How to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter: tips and nuances. How to cut ceramic tiles efficiently using various tools How to cut a corner in tiles

Most people choose ceramic tiles to decorate their bathroom, kitchen, or bathroom. Many of the residents install it themselves. In order to avoid unevenness and achieve an ideal coating, you will need a tile cutter to cut the material.

However, before you learn how to cut tiles with a tile cutter, you should choose the right one.

Choosing a tile cutter

By choosing a suitable/high-quality model, you will be able to quickly and accurately cut elements of the required size, while avoiding the appearance of chips and cracks during the cutting process.

Electric and mechanical tile cutters are used to cut ceramics. Models powered by electricity are relevant for industrial-scale construction.

More suitable for doing work at home manual models, however, they require more skill and physical strength.

There are several types of manual tile cutters:

1. Roller. The device is a product consisting of a handle and a cutting roller. Use this device as independent instrument or complete with a saw station.
2. Mechanical. These options can handle even hard tiles. Due to the presence of a rigid carriage, precise cutting is possible.
3. On bearings. This option is used when you need to deal with very durable tiles, the thickness of which is more than 16 mm.

If we talk about which tile cutter is better, then the frame cutter is the most popular. It is characterized by the presence of a rigid frame with fixed rails along which the cutting element with a handle moves.

Attention! Please note that even the highest quality manual tile cutter will not be able to cut a strip less than 1 cm wide from the edge. When such a need arises, resort to wire cutters. They are also used to make a figured edge.

All manual models have a number of positive aspects, which makes them popular in the market of building materials and tools for working with ceramic tiles:

• work regardless of the presence/absence of electricity, which is very convenient;
• compactness – you don’t need a separate room for work, it will be enough small area on the table/floor;
• light weight – the product weighs on average from 200 g to 9 kg;
• mobility;

Before you start using a manual tile cutter, you need to carry out a series of preparatory work, which have a direct impact on the final result.

Preparing the tool for work

1. Inspect the product for any damage. Watch the video - there should be no bends or nicks. Otherwise you will have to replace it with a new one.
2. Pay attention to cleaning the device, not forgetting to wipe the guides and the surface of the bed.
3. All nuts and bolts need to be tightened.
4. Lubricate the carriage with oil if there are problems with its movement.

Marking

To work on at this stage You will need a pencil/marker with which to draw the fault line. In the future, the tool will need to be fixed so that the cutting element is located exactly above the drawn line.

Tile cutting technology

So, how to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter? To obtain an even cut, follow the technology:

1. Cover the tiles with a wet cloth or soak them in water for 1-1.5 hours. In this way, it will be possible to make the ceramics more pliable and avoid crumbling.
2. Fixing the tiles. There are models of tile cutters that have clamps - they will take care of the immobility of the die. If there is no such element, you need to support the material with one hand. The cutting element must be located exactly above the future fault. If the die is large, you can put something under its edges to prevent it from wobbling.
3. The cutter should be at the very beginning, on the edge of the tile (where the line is drawn).
4. During the cutting process, make an effort so that later it will be easier to break the die into two parts.

Attention! If the furrow is shallow, there is no need to go through it again with a tile cutter. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the edges will begin to crumble and turn out sloppy.

Fault

After cutting, carefully and slowly press the lever. The tile should break exactly along the line.

1. If you are choosing a tool for one-time use, an inexpensive model, for example, from a Chinese manufacturer, will do. For reusable It is advisable to buy a manual professional tile cutter - it will last for many years.
2. Regardless of whether you are cutting porcelain stoneware with a tile cutter or ceramics, take into account the diagonal length of the die. It is desirable that the length of the working section be greater and in no way less than the diagonal of the finishing element.
3. Before you start cutting, you need to drip machine oil onto the surface of the roller. This solution will significantly reduce the friction between the roller and the die - this will help improve the quality of the cut.
4. To ensure that the break turns out the way it should, do not rush, do not make sudden movements. The movement of the crown should be smooth and unhurried. Make sure that the box does not get stuck while driving.
5. Pay attention to the roller, it should not have a loof.

