After looking at all the systems I went with spin doctor. I used them on a poured basement floor that was in no way perfect. I was laying large format tile and used the largest and smallest recommended trowels and back buttered each tile. It happened that where I started was the highest point. The floor was addressed the best it could without pouring a completely new floor. I did some leveling and grinding. The tiled floor came out nearly perfect, way better then expected. There is almost zero lipage and if any very minor. What I learned about spin doctor was clean out the thinset where you put the spacers, if you leave to much thinset not all the spacer brakes off and leaves some of the plastic spacer in the grout and you have to scrape it out.. Take them out the next day, I left one row in for a few days and the spacers where rock solid. The most important is hit them with the grout line, if you it them flat side they don't brake and some times just bend over and I chipped the tile. The spin doctor can lift three tiles at once. When placing a spin doctor at a thee way joint and the spinner can touch all three tiles. When you use them in a three way joint take caution when knocking them out.
Great demonstration, but definitely not a review. I was hoping this would be a critical review because I've seen this product sold at my local Lowe's recently. I genuinely want to know if this is a trustworthy and/or effective product. I love your content, please keep sharing! Thanks!
I have used these levelers to install large format (600 mm X 1200mm) porcelain tiles. Summary, the spin doctor leveling system worked great. Comments on this video: 1. He trowelled the thinset correctly, but he didn't set the tiles properly. Tile council recommends that large format tiles be moved slightly back and forth at 90 degrees to the trowel lines to crush the thinset lines. Here: ua-cam.com/video/Way5bMh-eYg/v-deo.htmlsi=YmRZXZy_vxbVpnRa 2. Always buy the optional anti friction plastic disks that are installed between the face if the tiles and the red twist spindles. If you just use the red twist spindles and it presses on the surface of the tile, you'll find that it can grab the tile and apply a torque to the tile which will cause the tile to rotate in the direction you are tightening. The optional anti friction disks prevent this twisting from occurring. 3. He made a mistake when breaking the shanks of the spacers in that he didn't remove the red spindles. Remove the spindles first and then whack the plastic shanks with a mallet in the direction of the joint. Not at 90 degrees to the joint. This is because the white plastic spindles have a series of small holes drilled through them to promote breakage and the white spacers are not then braced by the edge of the tiles. 4. Always clean out excess thinset from the joints when the thinset is wet. If you don't, you'll be sorry because the thinset will serve to patch over the holes in the white spacers which will truly prevent you from cleanly snapping the spacers off. Then you'll be trying to gouge out the plastic shanks with a box cutter and it takes a lot of time and is nothing but grief. 5. These spin doctors do not work well at all on small tiles because rotating the red spindles will just turn the tiles. But for a large tile (im gong to say 300 mm) these spin doctors are great for anti lippage and spacing at the same time. I recommend. I am not a pro, just a DIY'er but I definitely plan and think about what I'm doing.
Why did you bot vacj butter? If you were to lift that tile would the back of it have little mortar on it? Thus, if so, if you were to install tiles that way, wouldnt they crack within the first year of walking on?
Our company has used a lot of leveling systems the only problem is the removal system. Some of the new planks can easily be scratched during removal and believe or not we have had more issues with higher end then the lower end planks.
+Dan Klement we think the main way to avoid scratching is to avoid the thin set mortar from squishing up through the grout line into the clip/spacer. If you can avoid this, the clip will break off easily without scratching.
Nice job on the BBQ! Where is a good place to buy this system? I will be doing 20" x 20" tiles in my kitchen. Is there a formula for how many will be needed? And thanx for the quick response.
After looking at all the systems I went with spin doctor. I used them on a poured basement floor that was in no way perfect. I was laying large format tile and used the largest and smallest recommended trowels and back buttered each tile. It happened that where I started was the highest point. The floor was addressed the best it could without pouring a completely new floor. I did some leveling and grinding. The tiled floor came out nearly perfect, way better then expected. There is almost zero lipage and if any very minor. What I learned about spin doctor was clean out the thinset where you put the spacers, if you leave to much thinset not all the spacer brakes off and leaves some of the plastic spacer in the grout and you have to scrape it out.. Take them out the next day, I left one row in for a few days and the spacers where rock solid. The most important is hit them with the grout line, if you it them flat side they don't brake and some times just bend over and I chipped the tile. The spin doctor can lift three tiles at once. When placing a spin doctor at a thee way joint and the spinner can touch all three tiles. When you use them in a three way joint take caution when knocking them out.
