68 2018 | TECH Lippage Control Systems buy from them (for the uber MLT fan). The concept is simple enough. Clip goes under the tile and sticks up to receive the cap, cap goes straight down over clip and pressure is down- ward (No side movement) with the MLT gun. I love this system for stone and thicker tile although other com- panies have come out with clips for thicker tiles. Option 2: The spinner style. My favorite brand in this category is Spin Doctor by RTC. I know many install- ers who swear by this system and RTC makes a great product. The clips themselves come in 1/16” and 1/8” and, like every other system, you can add spac- ers for larger grout lines. The clip sits under the tile and the t h r e a d e d s p i n d l e comes up b e t w e e n them. The round cap “ s c r e w s ” down onto the tiles b r i n g i n g them togeth- er. For softer material they make a clear disc that slides over the spindle so that the spinner doesn’t make contact with the tile and only provides downward pressure. RTC also makes these clear discs with a different opening to accept clips from a wedge system to also protect soft materials. Which leads me to... Option 3: The wedge. My personal favorite, and seemingly most eco- nomical. With quite a few different versions on the market, each one brings its own pros and cons to the user but are similar in style. The clip is insert- ed under the tile and the wedge slides through it until desired pressure is a c h i e v e d . My wedge/ clip of choice c o m e s from the A u st ra l i a - based Levtec. They’ve made some modifications to the first clip and wedge they released to make them even stronger than they already were. This speaks volumes about a company doing exactly what they should with feedback from their customers. Making beefier clips and reinforcing the wedges is only the start of things that Levtec is doing to address changing demands. A clip with a larger capacity was recently released as well as bulk packages because, what more would you want when you’re clip shopping than an option to buy even MORE clips? Option 4: “entirely reusable”. I assure you that someone must have come up with something better to call these things. I would say that these clips (for the purpose of this article I’ll call them clips) are for those who don’t necessarily use a lip- page system to the extent that some of us do, but still run into a stubborn tile or two that needs a little extra love (persuasion). The two reusable clips that come to mind are the Mono Tile Calibrator, and the Level Head from RTC. The metal clip is inserted after the tiles are set, twisted to engage the clip, then the top sec- tion screws down to apply desired pressure. After the thinset has dried, the clips are unscrewed, then turned to release from the tile installation. I have/use both of these clips and they’re both another great addition to your toolbox. Please take note of that last sen- tence. “Another great addition to your toolbox.” I didn’t say any of these systems that I mentioned were “the best” or the only system you should buy because they’re all great. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. I own/use almost almost every system mentioned here at different times for different rea- sons, and I couldn’t pick just one for EVERY situation. If you’re in the market and you’re new to lippage systems try a few different ones and see what suits your style best. The bottom line is that you need a system that works best for you to give you and your customer the best results. LIPPAGE PRODUCTS ––––––––––– International Wholesale Tile has developed EvenTile, a two-part (Spacer Clip and Wedge) system for effi- cient installa- tion of larger tiles. High-quality multi-polymer plastic imbues the system with the strength required to lift, align and hold any tile size. Spacer Clips have pat- ented support rails along the foot and vertical tab for added lifting strength and to allow for well-defined grout joint sizes, and less than 1% breakage associated with applying pressure to wedges. The ergonomic Wedge shape adds comfort and reduces fatigue. A handy plier tool is available to assist with applying consistent pressure when inserting Wedges into the clips. eventile.net LEVTEC’s new clips and wedges have arrived! Clips are now 10% larger with the thinnest base on the market. All-new flex bars add constant downforce. The durable wedge is reinforced. We are so sure these wedges will last RTC is offering a lifetime guar- antee against breakage. rtcproducts.com The RTC Spin Dr. is a quick and convenient solution to reduce tile lippage with a patented free-spin design that allows installers to tighten the cap down with one hand. It does not involve any additional tools. The system is com- prised of a base in three sizes and a cap, with an optional washer that can be used to prevent thinset from moving up from the joint. rtcproducts.com