How to work properly with a tile cutter

How to cut tiles with a tile cutter: proper work and safety precautions

review of the best reviews. How to cut tiles with a tile cutter: proper work and safety equipment in Russia list 2019. 2020.

There are a few rules about how to cut tiles with a tile cutter. The tool is simple enough, but it is important to learn how to feel it. When working, you should also take into account the peculiarities of the material. Practical recommendations and useful tips are described in this article.

How to use a handheld tile cutter

How to work properly when building and finishing work with ceramic tiles?

It is necessary to cut tiles with a special tile cutter, the peculiarity of which is the presence of a sharp cutter. As a rule, it is installed diamond, as it is more durable and wear-resistant material. In order to make a cut, it is necessary to lay the cloth on the base of the device, so that when cutting the cloth will not stagger, and the cut is not carried out not on the pre-drawn line.

Due to the fact that it is not too difficult to work with the tool, it is quite often used in construction and finishing works.

And the device is great for home use. It is worth noting that the manual equipment has a number of advantages relative to the electric tool. It has a small size and is much easier to handle. In addition, it is considered the safest.

How to properly use an electric tile cutter

The use of a more technologically advanced device. an electric tile cutter allows you to get a very accurate cut with somewhat rounded and smooth edges. There are no sharp edges that are obtained when working with a manual tile cutter, when cutting ceramic tiles with an electrically powered device. It also allows you to cut off pieces of tile that are less than 5 millimeters wide.

The technology of cutting tiles on an electric tile cutter looks like this:

• Before using the tile cutter, you need to mark the tiles.
• Lay the tile on the tile cutter table along the chosen guide.
• Start turning the diamond disc and turn on the water supply.
• Gently move the tile to the disk with both hands. As the tile is moved under the disc, the pressure on the tile must be kept to a minimum. After plunge cutting it can be slightly increased. If you push the tiles too hard at the moment of plunge cutting, there may be strong vibrations and the tile will crack. If the diamond wheel is released while the cut is complete, the pressure must also be reduced to prevent chipping and burrs from forming.
• Make a clean cut and set the tile aside.
• Switch off the disc and water feed.

When working with an electric tile cutter is worth considering the recommendations of experts. It is important that when performing the operation, the tile is carefully and evenly pressed to the table of the tile cutter, otherwise there will be vibrations. Also, uneven tile placement on the table can cause the blade to jam in the center section of the tile or the disc to catch the tile, resulting in an inaccurate cut that is not aligned with the marking line. To move the tile accurately, it is necessary to use guides, as well as to press the tile with two hands, if you put pressure on it with one hand, you may also get an uneven cut.

Do not forget about periodical water changes in the water tank, because all cutting products. dust and larger tile particles. get into it. They can cause the diamond disc to get soiled and then jammed, which in the worst case can lead to disc or tile failure. A disc breakage while a power operated tile cutter is dangerous in terms of personal injury. If you see that the disc is excessively dirty or worn, it should be replaced with a new one. In this case, you will be able to make a neat and smooth cut.

And to consolidate you can watch a video on how to use an electric tile cutter by the example of Kalibr PLE-200 900.

How to properly cut tiles with a manual tile cutter

In order to start using hand tools, you do not need to take any courses and receive any special training. First of all, you need to install the tool on a perfectly flat surface and, very importantly, a hard surface. Then check the sharpness of the cutter and how firmly all the main elements of the operated tool have been secured.

So, the tile should be cut according to the following instructions. It is very important to follow the order in order to perform the work quickly and accurately. How to use the tile cutter, you can also learn in more detail from the video on the subject posted on our website.

• On the face of the tile, you need to draw a line for the cut trimmer. To do this, use a sharp pencil or a marker, do not forget the ruler.
• After that, you need to drive the tile onto the surface of the handheld tile cutter, which is called the work surface.
• Expose the tool clearly perpendicular. To do this, you need to press hard enough on the far side of the tile cutter, and then carefully adjust the position of the tile used, taking into account the marks you have made on its surface in advance. At the same time, you should not forget that it is necessary to orient to the central line for the trimmer, which is located on the base of the tool.
• Use the handle to bring the cutter to the tile. Set it necessarily on the very edge of the product on the side that is closer to you.
• After that, it is necessary to press hard enough on the handle so that the cutter can touch the tile. Thus, the tile must be pressed with the metal part and the rollers of the tile cutter.
• Then with only one movement, which should be quite sharp and clear, you need to make a small furrow from yourself and to the extreme edge of the tile you are cutting.
• The end result is that to break the tile you’re working on, you just have to apply a little pressure to the handle and the tile will break right along the line you’re cutting.

