How to use a manual tile cutter: device, how to cut tiles and porcelain tiles, instructions for use, videos, secrets

conclusions

There are many ways to cut porcelain tiles . All of them are quite effective. When choosing the best option for yourself, you need to take into account the availability or accessibility of special tools and your own experience when working with them. If you don’t have the skills, you should think about an electric tile cutter; it’s more expensive, but it allows beginners to make straight cuts.

When working with porcelain tiles at home, the question often arises: how to cut porcelain tiles? This material is in some ways very similar to ordinary tile, but for the most part it has a number of striking differences. In this regard, most of the tools that are successfully used for cutting tiles are not suitable at all in this case.

Due to the high strength of the material, not all tools are suitable for cutting porcelain tiles.

Tile cutter-tongs and nuances of its use

The tile cutter-tongs tool has the lowest cost (190–380 rubles), but it is only suitable for a small amount of work at home with thin ceramic tiles.

Anyone can use tile cutters and nippers, the main thing is to strictly follow the correct technology:

— markings are performed taking into account all seams and gaps (-5.0 mm);

— a metal ruler is applied to the marking line and a cutter is drawn along it once. In this case, the force pressure on the tool should be medium-moderate, sufficient to form a visible strip. You need to move the cutter in the direction from the distant edge towards you;

- the tongs are placed so that the tool legs are located next to the tile edge, along the intended scrap line. You need to make sure that the sponges are on the surface of the glaze. The other, straight part should be adjacent to the back of the tile;

Essential! The fault line should be positioned as evenly as possible, in the middle between the side edges of the sponge, which is located on top!

— smooth pressure is applied to the handles and the tiles split evenly. When performing such cutting, you do not need to lift the tool high, otherwise, after controlled splitting, parts of the tile may break when dropped.

Features of the material

Porcelain tiles have gained popularity due to their unique properties, but these advantages complicate the process of cutting tiles at home. The following features of porcelain stoneware should be highlighted:

strength;
wear resistance;
frost resistance;
fire resistance;
aesthetics;
durability;
environmental friendliness;
hygiene;
antistatic.

Due to the almost complete absence of pores in the structure of the material, porcelain stoneware is super durable, it does not scratch, wear out, or crumble, but that is why it is very difficult to cut it yourself. What to do in such a situation? Porcelain stoneware is a very durable material.

Advantages of porcelain stoneware

Porcelain tiles have clear advantages over traditional ceramics produced by firing wet clay. The extremely durable material has an excellent appearance, very close to natural stone. Construction experts formulate the following advantages of porcelain stoneware:

Durability and abrasion resistance. Provide long service life while maintaining appearance.
Resistant to aggressive environments and other contaminants. Porcelain tiles do not stain and are easy to clean.
Environmentally friendly. Made from natural ingredients without the use of chemicals harmful to health and the environment. Germs and other microorganisms slowly multiply on the surface.
Forms smooth edges and cuts. This allows you to accurately cut the material and form seamless surfaces.

Application of porcelain stoneware

Most of the advantages are due to the low porosity of porcelain stoneware.

What tools are used

So, how to cut porcelain tiles at home? Hand tools are ineffective in this case. You should completely forget about the glass cutter.

But there is a way out. First of all, it is worth mentioning a tool that is available in the arsenal of almost every real owner and craftsman - this is an angle grinder. With its help, you can successfully perform both straight cuts and figured cuts.

You cannot use a glass cutter to cut porcelain tiles. Another tool is a tile cutter. It comes in two types: manual and electric. Since we are talking about porcelain stoneware, it is better to use the electric option. Of course, it will take up more space than an angle grinder or its manual alternative, but its performance is impressive.

You can use a device similar to an electric tile cutter, since you don’t have anything suitable. Replace the disk on a circular saw with a diamond one and you will get a good tool for working with porcelain tiles.

For fine work and shaped cutting, a jigsaw with a diamond thread is used; it is convenient to work with, and such a tool will be useful in other areas, not only for laying tiles.

If you plan to cut a large amount of porcelain stoneware, you can seek help from special companies that provide this type of service. They have all the necessary equipment for any kind of work. For figured cutting, the waterjet cutting method is used, but such a service costs quite a lot.

Little tricks

These two methods do not exhaust all methods. With their help, you can get an acceptable result for any cuts at home. Round holes in the material are made with ordinary tools without any special nuances: drills with carbide coating, ballerina drills, crowns. The only difference is that due to the hardness of the material, the cutting tool will fail faster.

To solve the problem of laying tiles, you can use an integrated approach:

The easiest way to cut tiles is with a manual tile cutter. It is recommended to cut the bulk of the tiles with it;
Tiles with cut edges, covered with skirting boards or overlays. In this case, it will be enough to use a manual tile cutter or grinder (in limited cases);
There are few tiles with an exact fit. Adjust by sanding;
Lay all intact tiles. Depending on the available tools, adjust the tiles that are covered with baseboards and trims. The remaining elements should be accurately measured and marked on the tile. Either rent a professional tile cutter, or take it to the nearest construction company that has such equipment and cut it.

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The grinder is the number one tool; it can easily cut porcelain tiles. For this purpose, a diamond-coated disk attachment is used for dry cutting.

A universal assistant when working with porcelain tiles is a grinder. To avoid bevelling the cut line and damaging the tile, you must first outline the contours with chalk, pencil or marker. Then secure the porcelain tiles to a stable surface. The disc is installed in the direction of movement of the grinder.

Proceed to work after checking that the attachment is securely fastened. Step back a little from the marking line and start working. Move smoothly, slowing down at the edge.

