How to cut porcelain tile at home

How to cut porcelain tile at home

Tile

Before starting to finish the walls, floor or ceiling with porcelain tile, every owner should be well prepared both theoretically and practically. A person who has experienced how to cut porcelain tile at home will confirm that the main pitfall of the process is cutting the material to certain dimensions, especially in the case of stronger floor. Of course, it is likely that in some cases, the size of the full row will correspond to the length of the wall, but even in such cases, do not forget about the corners, heating lines and other built-in elements. Here, exactly have to think about how to cut the tile with a tile cutter on a smaller surface, without cracking it at the same time.

In the arsenal of any owner can meet the most diverse tool that will process the floor, ceiling and wall tiles, and therefore. success is guaranteed. But to achieve it, the mere presence of equipment is not enough, you need to know how to use a tile cutter or any other unit in the home.

Tools for cutting

Choosing a tool in order to cut even the most common mosaic tiles, you’ll have to “beat your brains in. Judge for yourself, with what to cut ceramic tiles every second knows, but on the same question about more durable materials few people will answer. over, to succeed without certain skills is unlikely to succeed, so it is better to have a good practice.

Absolutely all tools that can cut porcelain tiles are divided into two types:

Accurately perform the procedure is possible with both options, but, as already mentioned, will require a certain knack. Let’s look at each tool individually. As for the cutting of small mosaic tiles, the special cutters will be helpful here.

The tile cutter

This mechanism has proven to be excellent, processing tile. Similar results can be achieved in the case of porcelain tile, after first becoming familiar with the design of the installation. It consists of a base (platform) and several guides, on which the carriage moves, and with it the cutting mechanism, located at the bottom. There is a handle on top that allows you to cut the material mechanically. Thanks to a fairly accurate final cut without chips, this type of tile cutter is the main tool of many construction professionals.

Only the electric modification can cut off a better handheld tile cutter. To use the manual option under force for everyone, because by and large, you need to correctly perform 4 actions:

• Mark on the tile the future line for the trimmer cutter.
• Install the material on the platform so that the mark coincided with the cutting roller.
• Next, holding the tile with your hand, take the handle and apply a small amount of force to move the carriage from one side of the guides to the other, thus making the cut.
• To break it, you need to apply force to the handle.

Experts do not recommend using a handheld tile cutter for processing mosaic tiles and when the thickness of the material exceeds 15 mm. However, even in the permissible range, you can make a mistake with the selection of the right installation, because the size of the tile cutter can be different. Thus, ceiling and wall tiles are cut with a tile cutter up to 40 cm, the floor. with more oversized models.

Making the marking Fixing the tool Pressing and drawing the line with the tool

Glass cutter

No need to invest in a special tool, a normal glass cutter will do. But in large-scale repairs it is unlikely to help, another thing is a small amount of material. Of course, the cutting roller must have a diamond element, otherwise the effectiveness of the glass cutter will be questionable.

Answering the question of how to cut tiles with a glass cutter, we can safely say. the same as the glass! However, there are nuances:

• Before starting the procedure, the board is immersed in water for 30 minutes to soften the structure;
• Then it is necessary to make a marking, based on the dimensions of the working surface;
• Next, it is laid on a smooth and even surface and make the cut by the marks with one strong movement;
• Finally, under the formed line for the trimmer, it is necessary to put a wooden bar and press on both sides of the material.

Going to use glass cutter in order to cut tiles or porcelain tiles, buy more material, without cracks and chips here can not do!

Place the tile in the water Make a mark Cut with the glass cutter by pushing

angle grinder

A tool of this type is one of the most affordable options for adjusting the tile to the required dimensions. With the help of angle grinder can cut ceiling, wall, floor and even mosaic tiles, and both tile and porcelain tiles. In addition, it is indispensable in a situation where it is necessary to perform a cut figuratively.

The best cutting results are shown by thin discs with diamond coating, they are also dry cutters. If the beauty of the cut is of no importance, an ordinary disk will do. Explain how to cut tiles with an angle grinder correctly, there is no point, because there is no special difference from the treatment of metal or concrete in this process.

In operation, it is quite a traumatic tool, the dust from which also makes it difficult to work without a respirator, goggles and other protective attributes.