Just used this system on larger tile. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FANTASTIC.
+Geo Patriarca we like it also! We have used this system on many tile jobs!
You suppose to break them off in the same direction as the grout line
Great demonstration, but definitely not a review. I was hoping this would be a critical review because I've seen this product sold at my local Lowe's recently. I genuinely want to know if this is a trustworthy and/or effective product. I love your content, please keep sharing! Thanks!
Yes, this tile leveling system works. Most all of the systems work, but some work better than others 👊
I have used these levelers to install large format (600 mm X 1200mm) porcelain tiles.
Summary, the spin doctor leveling system worked great.
Comments on this video:
1. He trowelled the thinset correctly, but he didn't set the tiles properly. Tile council recommends that large format tiles be moved slightly back and forth at 90 degrees to the trowel lines to crush the thinset lines.
Here:
ua-cam.com/video/Way5bMh-eYg/v-deo.htmlsi=YmRZXZy_vxbVpnRa
2. Always buy the optional anti friction plastic disks that are installed between the face if the tiles and the red twist spindles. If you just use the red twist spindles and it presses on the surface of the tile, you'll find that it can grab the tile and apply a torque to the tile which will cause the tile to rotate in the direction you are tightening. The optional anti friction disks prevent this twisting from occurring.
3. He made a mistake when breaking the shanks of the spacers in that he didn't remove the red spindles. Remove the spindles first and then whack the plastic shanks with a mallet in the direction of the joint. Not at 90 degrees to the joint. This is because the white plastic spindles have a series of small holes drilled through them to promote breakage and the white spacers are not then braced by the edge of the tiles.
4. Always clean out excess thinset from the joints when the thinset is wet. If you don't, you'll be sorry because the thinset will serve to patch over the holes in the white spacers which will truly prevent you from cleanly snapping the spacers off. Then you'll be trying to gouge out the plastic shanks with a box cutter and it takes a lot of time and is nothing but grief.
5. These spin doctors do not work well at all on small tiles because rotating the red spindles will just turn the tiles.
But for a large tile (im gong to say 300 mm) these spin doctors are great for anti lippage and spacing at the same time. I recommend.
I am not a pro, just a DIY'er but I definitely plan and think about what I'm doing.
I found the spacers come out the easiest when you knock them out in the same direction of the grout line.
does the grout area still have plastic in the seam or does it break off lower so the grout will work properly
+Richard William it breaks off lower. We like the system, I posted a new BBQ tile surround video using this system, check it out!
Who is here because they're searching for reviews on new ridgid identical leveling system?
+Serge Shariy Ridgid has a leveling system? I'll have to check that out!
Ridgid on come in 1/16
Spin Dr is available in 1/16 &1/8
Why did you bot vacj butter? If you were to lift that tile would the back of it have little mortar on it? Thus, if so, if you were to install tiles that way, wouldnt they crack within the first year of walking on?
Maybe and video? we always backbutter large format
Our company has used a lot of leveling systems the only problem is the removal system. Some of the new planks can easily be scratched during removal and believe or not we have had more issues with higher end then the lower end planks.
+Dan Klement we think the main way to avoid scratching is to avoid the thin set mortar from squishing up through the grout line into the clip/spacer. If you can avoid this, the clip will break off easily without scratching.
For beginners, would you recommend a spin system or a clip system, or does it not really matter?
no, does not matter. Both systems do the same thing.
What is your favorite thinset for lft? Thanks
Schluter all set it what we use
Mapei
With.porcelain tiles and schleuter definitely go with a non polymer modified thinset
Will it not cause the tile to lift up a bit ?
No sir
Nice job on the BBQ! Where is a good place to buy this system? I will be doing 20" x 20" tiles in my kitchen. Is there a formula for how many will be needed? And thanx for the quick response.
+Richard William I would purchase at Amazon. The starter kit I reviewed covered about 150 square feet with 12x12 tiles.
Lowe's carries them in my area, and cheaper than Amazon. How many you'll need varies a lot depending on the size and shape of tile.
Do they come with the anti friction shields or are they separate?
Separate and I would encourage you to buy them.
Dig'n that '71-'73 Mustang
Found them cheaper at lowes but not every lowes has them
Thank u.
You're welcome! thx for watching
your thoughts?
The system works 👊
That was a terrible video short with no content a total waste of time
Love this product but hate the price of the disposable spacers.