74 2018 | TECH Tools, accessories and apps TOOL AND ACCESSORY PRODUCTS ––––––––––––––––––– European Tile Masters Inc. is dedi- cated to making porcelain panel installations a breeze. The ETM- Trailer supplies everything you need for your job onsite and readily avail- able. The trailer is designed to house all the tools and equipment nec- essary to transport, fabricate and install full-size porcelain panels/ slabs, and engineered to hold up to 30 pieces of 1.6m x 3.6m x 6mm thick porcelain panels/slabs (63” x 142” x 1/4”). You will have what you need all in one trailer, with the fast- est tool set-up and teardown ever, as well as hassle-free installation. europeantilemasters.com QEP Xtreme Series SlimLine Tile Cutters are engineered by the pros, for the pros. The unique, ultra sleek body design is only 5-1/2” wide, weighing less than standard tile cutters. These multi-purpose cutters are ideal for most ceramic and porcelain tile jobs and are available in 24”, 30”, and 36”. Featuring a metal rip guide, replace- able tungsten-carbide cutting wheel and a reinforced thick steel base with tile support arms, these cutters have been designed for long lasting per- formance, even when scoring tough tiles. qep.com Rubi’s TC125 circular saw works with the Rubi Slim C u t t e r Guide, and is suitable for large tiles or porcelain slabs. Adaptable to dust reduction systems (wet and dry), it has connections to vacuum cleaner or water hose. The TC125 has a 45 degree angular regulation for a fast positioning, mitering of large tiles and thin porcelain slabs. This saw is suitable to two different blades diam- eters: 4-1/2” and 5”. rubi.com/us Scodd Industries offers the PorcelainPlus Speedbit® that was specifically designed for drilling efficiently through hard surfaces such as porcelain tile, crystalized glass, gran- ite, marble, quartz, glass and ceramic tile. Its tip design and carbide for- mulation enables the PorcelainPlus Speedbit to drill faster and get more holes per bit. The 1/4” Speedbit averages 25 seconds per hole and 15+ holes per bit (based on PEI 5 porcelain tile). Once installers try the PorcelainPlus Speedbit®, they immediately see how they can save time and money through quicker, easier installs. porcelaindrillbit.com Drills accommodate harder materials; layout technology evolves Advanced technology infiltrates into every sector of the industry, including the tools and sundries contractors use from day to day. Over the years, materials have grown harder and more dense. The popularity of porcelain tiles has been joined by materials like crystalized glass – and they need spe- cialized equipment to drill into them, said Scott Lebedz, owner of Scodd Industries. “To efficiently drill holes into these harder materials, you need higher-quality drill bits with better carbides and specially designed tips,” he said. He added that traditional standard carbide spade bits just can’t muscle into these surfaces. “By going with the proper drill bit, you can save a significant amount of time and money drilling into these harder surfaces,” he added. “Having the proper tool enables you to estimate the installation time and that may be the difference in winning and losing a bid.” Layout technology is also evolving. Rich Morse, Product Marketing Manager for Stabila, said that when establish- ing precise layouts, lasers and levels are an installer's best friends. “Think of lasers as advanced spirit levels capable of generating much longer control lines,” he said. Precision laser levels create plumb and horizontal lines with tiny margins of error, and can easily be used by a single operator. Traditional spirit levels have also advanced significantly, offering specialty level lengths, he added. Levels with adjustable lengths offer many different exact measure- ments for a variety of applications. Stabila’s Rich Morse added words to the wise: “Always invest in the best tools you can afford.” – Louis Iannoco Scott Lebedz