How to cut uneven tiles with a manual tile cutter. How to cut tiles at home: the best ways

Laying ceramic tiles is not complete without the work of trimming or cutting it to the desired size. It is necessary to cut the tiles in the corners of the room, when laying along the walls and along the edges of the room, when laying on the floor. When cutting tiles, it is important to get a smooth edge of the tile, without chips, while it is important not to split the tile. To achieve this result, there are several types of special tool for cutting tiles. A tile cutting tool that delivers great cutting results at a low cost per tool is the manual tile cutter that this article is about.

Manual tile cutter

The tile cutter is a manual cutter of small thickness. Tile cutting is carried out by first cutting through the glazed surface of the tile and then breaking it along the cut line. Tile cutters come in different sizes that match the tiles for which it is intended.

A manual tile cutter is the simplest and most convenient device that allows you to cut tiles into pieces. It costs from 500 rubles and more, depending on the sophistication, and it saves a lot of time and effort. By the way, some stores rent it, so if you need it for a short time, ask at the store, or at the place where you bought the tiles.

Manual tile cutter

A manual tile cutter is arranged as follows:

The tile is fixed and cut with a wheel (3) in a straight line along the line of the future fault. Then the lever (5) is lowered and breaks the tile into 2 pieces. The whole process takes a maximum of 1 minute.

Before using the tile cutter, pour a few drops of oil on the guide frame and on the marking wheel.
Make sure the wheel is properly secured (it's often held in place with a small bolt) and that it doesn't move from side to side, otherwise the notch will be crooked.
Check if the wheel is worn out and if necessary, replace it (you can find a suitable one in a tile shop). Cutting tiles will be easier.

Depending on the structure of the tile you are working with, you can cut even 5-6 mm tiles with a tile cutter. Generally, the denser the tile, the easier it is to cut with a tile cutter and therefore more likely to cut a narrow strip. And although this is not necessary, it is better to experiment before making the necessary cuts. If you can't cut a thin strip of tile with a tile cutter, you can use an electric tile cutter or make a notch with a tile cutter and break off any excess with wire cutters.

In extreme cases, instead of a tile cutter, you can use a glass cutter and a nail. Make a notch on the tile with a glass cutter and place it back on the nail, aligning the cut line with it, and press down on both sides of the tile with your thumbs. You can also cut tiles hand saw(jigsaw) with a carbide blade, but the procedure will take from 5 to 10 minutes, while on a tile cutter it will take from 5 to 10 seconds. However, none of these methods gives such a clean cut as a tile cutter.

How to cut tiles with a tile cutter

1. To cut tiles straight with a tile cutter, first mark the cutting lines with a felt-tip pen on the tile. 2. Lay the tile on the base of the tile cutter, aligning the cutting line and the marking wheel. (If you are making many cuts of a given size, secure the bounding box in one position with a screw). 3. Hold the tile in place with one hand and the wheel handle with the other. 4. Raise the handle so that the wheel touches the surface of the tile on the top side of the tile and move the handle towards you. 5. Press with light pressure, enough to draw a line and make only one pass wheel. Usually, if several passes are made along the cutting line, then the cut is of poor quality.

Video: How to choose a manual tile cutter

How to cut a tile into pieces with a tile cutter

In order to divide the tile into parts according to the intended risk, set the “wings” at the base of the handle at the level of the lower third of the tile. It is better to glue the “wings” with adhesive tape, thanks to which there are no traces of them on the tile. Many craftsmen hold the tile in position by lightly pressing down on the handle with the thumb of their left hand, then tapping the handle lightly with the palm of their right hand.

If the tile does not break, hit harder. If the tile still does not crack, another tile is taken and the whole thing starts again.

If the cut edge of the tile is visible after the tile is in place, you can trim the sharp corner with a grindstone or sandpaper. Craftsmen usually have several types of stone for soft and hard tiles. If another tile covers the cut edge, such as in an inner corner, there is no need to align the edges.
That's all. Good luck to you in your endeavors!

Video: How to cut tiles manual tile cutter

Any process of laying ceramic tiles is not complete without trimming it. There will be a lot of it especially if you use some kind of non-standard layout, for example, diagonally. In the last article, we talked about how to get uniform and beautiful undercuts everywhere. Now we will talk about how to properly cut tiles at home.

As you know, the tile is made of fired clay, which is covered with glaze on top. Just like that, it is difficult to break it with your hands, but if it lies on some kind of unevenness, it will easily crack from a small load. To simplify this process and make the required break line, you need to loosen the top layer of glaze - that is, cut it, and therefore already apply efforts to break it.

There are 3 main ways to do this:

Special tool - manual, electric tile cutter or special tongs.
Bulgarian.
Other improvised sharp tools.

Let's talk in more detail about each method of cutting tiles.

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Cutting tiles with a manual tile cutter

This is the most popular option used by both professional tilers and amateurs. You can find it in the store at a price of 300 rubles and more, depending on the size, quality and additional bells and whistles, such as a swivel base and a built-in ruler for the convenience of cutting tiles at an angle of 45 degrees. At the same time, it is better not to buy the cheapest models, they will often break tiles incorrectly, due to poor pressure on a flimsy base.

How does a manual tile cutter work?

