It's, again, all part of the learning curve.
When you asked about the DEWALT, my response was in small quantities.
I use a Milwaukee Hole Hog, because quality leads to efficiency.
I guess I should return that Ironton then, and buy the Hole Hog.
I have a few more questions if you don't mind:
1. I was advised by Google to flatten tiles with a rubber mallet. Do you agree? The slab is flat, the tile is flat, so the only reason for tiles that are not level with each other is uneven distribution of thinset. Correct?
2. Should I be using 5 spacers at every intersection? Like the pic attached? I think I put about 2-3 inches from the corner to the the spacer. Is there a standard distance I should use?
3. When it's time to clean the joints (after 24 hours), do I need to clean all the way to the concrete? How do I remove the thinset that has dried by now? And wouldn't the spacers have cemented in place? This is literally my FIRST DAY I've ever laid tile.
4. How do I clean the surface of the tiles of dried thinset? I know I was supposed to use a wet sponge to clean as I went, which I did... But I also left some thinset to dry on the surface of the tile just to purposefully make it difficult for myself tomorrow so I could learn how to remove it.
5. Around the edges of what I laid today, there is several inches of thinset that will dry without a tile on top of it. Should I not have left this? How do I remove this tomorrow? Should I have cleaned all this while it was wet down to the bare concrete?
6. There is a UPC barcode on the back of nearly every individual tile. Should I remove this prior to installation? Would it interfere with proper bonding?
7. How do I see my chalk line after I spread the thinset? My method today involved ruining a 3' metal yardstick.
Either way, here's what I got done today.