How to cut tiles with a tile cutter: tips and nuances. How to cut tiles at home: the best ways How to cut ceramic tiles with a manual tile cutter

It has already been briefly told and shown on this site.

At first glance, there is nothing complicated in this. But in any case, there are details. And the devil, as you know, lies in the details.

Cutting in a straight line is not particularly difficult. The need to cut the tile with the letter “L” leads to some confusion.

So usually you have to cut tiles on slopes and near various hatches, doors.

Step-by-step cutting of a piece of tile.

Previously, with the help of a square and a marker, it is necessary to mark 3 corner points of the cut piece. Sometimes a short wedge and a pencil are enough for marking. (VIDEO AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE).

MARKING THE TILE

Run the cutting wheel of the tile cutter along two lines, according to the markings.

Cut a short cut line with a grinder. The cutting wheel must be designed for cutting ceramic tiles (this is always indicated on the packaging of the disc). The cutting wheel, when cutting, should not be located along the line marked by the tile cutter, but along the edge, on the side of the cut off (unnecessary) piece.

All these difficulties are needed so that the cutting wheel does not leave chips on the enamel.

If the tile is “very budget option”, as in the picture, the enamel bounces even when cutting with a new wheel and an expensive tile cutter.

Part of the cut made by the “grinder”

After a short cut was made by the grinder, the tile must be installed with the long side on the tile cutter, exactly along the line previously drawn by the wheel, and broken off with the tile cutter lever handle.

The lever (with a cutting roller) for breaking tiles must be installed at the beginning or at the end of the tile, stepping back from the edge of the tile 2-3 cm.

setting the tile cutter lever when pressing on the cut line

In this way, you can cut tiles up to 12-15mm thick. But not just any tile cutter.

Cheap tile cutters, with two pipe guides, bend and often cannot break ordinary porcelain stoneware. The tool shown in the photo can cut tiles up to 18mm. Only in this case, it is necessary to make cuts on both sides of the tile.

broken piece

After a piece of tile is broken off, it is necessary to refine the corner with a cutting wheel.

The whole process is completed by grinding, cut edges, with a grater with sandpaper. This operation is especially important when the cut part of the tile is not covered by anything.

When it is not possible to install a tile cutter on a table or workbench, they work directly on the floor. With a significant amount of pruning, the knees begin to hurt. This can be avoided by placing a 5 cm sheet of Styrofoam next to the instrument. Not only will this keep your knees comfortable, but it will also help you trim large tiles.

“LITTLE TIPS” when cutting tiles with a tile cutter

A short video on how to mark and cut a tile with the letter “G”

Questions and consultations on Skype:

1. How to cut a corrugated tile?

An electric tile cutter is most suitable for cutting corrugated tiles. This is the case when it is superior to mechanical (my opinion).

With a slight tuberosity of the tile, the last version of the tool is quite suitable.

But the greater the relief of the tile, the more difficult it is to break it with a lever along the cut line of the roller. Therefore, the cutting wheel should draw the fullest possible line of all irregularities. Then there is a chance that the tile will break along the cut line.

And the smaller the cut piece, the less chance for a successful cut. In the video below, you can see that half of the tile always breaks successfully.

No matter how hard we try to lay the whole tiles, it still won't work. The reasons are different - the non-standard dimensions of the room, the way of laying, in which you cannot do without pieces, etc. Therefore, you need to get used to the idea that you will have to cut in any case.

If you have already decided on the question, then you probably know how many and what trimmings will be in the process of work. Today we will tell you how to properly cut tiles at home.
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You probably know that baked clay is used for the production of tiles, which is glazed for strength and beauty. It is practically impossible to break it manually, but it is worth putting it on the slightest unevenness and it bursts even with minor loads. The process will become much easier and the line will be exactly where you need it if the glaze is loosened, in other words, cut and then broken.

The glaze layer can be loosened in three ways, namely:

special tool - manual or electric tile cutter,
tongs; grinder;
various improvised sharp objects. Today we will introduce you to each method of cutting tiles.

