Question About Cutting Ceramic Plates

I have a number of nice transferware older ceramic or china (not sure which
is the correct term) dinner plates (Stafforshire- could be ironstone-
whatever that means in terms of pottery and materials?) that I would like
to reshape into various sizes. I didn't want to smash the lot (though many
have edges that are chipped, and so can't really be used as crockery
anymore) the way you do when you want random tiles. Instead, I would like
to pinpoint some part of the plate, ie, the middle 3 inches, that has a
complete picture to it. I would like to cut it out and then make an oval
or round shape to it, and if possible, do this to other parts of the plate
that have nice designs on them.

My questions a How do you actually cut into the plate to get to the
various parts you want to- do you saw into and around it roughly, like a
piece of wood, and then sand down the edges to refine it? Do you use a
hacksaw? Or is breaking the plate the only way to divide it? Is there any
way to control the breakage if you can't saw your way into it? Also, if
you want to make tiered plates with good dinner plates, what kind of a
drill bit would you use and other preparations would you have to make to
ensure you didn't crack the plates when you drilled the center holes? What
would be the widest diameter you could drill?

Thanks for any input on this.

--

"R. Seed" wrote in message
...
I have a number of nice transferware older ceramic or china (not sure
which
is the correct term) dinner plates (Stafforshire- could be ironstone-
whatever that means in terms of pottery and materials?) that I would like
to reshape into various sizes. I didn't want to smash the lot (though many
have edges that are chipped, and so can't really be used as crockery
anymore) the way you do when you want random tiles. Instead, I would like
to pinpoint some part of the plate, ie, the middle 3 inches, that has a
complete picture to it. I would like to cut it out and then make an oval
or round shape to it, and if possible, do this to other parts of the plate
that have nice designs on them.

My questions a How do you actually cut into the plate to get to the
various parts you want to- do you saw into and around it roughly, like a
piece of wood, and then sand down the edges to refine it? Do you use a
hacksaw? Or is breaking the plate the only way to divide it? Is there any
way to control the breakage if you can't saw your way into it? Also, if
you want to make tiered plates with good dinner plates, what kind of a
drill bit would you use and other preparations would you have to make to
ensure you didn't crack the plates when you drilled the center holes? What
would be the widest diameter you could drill?

Thanks for any input on this.



This is EXACTLY the kind of job that a diamond band saw would make nice work
of, check with a local stained glass retailer and see what they offer in
that line. There are several different manufacturers in different price
ranges, also buy an extra blade when you get the saw, to do several plates
may just use up a single blade!

[The best tool for this would be a tile saw, if straight edges were okay.
You'd be able to do quite a few plates (hundreds, if not thousands) before
replacing the blade. Tile saws are much quicker-cutting than diamond
bandsaws as well.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"R. Seed" wrote in message
...
I have a number of nice transferware older ceramic or china (not sure
which
is the correct term) dinner plates (Stafforshire- could be ironstone-
whatever that means in terms of pottery and materials?) that I would
like
to reshape into various sizes. I didn't want to smash the lot (though
many
have edges that are chipped, and so can't really be used as crockery
anymore) the way you do when you want random tiles. Instead, I would
like
to pinpoint some part of the plate, ie, the middle 3 inches, that has a
complete picture to it. I would like to cut it out and then make an oval
or round shape to it, and if possible, do this to other parts of the
plate
that have nice designs on them.

My questions a How do you actually cut into the plate to get to the
various parts you want to- do you saw into and around it roughly, like a
piece of wood, and then sand down the edges to refine it? Do you use a
hacksaw? Or is breaking the plate the only way to divide it? Is there
any
way to control the breakage if you can't saw your way into it? Also, if
you want to make tiered plates with good dinner plates, what kind of a
drill bit would you use and other preparations would you have to make to
ensure you didn't crack the plates when you drilled the center holes?
What
would be the widest diameter you could drill?

Thanks for any input on this.



This is EXACTLY the kind of job that a diamond band saw would make nice
work
of, check with a local stained glass retailer and see what they offer in
that line. There are several different manufacturers in different price
ranges, also buy an extra blade when you get the saw, to do several plates
may just use up a single blade!