The disadvantage of using an angle grinder is the high probability of chipping, that is, defects. This is especially true for glazed tiles. Therefore, it is better to consider the option of using a tile cutter.

Cutting porcelain with a power tool

If you need to cut a large amount of granite, using a power tool is much more convenient and productive. One of the most convenient options is a water-cooled electric tile cutter. The diamond blade easily cuts even the most difficult porcelain tiles, and the water cools the blade and significantly reduces dust.

Start by marking by placing the line of the future cut on the tile. Turn on the tool and place the porcelain tile on the workbench with the disc facing the marked mowing line. The workpiece should flow smoothly onto the disk, holding it with both hands.

Despite the convenience of an electric tile cutter, it can hardly be called a universal tool. Therefore, many people prefer to cut porcelain tiles with a grinder, which can be found in many applications. Its undoubted advantage is the ability to make curved cuts.

To cut ceramic tiles, you will need a diamond coating designed for dry cutting. Be prepared for a lot of dust. After marking the workpiece, place it on a sheet of plywood or chipboard to avoid damaging the surface of the table or floor. It is advisable to secure the tile so that you can hold the tool with both hands.

Do not try to cut the tiles in one pass, otherwise they may be damaged. First make a shallow cut in the top layer. The resulting groove will not allow the grinding machine disk to bounce off and will simplify the work by acting as a guide. Be sure to follow safety precautions when working with a coffee grinder! Do not remove the protective cover, install a large disc, or use glasses. a piece of porcelain can damage your eyes.

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Tile cutter

The tile cutter, used to adjust the shapes and sizes of heavy-duty materials, is used in an electric version. It looks like a machine with a diamond blade. In this case, it is recommended to use a wet cutting attachment. The machine can conveniently secure the tiles, thus preventing them from moving during the process.

A powerful professional model of electric tile cutter will quickly cope with a large volume of tiles. How to cut porcelain tiles using a tile cutter:

Fill the tray with water. This will ensure cleanliness while working. In the future, you need to change it often enough so that accumulated particles do not fall on the disk and damage it.
Place the tiles on the work surface of the tile cutter.
Hold the porcelain tiles with your hands, preferably on both sides if possible.
Apply gentle pressure and guide the material towards the blade.

From time to time you need to clean off plaque from the disc so as not to reduce the efficiency of the tool.

Cutting porcelain by hand

If you decide to put porcelain tiles in a small corridor, buying a professional tool is not practical. The strength of this material depends on the specific manufacturer; some varieties are susceptible to hand tools.

The simplest, most versatile and inexpensive tool for cutting ceramic tiles is a manual glass cutter. It could be a roller or a diamond. The latter cuts more accurately and better, but wears out faster.

To work you need a ruler or level bar. Place it along the cutting line of the cut and press firmly against the tile. the ruler will not allow the cutter to roll to the side. When cutting, the tool should be pressed against the surface as hard as possible in order to scratch the top layer of the tile deeper. Try to do this in one pass, otherwise the china may crack unevenly.

The tile should now be broken. To do this, place it on the edge of the table so that the breaking line protrudes slightly beyond its plane. Press the edge of the tile sharply and firmly. If the furrow was deep enough, the porcelain tile should be drilled along the intended mowing line.

Another variant. Use a manual tile cutter. This tool basically resembles a glass cutter. he also uses a roller or diamond that scrapes the top surface of the tile. But a tile cutter is more convenient and efficient. Its working surface is covered with a material that prevents the tiles from sliding, and a lever moving along the guides helps create a fairly large force.

Cutting porcelain tiles is very simple. Mark the cutting line with a marker and place the tile on the work surface so that the cutting roller runs straight along the cutting line. Press the handle of the tool to cut and break the tile, paying particular attention to the working part of the tool.

A circular saw

How else can you cut porcelain tiles at home? If you own a country house or a private house, you probably have your own workshop. One of the most necessary tools in this case is a circular saw.

It is a machine with a toothed disk. Since the work involves processing porcelain stoneware, you need to change the attachment to a diamond disc for dry cutting.

After the preparation is completed, the cutting line is outlined, you can begin to work. Press the tile against the table and carefully push it forward with both hands, taking care of your fingers. This option is suitable for large volumes of work with straight cuts.

Cutting porcelain straight

As a rule, when laying porcelain tiles, it becomes necessary to subject the tiles to direct cutting. Since the size of the area to be trimmed very rarely fits into the overall size of all rows of tiles, it is necessary to trim the edges of the outer elements. So how do you cut porcelain tiles?

Pencil

In general, not the most popular means of processing porcelain with small amounts of work, you can limit yourself to these. The tool is easy to use and cuts tiles exactly where your hand rests. Its use is justified in cases where there is no point in buying a tile knife for processing a small number of tiles.

Manual tile cutter

A simple and convenient tool that allows you to cut off excess parts from tiles. The granite element is fixed in the device itself, after which the cutting disc passes through it. As a result, the tile breaks into two halves.

Electric tile cutter

Under operating conditions that meet all the rules, a “diamond” electric cutting machine can become quite a serious piece of equipment. The device allows you to make smooth cuts with smooth or slightly rounded sides , which cannot be said about its manual counterpart, which leaves sharp and broken edges. Having made several cuts for many novice craftsmen, it becomes clear that it is better to cut porcelain tiles. In addition, an electric tile cutter has advantages not only over a standard device, but also over other tools used in cutting tiles.