Working with a manual tile cutter

The option is very popular with both professional tilers and amateurs. Buying this tool is not difficult, the cost starts from 300 rubles. The price depends on the size, reliability and special devices. If the tile cutter has a swivel base and a built-in ruler to cut down at 45 degrees, then the price will be decent.

Try not to even look at the cheap model, it's a waste of money, because they have poor clamping and a weak base, so the tile breaks incorrectly in most cases.

We insert the tile into the tile cutter, combine the markings on the tile and the special mark on the tool. We lower the handle and move away from us with a smooth movement. The speed should be the same, the pressure should be uniform, then the glaze will be cut with the same depth. One cut with a roller is enough. If the movements are repeated several times, then we can get a low-quality fracture.

The tool is equipped with special paws, which, when lowered, break the tile into pieces of the desired size. The main thing is to sharply press the lever. All, without exception, tile cutters have a platform with a metal tubercle and soft linings.

When pressing the paws on the edge of the tile, the incision is under maximum pressure. With the correct combination of the cut line and the lining, the tile will split very evenly.

From the words, this process may not be entirely clear, especially to beginners. It is better to look visually and understand how to cut tiles with a tile cutter correctly.

Cutting tiles with the letter G

The tile cutter is designed only for straight cuts, so if you need to make an L-shaped cut, you will have to work a little. The easiest way would be to cut the tile into two parts, and then one of them again and, when laying, fold them with the letter G.

And as a result, we get an additional unnecessary seam, which is sharply conspicuous.

You can go the other way - the short side is cut with a grinder, the long side with a tile cutter.

This method is also suitable for cutting off external corners, the main thing is to correctly mark and subtract about 5 mm + grout + a slight indent from the wall.

There is another way: a cut on the surface of the glaze is performed using any improvised cutting and stabbing object, and then the excess is broken off with the help of pliers. To process irregularities, we use sandpaper.
In this way, you can make rounded incisions that are placed at the risers.

We cut porcelain stoneware

Everyone knows that porcelain stoneware belongs to the group of the hardest materials used for the production of floor tiles. The cutting method for it is the same as for a standard tile.

Often, floor tiles can be cut much worse than porcelain stoneware itself. This is especially true for hardened tiles, on which it is almost impossible to see the cut on the surface of the glaze. Often, even with the help of a diamond blade, it is impossible to make an even cut. In this situation, we take a grinder, cut out a groove from 2 to 3 mm on the reverse side, which will be the place of the break.

Cutting tiles with a tile cutter

The cost of tile cutters is from 200 to 400 rubles, and they can only perform small amounts of work. It is suitable for home cutting of thin ceramic tiles.

Instructions for using tile cutter-tongs:

Marking is applied, in which gaps and seams are already taken into account, i.e. - 5 mm.
The metal ruler should lie along the marking line. We take the cutter and lead it along the ruler, pressing so as to leave a visible strip. The movement of the torch should be towards you.

The legs of the forceps should be located along the break line at the edge. We set the sponges on top of the glaze, the straight part on the bottom.

The edges of the upper sponge should be located on both sides of the fault line at the same distance from it.

Pressing the handles must be done smoothly, then the tile will break off evenly. It is not advisable to lift it high, you can accidentally break it.

We work with an electric tile cutter

For a large amount of work, it is more advisable to use an electric tile cutter, then you are guaranteed speed and quality.
It works with a diamond wheel, automatically supplies water to the cut to cool it and remove dust. The most inexpensive type of "amateur" class is sold at a price of 3 to 4 thousand rubles.

Cutting tiles with a grinder

In the process of laying tiles, you may need not only whole elements, but also very narrow strips, the width of which is from 0.5 to 2 cm. It will not work to make such a cut using a conventional tile cutter, it has very wide paws.

In this case, the Bulgarian will help out. A notch line is drawn on the tile with any pencil, the main thing is that it be clearly visible. Sawing with a grinder with a diamond disc. It is better not to try to cut off the strip at a time, it will break off piece by piece. Try not to press the grinder, smoothly walk a couple of times along the cut line until you get a groove up to 2 mm deep. The disc must pass exactly next to the cut line, only in this case we will get a strip of the desired size.

In case of irregularities, we grind them with a grinder.

