Mosaic tile backing gets loose when wet

[azsun1411]

I am ready to start a shower redo. Finished a hall bath a couple (+) years ago. Had some issues cutting mosaic floor tile sheets when backing
became wet. I remember seeing, on one of the cable DIY programs (or HGTV), a technique to keep the mesh or paper backing in place when cutting on a wet saw. Can't remember, to save my life, but I think they either sprayed something on the back or wiped/brushed something on. Is anyone out there aware of such a proceedure/technique?

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[bbcamp]

I've heard nothing like that, but you can tape the front face of the sheets with painter's tape. You can also cut the sheets apart, then cut and set individual tiles.

[jadziedzic]

+1 on what Bob said - run the painter's tape entirely around the tile so it covers the back side where the cut occurs, and immediately after cutting the mosaic set it onto a dry towel to absorb any water remaining on the mesh. That worked a charm for the forty or so pieces I had to trim.

And for what it's worth, a saw with a sliding table is much easier to use when cutting mosaics than one where you slide the tile along the top of a fixed table.