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A shredder that is capable of making a series of shaped cuts and parallel cuts. But since it's a portable device, you can't do without reducing deviations. Sometimes there are smooth edges with a jagged surface, which is not possible when working with electric stoves.

To understand how to cut porcelain stoneware with a grinding machine, it should be noted that this cutting technology is no different from that used when processing other materials. But in most cases, a diamond blade for dry cutting porcelain stone can only be used as an option for "rough" cutting, although unless perfectly straight edges are required, the grinder's cutting speed will be first when cutting porcelain.

Jigsaw

For complex shape cutting, the best option is to use an electric jigsaw and a diamond-coated file. With its help, you can carry out the finest work even on such a durable material as porcelain stoneware.

A good jigsaw and a special file will allow you to cut porcelain tiles efficiently. Draw the contours of the cutout. To see where you are moving, you can lightly moisten the porcelain stoneware with water. Blow away dust as you work so that you can see the line and not clog the path of the cutting part.

Be especially careful when working on the edges, as these are the areas where there is the greatest risk of chipping. When choosing a tool, consider the shape of the tile, the type of coating, as well as the amount of work required. Several elements can be trimmed using available tools. But for a large number of tiles it is better to use a special device - a tile cutter.

Porcelain stoneware is a facing material made from natural raw materials. It has high strength and wear resistance. Due to this, porcelain stoneware slabs are used for both interior and exterior decoration.
Despite the high hardness of the material, it is quite fragile - often chips appear on the front part during cutting. But this can be avoided if you choose the right tool.

Professional waterjet equipment

Such machines cut materials with a very thin stream of water supplied at high speed and under high pressure. They are capable of cutting natural stone and even metal. This equipment is quite complex and very expensive, it has high energy consumption and requires a lot of space for installation.

But the capabilities of such a machine are truly unique - with its help you can not only cut out arbitrary shapes, but even do the work of a stone carver. The quality of the cut is exceptional, the accuracy and smoothness do not differ from the factory edges obtained by pressing.

Along with the flow of water, tiny abrasive particles are also applied to the material being cut. A machine that can handle metal can easily handle porcelain stoneware.

Since buying such a machine means opening a small factory, it would be wiser to find a production facility that already owns such equipment and order cutting from them.

How to cut porcelain tiles

Which method to process porcelain tiles directly depends on the volume of material:

if you intend to use facing material in small residential premises, then you can get by with manual processing using a tile cutter;
To increase productivity when processing large volumes of tiles, you will need power tools.

When working with a manual tile cutter, the processing is very slow and not always high quality, since when the cutting part of the tile cutter leaves the slab, chips appear on its surface. Therefore, it is recommended to cut porcelain tiles from the front side, regardless of the tool used.

The advantage of a manual tile cutter is that there is no dust or noise when working with it, but this cannot be avoided with power tools.

How to make holes in porcelain tiles

Sometimes situations arise in which porcelain stoneware does not need to be cut, but a hole must be made in it. In principle, this problem can be solved with the help of a small grinder, but in this case the hole will not be very even. Let's look at the two most successful methods.

"Ballerina"

A special tool that allows you to cut tiles and thin porcelain tiles. In its design, the “ballerina” resembles an ordinary compass. The cutter moves along a special bar from the central support, thereby making it possible to make a hole of any diameter.

To make work easier, the ballerina can be inserted into an electric drill

The technology of work is very simple: fix it on the tile, and draw a circle with a cutter pre-fixed at the required distance. After this, knock out the central part of the hole with a light blow. If you are working with porcelain stoneware, it is better to make several turns of the cutter without lifting the tool from the tile. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to get into an already drawn line.

Diamond crowns

A diamond crown makes it possible to make a perfectly even hole in porcelain stoneware without much effort. Its only drawback is that the size of the holes is clearly limited by the diameter of the crowns themselves.

A diamond bit allows you to drill perfectly straight holes in porcelain stoneware

The crown is inserted into a conventional drill, after which a hole is made in the selected location.

Please note that the drill must be set to maximum speed.

To avoid chipping, porcelain tiles should be drilled only from the front side.

How to cut porcelain tiles without chipping

At first glance, it seems that porcelain stoneware is difficult to process and cannot be cut with your own hands. However, if you follow the recommendations of experts, then anyone can do this. As already mentioned, regardless of the chosen tool, you should start cutting porcelain tiles exclusively from the front side, since chips tend to appear when the tool leaves the tile.

None More details about the cutting process using a manual tile cutter can be found in the instructions that come with it.

Processing porcelain tiles with a glass cutter

The amount of force required by the glass cutter is not so high compared to the tools described, so this method is advisable to use only in cases with a small amount of work. Now we can move on to the question of how to cut porcelain tiles with a glass cutter to obtain a result of equally decent quality.

A roller glass cutter must have a diamond element to process tile material. Before work, the tile itself is immersed in water for about 30 minutes to make the cutting process easier. Next, the element is laid on a smooth surface. The incision should also be made only once with strong pressure. The cutting part must be rolled along the pre-applied mowing line from the farthest point towards you. As a result of this operation, a groove should form on the porcelain stoneware coating - it will serve as the basis for further fracture. To facilitate breaking, it is necessary to place a thin wire, nail or match on the formed fishing line. By applying double-sided pressure, the tile is divided into two parts.

Electric tile cutter

Diamond coating on the electric tile cutter disc allows you to cut porcelain tiles of different thicknesses and lengths. There are different models of such tools: in some, a disk moves along the tile, in others, a table moves with the help of a motor.

The advantage of this tool is that it uses so-called “wet cutting discs”, that is, water is used to reduce the formation of dust while cutting tiles. In some models, a container of water is installed under the disk, into which the disk itself is partially immersed. For others, the disc is wetted with running water.