What to be guided by when choosing a disk for a tile

Any cutting is carried out with the help of metal discs, with diamond coating applied along the edge. But they differ in that each is designed to work with a specific material. Some cut concrete, others brick, others stone.

Discs for tiles are produced even, without holes, with a uniform and smooth soldering. The discs for concrete have slots on the soldering, so chips are obtained during vibration. If you cut ceramic tiles with such a disc, you can be injured by a broken piece.

Shot at a 45 degree angle

Very often, when laying tiles, it becomes necessary to join the outer corners. You can get a beautiful edge with a ceramic angle, but many tilers prefer to cut at a 45-degree angle.

With the help of a professional electric tile cutter with an inclined surface, a 45-degree angle is very simple. But, unfortunately, not everyone can boast of having such a tool. Let's try to perform such a cut on our own, with our usual grinder. It is necessary to draw a cut line and draw a disk along it, tilting it slightly inward.

Cutting tiles without a tile cutter

Sometimes it happens that cut tiles need only a few pieces. It is not rational to purchase a tile cutter for this. This task can be done with the help of tools that are always at hand, namely:

glass cutter;
drills, ideally it should have a winning tip so that the tile is easier to scratch;
nail;
construction knife.

A metal ruler is applied at the cut site. Using a glass cutter or a drill, we scratch a line along the ruler on the enamel of the tile. We carry out only once, if with a knife, then several.

We put the tile on the corner, combine the cut with its edge and sharply press on the edge of the tile. The line will not come out smooth enough, as with a tile cutter, but money will be saved on its purchase.

Craftsmen know that cutting ceramic tiles will be easier if you pre-soak them for an hour in water.

Summing up

Cutting ceramic tiles is actually not a complicated process. This will become clear later, when the first successful experience comes. In the meantime, try to take into account the percentage of losses when buying and buy material with a small margin of 10-15%.
Sometimes sellers offer their services for sawing, but this offer can only be used if you know exactly the dimensions and shape.

Most people choose ceramic tiles for finishing the bathroom, kitchen, bathroom. Many of the tenants themselves lay it down. In order to avoid unevenness and achieve a perfect finish, 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, it will be possible to quickly and accurately cut elements of the required size, while avoiding the appearance of chips and cracks during the cutting process.

For cutting ceramics, electric and mechanical tile cutters are used. Models powered by the mains are relevant for the industrial scale of construction.

Manual models are more suitable for doing work at home, but they require more skill and physical strength.

Manual tile cutters come in several types:

Roller. The device is a product consisting of a handle and a cutting roller. Use this device as a stand-alone tool or in combination with a saw station.
Mechanical. Such options are able to cope even with a solid type of tile. Due to the presence of a rigid carriage, it is possible to carry out accurate cutting.
on bearings. This option is resorted to when you need to cope 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, they resort to wire cutters. With the help of them they also make a figured edge.

All manual models have a number of positive aspects, which makes them in demand 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 - a separate room will not be needed for work, a small area on the table / floor will be enough;
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 number of preparatory work that have a direct impact on the final result.

Preparing the tool for work

Inspect the product for any damage. Watch the video - there should be no distortion, notches. Otherwise, you will have to replace it with a new one.
Pay attention to cleaning the fixture, not forgetting to wipe the guides and the surface of the bed.
All nuts and bolts must be tightened.
Lubricate the carriage with oil if there are problems with its movement.

markup

To work at this stage, you will need a pencil / marker, with which you need to draw a 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 cut tiles with a tile cutter? To get an even cut, follow the technology:

For 1-1.5 hours, cover the tile with a wet cloth or soak in water. Thus, it will be possible to make ceramics more pliable and avoid crumbling.
Tile fixing. There are tile cutter models that have tacks - they will take care of the immobility of the plate. If there is no such element, you need to support the material with one hand. The cutting element must be exactly above the future fault. If the die is large, you can put something under its edges so that it does not stagger.
The cutter should be at the very beginning, on the edge of the tile (where the line is drawn).
In the process of cutting, make an effort to make it easier to break the die into two parts later.