Electric tile cutter or wet cutter

This machine is able to adjust the size of heavy-duty tiles. By its design it is an ordinary machine with an electric drive. In other words, if you need to apply force to work with a manual version, the machine with the electric drive is all automated.

Electric plate cutter in the home is used quite rarely because of too high prices. It is not strange, because nothing better than this mechanism has not been created yet. The unit is capable of processing a huge amount of material for finishing walls and floors to any size with excellent final quality (no chips, roughness, cracks), which allows its active use in commercial applications.

If the goals do not imply enrichment, but only need to complete the repair, then you need to perform a few simple steps yourself:

With intensive use of the equipment, it is necessary to periodically change the water in the tray, as well as to clean the disc of plaque. This will help you get the most out of your wet cutter.

Pour water into the tray Let it pass under the disc Put the tile in the tool

Cutting with an angle grinder

This power tool is probably every homeowner or apartment owner. The thing is indispensable in many situations. by changing the nozzles (circles), you can sharpen something, cut, grind. No problem with cutting tiles, either. It does not matter what power tool, under what diameter of the working disk is designed. It is easier and more convenient to use a small angle grinder, but also a powerful angle grinder with a large circle for linear cutting is quite suitable. All that remains is to choose the right replacement nozzle.

Ceramic tile, including porcelain tile, so popular for floor tiling, is cut with discs by:

But a neat cut with not many chips is guaranteed only by a special tile cutting wheel, which has a solid surface (no slots on the disc) with diamond sprayed on the working surface. It costs a little more when buying, but the slight overpayment is worth it. The tile disc will provide a low vibration while cutting ceramics, and therefore. an even cutting edge with minimal damage to the decorative coating.

If the cutting edge of the tile will be hidden, and the quality of the cutting edge does not play a big role, the concrete wheel is quite applicable. But no other attachments (wood or metal) should be used. Not only is it inefficient, but it can also be very injurious. Also, you can not remove the protective cover from the angle grinder, which protects the master from small ceramic debris, formed when cutting tiles. It is not superfluous to protect the eyes with a special shield or glasses that come with most of the sold grinders.

How to cut tiles at home with an angle grinder? It’s that simple.

• Mark the line for the trimmer cut (for glazed tile or polished porcelain tile, use a permanent marker. a pencil does not work on a slippery surface).
• We lay the tile on an even base, inferior in hardness to ceramics (a board, a piece of drywall or OSB will do) “face up”.
• Slightly fix the tile so it won’t move when cutting.
• We cut a face layer (it is done without pressure on the tool) from the side of the outlined line, displacing it away from the desired piece.

Next two ways. Cut through the tile with an angle grinder to its full thickness, or break off an unwanted fragment, placing the cut tile on the edge of a table, workbench or a similar improvised object. In the first case, the cutting edge will be flat on the whole thickness of the body of the tile, but a lot of dust when cutting. The second method is almost dustless, but you have to additionally trim the “teeth” that are formed when you break the tile. This is done with the same angle grinder or file (if you want to maximize the quality of the cut edge to the factory).

Cutting with a hand held tile cutter

Tile cutting machine with a cutting roller that is manually actuated with a lever is a handheld tile cutter. In addition to the listed parts in the device there is a metal protruding strip, two guides on which the lever with a “knife” slides and a double-sided “foot”, breaking up the two parts of the cut tile. The device is simple but effective: a tile up to 10 mm in thickness can be cut with a handheld tile cutter without any problem. Chipping is minimal, cutting accuracy depends on the quality of the tool.

When you buy a 10 tile cutter, you shouldn’t hope for perfect cut edge geometry. Over time, as the tool wears, it becomes worse, making the cut edge farther and farther from the ideal. But such a device for cutting tiles is suitable for single work on a small amount of tiling with his hands.

To use a long time to acquire a handheld tile cutter, whose price exceeds 50 dollars. There are quality guides, minimal saw roller backlash, and a decent service life. When working with tiles the tool is effective, can cope with floor tiles, but porcelain tiles are “not up to it”. Decorative glazed tiles, frieze, which have a structured face surface will not be defeated by the device. Now about how to cut a ceramic tile with a handheld tile cutter.

