Home Cutting Stoneware Tiles

Electric cutter

The electrical apparatus is devoid of mechanical drawbacks. Thanks to him, they achieve a very high-quality cut. It allows you to work with dense and thick porcelain stoneware without compromising on quality. In addition, he is able to cut thin pieces of ceramics; in the case of a mechanical tool, even if there is a new roller and lubricated skids, there is no guarantee of a positive result.

An electric tile cutter is not as fast as a manual tile cutter, but that hardly matters where perfect quality is needed. The only drawback is the relative high cost. However, the price is comparable to a quality imported mechanical tool.

What is an electric cutter?

• Table or mill.
• Guide.
• Cutting element (diamond wheel).
• Electrical engine.
• Water system.

Cutting with a diamond wheel is accompanied by a large amount of dust, therefore the device has a hydraulic system that cools the cutting element and prevents active spraying of the ceramic. The models differ in the water supply scheme. In one case, it is a reservoir with a liquid, in which part of the circle is constantly immersed, in the other, wetting is carried out by running water. The fluid must be changed periodically to avoid the accumulation of waste contaminating the diamond element. The latter should also be washed regularly, otherwise cutting particles become clogged.

Electric water cooled tile cutter.

Undercutting at an angle of 45 degrees on an electric machine.

4 ways to cut porcelain stoneware: tile cutter, angle grinder, waterjet

Many people dislike trimming tiles. This lesson is quite difficult for a beginner. If you have not come across it, practice first on a clay tile. It is much softer and more pliable than porcelain stoneware. The tools are the same, and by stuffing your hand on ordinary ceramics, you can more confidently handle the artificial stone. Cutting porcelain stoneware involves the use of mechanical and electrical “helpers”.

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Mechanical tile cutter

It is the most popular exclusively tiled tool. There are many variations, but a porcelain tile cutter should be relatively powerful and durable. It consists of a frame, rail guides, a cutting roller and tabs for breaking tiles. The machine (bearing or cylinder) with two guides has become widespread.

Manual tile cutter device.

To cut porcelain stoneware:

• Mark the boundaries of the cut.
• Place the plate on the tool bed so that one mark corresponds to the center of the bed and the other to the cutter wheel.
• Swipe the roller evenly from one mark to another.
• Press your paws gently into the cut.

Cheap tile cutters chipped due to roller play and poor pressure.

We are talking about “standard”, popular, tile cutters with a relatively low cost. An expensive tool, especially a monorail, is free from this drawback. But for homework, for obvious reasons, it is not suitable.

Hand tools are good for quickly cutting a large number of slabs, the cutting point of which will later be hidden. In this he is much better than an electric apparatus. Considering that it comes with a template that helps you not to be distracted by marking the ceramic when trimming the same pieces, this is the best solution for volumetric and clean work.
The video shows how easy it is to cut porcelain stoneware with a hand-held tile cutter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTC9H3T_bLs

Angle Grinder

An angle grinder is the tool that will help out in the absence of any other cutting tool. Further about the advantages and disadvantages of the angle grinder.

The angle grinder can be trimmed to any shape and size, and the angle can be sanded at 45 degrees. For work, you need a special diamond disc for tiles: smooth and without holes.

• Availability. there is an angle grinder in almost every home, it is enough to purchase a diamond wheel.
• Possibility of curly cutting. The mobility of the tool allows you to cut almost any shape. skill would be enough.
• Many people have a certain skill of working with an angle grinder, this provides a quick mastery of the trimming process.

• Noise and dust. Working with an angle grinder is accompanied by “audio” and a lot of dust.
• An angle grinder is a dangerous tool. Careless movement and neglect of safety measures can easily lead to injuries.
• Poor quality cut. Depending on the quality of the angle grinder, the degree of chips and microcracks in the tile is different, but there are always flaws. Finishing the cut by grinding partly solves the problem, but it is better to use an angle grinder for working with tiles, which, from an aesthetic point of view, are not of great importance. the cutting places should be hidden.

Safe working techniques with an angle grinder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvqotukmgEo
Having outlined the cutting line, cut a couple of millimeters from it. the diamond wheel “eats” part of the ceramics. Set the circle in accordance with the direction of movement of the mechanism; there is an arrow on the cutting element. In the process, try to drive the car back and forth less, this will reduce the number of chips. This advice does not work when trimming thin pieces of porcelain stoneware, here the desire to cut in one pass will turn into a scrap of a slab.

Approach responsibly when choosing a diamond wheel, buy high-quality consumables. Otherwise, it is fraught with the destruction of the element, which at high speed leads to injury. Give preference to circles without ventilation (gaps), ceramics do not like them.
Video about choosing a diamond wheel for trimming porcelain stoneware:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bn8ab9DkRI
A blunt “diamond” can be brought into working condition with a brick. Walk over it 2-3 times with a cutting element, this will rid the circle of accumulated dirt.
How to make a narrow crop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCTfHEy2j7g

Waterjet cutting

How a waterjet machine works.

• Choosing a water-cooled electric tile cutter
• 3 ways to cut tiles at home
• Manual tile cutter: choosing a quality model and using

Methods for cutting porcelain stoneware

However, ceramic tiles differ in a number of qualities from porcelain stoneware. Mostly these are hard-to-machine elements with a solid structure. The glass cutter will allow you to cut only thin porcelain stoneware tiles, but even in this case, a high percentage of scrap is not excluded. Due to the already noted structure hardness, hand tools are not suitable either. In any case, you need to prepare for long and unproductive work.

Sawing gres with a hacksaw for metal or a jigsaw will be accompanied by a regular change of attachments (diamond saws for granite). Those who nevertheless decide to use a manual glass cutter should do the work according to the following method:

• Scratch the tiles around the entire perimeter and prepare a flat and stable surface.
• Lay in a thick, straight piece of wire.
• Place the element on the surface in such a way that the cut point coincides with the line of the wire.
• Step on both sides of the tile by pressing lightly.

With proper observance of the previous points, 70% of the tiles will have to split right at the intended place. The quality of the left trace from the glass cutter is of great importance, it should turn out to be even and deep.

If you plan to pave large areas with porcelain stoneware, then it is advisable to use an electric cutter. This tool is provided with a special disc for processing porcelain stoneware and is similar in principle to a circular hand saw. Working with an electric tile cutter is very easy, especially when compared to other methods. Cutting granite tiles goes like clockwork, but watch closely to control the processing itself, which should be carried out without jerks. Otherwise, there is a possibility of temperature incandescence of the saw, which often leads to the appearance of chips and cracks. In addition to conventional cutting with an electric tile cutter, relatively even bends and neat corner cuts are made. for comparison, no glass cutter will allow you to cut a square-shaped element from a porcelain tile.

An electric tile cutter is not cheap and it is not profitable to purchase it for cladding several squares with porcelain stoneware. But today, at least in big cities, there are many companies that offer to rent such a power tool. Such rental costs an average of 200 rubles. per day, but this is enough to cut the required amount of porcelain stoneware in various configurations. However, if ventilated facades are made of porcelain stoneware, then the work may be delayed.

A small angle grinder equipped with a diamond disc also allows you to cut the tile material. But for cutting “granite” it is necessary to choose the right speed (if the possibility of self-tuning is provided). At the same time, the “angle grinder” is a rather insidious tool and at the slightest deviation from the given direction, not only damage to the entire tile is possible, but injury. In general, this tool has a high risk of injury, so an experienced master should work with it.

As you know, many troubles arise in cases where safety precautions are not followed and if the tool is used for other purposes. Accordingly, to work with an angle grinder, it is necessary to provide a high-quality and serviceable disc, a protective casing for it, a respirator and goggles.

Drills with “ballerinas” or a drill designed for ceramic materials are also used to form holes. When creating small curved cuts, you can use an electric jigsaw.

We cut porcelain stoneware at home

Tiles may need to be cut or drilled when wall cladding or flooring. Exceptions may be those cases when it is possible to select tile elements with a size that will allow you to finish the surface without excess. But the perfect match in size is achieved with difficulty, and in corner, difficult areas, the processing of porcelain stoneware is completely inevitable.

There are several available technologies for cutting porcelain stoneware at home, but first, let’s look at the traditional methods that are used in such works.

Traditional ways of cutting tiles

If you have to process a not very thick tile, with which it is planned to cover a small area, then, with sufficient dexterity and existing skills, the operation can be performed using a standard glass cutter. Problems may arise for those who are going to do it for the first time. Since some of the tiles will split in the most inappropriate places, some margin should be provided. Unfortunately, the material and costs incurred in this case are unavoidable.

The next, more modern technology involves the use of a mechanical tile cutter. To begin with, the tile is inserted into the appropriate niche for fixing, after which an incision is made with the roller of the tile cutter. The procedure ends by breaking the element into two parts.

It happens that a cut is required not with a straight, but curly profile. There are also several options here, such as a diamond wire or a file that are inserted into a hand jigsaw. However, the cutting procedure itself is very long and painstaking. This method is appropriate if you need to process a small volume of tile material or in cases where the cut has a broken line and other methods are not suitable.

Another solution for forming a shaped cut is an electric jigsaw, also equipped with a file for granite or tile. It is recommended to wet the cutting area abundantly during processing. this will reduce the risk of chips, especially on tiles with a glazed surface or when the thickness of porcelain stoneware exceeds standard values.

Often in finishing work it is necessary to perform drilling on the tiles. For small holes, a standard drill with a special tile drill may work. If you need to create a hole of large diameter, then use a device called “ballerina”.

Drilling porcelain stoneware

The choice of a tool that will allow drilling in a porcelain stoneware tile is determined by the purpose of the future hole. If you need to pass a twisted network pair through the tile, or a 2-core cable, the mentioned conventional drill of the appropriate size will do. Usually, porcelain stoneware for the kitchen is drilled on the floor, when it is required to conduct communications to the stove or other equipment.

But often the task is to lay through a tile, for example, a plastic cable duct, or a water pipe. In such cases, you cannot do without a carbide or diamond tip especially for porcelain stoneware, and you should also choose the appropriate tip shape and diameter.

Regardless of the tool chosen, you must adhere to the following drilling rules:

• Drilling should be done from the front of the element. When the tip comes out of the porcelain stoneware tile, the edges of the hole will be chipped anyway, but from the wrong side it will not be noticeable.
• Work should be carried out at low speeds, but with a high-power drill. this will reduce the wear of the nozzle, and also eliminate the risk of damage to the tile coating.
• During work, the drill for porcelain stoneware must be constantly watered with water to cool.
• The work itself should be organized on a hard surface, preferably wooden. The plane of the porcelain stoneware element must be perpendicular to the surface.
• To prevent the tile from cracking, do not press hard on it.
• If a hole with a diameter of more than 0.6 cm is made, then first its base is made to an incomplete depth with a drill of a smaller caliber.

There are many ways in which you can give the desired shape to porcelain stoneware, and the cutouts can be of any complexity. Most of them are quite feasible at home. Nevertheless, even when buying a tile, you should think about its possible processing and look in the manufacturers’ collections for elements with the necessary fittings. probably some of them will exclude the need to use cutting tools. Even for facing coal areas, manufacturers produce special models of porcelain stoneware tiles with bends of different shapes.

How to cut kerogranite. with a tile cutter or an angle grinder?

Hand tools are practically not used for porcelain tiles. They are not capable of cutting through such tough material. Experts advise using the following tools in cases where you need to cut porcelain stoneware:

• Angle Grinder;
• tile cutter;
• jigsaw with wire (diamond);
• a circular saw.

A conventional angle grinder is quite effective. With its help, both curly cutting of kerogranite and straight simple sawing are performed. For this, the tool must be equipped with a special disc for dry cutting. Such a nozzle must necessarily have a diamond coating.

When using an angle grinder, it is recommended to pre-mark the contours of the cut with a marker, regular pencil or chalk. Then you will never damage the tiles or get a bevel on the mowing line of the cut. Porcelain stoneware should be well fixed on some stable device (for example, on a workbench), install a spray nozzle in the direction of movement of the tool.

Cutting porcelain stoneware angle grinder

Now you can start cutting the tiles. The movements of the angle grinder must be performed smoothly, at the edge of the product it is desirable to slow down the speed of the tool. With a certain amount of effort, you will get a smooth cut. True, there is a possibility of chips.

If you don’t want to get a lot of defective tiles, use a tile cutter instead of an angle grinder. It can be manual or electric. The first is a device with a carbide or diamond blade, which is fixed by a holder.

A manual tile cutter (it must be mounted on a solid bed, which guarantees the safety of work and minimizes labor costs) can cut kerogranite up to 1.2 cm thick.This tool is usually used for cutting corners and for straight cuts. To obtain round holes in a tile, you need to use a tile cutter with a ballerina. a special device designed specifically for this purpose.

An electric tile cutter provides a higher quality of work. It comes with an upper and lower engine. The function of the sawing device in it is performed by a diamond disc, which is cooled by water when using the tool. In this case, wet cutting of porcelain stoneware is carried out.

Working with an electric tile cutter

An electrically mounted disc allows for 45-degree cuts. You cannot do such work with a manual tile cutter or an angle grinder. The disc must be taken as sharp as possible. The efficiency of cutting depends on the quality of its sharpening and strength parameters, as well as the absence of defects.

How to cut porcelain stoneware tiles with an electric tool? Be guided by the following diagram:

• Mark kerogranite product.
• Fix the tiles on a special platform.
• Fix the diamond disc in the tool, make sure it is securely attached.
• Apply a shallow scratch to the tile along the markings. Please note. the disc must go further from the edge of the product by 0.8-1 cm.
• Break the tile into pieces after the scratch, applying the required force.

When using a tile cutter, the risk of damage to the cut products is minimized. Therefore, it is used much more often than an angle grinder. In addition, the diamond blade on the tile cutter cuts material faster. In a short time, you can process a huge number of porcelain stoneware products at home.

When deciding to use such a disc, follow these tips from the pros:

• always make cuts from the front of the tiles;
• treat small chips that may form during work with a multipurpose grinder;
• use minimal effort when cutting to prevent splitting.

Cutting porcelain stoneware at home. how and what is done?

Unique characteristics of porcelain stoneware

Ceramic granite, also called kerogranite, is a finishing material of artificial origin, which, in terms of its external data and performance, differs little from natural stones. It is used in the decoration of residential apartments and public spaces, as well as for high-quality cladding of facades of various buildings.

Initially, porcelain stoneware was used exclusively as a tile for installing floor coverings in objects with serious loads. It was installed in industrial workshops and in public places. In recent years, the scope of the described material has expanded significantly due to its special properties. General consumers have come to love the following unique characteristics of porcelain stoneware tiles:

• antistatic;
• environmental friendliness;
• external aesthetics;
• frost and wear resistance;
• hygiene;
• durability of operation;
• fire resistance;
• high strength.

Stoneware tiles

In addition, kerogranite does not crumble, does not wear out during use, and does not scratch even under significant loads. All these advantages also determine the fat minus of the material. it is very difficult to cut it with your own hands, without resorting to the help of specialized companies.

Difficult does not mean at all that cutting porcelain stoneware in domestic conditions is absolutely impossible. Next, we will describe all the tools with which you can independently cut ceramic granite products according to the geometric parameters you need.

Required tools and materials

Cutting porcelain stoneware at home is carried out using various devices. Let’s talk about them.

Cutting kerogranite with a jigsaw and a circular saw. features

A jigsaw with a diamond wire makes it possible to perform curly complex processing of products of interest to us. It is rarely used by home craftsmen, as it requires certain skills in using such a tool. However, there is nothing difficult in its application. You just need:

• carefully monitor the movement of the wire (first, outline the contours of the cutout you need on the tile);
• constantly blow off dust from the surface of the workpiece (in this case, the cutting thread will follow a clean mowing line and cut the material with high quality);
• slightly moisten kerogranite tiles with water;
• pay special attention to the processing of the edges of products, where there is a high risk of chipping.

Processing the edges of the product from chips

Direct cutting of a large number of tiles can be performed with a circular saw. an aggregate with a toothed-type disc that is available to many DIYers. You need to mount a disc (diamond) on such a setup, with which you can dry cut.

The principle of using the “circular” is as follows:

Cutting tiles without power tools

• outline the line of the cut;
• press the kerogranite product to the working surface with both hands;
• move the tile forward onto the rotating disc.

Using a circular saw requires the utmost care. The tiles have to be moved by hand, which can cause serious injury to your fingers. Be extremely careful when working with this tool.!

Professional advice

Oddly enough, but most of the problems arise not even with the drive or the tool used to process porcelain stoneware, but directly with the diamond disc. The main complaint about the diamond is the rapid loss of cutting ability. As a result, with an increase in feed and force, the edge of the wheel heats up and begins to lose diamond powder. If you try to cut at home in this mode for at least 10-20 seconds, then nothing will remain of an expensive disc.

In this case, before each cut, the edge is cleaned and restored; at home, this can be done on an ordinary red brick by performing several small cuts. This removes soft material adhering to the diamond strip.

Experienced craftsmen, before cutting porcelain stoneware tiles, soak the material in water for 10-15 minutes. Artificial granite absorbs moisture very poorly, but a small amount of water still remains on the edge of the slab. As a result, the first time the cutting edge touches the surface, a beautiful, chip-free entry hole is guaranteed.

How to cut porcelain stoneware tiles at home

In terms of technology, there are two main ways to cut porcelain stoneware. To do this, you can use various tools and devices, but, regardless of the number and type of technical equipment, porcelain stoneware is still cut in two ways:

• Mechanical sawing of a porcelain stoneware array. In this case, the cutting line is sampled with an abrasive tool;
• Injection method. A deep scratch is cut on the surface of the porcelain stoneware along the future mowing line of separation. Further, a bending or shear force must be applied to the porcelain stoneware, and the tile splits exactly according to the markings.

At home, you can use both methods, depending on the available tool, the amount of work and the thickness of the material. In addition, the complexity of the cut line configuration must be taken into account. For example, if you want to cut a tile that is large enough in size at home, which simply does not fit into a tile cutter, then you will need to look for a diamond cut-off wheel and an angle grinder. For cutting at home, this is one of the most reliable ways.

Having laid the tiles on a sheet of drywall, you can cut the porcelain stoneware angle grinder along almost any path, it is only important to take your time and evenly press the edge of the disc against the surface of the porcelain stoneware. Otherwise, you can easily overheat the tile at the cut point, which will lead to the formation of a pinch.

How to cut porcelain stoneware tiles with a tile cutter

A table or floor device for cutting all types of tiles is a small frame with rails installed in the upper part and a carriage with a carbide head. The carriage is driven by a lever or electric drive. Simple and convenient mechanism at home.

At home, the tile cutter turns out to be the most affordable tool for cutting porcelain stoneware.

Before cutting the porcelain stoneware, the tiles are laid on the frame and fixed with plastic or metal stops. This is to ensure that the material does not shift during the cut. Next, we bring the head to the edge of the tile until it touches and push the lever away from you, the carriage with a diamond or carbide tip evenly passes over the surface of the tile, leaving a deep scratch behind.

It remains only with a slight but sharp movement to break the porcelain stoneware into two parts. One way to cut porcelain stoneware with a manual tile cutter is shown on

• It is very easy and comfortable to cut porcelain stoneware at home, you can master the cutting technique even with minimal experience and qualifications;
• A minimum amount of dust is formed, which is very valuable at home, especially if you plan to lay porcelain stoneware tiles on a small area of ​​the floor or wall.

An electric tile cutter resembles a circular saw for processing and sawing wood in its structure. In order to cut porcelain stoneware, you just need to set the size of the cut strip, after which you can cut in unlimited quantities.

Home compact version of the electric tile cutter

The disadvantages of the device include the fact that only material of a certain shape and size can be cut, for example, it is very difficult to cut a thin strip of porcelain stoneware or make an incision of a non-standard, curved shape.

A thin strip of porcelain stoneware is easier to cut with an angle grinder

How to cut porcelain stoneware with a glass cutter

The technology of cutting tile material using a manual glass cutter is not much different from the previous method. The only differences are that, instead of a carriage moving along the guides, you have to cut porcelain stoneware with a small tool held in your hand.

In fact, this is ideal if you want to cut material at home. Instead of a frame fixture, a regular table, a metal ruler and the glass cutter itself are used. In order to cut the porcelain stoneware, it is enough to lay a ruler on the mowing line of the marking and draw a diamond along the mowing line of the cut.

To break the material, the tiles are laid on the table so that the scratch line coincides with the edge of the table top, pressed on top with a board and with a sharp movement break the material into two halves. For home conditions, there is no easier way, but in order to master the technique, you need to practice cutting on the waste of porcelain stoneware or glass.

The advantage of this method is the simplicity and the minimum amount of equipment required. It is easier to store a manual glass cutter with a diamond at home than a tile cutter. The disadvantage of this method is that it is necessary to learn how to draw the line with a diamond along the markings at a constant speed, and most importantly, to do it continuously, in one motion, while accurately metering the force applied to the surface of porcelain stoneware.

In addition, it is very difficult to cut the material with a glass cutter without chips, therefore, if possible, it is best to use a diamond rather than a carbide roller.

Where to cut porcelain stoneware tiles

Oddly enough, but it is the smallest ceramic dust that is formed when cutting artificial ceramic granite turns into the main problem. At home, it is most convenient to cut the material directly at the place of its laying.

If you plan to cut tiles with a tile cutter, then you can cut out porcelain stoneware in any place suitable for this. The amount of shavings and dust in this case is insignificant, but the performance at home is relatively small.