Attention! If the furrow turned out to be shallow, you do not need to re-pass with a tile cutter. Otherwise, it is likely that the edges will begin to crumble and turn out to be sloppy.

Fault

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

If you are choosing a tool for a one-time use, an inexpensive model, for example, from a Chinese manufacturer, will do. For reusable use, it is advisable to buy a manual professional tile cutter - it will last for many years.
Regardless of whether you are cutting porcelain stoneware with a tile cutter or ceramics, take into account the length of the diagonal of the plate. It is desirable that the length of the working area be greater than, in no way less than the diagonal of the finishing element.
Before you start cutting, you need to drop machine oil on the surface of the roller. This solution will significantly reduce the friction of the roller and the die - this will help improve the quality of the notch.
In order for the fault to turn out as it should, do not rush, do not make sudden movements. The course of the crown should be smooth, unhurried. Make sure that the box does not get stuck while driving.
Pay attention to the roller, it should not have any backlash.

Safety regulations

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

Safety regulations:

Put on a protective cover, special shoes.
You also need to wear glasses to avoid getting fragments from the tiles in your eyes.
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 completed safety training may cut the dies. You also need to know how to provide first aid for an injury.

Should tiles be wetted?

In which direction should the carriage move, towards you or away from you? This question arises for many. It is more convenient for someone to work by cutting the tile in the direction away from themselves. Someone gets a smoother furrow when cutting occurs towards you.

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

Components:

carriage;
lever;
guides;
cutting element;
foot - provides a break of the die.

A tile cutter is a tool on the basis of which there are skids (guides) - a crown with a hard alloy steel roller moves along them. On this base and lay the tile for cutting.

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

Before buying, you should also ask the seller which tile cutter to choose for porcelain stoneware. 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 on hand that will help you make a clean cut.

Tongs - 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 started repairs in your apartment) and only if the tile is thin.

Technology:

Markup. Check all gaps and seams.
Display the fault line.
Position the tongs so that the legs are along the drawn line near the edge. The rectangular part should be at the bottom, and the sponges on the front side.
Gently, without haste, gently press on the handle to break off a piece.

Bulgarian

With the help of it, it will be possible to cut a strip 0.5 wide - cm. A simple tile cutter cannot cope with such a task. Draw a break line. Next, make it washed down with a grinder with a diamond roller. No need to rush and immediately make a cut across the entire tile. There is a high chance that the strip will break off.

Note that the disk must go along the line. If it follows the line, the width will decrease. Pass along the seam several times in order to cut off the strip.

glass cutter

Place the plate on a flat table with the beautiful side up.
Place a ruler along the cut line. Without removing the ruler (acts as a guide), attach the glass cutter to the top of the die.
With effort, draw a notch line, so it will be possible to reduce the resistance in case of a break.
Place a nail under the plate.
Gently press on the edges of the tile, trying to evenly distribute the load. The product should burst along the incision line.

Drill bit with pobedite tip

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

Waterjet installation

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, in the process of cutting and choosing a tool, as well as watching an introductory video that tells about all the stages of cutting with a tile cutter, it will be possible to cut the plate perfectly evenly.

Video review

When carrying out construction work on your own, there is often a need to cut ceramic tiles at home. To do this, it is not necessary to have a professional tool - a tile cutter. The tile is cut with improvised means, you just need to be patient and time.

Choice of cutting tool

For cutting tiles at home, both universal and narrowly focused tools are suitable. The following devices are used to cut tiles with a tile cutter:

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

Using a manual tile cutter

It is necessary to consider the device of the tool in order to understand how to properly cut the tile 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. Among the shortcomings, the impossibility of cutting off the edges of the tile with a width of less than 5 mm is noted.

Preparatory stage of work

Before the next use of the tile cutter, you will need to conduct an external inspection to check its functionality and exclude the possibility of injury during operation. Checking is recommended in the following sequence:

Making an incision

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

Cutting without specialized tools

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

Making a cut with a grinder. The grinder is a universal tool that is also suitable for cutting ceramic tiles. With this tool, you can perform both straight and curved cuts of any shape. For work you will need:

Bulgarian.
Stone cutting wheel.
Protective glasses.