• We take the necessary measurements, and outline a line for a trimmer on the tile’s front surface.
• We lay a tile on the base of the tile cutter so that the line for the trimmer coincided with the metal ledge (the tool has additional indicative marks).
• By means of the lever with one movement of the cut-off roller we make a cut into a decorative layer of a tile.
• We break a tile with a pressure of a double-sided foot.

Not everyone can cut a tile with a manual tile cutter the first time. To adapt to the tool, it is better to “sacrifice” one tile element and practice on it by cutting it into several pieces.

In the video, an experienced master tiler demonstrates how to cut tiles with a handheld tile cutter, the capabilities of the tool for cutting ceramic, the rules of care for the tool:

How to cut porcelain stoneware at home: methods and necessary tools

If you have time and desire, many people prefer to do the repair themselves, as it helps to save money significantly and gain personal experience. When it comes to facing the room with porcelain tiles, many overestimate their capabilities relying on previous experience with regular tiles. As for the laying technique itself, the process is identical, but cutting porcelain stoneware requires a little different skill and knowledge of the peculiarities of the material from the master. In this article we will tell in detail how to cut porcelain tile at home even without having experience, what materials are required for this and give some useful tips.

To begin with, it is necessary to choose a cutting method based on the characteristics of the material, the area of the room, aesthetic requirements and personal experience. For example, if the area of the room is large, then the use of a mechanical tile cutter or electric jigsaw is not justified, these tools are suitable for finishing apartment rooms. The use of an angle grinder is also not always suitable, as it results in a lot of dust, noise and the quality of the cut leaves much to be desired.

We are often asked if it is possible to cut porcelain tiles with a handheld glass cutter? You can certainly try it, but the result most likely will not please you. The tool is not designed for this material and you will only ruin the tiles. Below we will consider each of the methods in detail.

Cutting with a mechanical manual tile cutter

The use of a mechanical tile cutter is ideal for work with small amounts of tiling, bathroom, toilet, kitchen or hallway in apartments or private homes. The advantages of the device can include:

• There is no dust and noise when working;
• It does not require electricity;
• Mobility and ease of maintenance;
• Relatively safe and suitable for both experienced craftsmen and beginners.

For information. Among the disadvantages are the ability to produce only an even cut. Inexperienced trimmers may produce a slightly chipped cut. It is not possible to chamfer and the cutting wheel wears out quickly when working with porcelain stoneware.

Important! Before you cut tiles with the mechanical tile cutter, make sure the device is in working condition, stands on a level surface, all the elements are firmly fixed and have no backlash. If the tool is not an expensive model, you should lubricate the guide slides of the carriage before working. Expensive models have bearings on the cutter carriage to ensure smooth operation.

Next, perform the work according to the step-by-step list:

• Make a marking on the tiles with a pencil or marker, which can be wiped off after the cut;
• Lay the material on the base of the tool so that the line for the trimmer cut corresponds to the markings on the base. If there is no marking, then effortlessly roll the cutter along the intended line and make sure that it does not go sideways from the intended cut;
• Then, with light pressure on the handle, make the cut toward you;
• Then press the special paws on the tile to split it.

Important! Do not cut twice and do not exert excessive pressure on the handle, as this can cause chipping. When pushing on the tile to break it, make sure that the cutting wheel is outside the material and does not rest on the porcelain tile when pushing. For clarity we suggest to watch the video material, where the expert shows the process of cutting on the machine.

Cutting porcelain stoneware with an angle grinder

Using an angle grinder for cutting porcelain stoneware is not the best solution. The obvious disadvantages of this tool are the noise, a lot of dust, an uneven cut with many chips, especially on glossy porcelain stoneware, and the increased danger of the tool. Of course, in the hands of an experienced specialist angle grinder copes well with the task, but if you have little experience and the work is carried out in the apartment, it is better to buy a mechanical tile cutter.

The step-by-step instructions for working with an angle grinder are as follows:

• Lay the porcelain tile on a flat surface, it is desirable to put under it a foam board or a piece of board so as not to damage the floor surface;
• Using an alcohol marker, pencil or chalk (depending on the type of surface), draw a line to trim the notch;
• Secure the tile with a clamp or your foot, wearing special safety shoes beforehand;
• Turn on the angle grinder and make an incision in the direction away from yourself to a depth of 2-4 mm;

Important! Only make the cut once. It is not necessary to cut the tile to its full depth, it will lead to overheating of the cutting disc and its damage. If the angle grinder has a RPM controller, it is recommended to set the range of 6 to 8 thousand. RPM when using a 100-120 mm disc.

