal then just take a full square tile and slice it in half from point-to-point to give you a half diamond tile. Use the best cut half as a template and that will give you a diagonal gauger. I am about to tile my kitchen floor and after ripping up the old flooring that was in I discovered that I need a new base. I know it´s not safe to tile over floorboards but what is the best flooring to use prior to tiling. Firstly, there are products on the market that allow you to tile over floorboards but from a tiler´s perspective we wouldn´t recommend it. Good 6mm to 9mm plywood is suffice for a base. Angular ring nails at 20mm length and hammered in at least every six inches over the flooring. Make sure there are no squeaks on the flooring and then apply a bonding agent. Read instructions on how to mix the bonding agent (you will be applying water to the mix) and you should leave the floor to dry out before you spread adhesive. The adhesive is also important because if you are tiling over plywood then Flex-Adhesive (Rapd Set) is well recommended. Flexi-Grout is also recommended when tiling on ply flooring. What adhesive is the best to use for floors. We like BAL but there are two great adhesives out there: Ardex and PCI. BAL offer a good flexible adhesive that is also Rapid Set). What colour of grout do you recommend. Stay away from coloured grouts. Simple greys without any colour additives are plenty for grouting. Wall grout is mostly white unless specified on various projects. Instructions on How to use a washboy set: How do you use those washboy sets. Very simple to use. Fill your bucket up to the line - if there is no line then just under three quarters of a full bucket is enough. Dip your hydro sponge into the water and firmly - but not too hard - then rinse your sponge over the rollers. You have already grouted your surface but make sure youu scrape the excess off at a 45° angle. This will allow you to scrape across the joints and not scrape into the grout lines. The more you scrape off the less you have to wash off with your hydro sponge. In a "window-washer´s" movement place your hydro sponge on the grouted surface and in one clean sweep over a metre square you clean that area. Now dip your sponge in the water and repeat the process on the next square metre of grouted tiles. At the end of your whole wall you can go over the whole area again after about 20 minutes ( depending on the room temperature) and give it one more wash but what we do is just proceed to the rest of the next area and repeat the process. After two walls have been swiped you wash out your bucket, clean your hydro sponge and give your area one final clean swipe-wash. You will then wait as you normally would when grouting, to see the slight film drying on the tiled area. You will still have to wipe down with a dry cloth but only slightly. The washboy does all the cleaning for you but you will still have to give your area a final dry wipe on white grouted walls...but only a tickle will be required. Floors are different. One final wash then instruct your client not to use detergents for a couple of weeks. Only a hot rag or mop will be sufficient one day after grouting. Powdered grout should be mixed in accordance with the product data of your prefered grouting company. Wall Grout: Mostly white and thinner than floor grout and should be mixed thoroughly to a thick "cream" substance, not too "runny," by scooping up the grout on your trowel simply turn the trowel upside down and the grout should stay on the metal of the trowel without dripping...this will mean your grout is supple enough and ready for spreading. Grout joint size: 2mm/3mm in most cases. Floor Grout: Floor grouts are generally harder and thicker and can come in "fast-setting" times. Please be careful and read the Instructions on your Product Data. Grout joint size: 3mm/5mm are most popular (although for marble & granite very small grouting joints of 2mm can be allowed). In other cases a grout joint of 8mm can also be popular (stone and quarry tiles). Applying Grout to Walls & Floors: Simply apply the grout onto the area and spread with the float of your choice, in an "S" formation cover the whole area until it is completely covered....then most importantly in a 45° motion scrape and clean the excess grout leaving little grout on the surface but enough between the joints...leave for about 10 mins (depending on temperature of room) then clean in ONE movement with your WASHSET ...Instructions as follows: WASHSET: Your Grouting Bucket & Sponge ( WASHSET ) should contain the following items for this operation to be a success: 1 Bucket with the possibility to hold 21L/22L/23/ or 24Litres of water 1 Handle attached for manouvreability and balance when transporting or moving around 2 Rollers for rinsing purposes 1 Hydro Sponge with handle attached 4 castor wheels or under rollers for manouvering the bucket around on the floor Hydro Sponges: Should be used in compliance with your WASHSET . These sponges absorb more water, are tough, stretchable and come in "slit-format" meaning the sponge is made up of tiny equal squares to allow suppleability when rolling of the rinsing rollers. Are your trowels rust free. Yes, all, or at least most, of our trowels are Rust Free. We state this on our description anyway. Why would I need the tile trim cutters when I can cut mitres on my mitre box with a hack-saw. Time and effort. Isn´t that what you want to cut down on? And, you get a much cleaner finish when you use the tile trim cutters. What tools do I need. Break it down to: Measuring - Spreading - Cutting - Cleaning. Measuring will cover ruler or measuring tape; spirit level (vital); spreading will be trowels; cutting is obviously your cutter and cleaning will be floats & sponges (possibly a washboy set) for grouting. Retailers and Merchants Questions Do you supply to retail. We mainly dispatch to the tiler, the end user as it were but we can take questions from retailers but in general we cater for the tiler. I don´t have facility to pay online. We can accept cheques but this will slow down the delivery time. For more on payment questions please click here. What are your delivery terms and times. To view our delivery information please click here. If you have any questions that are not on here then please ask us.
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