How to use the tile cutter:

The tile is inserted into the tile cutter, and the markings on it are combined with a special mark.
The handle is lowered and held in the direction away from you. It must be carried out at the same speed and with uniform pressure so that the roller cuts the glaze to the same depth. It will be enough to hold the video once. If you drive several times, the breakage may turn out to be of poor quality.
Next to the roller there are special paws that descend and break the tile into 2 parts, after a sharp pressure on the lever. At the same time, all tile cutters have a metal tubercle on their platform, and soft linings along the edges. When you press the edges of the tile with your paws, maximum stress will be created at the incision site, if you correctly combine it with the lining, and it will break off evenly.

It is difficult to explain this in words, so it’s easier to watch a video that shows how to cut tiles with a tile cutter correctly:

High-quality tile cutters allow you to cut without problems even tile 10 mm thick. And it doesn’t matter at what angle you cut it: at least 45 degrees, at least 30.

How to cut tiles with the letter "G"

Since the tile cutter can only cut tiles straight, many have difficulty with L-shaped cutouts. The easiest option is to divide this tile into 2 rectangular elements, but then you get an extra ugly seam that will catch your eye.

But this can be avoided if the short side is cut with a grinder, and then the long side with a tile cutter.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make L-shaped cutouts on tiles

In the same way, you can cut off the outer corners. When marking them, you need to take away about 4-5 mm, 1.5-2 mm for grouting and a small indent from the wall.

The second way: by any method available to you, a cut is made on the glaze, and the excess is gradually broken off with pliers. Irregularities are processed with sandpaper. This option will even allow you to get a rounded incision for adjoining the risers.

How to cut porcelain stoneware

It is believed that porcelain stoneware is the hardest material from which floor tiles are made. You can cut it in the same way as a regular tile.

Sometimes simple floor tiles it is more difficult to cut than porcelain stoneware. There is a hardened tile, on which, after cutting with a tile cutter, an incision on the glaze is almost invisible. And even a diamond blade on a grinder does not take it - the incision turns out to be torn, as after a tractor. In such cases, you need to use a grinder and file a 2-3 mm groove on the reverse side to indicate the place of the break.

Tile cutter

The tile cutter is the cheapest (200-400 rubles), and it is only suitable for small amounts of work with thin ceramic tiles at home.

After notching, press down on the tile with tongs to break

How to use the tile cutter:

Make a markup taking into account all the gaps and seams (-5 mm).
Attach a metal ruler to the marking line and draw the cutter along it once. The pressure should be medium so that a visible strip forms. Lead him from the far edge to you.
Position the tongs with the paws along the crowbar line near the edge. The sponges should be on top of the icing and the straight piece on the bottom. The fault line should run straight down the middle between the edges of the upper lip.
Gently press the handles to break off the tile. At the same time, do not lift it high, otherwise it will break after falling.

Electric tile cutter

If you have a large amount of work, then the fastest and highest quality cut is obtained from an electric tile cutter. They use a diamond wheel and apply water to the cutting area to cool and remove dust. The cheapest types of amateur class can be found on sale for 3-4 thousand rubles.

We cut tiles with a grinder

Sometimes there are cases when you need to cut a narrow strip of tiles 0.5-2 cm, and the usual tile cutter does not take it, because it has too wide paws.

In such cases, you need to draw a notch line with a pencil and wash it down with a grinder with a diamond disc. But if you try to cut it off at one time, then the narrow strip will break off in pieces. Therefore, you need to smoothly and without pressure walk the grinder along the markings to make an incision about 2 mm deep. It is necessary to go with a disk exactly along the line, and not directly along it, then the width of an already narrow strip will not decrease.

Using the same method, running several times along the same seam, you will cut off a narrow strip. The second and subsequent times it will be possible to drive the grinder faster, but try to press it to the opposite side, then there will be no chips.

It is better to do this work on weight, so the vibration will go into the hands. When you already see that the strip will fall soon, it is advisable to put something soft so that it does not break.

Cutting tiles with a grinder with a special diamond-coated disc on tiles

If any irregularities remain, they can be sanded with the same grinder.

Be sure to wear glasses when working with a grinder.

How to choose the right disc by tile

For cutting, metal discs with diamond coating along its edges are used. But they are different: for concrete, brick, stone. Tiled discs do not have any holes, the soldering on them is uniform and smooth. Discs for concrete have slots on the solder, and will create chips when vibrated. If cut ceramic tiles them, then these chips can fly in the face.

We make washed down at 45 degrees

Ceramic skirting "pencil" is best suited to protect the sharp outer corners of the tile

For beautiful joining of external corners, many craftsmen file the edges at 45 degrees so as not to use ceramic corners. But in dangerous places where it is possible to slip, it is still better to use the so-called pencil borders, although some consider them to be a “collective farm”.

If you are using a professional electric tile cutter, the sloping platform there makes it easy to make a 45-degree angle on the bevel of the tile, but not everyone has such a tool. It is easy to make such an angle on your own with the help of the same angle grinder “by eye”. The disc is passed along the incision line, while it should be slightly tilted inward.

Cut tiles at 45 degrees

How to cut tiles without a tile cutter

If you only need to cut a few tiles, then you don't have to spend money on a tile cutter. You can use handy tools:

glass cutter
Drill. It should preferably be with a winning tip, as it will scratch the tile better.
Nail.
Construction knife.

