Manual tile cutter device
The device of manual tile cutters is the same, there are only a few differences regarding functionality. The following working parts are distinguished:
- base, which serves as a platform for the location of all working elements;
- tubular guides along which the carriage with a cutting wheel moves;
- carriage. in addition to the cutting roller, it is equipped with a special concave foot for breaking off the cut part of the tile;
- cutting element. a carbide roller rotating on an axis;
- handle with which the carriage moves.
How to use a manual tile cutter correctly
To use the manual tile cutter correctly, you should be guided by the following technology:
Glass cutter ceramic tiles, cutting professional glass and tile construction tool from Aliexpress
- On the face of the tile, use a marker or felt-tip pen to apply a line of marking.
- Fix the material with special clamps, while the line should be located exactly under the cutting wheel.
- Place the cutting element at the beginning of the markup and press it lightly.
- Grasp the handle and gently move the carriage away from you along the cutting line. The pressure must be strong enough to cut the glaze. With great force, it is possible to break the tiles or damage the glazed layer at the cut. Insufficient pressure will not allow breaking the hard surface and then breaking the tile.
- Move the handle to the middle, lower the lever (if included), then press it or hit it sharply. In the absence of a lever, the tile is placed on the edge of the table along the mowing line of the cut and broken by pressing on the part protruding from the edge.
If everything was done correctly, the tile should break neatly exactly along the mowing line of the cut. Some models are equipped with a built-in ruler and a rotary base for cutting tiles at an angle of 45 degrees. Read more at
How to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter
Experienced craftsmen, before cutting the tiles with a manual tile cutter, recommend holding the tiles in warm water for a while. It will become slightly softer, which will reduce the likelihood of cracks and chips. To reduce friction and improve cut quality, it is advised to drip machine oil directly onto the line of the line or onto the cutter wheel.
How to use the tile cutter
For a small number of tile cuts, you can use a tongs cutter. They are useful for making rounded cuts and fine adjustments to tiles when laying tiles. This device is similar to a pair of pliers. The cutting roller is located on the holding jaws.
Cutting is carried out as follows:
- markings are applied to the glazed surface of the tile;
- along the mowing line, in one motion, an incision is made with a cutting disc from the far edge towards you;
- the pliers are placed with the tool paws up (on the glaze), the cut line should be in the middle (between the side surfaces of the paws);
- gently press the handles, breaking off an unnecessary fragment.
How to work with a roller tile cutter
The roll cutter is the simplest tile cutter, but its options are limited. They can cut soft material, but they cannot cut hard and dense tiles. This tool can only cut a few pieces, since its performance is low.
Along the marked mowing line, the cutting roller makes a groove from edge to edge of the tile. If the cut is deep enough, then the element is easily broken along the mowing line of the cut. To do this, you can put the tiles on the edge of the table or on a large nail and press.
Classification of manual tile cutters
For cutting tiles in small quantities, you can use a hand tool. It is much more convenient to cut tiles in large volumes using electric devices.
Based on the design features, the following types of manual tile cutters are distinguished:
- Roller. The simplest device in which a carbide roller is used as a cutting element.
- Mechanical. The tool is equipped with a rigid carriage, thanks to which you can cut with great precision.
- On bearings. The softness of the cut when cutting is determined by the presence of bearings on which the bushings are installed.
Cutting of tiles can be done both with a hand tool and with an electric tile cutter, an angle grinder, wire cutters, and a glass cutter. You can even do this with a jigsaw, but it is better to use specially designed devices for this, since they allow you to achieve the desired cut quality.
Safety engineering
You need to know how to safely carry out work on cutting tiles with your own hands, how to avoid possible injuries. There are a number of requirements that must be met:
- Inspect the tile cutter for operability and damage.
- Check carriage travel. It should move smoothly, without jerking.
- The guides must be even and smooth, without damage.
- The cutting blade must have a level surface, free from burrs and dents. It should rotate freely on the axis without creaking or getting stuck.
For safety reasons, use protective plastic goggles and fabric gloves.
For which tile the glass cutter is not suitable?
The use of a glass cutter is justified only for glazed varieties of tiles, the surface of which resembles glass in structure and appearance. Limitations also apply to the thickness of the tile product. its maximum indicators should not exceed 5 mm.
It is impossible to process with a glass cutter. Its dimensions and installation scheme are selected in such a way that one-piece elements are used.
Not recommended for processing. its rough coating will be difficult to cut, crumble and delaminate. Not the best option would be ceramic tiles of a high class of wear resistance (from two or more). These are durable and tough types of materials such as porcelain stoneware and floor tiles.