• After you finish cutting, lay the porcelain tile on a flat and hard surface, under the line for the cut trimmer on both sides you can put nails, two screws or any other object that will serve as a fulcrum and raise the tile by a few millimeters.
• With a sharp movement, press on the opposite planes of the cut, and the tile will break along the line of the notch, as it is shown in the video below.

Most likely the edges of the break will be uneven and you can use the same angle grinder or coarse grit sandpaper to grind them. It is acceptable to use an angle grinder for those cuts, which subsequently will be hidden or are located in low-visible places. On our website you can read in detail how to choose a disc for cutting porcelain tiles and tiles with an angle grinder.

Safety rules for cutting

Safety rules when working with tools for cutting is as simple as possible, their observance is mandatory because your health and even life depends on it. When using non-electric tools, the basic set of protective equipment are gloves and goggles. Gloves will help to avoid cuts from sharp edges of the material, and glasses will prevent entry of splinters and dust into the eyes.

When working with electric tools, angle grinder or tile cutter, special attention is paid to safety:

• Never change or clean the cutting wheel while the machine or angle grinder is plugged in. The equipment must be completely de-energized.
• Do not submerge the cutting disc in porcelain stoneware by more than one-third when cutting with an angle grinder. When working with a tile cutter, the wheel must not be lowered by more than half.
• angle grinder must have a protective cover and tile cutting should be done in the direction from yourself.
• Wear protective clothing made of thick material and do not leave exposed body areas. When the cutting wheel is heated, spray particles can bounce off and cause burns on the body.
• It is important to use gloves made of thicker fabric. Practice shows that knitted gloves are not suitable and can cause injuries. Often, if the tool is handled incorrectly, the disc or locknut will catch on the threads of the glove and can twist.
• There should be no dangling straps or clasps on clothing, and if you have long hair, it should be hidden in a headdress.

Since power tools create noise and often a lot of dust, goggles, headphones and a respirator are mandatory protective equipment.

With what it is better to cut a ceramic granite

Porcelain tiles are great as a reliable finishing building material. It is especially used when finishing floors in public buildings with a high degree of traffic, such as sales areas of supermarkets and stores, hotel lobbies, floors at railway stations and airports. What is the size of porcelain tiles?

For cutting porcelain stoneware, special tools should be used

Ceramic granite tile sizes (cm):

The last size of porcelain tile belongs to the so-called thin porcelain tile, which is most often used in the repair of residential areas. It is especially beautiful for finishing walls and plinths of private house facades. There is another way to cut porcelain tile, but for small amounts of work. it is the work of a glass cutter.

Possible errors

Which can be the cause of chipping and defects:

• Poor quality of the grinding disc. cracks, damage, poor sharpening.
• Cutting disc is installed on the wrong side or is not properly selected. thickness or height of the edge is low, the diamond coating layer is missing.
• Misalignment of the blade of the roller with the planned line.
• Insufficient fixation. in the process of cutting the tile vibrates and shifts.
• The operation is performed in several steps, which increases the percentage of defects.
• Powerful tools, quick, sharp movements, strong pressure are used.

The final result depends on the special skills of the master and the right choice of cutting tools.

Possible errors

Which can cause chipping and defects:

• Poor quality of the sanding disc. cracks, damage, poor sharpening.
• The cutting wheel is installed on the wrong side or is selected incorrectly. the thickness or height of the edge is low, or the diamond coating layer is missing.
• Misalignment of the roller blade with the planned line.
• Insufficient fixation. in the process of cutting the tile vibrates and shifts.
• The operation is performed in several steps, which increases the percentage of defects.
• Powerful tools are used, quick, sharp movements, strong pressure.

The final result depends on the presence of special skills of the master and the right choice of cutting tools.

What method and what to cut ceramic granite tiles for the floor

The best way to cut ceramic granite tiles for the floor, using an angle grinder with a diamond wheel. But personal protective equipment against dust and noise must be used.