Safety regulations

Working with a manual tile cutter is less dangerous than with an electric counterpart. After all, we don’t have to deal with vibrations, noise and a rotating disk.

Safety regulations:

1. Put it on protective cover, special shoes.
2. You should also wear glasses to avoid getting tile shards in your eyes.
3. Cutting must be carried out in a special place (in a workshop or in a room where no one will enter during cutting).

Only an adult who has undergone safety training can cut dies. You also need to know how to provide first aid in case of injury.

Should tiles be wetted?

Which way should you move the carriage, towards you or away from you? Many people have this question. Some people find it more convenient to work by cutting the tiles away from themselves. Some people get a smoother furrow when cutting towards themselves.

Choose the method of cutting tiles that is more convenient and efficient for you.

Components:

• carriage;
• lever;
• guides;
• cutting element;
• foot – ensures the break of the die.

A tile cutter is a tool on the basis of which there are runners (guides) - a crown with a steel roller made of hard alloy moves along them. The tiles for cutting are laid on this base.

Models may vary in modification. For example, there are tile cutters with additional a device that allows you to make round holes.

Before purchasing, you should also ask the seller which tile cutter to choose for porcelain tiles. The fact is that some models are only suitable for thin ceramic tiles.

How to cut tiles without a tile cutter?

Avoid buying a tile cutter if you have other tools at hand that will help you make an even cut.

Nippers - tile cutter

The cost of such a tool is in the range of 200-600 rubles. Please note that it is suitable for rare use (for example, if you are renovating your apartment) and only if the tiles are thin.

Technology:

1. Marking. Consider all gaps and seams.
2. Display the fault line.
3. Position the pliers so that the legs are along the drawn line near the edge. The rectangular part should be at the bottom, and the jaws should be on front side.
4. Smoothly, without haste, gently press on the handle to break off a piece.

Bulgarian

With its help, you can cut a strip 0.5 cm wide. A simple tile cutter cannot cope with such a task. Drew a fault line. Next, cut down with a grinder and a diamond roller. There is no need to rush and immediately make a cut across the entire tile. There is a high chance that the strip will break off.

Please note that the disc must go along the line. If it follows the line, the width will decrease. Run along the seam several times to cut off the strip.

Glass cutter

1. Place the dies with the beautiful side up on a flat table.
2. Place a ruler along the cut line. Without removing the ruler (acts as a guide), apply the glass cutter to the top of the die.
3. Using some effort, draw a cut line, this way you will be able to reduce the resistance when breaking.
4. Place a nail under the die.
5. Gently press down on the edges of the tile, trying to distribute the load evenly. The product should burst along the cut line.

Drill with pobedite tip

This device is relevant if you plan to make a hole in the tile. A drill with a Pobedit tip does not cut, but crumbles the material being processed.

Waterjet unit

Waterjet cutting is relevant for any material. This method involves cutting by applying a mixture (water + sand) under high pressure.

Conclusion

Taking into account all the features during the cutting process and choosing a tool, as well as watching an introductory video that describes all the stages of cutting with a tile cutter, you will be able to cut the die perfectly evenly.

Video review

Laying wall or floor tiles almost never goes without pruning. Parts need to be adjusted to size, cut to the shape of the base, etc. Traditionally, a tile cutter is used for this, but increasingly home craftsmen are choosing an angle grinder. Let's figure out how to cut with a grinder without chipping and whether this is possible in practice.

All about cutting tiles with an angle grinder

Why is a grinder better than a tile cutter?

Let's start with the fact that the tile cutter is designed for cutting 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 a tile cutter is that it gives an even cut without chips. There is no large amount of dust during operation, and the risk of damaging the plate is minimal. Not so with an angle grinder.

You can cut it with it, the result can be very good. But you will have to try hard for this. It is advisable to have experience working with a sander, otherwise there is a high risk of damaging the material. The tool will cut any cladding if you choose the right cutting disc. You must be prepared for the fact that during the cutting process it will be very noisy and a lot of dust will rise into the air. The cutting line may be chipped.