IMPORTANT! When working with wet cutters, you need to monitor the degree of contamination of the disk, clean it in time and change the water, otherwise the quality of the cut may significantly decrease.

Working with a mechanical tile cutter

Most often, ordinary cutting of porcelain tiles, which does not involve artistic delights in the form of numerous cuts and corners, is done with a mechanical tile cutter.

Preliminary laying of porcelain stoneware with determination of subsequent cutting of corner elements

This mechanism has proven itself to be a reliable and fairly accurate device. Moreover, it is easy to use, but those who have only cut ceramic tiles with it may face some difficulties.

Correctly cutting porcelain tiles using an electric machine

The structure of porcelain stoneware is different than that of ceramics; there is a greater likelihood of chipping when it is broken. And yet, workers familiar with such a process as cutting tiles should not be intimidated by porcelain tiles.

It is important to follow the rules for working with this tool:

You need to move the diamond wheel over the surface once, smoothly, with the same force along the entire length;
The tile must be held firmly with your hand;
To split the tiles, press the lever smoothly but vigorously.

Cutting porcelain stoneware with a mechanical tile cutter is characterized by speed and clarity of the break. The resulting chips and unevenness can be corrected with a grinding wheel.

The reliability of any mechanism depends on the quality of its technical care. Before using the tile cutter, you need to check the degree of wear of the diamond wheel and replace it if necessary.

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You can also cut porcelain stoneware at home with a grinder. To do this, you need to purchase a diamond-coated disc with a thickness of 2 mm and an edge width greater than the thickness of the porcelain stoneware.

REMEMBER! When working with an angle grinder, you should install the disc with the correct side and be sure to protect your eyes with glasses, since many chips are formed during processing. Cutting should be done in one step, otherwise the cut will be uneven. You also need to leave a margin of a few millimeters for sanding the edge.

We recommend: Do-it-yourself sauna in the garden.

Forming holes

It is advisable to form small-diameter holes using drills with a Pobedit tip. This approach is relevant for diameters up to 12 mm with tiles. A drill or hammer drill is selected/adjusted to a power of 800 W. The chuck must be centered to avoid hitting the tile. If the surface is smooth, then 4-5 pieces of masking (paper) tape are glued onto it to prevent the drill from slipping.

Standard holes with a diameter of up to 50 mm are drilled with crowns with pobedit cutting edges. It is better if they are equipped with a centering drill. It will not allow the cylinder to move away from the intended lines. The cutting begins at low speeds until a starting groove is formed with a depth of 3 mm. Then the speed can be increased.

Non-standard holes in size (55, 68, 71 mm) are made with a ballerina. This is a Device with a centering drill, on which the cutter is attached by means of a rod. The distance between the elements is adjusted; the clamp is a clamping screw. The latter is considered the weakest point of the equipment, but insufficient tightening of the structure leads to disruption of the correct drilling process.

It is often necessary to design inlet openings for sewer or ventilation pipes with a diameter of over 100 mm. Here they resort to a grinder with a diamond blade. It is less common to cut with the side edges of the disc without a protective casing. More often, individual notches are made, the tiles are broken with nippers or pliers, and the edges are sharpened with a file or disk. The third option is an electric jigsaw.

Waterjet unit

This tool is used in industrial enterprises. Tile cutting is carried out with a mixture of water and solid crumbs, the thickness of the jet is tenths of a millimeter. In conclusion, we can say that there are many tools suitable for cutting porcelain tiles. Which one is preferred depends on the volume of the tile and the frequency of its processing.

If this is a one-time cutting for finishing small rooms, then it is better to use electrical appliances already available at home, such as an angle grinder or electric saw. If you plan to continue processing ceramic tiles in the future, then it makes sense to purchase special equipment.

In the process of performing any finishing work using porcelain stoneware, the need invariably arises to cut off excess slabs or give it the desired shape. Such a need may arise if there is a discrepancy between the dimensions of the room and the fabric of the laid slabs, or if the finishing involves the formation of shaped elements. In such cases, the question is naturally asked: how to cut porcelain stoneware?

Professional builders recommend several tools for this task, but two main ones are accepted for widespread use - a tile cutter and a grinder with a diamond blade.

Types of porcelain stoneware

Porcelain granite was originally produced for technical use. But in recent years, the range has expanded significantly and new types of tiles have appeared.

To understand how to cut porcelain stoneware correctly, you need to understand the varieties of this material.

Products differ in the way they are painted

The simplest option is the salt-pepper texture. The unpretentious appearance of the finishing material is compensated by its relative cheapness.

A partially colored coating consists of a pigmented layer on the surface of the tile and the backing.

When producing homogeneous porcelain stoneware, the entire mass is pigmented. The pattern is preserved even when the top layer is abraded.

To create tiles that imitate the pattern of natural stone or other natural material, several pigments are mixed.

Porcelain tiles also differ in surface treatment methods.

Matte ? It is not further processed and has the texture obtained during the firing process. Unpainted matte porcelain stoneware with a thickness of more than 8 mm is considered technical. It has increased thickness (up to 30 mm). It is not inferior in strength to self-leveling floors.

Polished tiles have an attractive shiny surface. But you have to pay for beauty with deterioration in technical characteristics, in particular? decreased wear resistance.

Lapatated porcelain tiles are Italian know-how. To make it, surface grinding is used using special stones. As a result, on the surface of the finished tile there are areas with polished and matte textures.