A professional tile cutter is great for cutting tiles

Personal protective equipment when working with an angle grinder:

Experts give a few tips for beginners when working with an angle grinder, if you need to saw a porcelain tile for the floor, because this tile has a large thickness. Under the tiles, you need to put a foam pad, laying it on a hard, even surface. To reduce the number of chips, in the place of cutting the tiles on the front side, you need to glue masking tape and already on top of the tape to draw a pencil thread cutoff.

Tiles should be cut only on the front side.

If the thickness of the tile is big, you should use a metal construction angle to control the cut accuracy. It’s fixed to the tile on its front side with clamps, that’s how you can cut the tile.

Installing the roof on the balcony with your own hands: following the instructions, do it yourself

How to cut granite. with a tile cutter or an angle grinder?

Manual tools are hardly ever used for granite tiles. They are unable to cut such a sturdy material. Experts advise the use of the following devices in cases where you need to cut porcelain tiles:

An ordinary angle grinder is quite effective. It can be used to cut porcelain tiles into shapes as well as straight, simple cuts. This requires the tool to be equipped with a special dry-cutting disc. Such a nozzle must have a diamond coating.

When using an angle grinder is recommended to pre-mark the contours of the cut with a marker, a regular pencil or chalk. That way you will never damage the tile or get a bevel in the cut line. Porcelain tile should be well fixed on some stable fixture (for example, on a workbench), set the nozzle with a spray in the direction of movement of the tool.

Cutting porcelain tiles with a grinderNow you can begin cutting tiles. The movements of the angle grinder should be made smoothly, at the edge of the piece it is advisable to slow down the speed of the tool. With some effort you will get a straight cut. True, there is a risk of splintering.

If you do not want to get a lot of defective tiles, use a tile cutter instead of an angle grinder. It can be manual or electric. The first is a device with a hard-alloy or diamond disk, which is fixed by a holder.

Manual tile cutter (it is obligatory to install it on a solid base, which guarantees the safety of work and minimizes labor costs) can cut porcelain tiles up to 1.2 cm thick. This tool is usually used for cutting corners and for straight cuts. To obtain round holes in the tiles it is required to use a tile cutter with a ballerina, a special device designed specifically for this purpose.

An electric tile cutter provides a higher quality of work. It comes with upper and lower motor. The diamond disc acts as a sawing tool, which is water-cooled while using the tool. This is a wet cut on porcelain tiles.

Working with an electric tile cutterThe disc on an electric tool allows you to cut at a 45-degree angle. You cannot do this with a manual tile cutter or angle grinder. Use the disc as sharp as possible. On the quality of its grinding and strength parameters depends on the efficiency of cutting, as well as the absence of marriage.

How to cut porcelain tile with an electric tool? Refer to the following diagram:

• Mark out the porcelain tile.
• Secure the tile to a special platform.
• Clamp the diamond disc in the tool and make sure it is securely clamped.
• Apply a shallow scratch on the tile according to the marking. Please note. the disc must go further from the edge of the product by 0.8-1 cm.
• Crack the tile into pieces with the required force.

When using a tile cutter, the risk of damage to the products being cut is minimized. Therefore, it is used much more often than an angle grinder. The diamond disc on the tile cutter also cuts faster. In a short time you can process a huge number of porcelain tiles at home.

Deciding to use such a disk, stick to the following tips from the pros:

• Always make cuts from the front side of the tiles;
• Process with a multifunctional grinder small chips that can be formed during the execution of the work;
• Use as little force as possible when cutting to prevent the tiles from breaking.

Cutting granite with a jigsaw and circular saw. features

The diamond wire jigsaw gives you the ability to make shaped intricate processing of items of interest. It is rarely used by home craftsmen, as it requires certain skills of owning such a tool. However, there is nothing difficult in its application. You just need to:

• Carefully follow the movement of the wire (preliminarily perform on the tile to mark the contours of the cut you need);
• constantly blow dust off the surface of the product to be treated (in this case the cutting filament will run in a clean line and cut the material qualitatively)
• slightly moisten the porcelain tile with water;
• Pay special attention to the processing of the edges of products, where there is a high risk of splintering.

Processing the edges of the product from splintersDirect cutting of a large number of tiles can be performed with a circular saw. a unit with a toothed blade, which is available to many home craftsmen. You need to mount a disc (diamond) on such an installation, with which you can carry out dry cutting.