Nevertheless, home craftsmen choose the grinder. The reason is simple: a tile cutter, especially if it is a high-quality model that does the job well, is expensive. It is not profitable to buy it just to decorate one room. It is cheaper to trim with an angle grinder. You just need to learn how to handle it correctly.

Which disc to cut tiles with?

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

Stone circles

The cutting element is of considerable thickness. Due to this, the cut is wide, and the amount of dust during operation increases. The main disadvantage is the rapid wear of the consumables. Moreover, if chips or other defects appear on it during operation, the wheel is immediately replaced. Otherwise, it may collapse, damaging the part being processed and causing harm to the person working with it. Stone discs are the cheapest.

Steel circles

Fine tooling with different processing. For hard materials choose diamond-coated steel. This cutting device easily copes with the task and does not grind down for a long time. Three types of steel discs are used for cutting.

• Segmented dry cutters. Radial cuts divide the circle into segments, which helps cool the steel during operation. Therefore, the operating cycle is a minute, after which it requires cooling at idle. Segmented equipment can cut cladding without water supply. Disadvantage: poor cut quality, many chips.
• Solid circles. They are distinguished by the absence of thermal relief segments, so their cooling requires a constant supply of water to the treated area. In this case, cutting occurs continuously. Without cooling you can only work for 10-15 seconds, after which 20-30 seconds idle move. The cutting line is of the highest quality, there are no or very few chips.
• Combined elements. Used for wet and dry cutting. The continuous operation life is longer than that of a solid disc, but shorter than that of a segmented disc. The quality of the cut is better than that of a segmented cut, but worse than that of a solid cut. Disadvantage: they quickly become clogged with dust. Cleaning them is more difficult than their analogues: to do this you need to cut the silicate.

Criterias of choice

When choosing which steel circle to cut with a grinder ceramic tiles, take into account three important points.

1. The thickness of the equipment is no more than 2 mm, and better order 1 mm. This will give an even cut without defects.
2. The rotation speed indicated on the wheel coincides with the rotation speed of the tool.
3. The height of the diamond coating is greater than the thickness of the lining.

How to cut tiles with a grinder

Cutting a fragment with an angle grinder will become easier if you follow a few rules.

Rules for working with angle grinders

• The facing should be cut from the front side.
• You need to cut the fragment in one go. With each pass the number of chips increases.
• Maximum amount chips on the ceramic plate appear in the area where the circle comes out. Therefore, at the end and beginning of cutting, the speed is reduced. If the machine has such a function.

During operation, the angle grinder is noisy and generates a lot of dust. Nothing can be done about the first, but the second can be minimized. Three methods are used for this.

How to reduce the amount of dust when working

1. Turn on construction vacuum cleaner. You will need an assistant to operate it.
2. Supply water to the cutting area. Sometimes it is simply poured from a bottle or hose, but then an assistant is needed. If you attach the water supply device to the casing, you can cut without dust alone.
3. A shallow seam is cut in the tile plate, then the part is broken along it. The glaze produces almost no dust when cut, so the technique is effective. But it won't work on unglazed models.

Straight cut

The simplest and most common method is ceramic. Operations are performed in the following sequence.

1. We mark the plate. The cutting line should be drawn with a bright pencil or felt-tip pen so that it is clearly visible. Be sure to leave allowance for sanding. It is impossible to trim ceramics perfectly evenly, so if the lining is completely visible, we make an allowance of a few millimeters. We will then remove it with a sanding attachment. cylindrical. For an edge closed, for example, by a plinth, no allowance is required.
2. Lay the tiles on a flat, solid surface. To prevent it from moving, we fix it with clamps, a vice, or simply press it with our foot. We remove everything unnecessary, nothing should interfere with work.
3. Let's start cutting. Most often, it is not necessary to completely saw the part; it is enough to make a cut on the base and then break off a fragment from it. When inserting the cutting edge into the ceramic, we reduce the speed of the tool. We hold it perpendicular to the plate, trying to drive it evenly, at the same speed in the direction away from us. We adhere to the previously outlined cutting line as much as possible. Before removing the edge from the material, we reduce the speed again.
4. Place the cut facing plate on the edge of the table or workbench. With a sharp, precise movement we break off the edge of the part.

