Measuring Tools ?!?!?

[Jimmy Boy]

Are there any precise measuring tools for tiling? I find it difficult to see and read mm on my ruler (even with specs on) in tight tucked away spaces like under sinks/toilets close to side walls and obstructions for getting a correct measure between a fixed tile and an object.

Do you know of a Caliper tool that is ideal for tiling?

 

[Raja]

hi jimmy i use a square my self by stanley have a look on thier website

 

[DHTiling]

Have you thought about some new specs...lol lol.....or a torch might help.....

 

[penno]

Try these mate

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?i...th+lights+on&start=36&ndsp=18&um=1&hl=en&sa=N

 

[burncross]

try switching the lights on

 

[Raja]

Try these mate

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geekalerts.com/u/led-glasses.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geekalerts.com/led-reading-glasses/&h=249&w=470&sz=15&hl=en&start=39&um=1&tbnid=zqJhjnj0U-6FNM:&tbnh=68&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dglasses%2Bwith%2Blights%2Bon%26start%3D36%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

they r wot u will need when u try to cut that granite like trying to cut through the vaults for bank of england lol:lol:

 

[joe kelly]

try switching the lights on

:lol::lol: :lol: i like it :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Jimmy Boy]

So that's it, just a bunch of wise cracks?

Anyway, thanks, real helpful

 

[Gazzer]

Dont take offense but the question was a bit lame. Everyone is different and you do what is right for you. You will learn your own methods over the years to come and even if someone said that the way to do it was this way, it wouldnt maybe be the way you felt comfortable with.
But in answer to your original question.
I would offer the tile up and make a few reference points on the tile and guess teh shape. then i would cut it out without going up to the mark. The cut tile would be offered up again to the obstacle and remarked and so on. I take little off at a time until its a nice fit. Rarely do i use a tape or ruler. I have a tape and ruler in my bag at all times but only used if needed. If i was cutting behind the toillet pan and i needed to know the width of a certain gap then i may use a slip of offcut tile. Place that across the gap and mark it. Then transfer the mark to my tile.
As for not being able to read the marks on your ruler, if you look around the tool shops or better still on the internet ( you can even buy left handed tape measures) you can find rulers with different markings on and some more heavier marked. If it was that bad then it wouldnt take you long to get a length of wood, mark it with a saw cut at regular intervals and paint the cuts with black to form your own ruler.

 

[GazTech]

So that's it, just a bunch of wise cracks?

Anyway, thanks, real helpful

I keep wooden ruler in toolbox and mark it with a pencil..like small staff....Gaz

 

[grumpygrouter]

So that's it, just a bunch of wise cracks?

Anyway, thanks, real helpful

I may be wrong but I think Penno was making a serious suggestion. If you have difficulty reading metric rules, either because it is dark or bad light then his suggestion is ideal IMO. As for calipers etc., being an ex RAF technician, there are loads of things around in engineering that would do what you want them to do. Trouble is they would take so long to use, if space is restricted you may not get them in and after a while they would get so dirty you wouldn't be able to read them.

Like any job experience will teach you the ways that best suit YOU. Without sounding disrespectful, if you are having difficulty seeing the metric graduations on a tape, you may really actually need your eyes testing again. I had mine done before christmas and things are now soooo much clearer it is unbelievable!

Grumpy

 

[Jimmy Boy]

I don't take offence, if you could express the tone I used in typing something as when saying something it would not come across that way.

I certainly don't think the question is "Lame"
I had an awkward area in a bathroom that I could not get into. Not close enough to read the size of cuts required.
Raja gave me the solution first reply, popped into a DIY store picked up a combination square, removed and reversed the adjustable square. Ruler into wall/object and slide square up to last fixed tile and tighten the thumbscrew pull it out and read the ruler minus 2mm grout line and job done perfect measure.
Sorry if it sounded lame but I'm a bit of a perfectionist rather than siliconist