Well...I just wonder how one would hold a round plate or saucer tightly up
against a saw's fence to insure that straight cut? Seems to me that you'd
be darn lucky to get a cut that was either straight or make a square corner,
starting with a round plate.

"Andrew Werby" wrote in message
news:PO0Bc.58568$Hg2.20010@attbi_s04...
[The best tool for this would be a tile saw, if straight edges were okay.
You'd be able to do quite a few plates (hundreds, if not thousands) before
replacing the blade. Tile saws are much quicker-cutting than diamond
bandsaws as well.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"R. Seed" wrote in message
...
I have a number of nice transferware older ceramic or china (not sure
which
is the correct term) dinner plates (Stafforshire- could be ironstone-
whatever that means in terms of pottery and materials?) that I would
like
to reshape into various sizes. I didn't want to smash the lot (though
many
have edges that are chipped, and so can't really be used as crockery
anymore) the way you do when you want random tiles. Instead, I would
like
to pinpoint some part of the plate, ie, the middle 3 inches, that has
a
complete picture to it. I would like to cut it out and then make an
oval
or round shape to it, and if possible, do this to other parts of the
plate
that have nice designs on them.

My questions a How do you actually cut into the plate to get to the
various parts you want to- do you saw into and around it roughly, like
a
piece of wood, and then sand down the edges to refine it? Do you use a
hacksaw? Or is breaking the plate the only way to divide it? Is there
any
way to control the breakage if you can't saw your way into it? Also,
if
you want to make tiered plates with good dinner plates, what kind of a
drill bit would you use and other preparations would you have to make
to
ensure you didn't crack the plates when you drilled the center holes?
What
would be the widest diameter you could drill?

Thanks for any input on this.



This is EXACTLY the kind of job that a diamond band saw would make nice
work
of, check with a local stained glass retailer and see what they offer in
that line. There are several different manufacturers in different price
ranges, also buy an extra blade when you get the saw, to do several
plates
may just use up a single blade!

my tile saw can ONLY cut straight cuts or very slight curves. I would just
draw the line on with a marker impervious to water and have a go! I don't
imagine perfection is all that important in his endeavor?? Did you get box #
2 moon? m

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...
Well...I just wonder how one would hold a round plate or saucer tightly up
against a saw's fence to insure that straight cut? Seems to me that you'd
be darn lucky to get a cut that was either straight or make a square
corner,
starting with a round plate.

"Andrew Werby" wrote in message
news:PO0Bc.58568$Hg2.20010@attbi_s04...
[The best tool for this would be a tile saw, if straight edges were
okay.
You'd be able to do quite a few plates (hundreds, if not thousands)
before
replacing the blade. Tile saws are much quicker-cutting than diamond
bandsaws as well.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"R. Seed" wrote in message
...
I have a number of nice transferware older ceramic or china (not
sure
which
is the correct term) dinner plates (Stafforshire- could be
ironstone-
whatever that means in terms of pottery and materials?) that I would
like
to reshape into various sizes. I didn't want to smash the lot
(though
many
have edges that are chipped, and so can't really be used as crockery
anymore) the way you do when you want random tiles. Instead, I would
like
to pinpoint some part of the plate, ie, the middle 3 inches, that
has
a
complete picture to it. I would like to cut it out and then make an
oval
or round shape to it, and if possible, do this to other parts of the
plate
that have nice designs on them.

My questions a How do you actually cut into the plate to get to
the
various parts you want to- do you saw into and around it roughly,
like
a
piece of wood, and then sand down the edges to refine it? Do you use
a
hacksaw? Or is breaking the plate the only way to divide it? Is
there
any
way to control the breakage if you can't saw your way into it? Also,
if
you want to make tiered plates with good dinner plates, what kind of
a
drill bit would you use and other preparations would you have to
make
to
ensure you didn't crack the plates when you drilled the center
holes?
What
would be the widest diameter you could drill?

Thanks for any input on this.



This is EXACTLY the kind of job that a diamond band saw would make
nice
work
of, check with a local stained glass retailer and see what they offer
in
that line. There are several different manufacturers in different
price
ranges, also buy an extra blade when you get the saw, to do several
plates
may just use up a single blade!

