How To Saw Tile Angle Grinder

How to cut tiles with an angle grinder without chips: a detailed guide for beginners How to cut tiles with an angle grinder without chips: we analyze the cutting technique in detail.

Why an angle grinder is better than a tile cutter

To begin with, the tile cutter is designed to cut tiles. For each of its varieties: thick or thin, more or less durable, you can find a suitable model of the tool. The main advantage of the tile cutter is that it gives an even cut without chips. There is not a lot of dust during work, the risk of spoiling the plate is minimal. Not so with an angle grinder.

What disc to cut tiles

Tool accessories are selected for a specific material. Several types of discs are suitable for cutting tiles.

Stone circles

Cutting element of considerable thickness. Due to this, the cut is wide, the amount of dust increases during operation. The main disadvantage is the rapid wear of the consumable. over, if chips or other defects appear on it during operation, the circle is immediately changed. Otherwise, it can collapse, damaging the workpiece and causing harm to the person working with it. Stone discs are the cheapest.

How to cut ceramic angle grinder

One of the tools used to cut ceramic tiles is the grinder angle grinder (angle grinder), commonly referred to as an angle grinder.

  • Safety instructions for working angle grinder
  • Ceramic Cutting Discs Angle Grinder
  • Stone discs
  • Dry cutters
  • Segmented dry cutters
  • Solid dry cutters
  • Direct Cutting Ceramic Angle Grinder
  • Angle Grinder Cutting Large Holes
  • Grinder cutting rectangular holes in tiles
  • Shaped tile cutting angle grinder
  • Summary

The price range of various grinder models makes it available not only for professionals, but also for home craftsmen, so when using an angle grinder, you need to know not only the capabilities of this power tool, but also the rules for handling it in order to avoid injury.

how to saw tile angle grinder

Angle grinder is best used with adjustable speed

At home, a small grinder is used, designed to work with discs with a diameter of 100-125 mm and performing many operations. The tool can be equipped with a speed controller.

Solid dry cutters

This type of dry cutter can not only cut ceramic tiles, but also process the cutting edge with a working side surface. The absence of detonation of the tool during operation due to the solid shape of the disc increases the cutting speed, allows you to cut a fragment evenly and reduces the number of chips.

Grinder cutting rectangular holes in tiles

Mark the cut contour with a marker and a ruler on the front side of the tile and drill holes with a diameter of 5-7 mm exactly at its corners, without going beyond the contour boundaries, with a carbide drill. Then the angle grinder makes through cuts between the holes along the perimeter of the rectangular contour, the cut out fragment of ceramic is removed, and the corners and the cutting surface are modified with coarse sandpaper or a file.

Cutting Tool Grinding Machine

How to cut tiles with a tile cutter

There are hundreds of tile cutter models that can all be divided into two large groups: manual and electric.

  • Manual tile cutters are produced in the form of pliers, which outwardly resemble pliers. With this tool, a neat cut is first made on the face of the enamelled tile with a diamond cutter. After that, using the corner of the tile cutter, the tiles are simply broken off. No special skills are required in the work, so the tool is suitable for beginner amateur craftsmen.
  • Tabletop models of manual tile cutters with different base lengths are used to cut tiles, the thickness of which does not exceed 15 mm. For example, cutting 8 mm tiles used for wall cladding is done with a tile cutter that does not exceed 400 mm in length. Some models equipped with a circular cutter are capable of making rounded holes up to 80 mm in diameter in addition to straight cuts.
  • Electric tile cutters are used for large tiling work. This power tool is indispensable for cutting thick tiles. When choosing a machine for cutting tiles, they look at its power, the size of the diameter of the cutting wheel, the depth and length of the cut, the size of the table, and the weight of the tiles. The time during which the machine can work in continuous mode is also important.
  • Electric tile cutters are divided into two types, which differ from each other in the way the engine is placed. Models with a bottom motor are compact in size, so they are used when working in small spaces. The overhead position of the engine is used in the construction of rail tile cutters, which are much more convenient to work with. In addition, their tile cutting quality is much higher. The diamond disc in all tile cutters is water-cooled. The advantage of electric tile cutters is their ability to cut ceramic tiles at an angle not exceeding 45 degrees.

