Cutting toilet

[sleaper]

Hi All,

After my thread about toilets, I settled on replacing our 4 units with the Tecma Silent Plus 2G

On putting the toilet out - I have noted that it was modified before being installed to allow for its placement as close to the hull as possible.

I would like to modify the new toilet in the same manner.

My question is: If I cut the toilet with a diamond blade grinder, will it weaken the toilet and is there a risk of the toilet "falling apart".

I have no experience with porcelain, but I am going to guess its strong and won't mind being cut .. However I'd like to ask for your input first.

In this picture you can see where I want to cut to make the toilet sit closer.



Some pictures.

[Sailmonkey]

I would use a diamond blade and water, at wet saw really. Go slowly, don’t turn the blade, don’t chatter the blade, and you’ll have no problems with the notch. Also keep on mind a notch with a smooth radius is less prone to cracking than one with sharp corners.

[hellosailor]

I think you could say that porcelain is "case hardened" as it is fired and cooled. Toilets in general have a high scrap rate at the factory because they don't all cool properly, and the material shrinks substantially as it does. So cutting the skin is also likely to break that "hardened" property. And the smooth oval curving of the cutout probably also allows for even distribution of stresses across the rear. You're taking that away now, in a weight-bearing area, so you might want to think of ways to build up some layers of FRP and beef up that part of the base as well.
I may be too conservative on this, but it is, after all, pottery and you know how that sometimes goes.

[witzgall]

You could also make a base for the toilet to sit on, raising it up over the obstructions. This may also block the hole on the wall?

Chris

[a64pilot]

I’d cut the notch out of the toilet, and then with a dremel and a sanding drum smooth the cut to a nice smooth radius to prevent stress risers.
I think you will be OK. I’d also be tempted to cut out the web, but concede I don’t know how structural it is.

[rbk]

What is the flange/blade that is protruding out from behind the bulkhead? Can that be cut/modified?

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by rbk

What is the flange/blade that is protruding out from behind the bulkhead? Can that be cut/modified?

My thought as well.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by rbk

What is the flange/blade that is protruding out from behind the bulkhead? Can that be cut/modified?

That sure looks like a rib and hull plating.

I’d cut the throne.

[rbk]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

That sure looks like a rib and hull plating.

I’d cut the throne.

Possible to contact the designer and see if it can be gusseted, angle reduced to clear the head?

[Terra Nova]

Tecma makes a low profile 2G that would mount on a step (to clear the hull feature) and provide for the correct seated height.

[paulajayne]

Originally Posted by witzgall

You could also make a base for the toilet to sit on, raising it up over the obstructions. This may also block the hole on the wall?

Chris

^^^^^^

This