Attach a metal ruler to the incision and pass 1 time with a glass cutter or drill. There should be a deep scratch on the enamel. If you use a knife, but will need to carry out several times.

Lay the tile with the cut at the corner and with a sharp movement press on its edges. The cut will not turn out to be perfectly even, unlike a tile cutter, but you won’t have to spend extra money either.

To make cutting ceramic tiles easier, many craftsmen soak them in water for about 1 hour.

Conclusion

Cutting ceramic tiles isn't difficult, and you'll figure it out after a few good times. Just if you have no experience, you should always buy material with a margin of 10-15%. Some hardware stores provide services for sawing tiles to the desired shape and size, but here you need to be 100% sure of the size.

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A manual tile cutter is a simple tool.

But in order to use it correctly, you need to be aware of some features.

They will be discussed in this article, the topic of which is a manual tile cutter: a video and a description of the technology for using the tool.

When choosing a manual tile cutter, pay attention to the following characteristics:

Carriage mechanism. There are two varieties: roller and bearing. The roller carriage of a quality tile cutter moves easily at first, but soon loses its smoothness. Bearing tile cutters are more expensive, but have a number of advantages: they last longer, cut more accurately and provide a smooth ride for the carriage.
The bed must have sufficient rigidity, which is provided by the ribs under the bed. The low-strength frame bends under load and the tile breaks crookedly, not along the furrow.
Guide thickness. The higher this parameter, the lower the probability of carriage backlash.
cutting wheel diameter. Should be the larger, the thicker the tile.
Bed size. It is advisable to purchase a tile cutter with a bed large enough to cut large floor tiles and make diagonal cuts.
Manufacturer. Guarantee of quality and durability of the tool - well-established, time-tested brands: Sigma, First, Matrix, Rubi, S.A., Germans Boada.
Additional features. These are the ruler (allows you to estimate the width of the cut and the remaining parts) and the rotary bed (it is used to cut at different angles).

Using a manual tile cutter

Before use, check the serviceability of the tile cutter according to the following criteria:

The diamond roller is sharply sharpened, there are no chips or gouges on the cutting edge. Otherwise, the tile breaks crookedly, you get a lot of marriage. A defective video is changed.
There is no carriage play. If there is play, it is eliminated by adjusting screws. If it does not help, the tile cutter is repaired or replaced.
The carriage moves smoothly. If it sticks, lubricate the guides. It is also useful to lubricate the roller so that it rotates more easily.
Clean stand. The crumbs of ceramics on it look like.
The condition of the rubber mats preventing tiles from slipping. They should fit snugly to the base.
The angle between the stop and the axis of movement of the carriage is 90 degrees. Checked with a square.

It is advisable for left-handers to purchase a tile cutter with a mirrored double ruler.

Benefits of a manual tile cutter

Compared to an electric tile cutter, a manual one wins in the following:

Low cost. It should also be noted that the cutting element is cheap: a diamond blade costs much more than a roller.
Compact and light weight - easy to transport.
Simplicity of design.
Independence from electricity.
No noise and dust.
No operating costs: when using the electric version, you have to pay for electricity.
Ability to work at any humidity and temperature.

Marking before cutting

And here is what loses:

Performance. With a significant amount of work, it is better to use an electric tile cutter.
Cut quality. After a manual tile cutter, the edge, if it is not hidden by the plinth, has to be sanded.
The complexity of the operation. A beginner will have to spend some, albeit a little, time to learn how to move the roller with the same effort and uniform speed.
The ability to cut tiles only in a straight line. A conventional electric tile cutter also has such a limitation, but there are special models for curvilinear (shaped) cutting. The cutting element is a ring rotated by the engine.
There is no way to cut a groove in the tile.
The width of the cut off part cannot be less than 1 cm.

In addition, a manual tile cutter is difficult to cut high hardness tiles.

How to cut tiles with a manual tile cutter

The principle of operation of a manual tile cutter is the same as that of a glass cutter: a pressed diamond roller, when rolling, destroys the surface layer and leaves a groove, after which part of the tile is broken off. The difference is that the strong mounting of the roller and the presence of a lever allow you to press on it with great effort.

It sounds simple, but in order to perform the operation correctly, knowledge of some nuances is required. Consider in detail all the stages of cutting.

Tile cutting technology

markup

The marking is applied according to the results of measurements of the area for which the tile is cut. It is better to apply the cut line with a marker - the pencil on the tile is hard to see.

In the absence of experience with a tile cutter, it is advisable to leave an allowance of 3-5 mm for leveling and grinding when marking the tiles, especially if the cut edge is not hidden by the plinth.

Tile cutting technology

The operation is carried out as follows:

The tile is laid face up on the bed, so that the line drawn by the marker is exactly above the breaking edge. Above it is a diamond roller.
On one side, the tile rests against the stop on the frame - this prevents its displacement.
If necessary, cut off a narrow strip, the main part of the tile hanging from the frame. For stability, drywall or bars of the same thickness as the bed are placed under it.
Holding the lever, the tile cutter carriage is transferred to the working position: the support legs are bent and the diamond roller is placed on the tile.
Pressing on the lever, roll the roller along the drawn line. The key to a quality cut is uniform force and speed.

It is advisable for a novice master to practice on a broken or defective tile.