The principle of using a “circular saw” is as follows:

• You mark a line for the trimmer of the cut;
• Press the porcelain skirting against the work surface with both hands;
• Moving the tile forward on the rotating disc.

The use of a circular saw requires the utmost care. The tiles have to be moved by hand, which can cause serious injury to your fingers. Be extremely careful when working with this tool!

Using an angle grinder. how not to make chips

angle grinder is often used for processing porcelain tiles. However, unlike other tools, working with an angle grinder is more difficult. That’s why personal safety is a must first of all. Body protection must be prepared for your work:

• goggles to protect the eyes;
• headphones;
• mask, during sawing a lot of dust gets into the air, which negatively affects the respiratory organs;
• Protective clothing and headgear.

Many people wonder how to use an angle grinder to cut porcelain tiles without chipping or cracking. As experts say, it is almost impossible to do this. However, in order to keep the damage small, it is important to follow all the tips.

Using an angle grinder, you can make an even cut

Important. In order for the diamond disc to cut thinly, for beginners, experts recommend that the first few cuts be made on discarded tiles. And only after setting up, the device to approach the main work.

Cut material with an angle grinder should follow the following algorithm:

• put a sheet of foam plastic on the working table. This will reduce vibration and make the cut even;
• Using a black marker, mark the trimmer line, which will ensure an even cut;
• put a white construction adhesive tape on top of the line, and once again mark the line for the trimmer of the cut. With this method, you can reduce the number of chips;
• turn on the vacuum cleaner, this will reduce the risk of large amounts of dust;
• place the tiles on the work surface and run the angle grinder;
• carefully start cutting along the marked parameters in the direction away from yourself. Such actions not only allow you to get an even cut, but also reduce the risk of injury;
• Carefully remove the masking tape and grout the chips.

For boards that are not very thick, it is enough to make a small cut and break the product into the necessary parts.

angle grinder device, which is available in almost every private home. The use of angle grinder in the work with porcelain tiles, has a large number of advantages, which should include:

• the device does not require special training;
• can be used not only flat, but also shaped cuts;
• The material can be cut after the installation on the wall;
• the work does not require special skills.

However, despite the large number of positive points, it is also necessary to highlight the disadvantages. These should include, first of all, a lot of noise. The tool is not recommended for use in apartment conditions, also in the absence of special vacuum cleaners, work with an angle grinder contributes to dust. Often, if used improperly, sharp particles break off, which are dangerous to exposed body parts.

Personal protection is an important element in working with an angle grinder

Note! If you need to cut a large-sized slab, you can use a circular saw. A diamond wheel for dry cutting is used for this purpose. Thanks to such a device it is possible to make perfect cuts and process the entire material in a short time.

In order to cut tiles, you can use a large number of ways, which have repeatedly proved their effectiveness. Each builder approaches the choice of method individually. However, experts recommend using a glass cutter for thin material. For thicker tiles, an angle grinder or electric tile cutter is used. Before you start working, you need to prepare the place and use special clothing to protect the exposed areas of the body.

Overview of porcelain tile cutting tools

With what to cut tiles made of porcelain tiles? Experts advise choosing a tool based on what goals you are pursuing. Let’s look at each one in more detail.

Glass cutter

The glass cutter is not designed to cut porcelain tile, but if you don’t have other options, you can use it, too

The vitrified stoneware cutter is not designed for cutting porcelain tiles, but if there is no alternative, it can be used too, but only if you do a small amount of work.

Manual tile cutter

A simple and reliable tool for cutting porcelain tile

A simple and easy-to-use tool that allows you to cut straight strips from porcelain tile. The tile is fixed by special clamps, after which the lever with a cutting element makes the cut. As a result, the tile easily breaks in the place of the cut.

Electric tile cutter

Cutting porcelain tiles on a professional level

The professional tool that allows you to make nearly perfect cuts with straight or slightly rounded edges. The electric tile cutter is designed specifically for this purpose, so it has clear advantages not only over handheld devices, but also over electric ones.

angle grinder

Stoneware can also be cut with an ordinary angle grinder

It is a versatile tool that can also be used to cut porcelain tile. However, in this case, the angle grinder must be equipped with a special “diamond” disc. An angle grinder is a good option for professionals and amateurs alike.