This is how a hand held tile cutter can be used to cut two pieces of tile in just the right size with a perfectly straight, incredibly neat edge at the point of breakage.

Guide to working with the electric tile cutter

The fastest and best way to cut ceramic tiles is to use an electric tile cutter with a diamond disc. This tool also allows you to work on harder materials, such as porcelain stoneware and stone.

Once you understand how to use a tile cutter with a diamond disc, you will be able to make cuts with smooth and slightly rounded edges. In the case of an ordinary tile cutter, however, the edges will be sharp. The electric tool with cutters will allow you to create the highest quality figure cutouts and the most diverse size.

As a rule, people learn how to use this type of tile cutter properly after their first experience with it. The tool is equipped with a water tray, which helps to keep the workplace clean. This tray will collect small tile particles and dust during work.

Regardless of what design has your chosen tile cutter, the work will be performed in the same way. As a rule, the machine consists of a platform to which a diamond-coated disc is attached. The design is equipped with a tray of water.

Techniques for cutting tiles: a. marking with a ruler; b. notching the glaze with a cutter; c, d. breaking the tile by the notch on the bar and with a tile cutter.

Water is sprayed onto the knife during operation and moistens it profusely. This significantly reduces dust formation, extends the life of the diamond disc and prevents the tile from cracking.

One tile is sawn with such a tool in about the same time as it takes to cut a log with an ordinary saw. Only in this case it will be necessary to move not the knife, but the tile under the cutting disk.

The force to be applied to the tile depends on the density of the product, as well as the material used to make the knife blade. When working, it should be remembered that at the moment of contact of the cutting blade with the surface it is necessary to exert minimum pressure. As the knife moves through the tile the pressure will increase, and by the end of the operation it should decrease. It is necessary to fix the ceramic tile as firmly as possible on the work table to avoid vibrations and to protect the cutting blade from jamming in the center of the tile.

During work, you must change the water as often as possible, t.к. It will get small particles of tile, which will further be fed with water to the knife, as a result of which the blade can simply be spoiled.

When working, you should press on both sides of the tile at the same time. If in the process of work the product will lean to any side, then at best you will get an uneven cut with lots of splinters, and at worst the disc will catch the tile and throw it aside. This can ruin not only the tiles, but also the knife itself.

When working with an electric tile cutter you need to wear noise-isolating headphones and safety glasses. One disc is usually enough to cut a thousand tiles. The blade should be periodically cleaned from ceramic particles. To do this, simply take a worn sand mold for bricks and go over it with the blade. The mold can be replaced by a tile sanding stone. There is an alternative way, according to which you will need to take out a blade, turn it around and twist in the opposite direction. The cutting disc should be changed only if it is heavily worn or unusable.

Electric tile cutter. it is a high-performance equipment, the only disadvantage of which is a high cost. Buy such a tool is advisable only if a large number of tiles are to be cut. A handheld tile cutter is usually sufficient for home use.

The structure of a hand-held tool

To understand the rules for using the tool, you need to find out how it works. For cutting tiles, tile cutters of the manual type have a common device. Here the main structural elements are:

It is a sturdy metal base on which all the parts are placed. The facing material is placed on it, so among the main criteria for selecting the device are the evenness of the support and the size according to the format of the tiles.

Additionally, it is worth paying attention to anti-slip pads. On one side, there is also an indelible scale and a small projection which allows you to break the ceramic piece along the cutting line.

It consists of two parallel tubes with smooth outer walls. In more expensive variants they are replaced by an I-beam. Their function is to keep the working mechanism in the right position for the operator, making it possible to exert a certain pressure on the tile. The tool is also guided on guides.

Rigid tile cutter element to cut tiles by hand. On it is fixed cutting wheel, lever and a special foot for breaking the cladding material.

Platform, frame elements for guides are made of cast steel, as a rule, because reliability and durability of the tool depend on their quality. The carriage and the cutting element must be even harder, so here an alloy with m tungsten and cobalt is used for production. To prevent the platform from sliding on the floor, rubber pads are fixed on the underside.

To use such a handheld tile cutter can both professional and novice master. In addition to this merit masters note other advantages:

• quiet operation;
• simplicity of the device;
• mobility;
• compactness;
• low weight;
• eco-friendliness;
• low cost.

However, there are some disadvantages. It is difficult to form pieces with a width of less than 10 mm, the break line edge is sharp with small irregularities.