A furrow of sufficient depth must be cut in one pass. If you try again, you cannot set the roller in exactly the same position, you will get two grooves and the tile will break crookedly.

Should tiles be wetted?

Soaking tiles before cutting in warm water is a useful procedure: the material softens and therefore crumbles less, the cut is smoother.

Soaking time is 40-50 minutes. No more needed - the tile will deteriorate.

Porcelain stoneware is not subjected to soaking - only tiles.

If the tile is large, and there was no large capacity at hand, it is wrapped with wet rags.

Cutting: towards or away from yourself

Properly move the tool carriage away from you. So it will be easier to manage it and provide the required effort. But excessive efforts should be avoided - you can damage the material.

Fault

Having brought the roller to the end of the line, the carriage is lifted by the lever, as a result of which the support legs are placed on the tile. They press the lever so that the paws break the tile on the rib protruding from the bed.

How to cut tiles without a tile cutter

Other tools are also used for cutting tiles.

Tongs-tile cutter

Special tongs with a plate on the upper sponge. The cutting roller is installed below.

It is required to run the roller over the material, then grab it with the sponges so that the groove is in the center of the plate, and squeeze the tool.

Tongs can also come in handy if you have a tile cutter.

With their help, fragments of small sizes are bitten off (when cutting with a tile cutter, the width of the cut-off part should be more than 1 cm) and curved cuts are formed, which a manual tile cutter is not capable of.

Bulgarian

If a tile cutter is a highly specialized tool, then it is used to solve a wider range of tasks and therefore is available in almost every household.

Consequently, when performing one-time work, tile cutting is more often implemented with this tool.

Cutting is carried out by a disk. Steel discs are preferred: they are thinner than stone ones and last longer.

Steel wheels are divided into two types:

Segmented. They are separated by slots into parts, which improves heat dissipation and ensures free expansion of the metal when heated. Due to this, the disc is capable of within 1 min. cut the tile without cooling, after which it is twisted for 20 - 30 seconds. at idle to cool down. Due to the ability to cut the material dry, such discs are called dry cutters. Their disadvantage is the low quality of the cut.
solid. Another name is a wet cutting disc. There are no slots for thermal relief, so you can only work dry without interruption for 10-15 seconds. Long-term operation requires supply cold water into the cutting area. Compared to a segmented blade, a solid blade cuts smoother and better.
Combined. Can be used for both dry and wet cutting.

According to their characteristics, combined discs are located between solid and segmented:

cutting quality: better than segmented, but worse than solid;
continuous operation time: more than continuous, but less than segmented.

For single works of small volume - the combined disk is considered the most preferable.

If it is enough to install the segmented and solid disks for cleaning from crumbs on the other side, then this option does not work with the combined one. This cutting element can only be installed on one side. Cleaning is done by cutting silicate brick or concrete tiles.

Hard varieties of tiles, such as porcelain stoneware, are cut with diamond-coated discs. According to the method of fixing diamond chips, discs for domestic use are divided into two types:

with soldering on silver solder;
with positive lock: the crumb is fused into the heated edge of the disk.

The latter are more expensive, but last longer and better tolerate overheating.

To cut the tile with a grinder correctly, you should follow the rules:

The cut starts from the front side: most of the chips are formed when the disk leaves the material.
The tile is cut in one pass. With each new time, the number of chips increases.
With low requirements for the quality of the edge, the tile is not completely cut: a groove is applied, then the module is broken. This produces much less dust.

Since, in the absence of experience, it is difficult to make an even cut with a grinder, it is recommended to leave an allowance of 3-5 mm for finishing with a grinding nozzle.

glass cutter

With thin tiles with a thickness of 4 - 6 mm, this tool will cope. It is better to choose a variety with a diamond roller. Having cut a furrow, the module is laid on the edge of the table and broken.

Drill bit with pobedite tip

Diameter 6 - 8 mm. It is ground with a diamond wheel to the shape of a pencil, but in such a way as not to grind off the winning soldering. The tip is made round. In the presence of faces, the angles between them act as stress concentrators, which reduces the strength.

A sharpened drill cuts a furrow in the same way as a glass cutter. Then part of the tile is broken off.

Waterjet installation

Such equipment is available in large workshops. The machine delivers under high pressure a jet of water with a diameter of 0.2 mm with the addition of abrasive chips. Cuts tiles smoothly, quickly and along the path of any curvature.

In the absence of tools, you can order cutting tiles in a similar workshop.

After a little training, even a novice master cuts cleanly and evenly with a manual tile cutter. It is only necessary, based on the above tips, to choose a high-quality and serviceable tool.

If not, you can use alternative: a grinder, special tongs or a homemade tile cutter from a drill.

During the repair, when all the dirty, rough work is done, it is worth thinking about finishing the floor, walls and ceiling. Many stop their eyes on the tiled cladding.

Tiled, like tiled, is one of the oldest, but no less practical coatings. To date, tiles are made from a variety of various materials, for example, from ceramics, cement, stone and, in some cases, even glass.

Any tile, regardless of the material from which it is made, requires special care.

When tiling walls or floors, it is almost impossible to guess the dimensions of the covered canvas, so fragmentary laying is still in great demand today.

The tile is a very wear-resistant and durable material, however, when curly cutting, splits and cracks are not uncommon, which leads to the complete unsuitability of the canvas. Manually, without using any special tool, it is unrealistic to make a tile cut perfectly even. To save your money, time and effort, consider all possible options cutting of ceramic products.

