Running circles around cutting ceramic tile

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/01/2007 (6869 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Q: I’m redoing the master bathroom with 18-inch (46-cm) ceramic tiles and there’s one spot where I’ll need to make a circular cut. What can I use to make this rounded edge seamlessly?

A: You’ll need a drill motor equipped with a tile-cutting tip, which you can find at a home improvement store, and a round jig that you can make using a thin sheet of plywood. Here’s what to do:

First, cut a jig out of the plywood to use as a template. Keep in mind that there will be a small offset between the edge of the tool and the bit. Practise on a broken tile until the jig is just right.

Next, clamp the jig to the tile and make your cut.

The easiest part of the project is actually making the cut. Just make sure you’ve selected a tool that’s appropriate for the size of the tile and the work involved.

Enjoy a fire without

the insurance claim

A cosy fire can make for a warm and romantic evening.

But, without proper maintenance, a fireplace or wood stove can be the source of disaster. Play it safe. Have your chimney checked by a certified chimney sweep every year to make sure it’s properly venting hot, toxic gases and carbon monoxide to the outdoors.

Use only well-seasoned hardwoods in your wood-burning fireplace and chimney to reduce dangerous creosote buildup. And make sure you have a high-quality chimney cap to prevent rain from entering the chimney, birds or other animals from nesting and sparks from being blown onto the roof.

–Associated Press