When all the tools necessary for work are prepared, they proceed to laying out the tiles. Fulfill it using a marker or a sharp object. In the process of working with a grinder, a lot of dust is generated, so the previously outlined lines can be erased.

After the markup is completed, the cutting of the product begins. An angle grinder cut is performed in the following main ways:

Several passes are made according to the markup. For each pass, they deepen up to a distance of 3 mm. This operation is performed until the end result is reached.
If the marking length is less than 2 cm, then the cut is performed for the entire thickness of the product.
Marking is applied on both sides of the product. On the front side, a cut is made with a depth of up to 3 mm. Then, on the reverse side, an incision is made along the markings of 3 mm per pass. This method, although labor-intensive, avoids accidental mechanical damage.

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

The use of a jigsaw

To use this tool in working with tiles, you will need a special stone file. The tile is installed on a 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 cut curved segments with a large radius. It should be noted that this tool is not recommended for use when cutting porcelain stoneware, as this material is much stronger than tiles.

Glass cutter or tool with a cutting edge

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

To make the cut even, a scratch on the glossy surface of the product must be applied carefully, firmly pressing the glass cutter to the work surface. After making a cut below the glossy layer, the tile is split. There are the following ways to split:

Using a solid rod. The tile is placed with the back side at the place of the risk on a solid rod. After that, a sharp pressure is applied to the product with hands from both sides.
With clamps. The essence of this method is to fix the products between the clamps at risk and sharply press on the protruding edge.
Hitting a flat corner. When using this method, the tile is taken in hand and a sharp blow from the back is applied to a 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 fault to turn out to be of high quality, the angle must be sharp and hard.

To create curly holes, it is advisable to use tile cutters. It is recommended to apply on the surface of the cut line along the breakout boundary by any available method.

Biting off pieces of tiles when using this tool is recommended in small pieces so as not to break out the excess area beyond the cut boundary.

Nozzles for cutting round holes

To create round holes in the tile, 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 required at low speed(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 obtained, nozzles are divided into the following types:

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

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

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

A tile cutter is a special tool that is designed for cutting ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, glass. These building materials are very common: finishing work rarely does without the use of tiles, which are used to line the floors and walls of kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways. At the same time, one constantly has to face the need to cut the material to the desired size, to create holes in it, for example, for sockets or switches, pipes. But cutting tiles with a tile cutter, like other materials, should be done correctly in order to reduce the amount of waste and get the best quality result. The technology of the workflow is determined by the type of equipment used.

There are many models of tile cutters on the market for construction tools. All their variety according to the type of energy due to which work is performed is divided into two main types:

mechanical;
electric.

Via mechanical variety carry out a straight or figured (curvilinear) cut of the tile, create holes in it. In this case, the thickness of the processed material is limited to 16 mm. They are characterized by high performance: they are able to cut tiled material with a thickness of more than 16 mm.

The principle of cutting tiles with mechanical and electrical tools is different. But models of equipment of both types are used both in everyday life and in professional activities in accordance with their functionality.

Construction of mechanical tools

The mechanical tool is divided into manual and stationary (desktop) models. Manual tile cutters there are two varieties:

in the form of wire cutters, the design of which is shown in the photo below;

in the form of a roller cutter having the device shown in the photo below.

The device of manual models is very simple, but with their help you can only work with thin tiled material.

Stationary products represented by a large number of different modifications. But in all cases, the desktop-type tile cutter device has the following structural elements:

a carriage with a cutting roller and a handle moving along guides;
base (also called a platform, table or bed);
a lever with which the incised tile is broken;
paws fixing the tile.

The guides are fixed on the racks. All the details considered in detail are shown in the following photo.

Some models have measuring rulers, which allows cutting without preliminary marking. If the mechanism has additional attachments such as ballerinas, then you can use them to cut holes of different diameters.

Hand cutters and stationary models work according to the following principle:

a roller makes an incision in the sawn material;
break the tile along the cut line.

With the help of a tile cutter, small pieces are bitten off from the tile. This tool can only work on the edges.

The device of electric cutters

Electric tile cutters are similar in design to a circular saw. They are divided into two varieties:

manual models;
machine (stationary) electrical equipment.