Covering made of lappated or “ground” porcelain stoneware

To obtain a satin surface with a soft shine, a layer of mineral salts is applied to the tile before firing.

Structured porcelain stoneware is produced using molds, giving the product the texture of various materials? sand, wood, etc.

Glazed tiles are coated with enamel before firing. This allows you to make porcelain stoneware look like any material without using an expensive through-painting method.

Cutting porcelain stoneware with a grinder

According to experts, cutting slabs with a grinder with a diamond blade is not a difficult task. This process can be done by both an experienced builder and a person who has no previous experience in cutting porcelain stoneware. To perform slicing, it is recommended to use the dry cutting method.

This tool is equally good for straight cutting and for forming shaped elements or cuts. It should be taken into account that the edge of a tile processed with a grinder is sometimes not particularly aesthetic and has jagged edges. For this reason, slabs cut by this method are best used in places where these flaws will not be visible. You can also process the edge of the tile and remove nicks.

Cutting porcelain tiles with a grinder is certainly accompanied by a large amount of dust. This should be taken into account at the stage of choosing a room or location for work.
High rotation speeds of the diamond blade cause a certain danger. Carelessness and inattention of the master can lead to damage or cutting off fingers.
When performing work, you need to take care of safety - wear a respirator, safety glasses and headphones.

Work as an angle grinder

The most affordable tool for working with ceramic tiles at home is a grinder. Considering the glassy, hard surface, a diamond wheel without slots is selected as a cutting tool for an angle grinder.

There are many detailed instructions on the Internet and technical literature on how to cut porcelain stoneware.

An experienced tiler will be able to cut porcelain tiles with a grinder to create this panel, but there will be no chips only when using a water cutter

The main thing is to know the features of working with a grinder on ceramic granite:

It is very difficult to draw an ideal, even line with a grinder, although you can achieve acceptable accuracy by first marking the cut location with a marker;
When cutting, be sure to leave a 2-3 mm margin from the intended line towards the fault;
There is no need to run the grinder over the stone several times; just make one cut slowly and smoothly, with strong pressure, then there will be fewer chips;
The tiles must be securely fixed, preferably with clamps to the work table, since cutting porcelain tiles can only be done with considerable effort. A poorly secured tile can break out and cause trouble.

The unlimited freedom of movement of the grinder on the surface determines the ability to make arbitrary cuts on the material.

The disadvantages of this technique include loud noise and a lot of dust during operation.

The grinder is a tool of increased danger. When working with it, you must wear safety glasses and gloves.

Cutting porcelain tiles with a tile cutter

When deciding how to cut porcelain stoneware, you need to consider how the cut products will be used in the future. If you are not satisfied with the sloppy edges of the slabs after cutting with a grinder, you can use an electric tile cutter.

This tool cuts so that the finished edges look very neat and have a rounded appearance. This is an ideal option if you need to get beautifully processed edges or form shaped elements from slabs.

Electric tile cutters are designed for cutting slabs of different materials. Universal disks are used for this task. There are other discs whose purpose is to work with a specific type of surface.

Manufacturers produce several versions of products for this purpose. However, cutting porcelain tiles is best done with diamond blades.

The electric tile cutter comes complete with a retractable table. During operation, it extends under the cutting blade. The technology for cutting with such a tool requires that the tiles must be cooled. This condition can be met at the work site with the help of water.
Some modern models of tile cutters are made in such a way that part of the cutting blade is immersed in a container of water during operation. But this does not apply to all products, so cutting porcelain stoneware at home involves periodically wetting the slabs and the working surface of the blade.
Units designed for processing products on a large scale are equipped with a pump that supplies water. There is also a tray that protects against water splashes. This design involves the cyclic use of water, so many builders prefer their own version of improving such a product. Those. the pump is turned off, and the water supply is organized using a hose.

As practice shows, a blade cooled with plain running water increases its service life by two or three times. To protect against splashes, they often use a self-built canopy.

Manual tile cutting technology

Since the most common method of processing porcelain stoneware at home. This is cutting tiles by hand, you should take a closer look at how to cut porcelain with this tool.

Before you make a straight cut, you need a marker to draw the mowing line of the mowing cut onto the porcelain tile. Next, you need to place the element on the base of the device, matching the level of the cutting disk and the cutting line. If you plan to make multiple cuts of the same size, the boundary box should be bolted in one position. Requires holding the tiles with one hand and holding the handle of the tile knife in the other.

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Then you need to lift the handle so that the surface of the affected wheel is the top of the element, then pull the handle towards you and cut off the granite. You need to make no more than one pass with the wheel , pressing with light pressure, which is enough to indicate the mowing line is mowing. Typically, if several straight cuts are made on this slash, the result will be of poor quality.

To separate the porcelain stoneware according to the intended cut, special handles must be installed at the base of the handle. "Wings" at the level of the lower part . It is advisable to cover the edges of the wings with a special tape, which will protect the tiles from unnecessary prints and marks. Some experts place the locking element in the appropriate position, then press the handle with your fingers and gently touch it with your palm.

If the part being measured does not come off, then hit even harder . It happens that the tile does not break even after several blows, but how to cut porcelain tiles with a tile cutter does not matter, because this element is no longer suitable for use as a decorative covering. All that remains is to start working with new tiles.

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How to cut porcelain tiles at home: choosing a tool

Before cutting the material, you need to prepare or, if necessary, purchase or rent a device suitable for this task. Each tool that allows you to cope with this task has its own characteristics and in the course of working with it it is necessary to observe certain nuances, which must also be familiarized with in advance in order to eliminate possible shortcomings that could lead to damage to the tiles.