For the first, cheapest and clumsiest way, you will need an ordinary manual glass cutter, which can be bought at any hardware store for 100-250 rubles.

This option is only suitable for thin tiles. This method involves the use of a ruler, a glass cutter and patience, but despite all your efforts, it is quite difficult to avoid marriage: the tile strives to slip out or move out from under your hand, thereby making the cut uneven, and in places of strong displacement a split is possible, which will make the tile unusable.

For a correct cut, a deep scratch is made on the front side, which will then become the point of refraction of the tile. With this method of cutting, it is very easy not to calculate the pressing force: strong pressure will instantly make an incision on the tile, and weak pressure will cause a crooked fracture.

Among amateur and professional builders, the most popular is the method of cutting tiles using a manual or machine-mechanical tile cutter. This method is relatively inexpensive, but at the same time no less effective than working with an electric tile cutter.

A tile cutter, depending on the level and quality, costs an average of 300 rubles. You can find cheaper, but the quality of such a tool is fully consistent with its low price. It is worth noting a number of other advantages of this tool:

Maximum security. Even the smallest member of your family cannot be injured with such a tile cutter, unless he drops it on himself.

Easy to use. Many who have never used such a tool before note that mastering the cutting technology takes an average of 10-15 minutes. The quality of the cut is not much different from the professional level.

The device of a manual tile cutter is considered as simple as possible. It uses a movable handle, at the end of which there is a cutting element and paws that break the tile. The main surface of the tool has a shallow recess, with the help of which the fracture is obtained as even as possible. It is very easy to cut a tile diagonally using a manual or mechanical tile cutter.

The first thing to do is to fix the tile and prevent it from slipping. It should be fixed with the front side to the handle. Then, without much effort, draw a pen over the surface of the tile, forming a risk. The last action is to apply some force with the paws, which will lead to the breaking of the tile along the cut line.

The main disadvantage of this tool is that it will be extremely difficult to make an incision, and then a crease of the tile edge less than 5-6 cm, which is the determining factor when choosing a cutting method.

Cutting tiles with a grinder and stone circles is no less popular type of work than cutting with a tile cutter.

Professionals choose this method for large work fronts, where smoother cuts can be neglected for the sake of speed in finishing and repairing.

To cut a tile or tile with a grinder, we need:

Bulgarian;
diamond blade for cutting stone;
pencil and ruler.

To cut, you need to take measurements, and then walk the grinder along the line, without applying extra effort. The grinder should slide smoothly over the tile, otherwise chips will form.

By repeating the same action several times, you will achieve a perfectly even cut. It is worth noting that the grinder should be pressed to the opposite side of the incision.

This will help minimize the number of chips.

The best solution, of course, is the use of an electric tile cutter. This is a complete professional equipment, which will not only increase the speed and quality of the work done, but also increase your convenience. Such a tool can be considered a full-fledged machine: it is energy-intensive, massive and demanding for maintenance.

But despite all this, the electric tile cutter is a leader among builders of any level - from an amateur beginner to a professional. This method, despite its complexity, is considered the most productive and high-quality than its counterparts.

In the device of an electric tile cutter, there is the same device as in a mechanical one. However, instead of a cutting element that looks like a nail or blade, this machine uses a saw blade, similar to that used in a grinder.

Very often, to design protruding corners, an incision in the shape of the letter “g” is required. Many fall into a stupor, because the tile cutter cuts tiles strictly in a straight line.

The simplest solution is to divide the work surface into two parts.

The first cut is made perpendicular to the long side of the tile, and the second cut is parallel, thus avoiding the formation of a terrible seam, which is formed when two tiles are added in the shape of the letter "g".

You can also try cutting with a glass cutter and pliers. A sufficiently deep risk is made with a glass cutter, along which a break is subsequently made with the help of pliers.

Washing tiles at an angle of 45 degrees is no less common practice than a figured cut. If your tile cutter has an inclined mechanism, then such an incision will not be difficult, but if there is no such mechanism, you should not be upset.

Washed down the tiles can be done using the same angle grinder "by eye". Grind while holding the tool slightly at an angle.

Such a gash is very often needed to hide the outer, protruding corners of the walls, but this method is not recommended for rooms with slippery floors.

It is safer to use curbs, which will make the corner less sharp, but at the same time not greatly spoil the perception.

For information on how to cut tiles at 45 degrees at home, see the following video.

Tile is one of the most popular ways of decorating and finishing buildings, and is considered the most practical option than its counterparts. Initially, the tiles were made of clay and covered with glaze. Now manufacturers are not limited to clay alone, but use stone, ceramics and even glass, although production technologies have not changed much.

The selection of the required sizes and shapes of tiles is achieved by cutting them. For ordinary person, not related to the construction industry, cutting tiles is a complex, painstaking and not always successful process. However, in reality, anyone can do it.

The choice of tool depends on the goals and type of work.

For repairing an apartment, a cheap manual tile cutter and a grinder are suitable, while for larger-scale work, an electric tile cutter is indispensable.

The process of cutting tiles is not difficult, however, do not rely on luck and it is better to purchase a little more material. This will eliminate the need to run, pick up and buy the missing one.

