Tools And Methods For Cutting Ceramic Tiles

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Tools and methods for cutting ceramic tiles

Hello dear friends.

As promised in the previous article on laying tiles on the floor, I want to dedicate this article to how to cut tiles. If tiles are being laid on the wall or on the floor, then this is an operation that cannot be dispensed with.

Obtaining glazed ceramic tiles

Glazed ceramic tiles are known to be made from fired clay, covered with glaze on top. Clay is molded into a specific shape, dried to fix the volume. A layer of glaze is applied and fired in the oven. As a result of firing, the tile acquires greater strength, becomes durable and has a beautiful aesthetic appearance. In finished form, it is not subject to deformation and bending, although it is very fragile and pricks easily.

Based on all these properties, various methods of cutting it are used. Let's consider each of the methods briefly separately, and dwell in detail on how to cut tiles with our own hands at home with small amounts of work.

How to cut tiles with your own hands at home

We cut the tile with a portable electric tile cutter

This is the highest quality and most productive cutting method. If we cut with this tool using a diamond cutting wheel and supplying water to the cutting site, we get a very clean and high-quality cut. Another advantage of this method is the fact that no dust is generated and no physical effort is required.

It is advisable to use this cutting mechanism with a very large front of work. Along with a huge number of pluses, there is one minus - this is the price of the electric tile cutter itself. Professional class models start at $ 700.

We cut the tiles with a manual stationary tile cutter

This is the next tool than cutting ceramic tiles - the most common, both among professionals and among people doing repairs with their own hands.

Cutting technology is very simple: mark the tiles, cut away from you. Using light pressure, we divide the tile into two parts.

It is advisable to use this tool for medium-sized work and when cutting thick and durable ceramics (for example, floor). Thanks to the large diameter of the cutting wheel, the groove in the glaze is larger and the tiles break more easily.

At the moment, prices for this type of instrument vary greatly depending on the quality. Good quality hand held tile cutters, with a rigid frame and base, cost between $ 40 and $ 300.

With a roller glass cutter

This is the most primitive and not very convenient way. It can only be used when cutting not very hard and not very thick ceramics. It is generally very problematic for them to cut floor tiles. But nevertheless, this method takes place and when laying wall tiles it may well be used.

We cut the tiles with a tile cutter - tongs: instructions

I want to dwell on this cutting method in more detail. I used this particular tool because I had a very small volume and the budget price of the instrument of $ 8-15 was fine with me.

mark the place of the cut

When marking, it is necessary to take into account the size of the gap between the wall and the tiles to be cut and the size of the seams between the rows. Decrease the length by the sum of these dimensions. For example: if you have a distance of 150 mm between the tile and the wall, the gap in the joints is 2 mm. and 3 mm. the gap between the cut tile and the wall, then 150-2-3 = 145 mm. We make markings with a width of 145 mm.

make a cut with a cutter

At the marked places, we make a single cut with a cutter with medium pressure in the direction from the far edge towards ourselves. As a result of the cut, a visible strip should form, cutting through the outer glazed layer as in the photo below.

we separate the cut off part

Place the tongs along the cutting line with the grip of the tile, as shown in the photo above. We put a sponge with a support on top of the glazed layer, we start a straight sponge from below. The fracture line should be clearly centered on the upper support jaw.

Gently squeeze the forceps until it breaks completely, while the cut off area should not be very high from the surface, so that after separation and falling it does not break.

When cutting very hard or thick (eg floor) ceramics, I use the following technique.

After cutting the front glazed layer with a cutter, I mark the break point on the back side, as in the photo below.

Along the marked line on the back side, I cut a groove with a grinder with a depth of 2-3 mm.

The fault location is strongly relaxed and the direction of the fault is obtained.

And only then I separate the cut off part. This technique makes it possible to cut off even narrow strips 1-2 cm wide.

It may be necessary to cut the tile not in a straight line, but, for example, along the radius in the case of adjoining the riser, or select a specific segment. In this case, I make a preliminary markup and slowly select the tile to the desired size with pliers or nippers.

The area can then be sanded with an emery stone or coarse sanding paper to create a neat, smooth surface.

Keep in mind, all recommendations are for glazed ceramic tiles only and will not work for stone, porcelain, or unglazed ceramic tiles.

Tip: if you are trying to cut tiles for the first time, buy 4-5 more pieces. After acquiring certain skills, making beautiful, even cuts is not difficult

For many, the question of how to cut tiles may seem difficult and the lot of very, very cool specialists. In fact, knowing how to cut ceramic tiles and how to cut it, all the difficulties disappear, and the whole process can be done independently, without the involvement of third-party specialists. With a little practice, you will find that it is easier than you think.

Video: how to cut tiles with your own hands