Pliers

The pliers are the easiest way to make curved cuts

Pliers. the simplest tool for shape cutting tiles in general and porcelain tiles in particular. To be exact, the cutters do not cut, but break off small pieces of tile, allowing you to achieve the desired shape groove or curve.

“Ballerina”

Use the ‘ballerina’ to make holes of any diameter

This is the name of a special tool that can be used to make holes of different diameters in porcelain stoneware.

Circular saw

The circle saw or diamond core bit makes perfectly straight cuts in porcelain stoneware

The best tool for both curved cuts and drilled holes in the tile. Allows you to cut any thickness and hardness of porcelain tiles.

Comparative table of tools for cutting porcelain tiles

The tool	Advantages	Disadvantages	Conclusion
Glass cutter	Easy to use. Inexpensive.

Porcelain tile cutting technology

Consider porcelain tile cutting technology with the most popular tools.

Manual tile cutter

For all its simplicity, the manual tile cutter provides a fairly high quality of work. The tool consists of a platform, two guide rails that make the cut perfect, a lever with a cutting roller and tile breaking clamps.

Some models of handheld tile cutters are equipped with a “ballerina” that allows you to make round holes of different diameters in the tile.

The handheld tile cutter is suitable for tiles 8 mm thick, 1 cm thick, etc. д. (up to 12 millimeters). Keep in mind that the thicker the tile, the larger the diameter of the cutting roller should be. Ideally, these two values should coincide.

Preparing the tile cutter for work

Before you start, make sure that the cutting roller is not blunt and its size corresponds to the thickness of the chosen tile. If necessary, the roller can be replaced.

After attaching, the roller should rotate freely. If they do not, try a drop of oil on the fixing points.

Determine the ease of movement of the tile cutter on the guide rods. If the cutting element runs tightly or, on the contrary, it is worth checking the bearings and cleaning the guides.

Cutting porcelain tile

• After measuring on the tiles with a pencil or marker make appropriate marks;
• the tile is placed on the platform of the tile cutter, align the cut trimmer line with the cutting roller;
• To ensure that the tile is not displaced during cutting, it must be fixed by hand;
• the roller is placed on the edge of the tile and, smoothly pressing the lever, draw it along the entire cut line;

The smoother you move the roller, the better the finished cut will be.

IMPORTANT! To avoid chipping the cut, try to cut the tile “in one go”.

• After the cut on the tile is made, it is fixed on the platform with the fixing claws so that the line for the cut trimmer is between them;
• You begin to press with your hand on the part of the tile that is protruding from the platform until the tile breaks.

when cutting with a handheld tile cutter, the edges of the tiles are quite even, but the appearance of small chips and irregularities is not excluded. In this case, the deformed edge should be sanded off.

Here is a master class on cutting porcelain tiles with a manual tile cutter.

angle grinder

With the angle grinder you can cut a variety of materials, ceramic granite is no exception.

Preparing to work

For cutting porcelain stoneware a special “diamond disc” must be installed on the angle grinder. When installing the disc, check that it is securely fastened, and be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves.

IMPORTANT! Since the angle grinder is a very dangerous tool, the use of all protective elements and the observance of safety regulations are mandatory.

Working with an angle grinder

The technology of cutting porcelain stoneware itself does not differ much from cutting other materials.

In contrast to the manual tile cutter angle grinder can do not only straight but also shaped cuts.

• The tile is cut along the planned line with an angle grinder. To reduce the number of chips, try to cut the tiles “in one approach”;
• Since cutting porcelain tiles with an angle grinder can leave small chips and cracks on the edges and face of the tile, the end of the tile after cutting should be cleaned with sandpaper or a sanding disc.

Electric tile cutter

If the previous two methods are considered “dry” cutting, the following technology refers to “wet. In other words, water is supplied to the tile cutter during the process, which protects the cutting element from overheating. That way you get an almost perfectly smooth and even cut.

Electric tile cutters come in two varieties: with a movable and a fixed disk. In the first case, the cutting element moves along the tile on special guides, while in the second case, the tile is fed to the disc with the platform or simply by hand.

IMPORTANT! When working with the stationary tile cutters, you must be particularly careful to follow the safety rules.