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This tool is universal, since it can be used to carry out many different tasks and process a huge number of materials, one of which is porcelain stoneware. Almost any grinder can cope with its cutting, because it does not have to have high power.

Its turnover has a more significant influence. Using a powerful tool, cutting occurs an order of magnitude faster, but high speed can also negatively affect the final result, since in this case the cut site is not always perfectly neat. A compact angle grinder, which is light in weight, is much more convenient and easier to carry out work than a heavy one with enormous dimensions.

One of the main advantages of the tool is the ability to make not only straight, but also shaped cuts of the material. The second advantage of using an angle grinder is its ability to process porcelain tiles of any thickness and texture, but this task requires a special disk. Thirdly, it allows you to process products intended for installation on ceilings, walls, floors, as well as mosaics. In addition, you can cut the tiles with a grinder at an angle of 45°, make holes in the material and eliminate the presence of chips on the front side.

There are also disadvantages of carrying out work through it. When cutting porcelain stoneware with a grinder, a significant amount of dust is generated and there is a possibility of deviation from the intended cutting line. In some cases, after cutting, the cut site requires additional processing. In addition, work must be carried out with extreme caution in compliance with safety regulations, since the process is quite dangerous and can lead to serious injuries.

Disk selection

An important point when cutting porcelain tiles using a grinder is the preliminary selection of the correct cutting wheel. Its cutting must be done exclusively by using diamond discs, which come in two varieties - solid and segmented.

To determine which wheels are best for cutting material, it is advisable to try both options in advance and only after that make the final choice in favor of one of them. The reason lies in the peculiarities of using both types of disks, which is why you also need to familiarize yourself with them in more detail in advance.

Solid non-segmented wheels are usually designed for wet work. In the process of cutting material, they must be cooled using water or special liquids, since otherwise they can wear out extremely quickly.

Such discs are the best option if you need to achieve a minimum number of chips, although the final result is still influenced by certain indicators of the material being processed, which include, for example, its thickness, quality, relief, and others.

Segment wheels are more suitable for cutting porcelain tiles using the dry method. The voids present between the segments provide cooling for the facing material that has been cut, but it is highly desirable during the work process that the disk does not rotate continuously for more than 1.5-2 minutes and cools down after the specified time.

This is necessary due to the fact that a circle consisting of steel and diamond coating under the influence of high temperature can succumb to premature wear and destruction. The quality of the cut in this case is influenced by similar factors as when using solid discs.

The wheels differ not only in appearance, but also in their thickness, density of diamond coating, height of the cutting edge and other indicators. Basically, the disks indicate what tasks they are intended for. When using a grinder, you cannot work with circles whose thickness is less than 2.0 mm. The height of their cutting edge should be thicker than the tile being processed, as this affects the quality of the cut.

Note! Before each cut, the condition of the blade should be checked. If a wheel develops even small defects, it is necessary to replace it with another, since otherwise the likelihood of chipping becomes much higher.

How to cut porcelain tiles at home with a grinder

The cutting process with its help must be performed according to the following principle:

Marking. Drawing should be done from the front side of the porcelain tile using a square and a simple pencil or construction marker. To reduce the number of chips, you can additionally stick masking tape on the sides of the intended line.
Next, you need to lay the material on a flat and stable surface. An excellent option for this purpose is to use a thick piece of foam or something similar as a backing. In some situations, it is more convenient to fix porcelain tiles to the surface with clamps or to secure them in a workbench.
After placing the product in the optimal way for yourself from among the indicated options, you can begin cutting. At first, with a rotating diamond disk installed in the grinder with light pressure, you need to go once along the intended strip from beginning to end.

Note! It is recommended to guide the tool away from you while cutting porcelain tiles.

After completing the first surface cutting using a circle, the full thickness of the tiles should be cut from both edges of the line. The length of such cuts should reach about 1-2 cm. They are necessary to avoid bursting of the tiles in the corners.
Next, you can begin the final cutting of porcelain stoneware along the previously made cut with a rotating diamond disk, passing along it until the process is completed and the material is divided into two parts in accordance with the previously made markings.

If necessary, you can also polish the cut edge of the tile using a grinder with a diamond flexible grinding wheel called a shell. During the procedure, the tool should operate at low speed. In addition, polishing the cut area can be done with sandpaper or a diamond-coated sponge.

Tile cutters

The most common type of device used for cutting tiles, including porcelain tiles. The reason for their high popularity is their ease of use and minimal amount of dust generated. There is no special tool designed exclusively for cutting porcelain tiles. Electric and high-quality manual tile cutters are suitable options for this.

The first models are more preferable because they cope with this task much easier. The second ones, which are too cheap, have an extremely low probability of being able to properly cut the material and are much more likely to lead to its damage, which should be taken into account in advance.

If, nevertheless, preference is given to a tile cutter, then the main criterion for the tool used is that it has a reliable frame with a powerful stiffener rib. Otherwise, when the porcelain tile breaks, it will sag and the products will be cut not along the intended line.

When using a tile cutter, you need to pay attention to the following points:

Diameter of the roller performing the cut. The greater the thickness of the tile, the more impressive the dimensions of the cutting element.
No play in the carriage. Basically, this is directly affected by the thickness of the guides. During operation, sooner or later, a similar defect begins to be observed in any mechanical type tile cutter, which is why it is highly advisable to avoid using an untested and too old tool.
Smooth running of the carriage. It is provided by special bearings. Even carriages without them can run smoothly, but often they are not stable and have a long service life.