However, as for porcelain stoneware, its suitability for cutting will be determined by the brand. For example, Chinese tiles lend themselves well to processing with diamond and oil glass cutters.
How to cut floor tiles with a glass cutter?
Good day. I have a private house. I am doing repairs in the corridor, I have reached the floor. I want to put tiles. Since the area of the room is small, 2 mx 2 m, I want to try to lay it myself. So to speak, practice. If it works out, then there will be a kitchen and a dining room. they are combined. My question is of the following nature: if you have to cut a tile, then how to do it without special tools. Suddenly, I cannot cope with this work, and I will have to invite a tile-maker. I don’t need extra spending.
Good afternoon to you too! Indeed, in the process of laying tiles, you cannot do without cutting. If you do not have a special device on hand for doing this work. a tile cutter, then you can try to do it using a glass cutter. In your case, this is relevant, since the floor area is small.
In order for you to be able to cut the tiles, we recommend that you do the following:
- Soak the tiles in water for at least an hour before starting to process them.
- Markings are applied to the tile. the cuts will be made along these lines. For this purpose, an ordinary felt-tip pen or pencil is quite suitable.
Tiles are cut with a glass cutter only in exceptional cases, this technology is at your own peril and risk
Important! An incision with a glass cutter can only be made if the line of the marking is at least 0.8 cm from the edge.
- The work should be carried out by placing the tiles on a horizontal hard surface.
- We carefully roll it with a glass cutter along the intended mowing line. there should be a trace in the form of a groove.
Note! When using a glass cutter, the cut is not very deep, so the tile will still need to be broken.
- It is necessary to break the tiles very carefully. Make sure that the force is evenly distributed over the entire mowing line of the cut.
- To facilitate this process, we recommend placing a match or pencil under the cut line. This nuance is very simple, but very effective.
Our recommendations for cutting floor tiles with a glass cutter should be applied in practice in exceptional cases. This method is more suitable for thinner wall tiles. In any case, you should first try to get a tile cutter at least for a short time.
How to cut tiles with an angle grinder
Angle grinder, called by the Russians an angle grinder in Honor, is the first manufacturer to start shipping this power tool to Russia. It is a multifunctional tool capable of processing tiles with a diamond cutting wheel. Both straight-line and figured cutting of tiles with an angle grinder is possible, while the disc is changed to a diamond wheel designed for dry cutting. When making a cut, it is not necessary to strive to capture the entire thickness of the tile, since it easily breaks along the cut mowing line.
The quality of the edges of tiles cut with an angle grinder is lower than when processing with a tile cutter, but it does not require preparatory work. The disadvantage of using an angle grinder when cutting tiles is the formation of a large amount of dust and debris flying in different directions. Therefore, the master tiler must work in goggles, gloves, observing all safety requirements.
Cutting porcelain stoneware tiles on a machine
How to cut a tile with a manual glass cutter How to cut a tile with a manual glass cutter
Which glass tile cutter to use
Smooth tile cutting can be performed not only with a professional tool, but also with devices aimed at working with other materials. One of these devices is the good old glass cutter. Please note that when it comes to purchasing a special tool for working with tiles, it is best to take a tile cutter. If we are looking for a replacement, and there are several types of glass cutters in our construction arsenal, then you can use one of them to complete this task. Let’s find out which glass tile cutter to choose if you don’t have a tile cutter at hand.
The most common glass cutters used in everyday life are roller and diamond cutters. The principle of operation of these tools is reflected in their names, and consists in cutting glass with a diamond or carbide roller. Diamond-tipped glass cutters are great for working with dense glass, but practically unsuitable for the more porous structure of tiles. Roller types of devices, on the contrary, easily bite into the material of the tile, leaving a neat cut of the mowing line.
If you want to use a glass tile cutter, we recommend choosing the roller type, preferably oil-fed. This device will be able to cut tiles with a glossy surface, up to the second level of wear resistance on the PEI scale (this indicator is indicated on the package). For tighter tiles, a roll cutter will not work.
How to use a manual tile cutter
Ceramic tiles are one of the most popular wall and floor coverings in kitchens and bathrooms. The high demand for decorative material is associated with its durability, economy and wide design variability. But it is impossible to perfectly calculate the tiles so that they lie entirely everywhere and do not have to be cut. Let’s figure out how to use a manual tile cutter.
What is a manual tile cutter?
Tile cutter is the combined name of a group of tools designed to produce straight or curly cuts on ceramic or tile. As for the design, the manual tile cutter consists of the following elements:
- The base, which is the supporting part for all other elements;
- Tubular guides designed for precise movement of the cutting element;
- Cutting element, which is an axle-mounted metal roller with a pointed edge;
- A handle designed to move the carriage with a roller along the intended cut.