In addition to the platform and the cutting module, most electric tile cutters are equipped with a reservoir of water, in which a part of the cutting disc is immersed. This protects the disc from overheating, and significantly reduces the amount of dust during work.

Getting ready for work

Before starting work, you should check that the disc is securely fastened and that there is water in a special container.

If the tile cutter has already been used, the cutting disc should be cleaned and the water changed, because the porcelain chips in it interfere with the cooling process.

Tile cutting

A professional tile cutter can cut porcelain tiles almost perfectly

The very technology of cutting on an electric tile cutter is very simple: a pre-determined line for trimmer cut aligns with the cutting disc and a special lever moves it along the tile or feeds it to the disc.

If you feed the tile manually, it is not recommended to press on both halves of it, because it is highly probable that the tile will be twisted on one side, and that the cut quality will be adversely affected.

Since the edges of the cut with an electric tile cutter are almost perfectly flat, they do not need additional processing.

Specialized tools

Of course, the methods of cutting, which we discussed above, are suitable for those who are not able to lay out a good sum to buy a machine for cutting porcelain tiles. However, for professional tilers to save time on the operation of cutting porcelain tiles is principally, so the machine will be very handy. Although only straight cuts are possible, most cuts are straight, too. Besides, a good machine lets you cut porcelain tiles in different angles.

In addition to the large allowable cutting thickness, the machine has several other advantages. First, it will be possible to apply wet cutting of porcelain stoneware. This method reduces the probability of overheating of the cutting disk and the risk of chipping on porcelain tiles. Second, the hands are relieved from the burden of the weight of the power tool. The machine has a platform on which an electric motor and a cutting edge are rigidly mounted. Thirdly, the machine has devices for rectilinear translational motion: either tile or motor with a cutting tool. It avoids irregularities and significantly improves the quality of the cut. You just have to control the feeding speed along the guide rails while you cut. But the main advantage is the absence of dust when cutting tiles, which is especially important when renovating in apartments.

Depending on how often and how much the craftsman has to work with tiles, he may consider what type and size of tile cutting machine he will need. For example, if the work is done in a cramped room or not often, then the machine with the location of the engine below the work table will be more suitable. Such machines are smaller, lighter and much cheaper than machines with overhead motor (for example, the model Praktika 1860 has a medium range). But this variant has a greater restriction on the depth of cut. Not every model is equipped with guides for straight tile feed and fixtures for fixing the tiles, which requires some skill from the master. Also cutting at an angle of 45 degrees in many models is not provided.

opportunities and comfort when cutting porcelain tiles provide machines with the motor positioned above the working table. For a craftsman who specializes in working with tiles this option would be clearly preferred. Though these machines will have greater dimensions, they allow to provide safer and more comfortable working conditions, much greater cutting depth (up to 100. 135 millimeters), some models allow to carry out not only cutting at angle of 45 degrees, but also in intermediate values. Naturally, this type of machines will have more powerful motors and bigger diameters of diamond cutting discs. Some of these machines will be stationary, which means they will have very large size and weight.

Depending on the manufacturer, equipment, size and features, top-mounted machines have a wide range of prices. Here you can read a detailed review of tile cutters.

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Gourmets of quality and refinement

It’s no secret that there is a special category of customers who can be called gourmands of quality. They are ready to pay big money for their work to be perfect. Most likely, such a customer will be difficult to convince that you can make a fairly high quality hand-cut porcelain tile. To help you can come to the aid of cutting porcelain tiles with water, or water-jet cutting. This is a modern technology, which allows cutting ceramic tiles with high quality. It is not possible to perform this operation at home, as it requires special equipment. The main drawback is the high cost of this work, which is unlikely to be affordable to a regular customer.

The thickness in waterjet cutting can reach several centimeters, and the product does not need additional sanding. A great advantage of this method is the possibility of high complexity of the cut, which is impossible with manual methods. Not only in terms of the cut line pattern but also in terms of the widths of the parts to be cut. Waterjet cutting of porcelain tiles allows you to cut parts at an acute angle to the edge of the tile, cut thin elements, cut holes and other complex cuts. This makes it possible to create drawings, mosaics, panels and other images of porcelain tiles of different colors. Since the cut is controlled by a computer, it is possible to fit the mating parts with perfect precision. Indeed, gourmets will get the result they want.

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