Tile cutting tools

Cutting tiles can be carried out not only with special tools, called tile cutters, developed by manufacturers specifically for this facing material. Glass cutters, an angle grinder, nippers, electric drills with various attachments, which are also used when cutting other building materials, are also used.

Each tool has its own characteristics and tricks of operation, requiring a certain skill from the person working with it, which comes with experience. Therefore, experienced craftsmen advise to make sure to carry out a trial cutting using one of the spare tiles for this purpose. This will allow you to adjust to the tool and material with little loss.

Features of cutting porcelain stoneware

To properly cut porcelain stoneware tiles at home, you must use a solid diamond disc. It will allow you to get a clean cut with a minimum of chips. It is necessary to choose a tool with a large thickness of the diamond layer; it is more efficient and heats up less. Let’s consider how to cut a porcelain stoneware angle grinder without chips:

  1. The tiles are laid on a flat base, placing a thin foam plastic or similar material under it, and fixed with clamps.
  2. Masking tape is glued to the front side and the cutting line is drawn.
  3. Cut away from you, guide the tool so that it remains possible to finish the edge.
  4. Remove any remaining adhesive tape and sand the edge of the tile to the desired surface finish.

When cutting porcelain stoneware, increased chipping is possible, therefore, you should not neglect the sticking of masking tape along the mowing line of the cut. The most risky type of material in this respect is glazed tiles, which should be cut a couple of millimeters away from the intended mowing line in order to then clean up the edge and at the same time adjust the size.

Choosing a cutting blade

Choosing the right tip will determine how clean the tile edge will be.

All discs are capable of cutting material, but the quality in each case will be different.

Let’s consider the possible options:

  • Stone discs. Inexperienced people choose them because of the low price. The result is a large amount of dust, a sloppy cut with a lot of chips. The thickness and degree of roughness of the stone disc do not allow to obtain a clean and even edge; they require laborious rework, which takes a lot of time;
  • Steel discs (dry cutters). Experienced craftsmen unanimously recommend choosing diamond-coated metal discs. They are thin, give a clean cut without excess dust. Steel discs allow you to work without cooling, but the duration of the process is limited to 1-1.5 minutes, after which you need to let the tool cool down at idle (without turning off the angle grinder). They are divided into segmented, solid and combined samples;
  • Segmented dry cutters. This is a type of metal disc, the working surface of which is divided into several segments. They are used for cutting hard materials of paving stones, concrete, porcelain stoneware or natural stone. Segments allow for more efficient cooling of the disk during operation;
  • Solid dry cutters. Used for processing ceramic tiles. They need periodic cooling. When a solid red spark line appears, it is necessary to run the disc over a concrete or other abrasive surface a couple of times. They give a clean cut, with the side side you can additionally process the edge of the tile;
  • Combined discs. Their working surface is wavy, and the cutting edge is interrupted. Combined (turbocharged) discs are considered versatile, designed to handle any material with or without water cooling. Due to the wavy shape of the cutting line, the disc thickness is increased, which contributes to increased dust generation.

The choice of the nozzle is determined by the type of material and the amount of work to be done. Experienced tilers use solid dry cutters, explaining this by the high quality of the cut and the ability to additionally grind the edge. If a dense and hard material of porcelain stoneware, natural stone is to be laid, the use of segmented or combined samples of cutting tools will be the best choice.

Cutting paving slabs

Technically, such a tile consists of concrete filled with crushed granite. Therefore, to cut paving slabs correctly and evenly, you should use a segmented or combined diamond blade designed for hard materials. Paving stones generate a lot of dust, so cut outdoors.

It is recommended to allocate a site at some distance from the place of storage or laying of paving slabs so that the settling ardor does not spoil the color of the material and does not require cleaning. You should also ensure that you have appropriate clothing and protective goggles and a respirator. The cutting process itself is not very difficult, using the usual technique of solid cutting or notching and then splitting (if the thickness of the tile is too thick for through cutting).