3D crosses for laying tiles. Experience of use.

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The network has a lot of videos about how convenient and fast they can lay the plane, especially without straining. Shows the lack of clearance between the level and the plane of the laid tiles, roll coins on the floor from porcelain stoneware, etc. All this can be found on the web, including video clips, if desired.
In practice, everything is somewhat different.

This is the so-called "3D cross":

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Those 3D crosses, that on sale, we can lay out perfectly exactly only a tile with a maximum size of not more than 120 mm or a small mosaic. The only thing that is clearly exposed is the width of the seam between the tiles. The photo shows tiles with installed 3D crosses. The plane lays not correct, and we need constantly to correct it.
The yellow wedge has a ribbed surface for the possibility of fixing the blue part. The wedge can be used many times.

The blue part has its small wedges (or teeth), which ensure its fixation on the ribbed surface. Round part is left under the tile. The blue loop breaks off along its plane, cause has undercuts near the round part - (save the pictures on the CPU and you'll see a details). Works only on stretching. It is a consumable item.

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For laying tiles in sizes, for example, 200 to 300 mm of one installation of crosses with a wedge length of 60 mm (as in my example) , the leveling plane is already small. The plane itself does not equalize. We must constantly follow this plane. Ideally walls are not enough. Otherwise, this will be. I worked without a level and hoped only for 3d crosses - and that's the result :

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In order for everything to be perfect, you need the wedge to cover half the maximum size of the tile plus minus a couple of centimeters (shown in green on the drawing). Then you can do everything quickly and without unnecessary alignment of the plane with its constant control. But this size of the wedges on sale did not meet.

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Here you can see the size of the yellow wedge 3d cross and the size of the tile. It can be seen that the wedge is too small to flatten the plane

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The wedge should be longer and longer for such a tile. This is the main disadvantage, but in general a good engineering solution.

A SMALL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE:

1. Apply glue to the wall.

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1. Put the first tile on the wall. Insert from the sides a blue part of 3D cross. The thickness of the blue plate is equal to the thickness of the seam. Align the vertical and horizon by level. Press the tile with a tap on it.

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1. Lay adjacent tiles, press them to the blue parts of 3D cross.

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1. Insert the wedges (yellow parts), create a tension in 3D cross. Check the plane. If there is no plane, adjust the position of the tiles.

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1. Then again insert the blue parts to the new tiles. and repeat the action.

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After the glue dries out, remove the yellow wedges. Take the hammer and beat on the protruding blue part. (Carefully, do not touch the tile) It easily breaks off. The round plate remains behind the tile.

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We get the perfect seam. But do not forget about the plane.

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That's all. Thank you for attention!

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