Brief Summary
For Pros
Main + reason for rating: Features/Capabilities
Main - reason for rating: Bendable
For DIYers
Main + reason for rating: Features/Capabilities
Main - reason for rating: Bendable
We Like
We Don't Like
Conclusion: I first bought Roto-Wedge wedges in 2015 and haven't looked back. Since that time, I've purchased them many times and they are a staple item that I, honestly, use on nearly every single project. For this reason, I HIGHLY recommend these wedges to DIY installers and to professional tile installers alike.
Roto-Wedge Spacer, The Ultimate Solution FOR MASONRY, TILE, STONE AND MORE! (Small)
$11.99
The Roto-Wedge Spacer is the perfect spacing solution for tile, stone, masonry and more!
Spacing thickness: RWSB75: 1/64”–¼”(.04–6.3mm), RWLB25: 1/16”–7/8” (1.6–22.2mm)
Package for the small Roto-Wedges contain 75, and the large Roto-Wedge package contains 25
Fast, efficient, increases productivity and provides more accuracy than basic wedges, shims, wood or
The innovative design prevents the installer from hitting the wall, giving you full use of the wedge
I recommend the small version for tiling (the large version is for masonry).
The wedge adjusts from 1/64" to 1/4"!
If you click this or any other product link on this site and make a purchase, you'll be supporting MyersFlooring.com with a small commission, which will have no additional cost to you, but we're immensely grateful for!
Introduction
Who makes the Roto-Wedge?
This is a bit of a tricky question to answer.
When I bought my first bag of Roto-Wedges, they marketed and sold under their own brand (Roto-Wedge).
However, within the past years, like so many products, many of the big tile-related companies have picked up the idea and sell them under their brand.
Today, some of the companies that market and brand them are Crain, Primo Tools, and Pearl Abrasive.
Most, if not all, of the wedges are manufactured in China.
Jar of Roto-Wedges
First, I'll tell you that this is not a sponsored review - I have never actually been given a tool free for any reason, so this is straight from my honest experience.
Holding the Roto-Wedge
Now, that's a different looking wedge!
Design/Features
What does it do and how does it work?
All tiles have some variance in their size and color, but some tiles vary ENORMOUSLY.
(I'm talking about up to 1/4" or more on a 12x12, or even a 6x6, tile!!)
When a tile is a different size than its neighbor, a spacer doesn't cut it because the grout joints will not line up!
You have to manually adjust the tiles to maintain a straight grout joint.
Also, there are times when your cut just isn't quite perfect, but it's close enough to not justify wasting the time and material to re-cut it.
Inconsistent tile sizes
So what can you do about those things?!
These are situations where you'll want or need to use a wedge.
* On a side note, you always want to install your tile using an appropriate joint size. If you try to install your tiles with a smaller grout joint than you should, you will probably have MAJOR difficulties keeping your grout lines straight an looking nice because of the inconsistency of the tile sizes. You can read more about how to determine the appropriate grout size in our Ultimate Guide To Installing A Tile Floor in the Layout section.
"Normal" Wedges. Traditionally, wedges have usually been shaped like a triangle and, many times, this works just fine.
But the triangular shape of normal wedges also gives it some downfalls:
- the point can hit the wall or floor before being able to be used to achieve the height you need
- if trying to use the wedge sideways, to adjust the tile further, it will usually fall out of the joint
- many times, we have to stack more than one wedge to get our desired height
- the wedge can be very difficult to get out of the joint once the thinset is hardened
Tub surround using "normal" wedges
Backsplash using old-style wedges
Roto-Wedge. The Roto-Wedge was designed to address all of the "normal wedge" issues.
- its round shape means that it can be rotated to any height without hitting the floor or wall behind
- the actual total length of the Roto-Wedge is 3 inches long! So this means that it is much more stable in the joint than typical wedges and doesn't tend to fall out
- with its shape, the angle is not nearly as steep as others, so you can get amazing accuracy in your adjustments
- this wedge is VERY quick and easy to use - AND easy to remove!
Check out a promotional video for the Roto-Wedge, here:
Our Experiences
How do I use the Roto-Wedge?
So, here is where I'm going to get into what, I hope, is the most valuable part of the review for you: personal experience with this tool over the long-term.
I've used the Roto-Wedge tile wedge for quite a few years, now, and I will say that it is my "go-to" wedge without any close competition.
It works extremely well for all adjustments where I need to use a wedge and I, literally, use them every single day.
In the following image, a tub surround and wainscot that I installed a couple of days before writing this article, you can see how I'm using it to even out several grout joints, lift a tile off of the band (left-center), and adjust the tile, at the base, that's sitting on other tiles (lower-center toward the back of the image).
Master bath wainscote - pattern was changed from simple offset to complicated
Conclusions
Final thoughts about the Roto-Wedge.
Since first discovering and buying a packet of Roto-Wedges back in 2015, I have used them very nearly every single day, on virtually every single tile project that I've done - they really are THAT useful!
When I'm installing floors, I use these wedges if and when I need to - it depends on how consistently sized the tiles are that I'm working with.
But for walls, the Roto-Wedge is a game-changer!
This wedge is one of the few tools that I keep in my
"take out of my truck every morning" box!
Steven Myers
Myers Flooring
Try them on your next project!
You won't regret it!
If you click this or any other product link on this site and make a purchase, you'll be supporting MyersFlooring.com with a small commission, which will have no additional cost to you, but we're immensely grateful for!
Alternatives
Are there any other options to the Roto-Wedge?
If you've read through this full review, you can tell that I don't actually use ANY other wedges anymore...the Roto-Wedge is my "go-to" wedge! But there are a LOT of other alternatives that work reasonably well and here are a few of the others that I've worked with. (you can also find many more spacer and wedge options on my Tools/Resources Page):
If you click this or any other product link on this site and make a purchase, you'll be supporting MyersFlooring.com with a small commission, which will have no additional cost to you, but we're immensely grateful for!
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