"Michele Blank" wrote in message
...
my tile saw can ONLY cut straight cuts or very slight curves. I would just
draw the line on with a marker impervious to water and have a go! I
don't
imagine perfection is all that important in his endeavor?? Did you get box
#
2 moon? m

Not yet. I guess box #2 has Sinrod's tape in it. ;)

i have the receipt handy so if you don't get it Mon or Tues i will have a
chat with the Postal folks. I prefer a good wine to scotch anyway! m

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...

"Michele Blank" wrote in message
...
my tile saw can ONLY cut straight cuts or very slight curves. I would
just
draw the line on with a marker impervious to water and have a go! I
don't
imagine perfection is all that important in his endeavor?? Did you get
box
#
2 moon? m

Not yet. I guess box #2 has Sinrod's tape in it. ;)

"Michele Blank" wrote in message
...
i have the receipt handy so if you don't get it Mon or Tues i will have a
chat with the Postal folks. I prefer a good wine to scotch anyway! m

I "knew" I should have held her paycheck hostage........

Have you ever ordered stuff from SGWarehouse in Asheville? I got on their
email list, and they have some good sales from time to time. I just ordered
some cases of lead came for lots cheaper than I could have gotten them
locally.

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...
Well...I just wonder how one would hold a round plate or saucer tightly up
against a saw's fence to insure that straight cut? Seems to me that you'd
be darn lucky to get a cut that was either straight or make a square
corner,
starting with a round plate.

[My tile saw isn't the same as a table saw made for wood- it has a sliding
stage with a slit through it, except for a raised edge at the back. So you
just hold the tile (or plate) down, and slide it forward for the first cut.
If you want a second cut that's square to it, you rotate the plate so the
cut surface rests against the back edge, and slide forward again. The major
thing you don't want is for there to be any rocking of the part as it's
cut - that would bind the blade.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com




"Andrew Werby" wrote in message
news:PO0Bc.58568$Hg2.20010@attbi_s04...
[The best tool for this would be a tile saw, if straight edges were
okay.
You'd be able to do quite a few plates (hundreds, if not thousands)
before
replacing the blade. Tile saws are much quicker-cutting than diamond
bandsaws as well.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com

"Javahut" wrote in message
...

"R. Seed" wrote in message
...
I have a number of nice transferware older ceramic or china (not
sure
which
is the correct term) dinner plates (Stafforshire- could be
ironstone-
whatever that means in terms of pottery and materials?) that I would
like
to reshape into various sizes. I didn't want to smash the lot
(though
many
have edges that are chipped, and so can't really be used as crockery
anymore) the way you do when you want random tiles. Instead, I would
like
to pinpoint some part of the plate, ie, the middle 3 inches, that
has
a
complete picture to it. I would like to cut it out and then make an
oval
or round shape to it, and if possible, do this to other parts of the
plate
that have nice designs on them.

My questions a How do you actually cut into the plate to get to
the
various parts you want to- do you saw into and around it roughly,
like
a
piece of wood, and then sand down the edges to refine it? Do you use
a
hacksaw? Or is breaking the plate the only way to divide it? Is
there
any
way to control the breakage if you can't saw your way into it? Also,
if
you want to make tiered plates with good dinner plates, what kind of
a
drill bit would you use and other preparations would you have to
make
to
ensure you didn't crack the plates when you drilled the center
holes?
What
would be the widest diameter you could drill?

Thanks for any input on this.



This is EXACTLY the kind of job that a diamond band saw would make
nice
work
of, check with a local stained glass retailer and see what they offer
in
that line. There are several different manufacturers in different
price
ranges, also buy an extra blade when you get the saw, to do several
plates
may just use up a single blade!

i called them once after finding their name in my local phone book but they
were so rude i did not pursue it. i deal with AGH a lot and sometimes WC,
Bendheim, and Sunshine. Depends what i need, i try to do a majority with a
single entity so i get them used to how i want things done. m

"Moonraker" wrote in message
...

"Michele Blank" wrote in message
...
i have the receipt handy so if you don't get it Mon or Tues i will have
a
chat with the Postal folks. I prefer a good wine to scotch anyway! m

I "knew" I should have held her paycheck hostage........

Have you ever ordered stuff from SGWarehouse in Asheville? I got on their
email list, and they have some good sales from time to time. I just
ordered
some cases of lead came for lots cheaper than I could have gotten them
locally.