The main nodes of any model are:

electric motor;
a head with a diamond disk fixed on it;
lever;
power button.

The electric motor of mains electrical equipment can be single-phase (runs on 220 V) or three-phase (designed for 380 V).

There is equipment equipped with diamond band saws instead of discs.

Manual models have a support base. Some products have special rollers on it, so that it is convenient to move the power tool over the surface of the material.

Some of the electric tile cutters are equipped with stops, rulers, goniometers, as well as water tanks for cooling the cutting site. These structural elements are clearly visible in the photo below.

For dust removal, some modifications are equipped with a dust collector. There are device options with the possibility of connecting a vacuum cleaner, for example, as in the photo below.

Manual electric tile cutters can work on batteries. Such models are supplied to the market by RYOBI (for example, LTS180 M) and Makita (4191 DWD, CC 300 DWE).

Machine electrical equipment, depending on where the electric motor with the saw head is installed, there are the following modifications:

with the lower placement of these nodes;

cantilever (the table with the workpiece moves, and the disk is stationary) and bridge (the cutting head moves relative to the material) with an upper location of the electric motor.

A detailed design of a bridge electric cutter using the example of Elitech PE 1000/92P is shown in the following photo.

ElectricThe tile cutter works on the same principle as a circular saw.. When the power button is pressed, the electric motor starts to work, causing the diamond blade to rotate. It completely cuts the tiles laid on the table at angles of various sizes, and not just at 90 degrees.

Cooling consists in supplying water to the cutting area. At the same time, the liquid prevents the formation of dust, cleans the disk from tile particles.

Preparation for work

Before you start sawing porcelain stoneware, glass or tiles, you need to prepare a working tool, and in some cases, set it up.

Any instrument is preliminarily inspected for external damage. For mechanical models, check:

condition of the roller - freedom of rotation, the presence of defects, sharpness, reliability of fixation;
smooth running of the carriage, the presence of backlash;
the bed for the presence of contaminants, removing them if necessary;
defects on the handle;
if there is an emphasis, then measure the angle between it and the axis of the cut.

The cutting roller must rotate freely, be clean and of the correct shape (no dents, dents). It should be the right size for the thickness of the tile being cut.

After a preliminary check and cleaning, the guides and the cutter are applied small amount of lubricant(machine oil). Then, using a construction pencil, marker or felt-tip pen, marking lines are applied to the surface of the tiled materials, along which the cut will be carried out.

If the modification is equipped with an emphasis and a measuring ruler, then marking is not necessary.

Before cutting off the tile with an electric tile cutter, check the reliability of the fixing of the disk. The contaminated disc is cleaned of adhering debris particles. If the power tool is equipped water cooling system, then maintain the presence of liquid in the right amount. Dirty water is completely replaced so that the cut is well cooled.

For electrical equipment, the power cord must be intact and dry: only in this form is it allowed to insert the plug into the socket. Also, during the operation of the device, the water circulating in the cooling system must not fall on the cable. After the electrical equipment starts working, you need to make sure that the fluid supply is continuous.

Normally, power tools are adjusted at the factory, but the settings may change during shipping. For this reason, it may be necessary adjustment of the cutting angle and the length of the working movement of the disc. Adjustment of each model has its own characteristics. The process of setting up the used installation is described in the operating instructions for it. To set the angles, you will need to use a protractor, goniometer or square.

Cutting tile and porcelain stoneware with a mechanical tile cutter

In order to properly cut the tile with a tile cutter, it is recommended that you first hold it in water for some time - this makes it easier to cut it.

Via mechanical stationary tool cut tile material in the following way:

a marking line is applied on the surface of the tile;
lay the tiles on the frame so that the markings coincide with the paths along which the cutting wheel (carriage) moves;

slightly pressing on the carriage, it is carried out once along the cut line;

the handle is set to the working position, then it is sharply lowered, breaking the tile along the cut.

To make the edges of the final pieces neat, the cut line should be at least a centimeter from the tile edge.