Many years of experience in construction work shows that using a manual tabletop tile cutter in a domestic environment is the best option both in terms of productivity and accuracy, as well as simplicity. Benefits of using a manual tile cutter:
- Ease of operation due to the elementary design of the device;
- The handle in the design plays the role of a lever that significantly reduces the effort with which it is necessary to cut the tiles;
- Quite accurate (in comparison with a more elementary method with a glass cutter) cut.
However, the use of this version of the tile cutter imposes some restrictions on the processing of tiles. So, for example, you cannot get a cut at a distance of less than 5 millimeters from the edge of the tile. If you try to do this, then there is a high probability of breaking the edge. Also, in addition, you can read the article on how to use the tile cutter.
How to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter video
Home Tiling and repair How to cut tiles with a manual tile cutter. Instructions for using the tile cutter
Cutting Ceramic Tile with a Glass Cutter
Cutting tiles with an angle grinder
Another way to cut ceramic tiles without using “special tools” is to cut with an angle grinder. It is best to use diamond (non-segmented) discs or concrete cutting discs for this.
It is better to take the angle grinder itself with adjustable revolutions, since at a high (more than 3.5 thousand revolutions per minute) disk rotation speed, ceramic tiles can crack.
The cutting process with an angle grinder is quite simple and accessible even to non-professionals. You just need to move the tool “away from you”, make a cut along the predetermined mowing line. When working with an angle grinder, you MUST use protective goggles, as dust and small debris can seriously damage your eyes.!
Please note that the process of working with an angle grinder is quite “dusty”, so do not forget to cover the workplace with paper or film before cutting.
Using an angle grinder, you can easily and quickly cut a large number of ceramic tiles, although the edges will turn out to be relatively uneven, so you will have to spend additional time cleaning them.
How to cut a tile with a tile cutter lesson on how to use a tile cutter correctly, and how working with a manual electric device is different
Tiling has many advantages. The coating is strong, even and durable. In addition, ceramics are highly water-resistant and perfectly tolerate temperature extremes. But when cladding, from time to time it becomes necessary to trim the tiles to the desired size and every tiler should know how to work with a tile cutter.
It is not very difficult to master this work, you just need to be careful and clearly follow the instructions. On our website you can see how to use the video tile cutter. The proposed material shows all the nuances of work, both with manual and electric tools for processing tiles.
How to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter, manual and electric: differences in operating principles
There is a fundamental difference in how to use a manual and an electric tile cutter. The main difference is that in manual cutting, the cutting disc is used only to cut the surface layer of the tile, and the separation is done by creating uniform parallel loads on the edges of the tile. In this case, deformations occur, which are directed downward along the entire mowing line of the cut. As a result, the tile splits into two parts. The resulting chip is usually quite even and does not require further processing.
Tiles are processed with a power tool by cutting the tile array with a diamond disc. Top and bottom disc cutters are available in two types. In the first case, the tile is fixed on the bed, and by moving the disc, it is cut into the required parts. In the lower position of the disc, cutting is carried out by moving the tile along the bed, in the same way as sawing wood on a circular saw. Here you can see how to work with a tile cutter video, which shows the features of these methods. The power tool provides a smoother line for dividing the tiles, but at the same time, some of the tile, equal to the thickness of the disc, turns into waste.
Cutting tiles with a glass cutter
By the way, if you specifically buy a glass cutter for cutting ceramic tiles, we recommend that you opt for oil models (in which a mixture of machine oil and kerosene is fed to the cutting roller from a container located in the handle), since it will be much easier to work with such a tool.
Cutting tiles with a glass cutter is quite simple, although it requires certain skills. The tiles must be laid on a flat and solid surface and, once with a strong pressure, move the glass cutter roller along the pre-marked mowing line. Use a metal ruler to get a guaranteed straight line. After that, put the tiles on the edge of the table, so that the cut line coincides with its side, after which, with a light enough press, break off the protruding part of the tile.
There is an alternative way to break ceramic tiles. It is necessary to put a metal bar or a nail under the cut line, and then break the tile by pressing on both of its parts.
Cutting Ceramic Tile with a Glass Cutter_ITRK SUPPLY
The edge of the tile after cutting with a glass cutter turns out to be quite rough and uneven, so it will have to be processed with a special file.
The advantages of a manual tile cutter can be considered the ease of use, the absence of the need to connect it to the mains and the relatively low cost. The disadvantage of this tool is that it can be used to cut tiles only “in a straight line”. For trimming corners or “curly” cutting, you will have to use another tool.