This is how a cut is made at a right angle. Sometimes it is necessary to cut ceramics at an angle of 45°, for example, for decoration. Experienced craftsmen can perform this operation with a grinder. It is better for a novice tiler not to take risks. The part is sawed off at a right angle, the excess is trimmed off with a grinding attachment.

Craftsmen advise soaking the tiles for 35-40 minutes before cutting. Supposedly after this it will be easier to cut it. This does not apply. It is not soaked. To obtain the most even cut along the intended line, a ruler or steel plate is secured with a clamp. Be sure to follow all safety requirements and wear protective clothing and goggles. Scale from the disc can cause eye injury.

Notched neckline

It is performed with a grinder along a curved path. Sequencing.

1. Mark the base with a marker or pencil.
2. Place the workpiece on a flat surface and securely fix it.
3. Turn on the angle grinder and insert the cutting edge into the ceramic at low speed. We make small through cuts, the length of which depends on the shape of the cutout.
4. We remove the remaining fragments along the cut.
5. We put an abrasive wheel in place of the cutting wheel and grind the resulting cutout.

Round or oval hole

The technology is similar to a figured cut, only the notches are made in a circle. Sequence of operations.

1. We mark the future hole with an allowance for grinding, since the edge will not be smooth. Mark with a felt-tip pen or marker. We draw two lines connecting in the center of the figure, defining its center.
2. Turn on the tool and carefully make cuts along the intended boundary of the hole.
3. We make straight cuts along the markings to the center of the figure.
4. Carefully knock out the resulting sectors.
5. Using a drill with a sanding attachment, we process the edge of the opening to the desired smoothness.

The rectangular hole is made a little differently. After marking, steel limiter plates are laid on the line and secured with clamps. They begin to saw off from one of the corners, gradually moving the tool to the stop. The entire contour is processed in this way.

To avoid any questions, we suggest watching a video on how to saw without chipping with an angle grinder.

• Material prepared by: Inna Yasinovskaya

When conducting construction work You often need to cut ceramic tiles yourself at home. To do this, it is not at all necessary to have a professional tool - a tile cutter. The tiles are cut using improvised means, you just need to be patient and time.

Choosing a cutting tool

Both universal and specialized tools are suitable for cutting tiles at home. To cut tiles with a tile cutter, use the following devices:

A tool is selected from the list in accordance with the type of work performed. When you need to cut a small amount of tiles, it is enough to use a glass cutter and wire cutters. For large volumes of work, a tile cutter or grinder is used.

Using a manual tile cutter

It is necessary to consider the design of the tool to understand how to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter. The tool consists of the following elements:

Manual tile cutter easy to use, allows you to cut ceramic tiles with minimal effort. One of the disadvantages is the impossibility of cutting the edges of tiles less than 5 mm wide.

Preparatory stage of work

Before using the tile cutter again, you will need to carry out an external inspection of it to check its functionality and eliminate the possibility of injury during operation. It is recommended to perform the check in the following sequence:

Making a cut

Having prepared the tool for work, begin cutting the tiles. The process consists of several stages:

Cutting without specialized tools

It is not difficult to cut tiles using a special tool, however, there are ways to achieve good result and when using improvised means. Let's take a closer look at how to cut tiles without a tile cutter, using the example of specific tools and working technologies.

Making a cut with a grinder. Bulgarian - universal tool, which is also suitable for cutting ceramic tiles. With this tool you can make both straight and curved cuts of any shape. To work you will need:

• Bulgarian.
• Circle for cutting stone.
• Protective glasses.

When all the tools necessary for the work are prepared, proceed to marking the tiles. They do it using a marker or sharp object. When working with an angle grinder, a lot of dust is generated, so the previously drawn lines can be erased.

After the marking is completed, cutting of the product begins. Cutting with a grinder is performed in the following main ways:

• Several passes are made according to the markings made. For each pass they deepen to a distance of up to 3 mm. This operation is performed until the final result is achieved.
• If the length of the marking is less than 2 cm, then the cut is made across the entire thickness of the product.
• The markings are applied to both sides of the product. On the front side a cut is made with a depth of up to 3 mm. Then with reverse side make a cut along the markings of 3 mm per pass. This method, although labor-intensive, allows you to avoid accidental mechanical damage.

It is recommended to use a grinder for making difficult cuts, since when using it a lot of dust is generated and it takes a lot of time to get the final result. For straight cutting, simpler solutions are used.

Application of a jigsaw

To use this tool when working with tiles, you will need a special stone saw. The tile is installed on flat surface, where the cut is performed. To simplify the process, it is recommended to soak the tiles in advance.

A jigsaw is used if you need to make a cut curved segments with a large radius. It should be noted that this tool is not recommended for cutting porcelain stoneware, since this material is much stronger than tile.

Glass cutter or cutting edge tool

This tool only cuts tiles in a straight line. To make the cut you will need: a glass cutter or other tool with a pointed cutting edge made of diamond or pobedite; metal ruler for drawing a cutting line.

To ensure an even cut, a scratch on the glossy surface of the product must be applied carefully, pressing the glass cutter firmly against work surface . After making a cut below the glossy layer, the tiles are split. The following splitting methods exist:

• Using a solid rod. The tile is placed with its back side in place of the marks on a solid rod. Then apply sharp pressure on the product with your hands from both sides.
• Using clamps. The essence of this method is to fix the products between the clamps at the risk and sharply press on the protruding edge.
• Hitting a flat corner. When using this method, the tile is picked up and a sharp blow from the back is applied to the scratch on the product. The blow must be applied sharply from a distance of no more than 5-10 cm from the surface of the corner. In order for the fracture to be of high quality, the angle must be sharp and hard.

To create shaped holes, it is advisable to use tile nippers. It is recommended to apply cut lines along the breakout boundary to the surface using any available method.

It is recommended to bite off pieces of tile when using this tool. in small pieces, so as not to break out excess area beyond the cut border.

Round Hole Cutting Bits

For creating round holes In tiles, tools such as a drill or screwdriver are used. When drilling holes, it is important to know which nozzle to choose in a particular case.

Drilling is necessary at low speeds(no more than 500 per minute), otherwise not only the product, but also the nozzle will be damaged. Depending on what holes need to be made, nozzles are divided into the following types:

1. Small diameter (15-30 mm). These attachments include sharp-edged drills and spear-shaped tile drills.
2. Large diameter(30-50 mm). This type includes crowns with various coatings (diamond, tungsten carbide, etc.).

If you need to cut a hole more than 50 mm in diameter, then you can use a grinder.

Thus, it is possible to cut tiles without a specialized tool, provided that the cutting technology is followed.

Tile is one of the oldest ways of finishing a room. Despite this, it is still used today, occupying a worthy place along with modern finishing materials. Thanks to your technical specifications And beautiful view tiles have become a leader in the market for interior cladding products. Many people prefer it.

When laying tiles, you cannot do without cutting them., since ceramic tiles often do not fit in dimensions. Therefore, in many cases they are pruned. And without certain knowledge and special tools this is not so easy to do. If you are not going to lay tiles for professional purposes, you can save money by purchasing high-tech tools. So, you can buy a manual tile cutter.

It is mechanical, easy to use and much cheaper than electric ones.

List of tools

When working with tiles you will need the following tools:

• tile cutter;
• marking pen or felt-tip pen;
• a ruler, preferably made of metal;
• manual tile cutter.

Manual tile cutter

When cutting tiles, many people use a manual tile cutter, as this is one of the the most convenient options. It is high quality and inexpensive at the same time.

A manual tile cutter consists of the following components:

• support (it is also the basis);
• guide part of the structure;
• a cutting element consisting of a roller and a cutting disk;
• lever.

The optimal option is as follows:

• due to the simplicity of the design it is easy to use;
• handle that moves the carriage with cutting disc acts as a lever;
• thanks to the laws of physics, the cutting force is reduced;
• allows you to make a precise cut.

But this tool also has its disadvantages:

• With such a tile cutter it is impossible to make a cut at a distance of less than 5 mm from the edge of the tile;
• if you need small pieces, about 5-7 mm, you will have to be very careful. There is a possibility that the tile will break.

Safety precautions

When using a tile cutter, it is important to study the safety rules inherent in any such tool:

• before starting work, you should examine the item, see if there are any breakdowns or other damage;
• the carriage should move unhindered, smoothly and without pushing;
• Tubular guides should not contain pieces of tiles, traces of mortar and other debris. After cleaning, they should be lubricated with machine oil;

• the disk for cutting tiles should easily rotate around its axis and not contain burrs;
• To avoid injury, it is advisable to use special glasses and protective gloves.

Carving Basics

Before you start cutting the tiles, you need to check your calculations again and draw a stripe on the tile. The incision is made along this strip. It is better to draw a line with a marker, so it will not be erased, and you will accurately follow the direction of movement.

We fix the tile by clearly fixing it on the tool. There are designs that have clamps with special layers made of rubber. In other cases, you will have to cut off part of the tile (diagonally). The second half must be held with your hand. However, there is nothing complicated about it. During the cut, you need to measure the pressure exerted by your hand on the handle.

If you apply too much force, the decorative layer can easily deteriorate, and if you apply too little force, you will not be able to break the tile. You cannot pass the tool over the tile twice.

Previously broken material can be used for training purposes. Having fixed it, you need to move the carriage towards you. This way you can easily determine the strength of the required pressure. The cut must be made in one movement, otherwise you may damage the decorative part of the tile.

After making the cut, the tile should be placed on a smooth surface, the cut line should coincide with the edge of the surface. Hold the tile on one side of the cut with one hand and press with the other.

If everything is done correctly, the tile should break exactly along the line. Above we described how to work correctly with a manual tile cutter, below we will look at its electric version.

Electric tile cutter

This electrical device Not everyone has it, and many are interested in how to use it. An electric tile cutter is similar to a circular saw due to the identical arrangement of the rotating head, motor, support and disk. The only difference between them is that a high-quality electric tile cutter has a bowl of water at the bottom. This keeps the blade cool and reduces dust during cutting.

Positive quality electric tile cutter:

• it allows you to make a perfectly even cut;
• minimal amount formed chips;
• allows you to cut tiles at a certain angle;
• almost complete absence of dust;
• possibility of cutting small parts.

There are also disadvantages:

• such a device is quite expensive;
• There is no way to make a curved cut.

Safety regulations

We must not forget about safe behavior when working with an electrical device.

• work should be performed only with special glasses;
• before starting work, you should pay attention to the disk, which should be sharp enough and rotate smoothly;
• if there is an incomprehensible sound or sparks, the equipment should be disconnected from the power supply and taken to a service center;
• check if there is water;
• You can start cutting only after the disk reaches maximum speed.

Cutting tiles

The main feature of the tool is that it is simply simple. It is necessary to install it so that the disc is directed exactly along the line drawn for the cut. The tile must be guided by holding it, not forgetting that the first touch should be quite light. Next, you should apply a little effort while moving the tiles.

If you feed the tiles by hand without securing them, you must ensure that there is no vibration, as chips may form.

Important: To increase the operating time of the disc, you should periodically replace the water while carving, especially if you have a large number of tiles When cutting, apply equal pressure to both parts of the tile to avoid distortion.

How to cut tiles without a tile cutter?

During construction work carried out with your own hands, you may often need to cut the tiles yourself at home. However, it is not necessary to use a tile cutter for these purposes. If you do not have large volumes of work, then there is no point in purchasing an expensive tool. When working with small batches and piece products, you can use improvised means.

Types of cutting:

• The incision is made strictly along a straight line. You should also understand where the cut is going. It is considered curly if the distance between the line and the edge is no more than 2 cm.
• Mosaic elements. Curly cutting also includes strict forms from geometric shapes. In other cases, you need to crush the tiles into small pieces. All products are placed in a bag and, using a heavy tool, broken down to the required size. Non-ceramic tiles are an exception.
• Round holes with different diameters.
• Curly cutouts.

angle grinder

You can use a grinder if you don’t have a tile cutter. This is considered a universal device. It should be noted that for people who have little skill in using this tool, this method is suitable for straight curly shapes, as well as any lines, including curved stripes.

During the work you will need:

• Bulgarian;
• special helmet;
• it is advisable to use a respirator;

• diamond circle. You can use a stone cutting wheel;
• gloves and a special suit. It must be closed;
• clamping tool. In some cases a vice may be needed;
• protective glasses.

Even with the most careful planning and marking, it is unlikely that you will be able to avoid cutting the tiles. Moreover, it may be necessary to cut in a straight line, as a rule, the trimmings are glued symmetrically at the edges of the walls, or to cut holes various shapes– for a pass engineering communications. Depending on the volume and complexity, the methods of cutting tiles vary.

Tile cutting methods

Tiles can be cut in a variety of ways, from a simple glass cutter to high-performance electric tile cutters. Depending on the equipment used, the following types of tile cutting are distinguished:

• using a glass cutter. Can be recommended for cutting a small volume of thin tiles, it has a higher percentage of defects, and is not suitable for cutting thick tiles;

You can even try to cut thin tiles with a nail 120 - 150 mm long. The front side is scratched deep scratch, then the tile breaks. But you can only use this method out of despair, when you don’t even have a glass cutter at hand.

• by using manual tile cutter. The cutting principle is no different from a glass cutter, but due to the design of the device, it is possible to cut thick tiles;

• using a grinder and cutting wheels for working on stone. The advantages include high productivity, but cutting is accompanied by heavy dust in the room, the edges of the tiles are sloppy and crumble. Can be recommended for work on outdoors with a large scope of work;

• using electric tile cutters. The working body of these mechanisms is a diamond wheel rotating at high speed. Besides high performance Such mechanisms use water to cool the disk and remove dust. Due to this, the cut is perfect and does not require additional processing. But the use of electric tile cutters is justified only for large volumes of work;

• in some cases it is necessary to do it in the tile through hole round shape. Using a manual or electric tile cutter is not possible in this case. To do this, it is recommended to use a special ballerina drill attachment. You can also try to make such a hole using a glass cutter. You can also cut tiles with a jigsaw.

The choice of cutting tool also depends on the tile itself. For thin tiles, a regular glass cutter will also work. But cutting thick porcelain tiles using a glass cutter or a small manual glass cutter will be extremely problematic. For such material, it is recommended to use a grinder or an electric tile cutter.

How to cut tiles using a tile cutter

A tile cutter allows you to cut a strip of at least 10-15 mm wide from a tile (depending on its thickness). The wheel is much larger than in the glass cutter. For convenience, the tile cutter is equipped with a ruler; some models contain cutters for cutting round holes in the tiles.

Some models are equipped rotating mechanism, which makes cutting much easier.

Before cutting, the tiles must be marked, then they are laid in such a way that the wheel does not move from the intended line when moving. When the lever is lowered, the wheel is pressed against the surface of the tile. Then, with constant effort, you need to move the wheel along the tile in a direction away from you; a deep groove should remain on the tile. One pass is enough.

Do not apply excessive force to the lever. The tile may simply break.

Then the tile must be broken along the cut line. This can be done in two ways:

• place, for example, a long nail under the fault line and press on both halves of the tile;

• Place the tile on the edge of the table so that the break line is exactly on the edge. Then, holding the tile, sharply press on the hanging part.

If one of the parts of the tile breaks off crookedly, you can try to save the remaining part; to do this, you need to bite off the excess part of the tile from the fault line with pliers.

When talking about how to cut tiles correctly, we need to mention soaking the tiles. There is an opinion that keeping the tiles in water makes cutting them much easier. In fact, this is not so, and it is no easier to cut a moistened tile than a dry one.

Proper cutting of tiles will significantly reduce waste and reduce tile consumption.