For large areas for tiling and for cutting thick porcelain tiles, masters prefer to choose electric analogues. Also worth highlighting here is the high percentage of receiving a low-quality cut. And for beginners, tiles often break not along the intended line, which can only be straight.

Suggestions for choosing the device

Using the tile cutter correctly is not enough to obtain the desired results. It is also important that the tool is of high quality. When choosing, experts recommend paying attention to the following points:

• Stiffness of the platform and frame. The design must be reliable, without wobbling or creaking. Absence of vibration and flexibility in a monolithic device is a guarantee of quality and long life of the tile cutter. The same applies to the lever.
• The length of the metal base. The shorter models are only considered for one-time use, or if you want to complement your home workshop with additional compact tools.
• Smooth running of the carriage. Here, the best solution is considered to be a tool that is equipped with bearings.

Among other things, additional details can be useful. For example, the protractor can simplify the process of cutting out tiles at a certain angle. The optional bit carriage makes it easier to form holes in the right place. There are refinements to increase the support area under the tile, fixers.

How to use the tool

The main question has to do with how to work with a tile cutter. This is a fairly simple procedure that requires minimal skill. The work is performed in several stages, which are described in detail below.

Preparing

The main way to properly use the tile cutter is associated with the preparatory stage. Before you turn on the device, you should make sure that it is in good working order. The roller is the most frequently affected part. Its surface must be perfectly smooth. if there are nicks, it needs to be replaced.

First, the device is inspected to make sure that there is no dust, dirt. All parts of the mechanism tighten, using screwdrivers. If you haven’t used it for a long time or if you are not sure, you should lubricate the carriage with machine oil.

Marking

Before you cut the tiles with the tile cutter, you need to outline all the break lines. To do this, determine the right size in advance and put the line for the trimmer with a special marker or pencil.

Cutting

The next step. the cutting itself. To do this, the blade is placed directly over the line and goes along it to the end. If you need to cut a small edge (up to 10 mm), you should understand how to use the tile cutter and pliers. It is the one that will help in such cases.

On the eve of cutting and during this process it is recommended to act as follows:

• An hour before work, the tile is covered with a wet towel or other cloth. Thanks to this material will be less crumbly, chipping will practically not appear.
• Provide immobility of the die.
• The cutting part is placed directly above the planned line of the break.
• Then comes the main stage. you need to get a feel for how to work with the tile cutter.
• The cutter is placed at the very beginning of the line.
• Using a little force, move it over the surface of the ceramic. At the same time, it does not have much movement, where to direct it (on itself or in the opposite direction). It is necessary to work as conveniently as possible.

After that, it is not difficult to figure out how to use an electric tile cutter or a manual device. Then, as soon as the cutting element has passed the complete strip, the operator gently presses the lever. After that the product is split exactly along the line.

Which tile cutter is right for you?

To understand how to use a tile cutter, first of all you need to understand what kind of tool is suitable. All devices are divided into 2 classes. household and electric. The latter are more powerful and are mainly used for industrial purposes.

As for household, these are handheld devices that are suitable specifically for home use. There are 3 classes of such tools:

• With a cutting roller. they are often used together with a saw station.
• Another way how to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter is to use devices on bearings. They are well suited for ceramic pieces with a thickness of more than 16 mm.
• Mechanical ones are equipped with a rigid carriage, which allows for a more precise cut.

It is important to understand that all these models can cut a strip from the edge with a width of at least 10 mm. If you need to understand how to properly cut tiles with a handheld tile cutter to leave just a few millimeters, you should use cutters. They provide more accurate results.

Can you cut porcelain tile with a hand held tile cutter?

Porcelain stoneware is a strong material, so for cutting it, you should use a machine that has special characteristics. If you have to work in a large volume, it is preferable to use an electric tile cutter. However, you can also use a manual device, but it is important to consider some subtleties:

• To cut such a material, the tool made of strong steel and equipped with a quality cutter will go. Most often, such manual models belong to the category of professional. A simple model is not suitable for this kind of cutting.
• Even with an expensive model of handheld tile cutter, it is quite difficult to perform a cut of porcelain tiles. That’s why you should only use it if you want to do a minimum amount of work.
• Only straight cuts in the material, the thickness of which does not exceed 15 mm, can be made with a manual unit.

After learning the process of cutting ceramic tiles with a tile cutter, even a novice worker can perform the work qualitatively. It is only necessary to follow the sequence and safety rules.