The appearance of the room and the quality of the work performed depend on the correct and accurate cutting of tiles.

How and how to cut ceramic tiles - an overview of methods and devices

When planning the laying of tiles, you need to decide how to cut ceramic tiles. Facing material is available in several versions, and for each type of tile there is a priority method for cutting it. You will learn more about how to cut various tiles, and what devices exist for this.

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The basis of most types of tiles produced now is baked clay - ceramics. On the front side, the tile is covered with a thin, but more durable waterproof coating, which at the same time carries an aesthetic load. Facing material is divided into two types:

wall-mounted (for finishing vertical surfaces);
for floor cladding.

Floor tiles can be internal and external (for laying on thresholds, verandas, terraces). Floor cladding material intended for indoor use is usually made with a smooth face, outdoor tiles often have special anti-slip protrusions or a rough surface, which is taken into account when choosing a cutting device.

Wall tiles are easier to cut than floor tiles because they are thinner.

With wall cladding material, too, not everything is simple. In addition to the most common tile, which has a smooth decorative surface, there is a tile with a relief finishing layer (including a frieze - separating elements between the panel part of the wall and its “top”). Not all methods that allow you to cut a smooth tile are suitable for a corrugated surface.

When choosing how to cut a tile, its thickness, strength, area of \u200b\u200bthe proposed lining and the complexity of the geometry of the pattern are taken into account. Wall tiles are thinner than floor tiles, their strength is lower, so for cutting them normal fit glass cutter or manual mechanical tile cutter.

Floor cladding material requires a more serious tool, especially if its surface is rough or has anti-slip protrusions.

If a lot of complex patterns are expected (holes for sockets, bypassing pipe communications), care should be taken to have devices for curly tile patterns.

When determining with which device to cut tiles at home, the volume of the intended finish should be taken into account. For small areas and simple patterns, a simple tool will do. If there is a lot of work, it makes sense to use more advanced devices so that it does not take longer to cut the tile than to lay it.

Now ceramic tiles are cut using several devices that differ in design complexity and functionality.

If you have to cut ceramic tiles at home, while the cladding area is small (for example, a kitchen panel), an ordinary glass cutter is suitable for work. These simple tools can be equipped with a cutting wheel or a diamond tip. Choose a glass cutter that has worked or which one you think is more convenient - you can cut tiles with any type of tool.

If you need to cut a small amount of tiles, any glass cutter will do.

How to cut tiles with a glass cutter correctly? The essence of the process is identical to working with glass: you need to scratch a groove on the front surface, which will become a fault line.

To do this, first we take the dimensions of the fragment necessary for laying, make the appropriate marks on the decorative side of the whole tile and draw a straight line with a marker corresponding to the intended cut.

The tile is laid on a flat surface, located at a height convenient for work (table, workbench). The working part of the glass cutter with an average uniform pressure is moving from the far end of the tile towards itself.

In this case, a clear shallow furrow should form without interruption areas. To make the cut as even as possible, you can use a guide bar.

But it is better to make an incision under visual control, combining the cutter with the drawn line. It is not advisable to run a glass cutter twice along the same line - it is very difficult to get into the same furrow a second time.

As a result, the incision will not be of very high quality. You need to try to make a furrow in one motion.

Then we do the following. If the cut-off part is more than 3-4 cm, the tile is laid on the table (face up) or other hard surface so that the cut line coincides with the edge of the stand. We lay the wider part on the table, the narrow segment hangs down.

Holding firmly that part of the tile that lies on the table, you need to sharply press on the hanging fragment, as a result of which it breaks off exactly along the drawn groove. When the width of the cut off fragment is small, another tactic is used - the excess part of the tile is gradually broken off with special wire cutters.

If they are not at hand, you can use ordinary pliers for these purposes.

Cutting tiles with a glass cutter requires skill and firmness of the hand. These qualities are acquired quickly, so do not be upset if the desired result does not work the first time.

To quickly acquire a skill, you can sacrifice one tile, and make many different strips and rectangles out of it, making cuts with a glass cutter, and then proceed to the pattern of tile fragments necessary for laying.

The glass cutter is only suitable for working with smooth tiles

The glass cutter is suitable for working with smooth wall tiles. The corrugated surface of the tile cannot be cut off with this tool. It is very inconvenient and long with the help of a glass cutter to make circular patterns.

To do this, you will have to soak the tile for at least an hour (so that the ceramic base gets wet), make a circular incision, and then look for a suitable stand that best matches the geometry of the intended hole. The tile is laid on a stand and with gradual, gentle pressure, the cut section is forced to separate from the main fragment of the tile.

It is problematic to deal with thick and durable floor tiles with a glass cutter, so if you need to cut this type of tile, it is advisable to use more advanced tools.

A manual tile cutter is essentially an improved glass cutter, and its cutting element is the same roller, only more massive and durable, designed to withstand greater force.

Increases the pressing force in the device under consideration, the lever, which forms a single mechanism with the cutting wheel and is fixed on a carriage moving along two parallel skids.

The guides are fixed on a frame equipped with a support from below, on which the cut tile is laid. On the stand, according to the course of the cutting element, a metal protrusion is built in, which serves as a stop when breaking the tile.

A special device (press) is movably attached to the movable carriage next to the cutting roller, with the help of which pressure is transferred from the lever to both halves of the cut tile.