How to cut a tile with a glass cutter
When laying tiles forces you to resort to cutting, and there is no special tool at hand, you can resort to using other devices. Let’s see if it is possible to cut a tile with a glass cutter and how exactly to do it. There are many types of tiles, with different finishes and levels of wear resistance. In order to work with a glass cutter to give positive results, the surface of the processed tile must be glazed, and the wear resistance indicator should not be more than level 2. The durability of tiles is measured on a scale of 1 to 5 and may be indicated on the packaging as P.E.I. If your material meets the stated requirements, you can start marking.
We lay the tiles to be processed on a flat surface, without obvious bulges or depressions. Next, we take a felt-tip pen, mark the cutting points from two edges and draw a fishing line between them. When the markings are applied, we draw on them with a glass cutter with a pressure above average. Hold the cutter perpendicular to the tile surface. It is desirable to lead along the stop (ruler or flat rail) and at low speed. After the cut, there should be a clear, even line, a little less than a millimeter wide. If in some places the line disappears, you can drag it over it again.
When the line of the cut is successfully applied, all that remains is to break the tile along the straight mowing line. This can be done in several ways: break the edge of a table or stool on a straight line, or put a nail under the cutting line and press on from 2 sides. Experienced craftsmen can break the inflow evenly on the knee. We hope that the above process will help you successfully complete this task. If textual information was not enough, we recommend watching a video of cutting tiles with a glass cutter, and using a visual example to understand the principle of this operation.
Which glass tile cutter to use
Smooth tile cutting can be performed not only with a professional tool, but also with devices aimed at working with other materials. One of these devices is the good old glass cutter. Please note that when it comes to purchasing a special tool for working with tiles, it is best to take a tile cutter. If we are looking for a replacement, and there are several types of glass cutters in our construction arsenal, then you can use one of them to complete this task. Let’s find out which glass tile cutter to choose if you don’t have a tile cutter at hand.
The most common glass cutters used in everyday life are roller and diamond cutters. The principle of operation of these tools is reflected in their names, and consists in cutting glass with a diamond or carbide roller. Diamond-tipped glass cutters are great for working with dense glass, but practically unsuitable for the more porous structure of tiles. Roller types of devices, on the contrary, easily bite into the material of the tile, leaving a neat cut of the mowing line.
If you want to use a glass tile cutter, we recommend choosing the roller type, preferably oil-fed. This device will be able to cut tiles with a glossy surface, up to the second level of wear resistance on the PEI scale (this indicator is indicated on the package). For tighter tiles, a roll cutter will not work.
angle grinder
Quite effective, but not the highest quality way to cut tiles. the fishing line is chipped and requires further processing with sandpaper. Requires a diamond disc (not segmented) to work, and of course an angle grinder.
The principle of action is extremely simple. We put the tiles on a flat surface, outline the line and make a cut, slightly leaning the disc against the surface of the tile. It is not necessary to cut through the tile completely, it is enough to get an even hollow and make a break along it. To reduce dust, moisten the tiles with a wet cloth before use.
How to cut tiles with a glass cutter
The tiling procedure always involves cutting the material in question, requiring a tile cutter. Sometimes it happens that a special tool is not at hand, or it turns out to be unsuitable for work. In this case, an ordinary roller glass cutter can come to the rescue, as well as a number of other tools. In this article, we will tell you which glass cutter is most suitable for cutting tiles, we will analyze the whole process in detail and tell you about other devices that can be used for this operation.
Drill
A very convenient way to cut round holes by using special attachments for a drill or electric screwdriver. There are 3 types of special bits: diamond-coated crowns, ballerina drills and ordinary glass and tile drills. The most ideal cut and the highest price are for crowns. The ballerina is next in quality and value. Special drills are the cheapest and with the help of them you can get a cut of any shape, but you will have to clean the edges with sandpaper.
If everything is very clear with diamond crowns and a ballerina, then several questions sometimes arise regarding a drill on a tile. The principle of operation is as follows:
Hacksaw
A budget and quite neat way to cut tiles. Can be used for straight lines and curly cuts. Of the minuses, we can note the low speed of work. All you need is a hacksaw and a tungsten carbide or diamond coated thread.
Sawing tiles with this device will not be difficult even for novice finishers. We tighten the thread in the hacksaw and proceed to sawing. If you need to make a circle inside the tile, then first we drill a hole in it, then thread a thread into it, fix it in a hacksaw and saw from the inside.
Other ways to cut tiles
While a glass cutter can work well for cutting tiles, it is not the only tool that can do the job. Below, we will look at a few more ways to cut a piece of ceramic tile using other devices, without using a tile cutter. So, what other tools can you use to cut tiles: