Instructions: how to cut a tile with a glass cutter
An article about how to cut tiles with a glass cutter. Can tiles be cut? How to choose a glass cutter for such work? Advantages and disadvantages of roller and diamond tools.
Additional tools
To perform a tile / tile cut in a quality manner, you need the following set of tools:
- The glass cutter itself (roller, diamond or with automatic oil supply);
- A mowing line marker, preferably water-based, so that the markings can be easily removed without leaving marks.
- A metal square or ruler used for measuring and guiding when cutting tiles / tiles;
- Table with a stable horizontal surface;
- Wooden block (pencil) for lining in the place of the break;
- Sanding paper for medium and coarse grain size;
- Protective gloves;
Glass cutter selection
If you settled on a glass cutter as your main tool for cutting ceramic tiles, then there are three models to choose:
- Roller-type glass cutter;
- Oil-type glass cutter;
- Glass cutter with a diamond tip.
By far the simplest and easiest to use is the roller type glass cutter. A small roller (also called a roller) as a cutting tool provides a thin line of the cut without chipping at the edges. An oil-type glass cutter is a good alternative, the principle of which is the same as that of a roller.
Only it is equipped with an automatic fluid-oil supply to the cutting mechanism. The oil is located in the cylinder of the handle shaft and provides lubrication when cutting, making the job much easier. Both of these models of a roller glass cutter do not require special training; a novice master can easily handle them.
A diamond glass cutter requires an "experienced" hand. Only a specialist who knows firsthand how to use it and has "adapted" to a diamond cutter can undertake to cut ceramic tiles with such a tool. Otherwise, a lot of tile material will be spoiled.
Don’t worry if the cut edges don’t immediately come out as sharp as you want them to be. Uneven cut depth can depend not only on a lack of experience and ineptitude in using the cutting tool, but also on the poor quality of the ceramic material itself.
Preparation for work
Before you start cutting the tiles, you need to get ready to work. In addition to the cutting process itself, you need to clarify some points about the work.
Drill
A very convenient way to cut round holes by using special attachments for a drill or 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 sandpaper the edges.
If everything is extremely 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:
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 must 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 advisable to drive 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 the line disappears in some places, you can drag it over it again.
When the cut line has been 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 against a straight line, or place a nail under the cutting line and press on from 2 sides. Experienced craftsmen can break the inflow exactly even on the knee. We hope that the above process will help you successfully complete this task. If the textual information was not enough, we recommend that you look at the cutting of tiles with a glass cutter, and understand the principle of this operation with a visual example.
Hacksaw
A budget and quite neat way to cut tiles. Can be used to produce straight lines and curly cuts. The disadvantages include 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 start cutting. If it is necessary to make a circle inside the tile, then first we drill a hole in it, then we thread a thread into it, fix it in a hacksaw and saw from the inside.
How to cut tiles yourself and carefully with a glass cutter
For the installation process, you will definitely need to trim the tiles. Let’s then figure out how to cut a tile with a glass cutter.
Cutting tools
For this type of cutting you will need:
- The glass cutter itself
- Marker
- Meter
- Metal ruler
- Flat plane
Features of glass cutting
Of course, you don’t have to use a glass cutter to cut tiles, the following tools can help you:
- Manual tile cutter
- Electric tile cutter
- Angle Grinder
- Nippers
But what if there is nothing but the aforementioned glass cutter?
Then we will cut them!
Further – in general, you first need to figure out whether it is possible to cut your tile with a glass cutter. Previously, it was no problem, but now manufacturers produce so many ceramic tiles, which will be difficult to cut even with a manual tile cutter, and what can we say about a glass cutter! Therefore, it will not be superfluous to practice on broken tiles – in general, will your tile take your chosen tool?
Features of glass cutting
Of course, you don’t have to use a glass cutter to cut tiles, the following tools can help you:
- Manual tile cutter
- Electric tile cutter
- Angle Grinder
- Nippers
But what if there is nothing but the aforementioned glass cutter?
Then we will cut them!
Further – in general, you first need to figure out whether it is possible to cut your tile with a glass cutter. Previously, it was no problem, but now manufacturers produce so many ceramic tiles, which will be difficult to cut even with a manual tile cutter, and what can we say about a glass cutter! Therefore, it will not be superfluous to practice on broken tiles – in general, will your tile take your chosen tool?
Cutting tools
For this type of cutting you will need:
- The glass cutter itself
- Marker
- Meter
- Metal ruler
- Flat plane
Benefits of tile
The tile has many advantages – it does not burn, does not emit toxic substances, it is resistant to temperature changes and chemicals, and does not conduct electric current.
Quite often, tiles are used for interior and exterior decoration of premises. This is due to the fact that it is a highly durable material. Correctly laid tiles are able to withstand a pressure of about 30,000 t / m², which makes them even more durable than reinforced concrete. Consequently, the tile is practically not subject to deformation. Another important advantage of the tile is its hygiene, ease of maintenance, dirt is easily removed from it, its surface does not contribute to the development of bacteria. The tile is not afraid of moisture. That is why it is often used to decorate bathrooms, showers, toilets.
Tiles are non-flammable, do not emit toxic substances when heated, and do not undergo destruction upon contact with highly toxic chemical elements. The tile is resistant to different weather conditions – snow, rain, direct sunlight – this makes the tile an excellent material for exterior decoration of premises. A particularly significant advantage is that it does not conduct electric current, so its use is safe in any conditions.
The disadvantage of tiles, perhaps, is their high thermal conductivity, making them cold when touched. It is unpleasant to walk on a tiled floor with bare feet. However, this drawback can be easily corrected by combining tiles with a warm floor.