There are many models of manual tile cutters that differ in the following characteristics that affect the performance of the device:

the maximum size of the tile that can be cut;
sliding mechanism of the carriage along the guide skids (dry running, lubrication, bearings);
backlash of the cutting element;
material for the manufacture of the main parts of the device;
equipped with an additional device for cutting circular holes.

With a better performance of tile cutters, their cost increases accordingly, therefore, when choosing a cutting device, one should understand for what purposes it is necessary.

If one-time work on laying tiles in relatively small volumes is expected, it is not advisable to buy a model at a cost above the average - an inexpensive product will do. When there are large tile laying areas in the plans, it makes sense to purchase a model more expensive.

High-quality manual tile cutters are widely used in their work even by professional tilers.

To properly cut a tile with a tile cutter, follow the following steps:

1. We mark the incision line on the front side by first drawing necessary measurements.

2. We lay the tiles on the frame so that the drawn line coincides with the longitudinal protrusion on the base.

3. Using the lever, carefully set the cutting wheel on the far edge of the tile (the cutter must coincide with the beginning of the reference line).

4. Slightly pressing on the lever, we stretch it with a continuous movement towards us until the wheel comes off the tile.

5. We raise the lever and install a kind of double-sided press on the tile approximately in the middle of the cut line.

6. We press the lever (not very hard and quite smoothly), as a result of which the tile breaks into two parts.

A manual tile cutter is a handy tool suitable for processing fairly thick tiles.

To acquire the initial skills of using the device, it is advisable to make several trial attempts.

It is convenient to work with a manual tile cutter, but there are some limitations. This device, like a glass cutter, does not work on a relief tiled surface and some types of floor tiles, especially outdoor tiles, are also too tough for the tool. In addition, the tile cutter will not be able to cut strips less than 15-20 mm.

A water saw is sometimes called an electric tile cutter, which is similar in design to a circular saw and belongs to professional tools with corresponding capabilities and cost.

The device is equipped with a working table, in the longitudinal hole of which a diamond-coated cutting disc rotates. The peculiarity of the electric tile cutter is that the cut of the tile occurs in the presence of water, which abundantly wets the disk.

It enters the place of the cut through a special pipe (in more expensive models) or the disc is wetted, being partially immersed in a pan with water.

Water saw - a professional tool suitable for cutting any tile

Wet cutting at high blade speed allows you to create an ideal cutting edge that does not differ from the factory one (a chamfer is formed at an angle of 45%). Due to constant wetting, no dust is formed during cutting, as well as chips on the cut-off tile edge.

It is possible not only straight, but also curly cutting, the formation of holes of various configurations and sizes. The quality and type of tile only affects the cutting speed, and then only slightly.

A water saw will cut a strip of any width from any tile - wall, floor and even porcelain stoneware. Electric tile cutter - nai the best way to cut floor tiles, both internal and external, as well as tiles with a relief surface.

At the same time, it is not necessary to use plastic corners when laying the facing material that cover the cutting edge - it is enough to fill the corner seam with tile grout.

If there is no such equipment at hand (which is not surprising), but at the same time you need to cut different types of tiles, cutting holes of various shapes and sizes, you can use a universal power tool, one of the models of which is sure to be in the arsenal of any home master.

Angle grinders (angle grinders) or grinders are universal power tools with a wide range of applications in everyday life and in small industries. Use grinders and for cutting tiles various types, equipping with special “tile” discs or ordinary circles for concrete (there was no big difference between the result of these nozzles when cutting ceramic tiles).

You can also cut any tile with a grinder, but the cutting edge will not be perfect

If there is no tile cutter and other specialized tools, the tile can be cut with a grinder. Any tile is cut with a grinder - wall, floor, porcelain stoneware.

At the same time, the surface topography, strength and thickness of the tile do not play a role.

The cutting edge is not as smooth and hassle-free as when using an electric tile cutter, but taking into account the application tile grout or plastic corners when laying tiles, small flaws are acceptable.

In order to qualitatively cut tiles without a tile cutter using a grinder, it is advisable to use small angle grinders designed for a disk diameter of up to 125 mm. They are more convenient to work with, especially when cutting and forming holes in tiles.

But keep in mind that angle grinders with a small disc diameter usually have high speeds (3600 rpm and above), at which the tile overheats at the cutting point, can crack and numerous chips, so it is advisable to use an angle grinder with an adjustable number of revolutions to work with tiles .

It is convenient to cut tiles with a grinder, but several disadvantages of this process are found:

a lot of dust is formed - it is impossible to work in a closed small room;
when cutting, many small pieces of ceramics fly off, so the process requires compliance with safety regulations and the use of personal protective equipment (glasses are a must, a respirator is desirable);
there is a possibility of electric shock, and in general, the grinder is a dangerous tool.

To cut a tile fragment in a straight line using an angle grinder, the necessary measurements are made and desired area marked with an orientation line, after which the tile is laid on a flat surface, but not very hard (a piece of board, plywood, OSB boards).

It is necessary to cut through the tile to the full thickness only in cases of cutting narrow strips, in other situations only the decorative layer is cut, after which the tile is broken, as described above.

Cutting holes with a grinder (circular or rectangular) is done from the back side - this way less chips and other damage to the front side of the tile are formed.