In addition, the tool used must have a strong handle and durable guides. The quality of work does not become higher or lower depending on the length of the tile cutter, which is why, when purchasing, you should choose a model in accordance with your own needs. However, it is better to avoid purchasing a device that is too short, since its capabilities will be more limited.

Note! Long tile cutters are more likely to arc.

How to cut porcelain tiles at home with a manual tile cutter

When using this tool, the sequence of actions should be as follows:

Initially, using a pencil or marker, you need to draw a line on the surface of the porcelain stoneware.
Then the product must be laid evenly on the tile cutter in accordance with the intended strip, so that the cutting element is located at one of its edges.
Then you can start cutting, holding the material and carefully drawing a line with a roller in the direction away from you with a light and uniform force applied along its entire length.

Note! It is impossible to make a strip several times, since otherwise there is a possibility that the fault will not be made along it.

When finished, you need to install the foot on the tile and, when pressing, ensure that it breaks along the line you made. The action should be performed with little force, but with a sharp movement.

If necessary, after dividing the material into two parts, the required piece or each of them should be sanded.

The disadvantage is that there is not always a tool with the optimal cutting length because, for example, to cut porcelain tiles with dimensions of 60x60 cm, you need a tile cutter whose length reaches 90 cm.

Note! The tile cutter can only make straight cuts across the entire tile.

In addition, with their help it is not possible to cut a strip less than 6 mm wide, as well as to carry out high-quality cutting of material with increased thickness or significant relief, when the roller of the device cannot reach the surface of the product in all recesses.

How to cut porcelain tiles with an electric tile cutter

Its device is very similar to a circular saw used in processing and cutting wood. To cut porcelain tiles using this tool, you only need to set the size of the excess strip, and then you can get to work. It is optimal to use it in cases where it is necessary to perform high-quality cutting of a huge amount of material. An electric tile cutter must have a diamond disc installed as a cutting element, the rotation of which is ensured by an electric motor.

There are several types of such tools. In the first case, the models have a movable cutting element, which cuts porcelain tiles fixed on the table. Other devices have a disk fixed in a certain position, and during the cutting process you have to independently move the facing material onto it.

When using them, it is possible to achieve an almost perfect cut without any difficulties. The process of cutting porcelain tiles is not much different from what happens when using a manual tile cutter. You should also mark the cutting line, and then place the facing material on the tool table so that it corresponds to the disk making the cut.

If necessary, the product must be fixed, after which you can turn on the equipment’s engine by moving its cutting element or porcelain tile along the drawn strip. During the work process, it is necessary to remember and adhere to safety rules and constantly replace the water used to cool the tool disk and catch the resulting dust.

Glass cutter

It is possible to cut porcelain tiles with its help, but it is effective only for a small amount of work. When making a cut, it is necessary to resort to using exclusively a diamond glass cutter, since devices of other types are not always able to cope with this task properly.

How to cut porcelain tiles with a glass cutter

The process of cutting material using it has some differences from work using a tile cutter, which is why the actions must be performed in the following sequence:

30 minutes before cutting, the product must be placed in a container with water, which will soften its structure.
After the specified time, the material must be removed, wiped and the cutting line must be marked.
Next, the tile should be laid on a flat and smooth surface, a metal ruler should be pressed near the intended strip, and then a diamond glass cutter should be drawn along it in one continuous and fairly strong movement.
To break the material, you need to position the product on the table so that the cutting line is located exactly at the edge of the table top. Next, you need to lay a board on top of the tile, press it against it, and then with a sharp movement divide it into two parts. Otherwise, you can achieve a similar result in a slightly different way by placing a wooden block under the line made with a glass cutter and applying simultaneous pressure on both sides of the product.
Upon completion, if necessary, the cut area must be sanded.

Note! To avoid chipping, before cutting the laid porcelain tiles using a glass cutter, if possible, you should practice a little on its waste. For practice, glass is also a suitable option.

After finding out how to cut porcelain tiles at home using different tools, it becomes easier to make a choice in the direction of the most suitable one for yourself, after which you can start cutting the material in compliance with all the accompanying nuances, allowing you to avoid mistakes that can lead not only to chips, but and more serious shortcomings.

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Using a manual tile cutter

This is the tool that is most often used when working with facing materials, because that’s what it was created for. The machine for cutting ceramic tiles is used by both craftsmen and amateurs. It is enough to buy it at the nearest hardware store. Price depends on size. Minimum cost – 350 rubles. For an additional price, an improved option is available that allows you to cut ceramics at an angle of 45° for joining.

Note! Don't buy the cheapest tile cutters. They can break the finishing material due to improper balance of the elements.

How to cut ceramic tiles at home with a tile cutter? Instructions:

The ceramics are installed in the tile cutter. There is a special mark on the instrument. The line on the tile made as a cutting guide should line up with the mark.
The handle of the tile cutter is lowered, after which in a smooth movement, with one speed and pressure, the handle is moved along the tile away from you. It is necessary that the roller cuts through the coating (glaze) to a uniform depth. One wiring is enough. It is not recommended to make multiple passes. They will not improve the cut, but will only worsen the situation. Microscopic discrepancies are created and the final fracture will be of poor quality.
The tile cutter has special feet with which you need to break the cut product. The movement is sharp and strong.

There is a metal bump on the tile cutter platform. It is protected by soft linings that help the tiles not to be damaged after a break.