The pressure on the carriage should be so strong that the wheel cuts through the tile enamel, and the tile does not push through. It is not worth it to carry out several times, because the edges of the fragments will turn out to be uneven. When the edge is obtained with irregularities and chips, it will need to be further polished. It is possible to cut porcelain stoneware with a stationary type tile cutter only with a tile thickness of up to 15 mm. The process algorithm is completely similar to that described above.

Manual roller cutters work in the same way as stationary devices. In this case, only tiles of minimum thickness are suitable: such tools are not intended for professional use. For some beginners, the question often arises as to whether it is possible with a tile cutter cut glass. This can be done, but only with ordinary material. To cut hardened varieties, you will need a special power tool.

Tile cutter work like this:

bring the tool to the edge of the tile, placing its wide part on the front surface of the ceramics, and the central part of the pliers is placed along the bend line directly above the groove;
then carefully break off pieces of material.

With the help of wire cutters, you can make round holes, but for a quality job, you need to have the appropriate skills and be careful.

Electric tile cutters of different types work in the same way, so the technology for cutting tile materials with their help is similar. Working with an electric tile cutter is not particularly difficult, you just need to be careful and attentive. Manual models are more difficult to handle: the evenness of the cut depends mainly on the skills of the worker.

To properly use an electric tile cutter, you must adhere to the following rules:

before work, you must turn on the cooling system;
pre-apply markings on the surface of the workpiece;
fix the tile on the desktop;
after that, it is necessary to carefully move the tile to the disk, or vice versa (depending on the model of the unit being operated), constantly monitoring the pressing force at the same time;

before the end of the cut line, reduce the force of impact to prevent the formation of bumps or chips.

In addition to a straight cut, various shapes are cut with the help of electric tile cutters. In this case, the process occurs in the following sequence:

apply markup;
make cuts with an electric tile cutter, cutting off excess fragments and breaking them off with pliers;

process the edges of the workpieces, for example, with a needle file.

The use of a power tool allows you to cut the tile into thin strips a few millimeters wide, while the cut is even.

Possible errors when using the tool

Mistakes when working with both mechanical and electric tile cutters are made not only by beginners. Very rarely, but there are mistakes and professionals. An inexperienced worker needs time to master the device in use and achieve high quality tile cuts.

The most common are the following common mistakes when using tile cutters.

Employees do not use personal protective equipment, the minimum set of which must necessarily include goggles with gloves.
After the end of work, the operated tool is not cleaned of various adhering debris, for example, from small pieces of ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware or mortar. In subsequent use, this affects the quality, safety, and cutting efficiency.
The sawn tile material is poorly fixed: as a result of random movement, the straightness of the cut is violated.

At operation of mechanical equipment additional errors are possible:

for work, a device is used, the cutting element of which does not rotate freely, which leads to the formation of various defects (for example, potholes) along the edges of the cut line;
when cutting the workpiece, they exert uneven pressure on the cutter, which causes damage to the tile enamel;
if there is a special handle for breaking tiles, they do not use it, but do everything by hand inaccurately;
are carried out several times with a cutting element along the surface of the material, which leads to damage to the decorative layer and a curved fault line.

Working with an electric cutter for inexperienced users, it is also accompanied by errors, the main of which are as follows:

for machine models, the coolant (water) is not replaced in time;
the contact of the disk with the tiled surface is not carried out smoothly and easily, but sharply;
do not use headphones and a respirator;
electric cutters are operated with signs of external damage or with other malfunctions;
when sawing porcelain stoneware or ceramics, they exert excessive pressure on the working tool, overloading it with this;
turn on electrical equipment when the disc contacts the surface of the material being cut.

Mistakes in the use of devices for cutting tile materials lead not only to premature wear of the equipment and its failure, but are also associated with injuries of varying severity.

To learn how to work well with an electric or mechanical tile cutter, especially their manual models, you need to train in practice, constantly improving your skills. Before using the equipment, read the instructions for its use. It indicates the necessary measures for the periodic maintenance of the model, preparing it for work, and initial setup. Also, the operating instructions contain the necessary recommendations, the observance of which allows you to safely perform work. Ignoring these instructions will result in injury. It should be borne in mind that power tools are more dangerous than mechanical counterparts. You need to be very careful while working with it.