The described tools for cutting tiles are rarely used in isolation - it is much more expedient to combine the use of various methods.

For example, when laying wall tiles for cutting straight fragments, it is good to use an inexpensive manual tile cutter or even a glass cutter (quickly, you don’t have to leave the room), but for curly patterns and cutting thin strips, you can sometimes choose a grinder, working in open space.

How to cut porcelain stoneware - an overview of the necessary tools

The answer to the question of how to cut porcelain stoneware has to be sought by anyone who is going to use this facing material.

Even if the dimensions of the room are a multiple of the size of the tile, it will still have to be adjusted at the exit points of utilities.

Material Features

Porcelain stoneware is made by pressing a mixture of clay, quartz sand, feldspar and other minerals, followed by high-temperature firing.

The result is a dense material with a meager amount of pores and the highest hardness - 7 - 8 units on the Mohs scale.

For comparison: corundum has the same hardness (sapphire and ruby belong to this variety of minerals), only diamond and some other materials have a higher indicator.

This feature makes porcelain stoneware wear-resistant even under the most intense loads, but at the same time very difficult to process.

The problem is exacerbated by the fragility of the material: with careless actions, chips appear on the front side. Therefore, the question of choosing a tool for cutting porcelain tiles is very important.

How to cut porcelain stoneware

The processing methods of this material are primarily divided into two types. Each of them has its own indications for use.

Manually

cutting hand tool justified for small volumes of work. It is usually resorted to by owners of apartments and houses who decide to carry out repairs on their own.

Advantages of the method:

an available tool is used;
no dust.

Manual cutting tool

Disadvantages:

poor performance;
often poor cut quality.

power tools

A professional has to cut porcelain tiles in large volumes, so he cannot do without a power tool.

Advantages of the method:

high speed of work;
quality cut.

Power tool use

Disadvantages:

a large amount of dust;

How to cut porcelain stoneware so that there are no chips

In order to avoid the appearance of chips on the front surface of porcelain stoneware tiles, when trimming it, two rules must be observed:

Start cutting from the front side, since chips are most likely when the tool exits the material.

When using a power tool with a cutting disc, the rotation speed of the latter at the beginning and at the end of the operation is slowed down.

Can glass cutter be used?

Porcelain tiles will be too tough for a manual glass cutter, with the exception of its thinnest varieties. When cutting thick modules, this tool is used only as an auxiliary tool.

Is it possible to cut porcelain stoneware with a manual tile cutter?

This tool for cutting porcelain stoneware is quite suitable. It should be noted that it requires some skill, so it is advisable to practice beforehand.

Manual tile cutter

What tools are used for cutting

A complete list of tools used for cutting and drilling porcelain stoneware includes manual or electrical devices.

Manual tile cutter

The cutting element in a manual tile cutter, as in a glass cutter, is a roller, but not carbide, but diamond. When rolling it with clamping force on porcelain stoneware, microcracks form in the surface layer. Next, the tile is broken into two parts.

A manual tile cutter is used like this:

Check the condition of the tool: you need to make sure that the roller is sharply sharpened and firmly fixed, and the carriage has no play. A dull edge and loose supports will affect the quality of the cut. In this case, the roller is changed. If it dangles from side to side, it is necessary to tighten the fixing screws. When the carriage is jammed, bearings are changed in the guides during movement or the guides are cleaned, lubricated with machine oil. The same is done in the presence of backlash. It is useful to drop oil on the roller as well, so that it turns more easily and wears out less.

According to the results of measurements, a cut line is applied to the tile.

Lay the module on the base of the tool so that the roller runs exactly along the line. At the same time, the carriage is installed on the tile with support legs so that the cutting element does not touch it.

With force pressing the tile with one hand to the base, with the other they take the handle of the tool and set the carriage to the working position: the supports are removed and the roller is placed on the tile.

Bring the roller to the beginning of the cut line and, pressing the handle, roll it modulo from one edge to the other. A good cut requires constant force and speed.

The second hand continues to hold the tile, preventing it from shifting.

Then, the carriage is reinstalled with support legs on the tile and, continuing to hold the module with your hand, by pressing the handle, break it. With a low cut quality, the edge is ground with a grinder armed with a cutting disc for stone.

The incision must be made in one pass. When rolling the roller again, the cut will be uneven.

Electric tile cutter

The electric tile cutter cuts with a diamond-coated blade rotated by an electric motor. In addition, the engine moves a table with a tile fixed on it or a head with a disk (depending on the model) along the cut line.

Discs called wet cutters are used. They provide a high quality cut but require liquid cooling. IN different models There are two cooling methods:

a container with water is installed under the base of the tile cutter, so that the lower part of the disc is immersed in it;

flowing water is supplied to the disk.

Tile cutter manual electric Greapo PTC1200

When working, the following rules are observed:

The speed of rotation of the disk at the beginning and end of cutting is slowed down.
The tile is held by hand with sufficient force to avoid vibration. The module is pressed by hand on both sides of the incision.
When using a tool with non-flowing cooling, the water in the tank is changed more often, otherwise the disc will capture the debris accumulating in it, which will negatively affect the quality of the cut and the resource of the cutting element.

A disc clogged with crumbs is cleaned by cutting a brick of pressed sand with it or by setting it with the reverse side (in the absence of an indicator of the required direction of rotation).