Pros and cons of the manual model

The undoubted advantages of a manual tile cutter include:

independence from the power grid. This device can also be used where there is no electricity or it is temporarily turned off. When working in wet areas - for example, when tiling a bathroom, swimming pool, sauna - the ability to cut tiles directly at the workplace, without going into another room with a working outlet, is very important;
no temperature restrictions.
Injuries when using the device are practically excluded. Maximum – damage due to accidental fall of the device on the leg or pinching of a finger;
mobility. The products are small, even the largest options, weigh up to 1...3 kg, are easily transported and do not require special conditions of transportation and storage.

The main disadvantages are:

the difficulty of cutting small strips along the edge of the tile. If the distance from the edge to the cut is less than 3 cm, only an experienced cutter using hand tools will be able to make an even cut;
problems when working with tiles of non-standard sizes. Both very small and very large specimens are difficult, sometimes impossible, to cut;
the need to exert physical effort to make the cut.

Cutting tiles with a glass cutter in three stages

Before you start renovating a bathroom or kitchen on your own, it’s better to learn how to cut tiles with a glass cutter , because this is a very simple and cheap method. After all, resorting to the help of a master is not cheap, nor is purchasing special equipment for cutting tiles. Therefore, with a small scope of work, it is better to do everything independently and with the help of ordinary tools. The only thing needed in this case. Be careful not to chip the edges of the clay product with a glass cutter, and everything will work out.

Ceramic cutting options

Each of the methods is good in something different and suitable in one case or another. How to cut ceramic tiles? There are three main ways to cut ceramic tiles evenly:

Using a grinder with an appropriate circle.
Use an electric, manual tile cutter or special nippers.
Handy tools for cutting ceramic tiles, such as a glass cutter, a well-sharpened nail or a drill.

In order to understand all the intricacies of the work, you need to consider each option in detail.

Straight cut

It is not difficult to master; at the same time, the cutting line is clean and without chips. When performing work, the tiles are securely fixed on a flat surface and marked with a pencil or felt-tip pen. The part to be cut should hang freely from the table. The cutting tool is positioned at right angles to the workpiece. Carefully, without jerking, slowly move the angle grinder along the marked line. The tool should be moved towards you so that the marked line is visible.

At an angle of 450

It is often necessary to make a joint, and this involves cutting the material at an angle of forty-five degrees. This angle can only be achieved with extensive training. But you can use this technique: first, cut the workpiece in a straight line, and then carefully use a disk, sandpaper or sharpening stone to process the edge at the desired angle.

Figured carving

Shaped cutting is performed if the tiles must bypass communications or plumbing equipment (sinks, toilets, sockets, etc.). Here are the tools that are suitable for curved cutting.

A drill with a ballerina attachment or a crown bit is used to cut circular holes.
A manual or electric jigsaw can be used for shaped cuts of thin tiles.
Electric tile cutter depending on the design.
Nippers allow you to break off small pieces of ceramic from the edge of the tile.
Cutter tongs have a cutter and nippers that first make a cut and then flip the tool over and clamp the tile along the cut line until it splits.

with a grinder , but this must be done with certain skills, and it is also important to follow safety precautions.

How to get rid of dust when cutting tiles

Cutting tiles with a grinder is not a very difficult task, but it creates a lot of dust. There are techniques that can reduce dust formation. Specialists use special tile cutters for this, but buying them for a one-time job is impractical due to their high cost. Therefore, when processing parts, craftsmen act differently. First, a layer of glaze is cut through - it produces almost no dust, the main dust appears when the layer of baked clay is processed. Then all that remains is to carefully break the ceramic tiles and sand the edges with an abrasive material.

A common way to get rid of dust is to moisten the workpiece. To do this, constantly add water to the working area of working with a diamond wheel. After each pass of the tool, it is necessary to fill the seam with water or install a special device to supply water to the work area. This device is attached directly to the protective casing of the angle grinder. As a result, the workpiece is processed without dust.

Cut with a jigsaw

A jigsaw is used for small amounts of work and when it is necessary to create curved cuts. To cut tiles you will need an abrasive file. Here are recommendations for cutting tiles with a jigsaw.

The tool should be able to adjust the speed; you should not set the maximum parameter. An accurate result can be achieved by working at low or medium speeds.
The sole may leave scratches on the front side of the tile; when sawing, the tile must be turned over with the back side up. It is also recommended to seal the sole of the tool with masking tape to reduce damage to the tiles.
In an enclosed space, it is advisable to use a tool with a pipe. The pipe allows you to connect a construction vacuum cleaner, which eliminates a large amount of dust.
When sawing tiles, you should not put pressure on the tool or otherwise force the process. The jigsaw must be moved along the line smoothly and without force.

A jigsaw can handle medium-thick wall tiles. It is quite difficult to cut floor tiles or porcelain tiles with this device. If you need to cut thick tiles, then it is better to give preference to another tool.

Glass cutter for tiles

Any glass cutter is suitable for cutting ceramic tiles. The operating principle is no different from glass. Markings are applied to the tile, then in one motion you need to draw a straight line. The cut must be made with one click over the entire area and the first time, because then it will be very difficult to get into the first furrow.

When the line is drawn, the tile is broken against the edge of the table or against a cylindrical object (nail, screwdriver tip). For the first option of breaking the tile, hang it from the edge of the table and press on the hanging part. If you break it on the cylinder, then the object is placed under the cut line, then you need to press on the two edges of the tile.

If a small cut of 2–3 cm is made, then you can break off part of the tile with pliers.

This cutting method is only suitable for straight cutting; it is almost impossible to make a round hole with a glass cutter. Also, the tool is not suitable for textured surfaces, as it will get stuck all the time.

Before using a glass cutter, you need to take a damaged tile and practice drawing lines on it first.