For curly cutting or cutting sufficiently thick slabs of porcelain stoneware, you will have to use an angle grinder or machine. You will have to work at home either in the courtyard of the house, or you will have to sacrifice a bathroom or a toilet.

Cutting porcelain stoneware tiles at home

in Useful Tips, Miscellaneous 03/30/2020 1 Views

Anyone who prefers to make repairs or do minor work with their own hands must have had to cut porcelain stoneware at home. In the first trials, cutting of porcelain tiles is more difficult than in the case of cutting tiles. It turns out a lot of scrap, but in general, the process itself is not much different from working with high-quality ceramic tiles.

The cutting line should be marked with an allowance for finishing.

How to cut porcelain stoneware with a circular saw

Porcelain stoneware tiles can be cut and cut without any problems using a more powerful cutting tool, such as a hand-held circular saw. Engine speed and power allow you to cut almost everything at home, from wood to metal profiles.

In order to cut porcelain stoneware, the tool must be equipped with:

• First, a standard carbide-tipped saw blade must be replaced with a diamond disc;
• Secondly, a bandage ring is placed under the disk mounting, thanks to which it is possible to damp vibrations and uncontrolled bending of a thin and flexible diamond wheel.

Alteration of the saw for porcelain stoneware

The process of cutting material is not much different from working on an electric tile cutter, the only difference is that the engine power is noticeably higher. Therefore, you need to carefully control the supply of the diamond wheel with minimal effort, otherwise the porcelain stoneware quickly overheats and splits.

If you want to cut large quantities of porcelain stoneware, then there is no better option than an electric machine.

This method of sawing porcelain stoneware is considered the most productive, but at home it is used for short-term cutting of a small amount of material. You can work only in the yard, in the garage, in the shed, but in no case inside the dwelling. The amount of dust that is generated when cutting even a small amount of material is about an order of magnitude higher than all other cutting methods. The only undeniable advantage of this option is that with the help of a circular and a diamond wheel, you can cut porcelain stoneware at 45 degrees.

Features of cutting porcelain stoneware

It should be noted that cutting a very dense and hard porcelain stoneware slab is sometimes even easier at home than in the case of ceramic tiles. Those who don’t believe can try to cut overheated ceramics made on old Soviet or Chinese equipment at home. In comparison, cutting porcelain tiles does not look so problematic.

It is quite possible to cut porcelain stoneware without chips, although some masters argue that it is impossible to achieve this in principle. If this were really the case, then most of the walls and steps tiled with porcelain tiles would be with wide seams, curves and unattractive.

It’s not even about the hardness of porcelain stoneware. The technology for the manufacture of artificial granite is such that as a result of pressing and deep firing, material is obtained practically without internal stresses, and this is the guarantee of high quality mowing line sawing.

In order to accurately and accurately cut porcelain stoneware at home, only two conditions must be met:

• Choose the right cutting mode, ensure constant and uniform pressure with the cutting tool on the line of the cut of porcelain stoneware;
• Choose the right tool for your specific cutting conditions.

It is clear that at home, the possibilities of cutting the material are significantly limited, but even in an apartment it is quite possible to cut porcelain stoneware without a tile cutter, although initially the amount of dust generated when working with electric machines is frightening.

Industrial cutting

It is impossible to get a tile cut as smooth as its natural edges at home, especially when obtaining lines of complex configuration, so a workshop or workshop with special industrial equipment will come to the rescue. For example, laser cutting of porcelain stoneware and other methods can be used. special machines and discs for working with especially hard materials will easily cope with the task. Toolmakers use precision tools, diamond bits and hard cutters, not to mention waterjet cutting. Diamond cutting of porcelain stoneware is possible at home, if you have a tool with diamond attachments, it is convenient to make round cuts with them. However, any patterns in industrial cutting are made most carefully.

Industrial waterjet cutting of porcelain stoneware is the ability to tackle the difficult task of producing any shape with smooth edges. The water-jet method of cutting porcelain stoneware with water at home is not possible; this is done on an installation for mixing the smallest abrasive particles and water under pressure through a tube up to 0.2 mm in diameter. Such cutting does not violate the structure of the tile, it will cut without defects. The porcelain stoneware itself does not overheat during such cutting, and its polished or matte surface structure is preserved.

Cutting porcelain stoneware video gives only a general idea of ​​all types of cutting, drilling and other processing of porcelain stoneware. Today it is not a problem to create an unusual ornament or mosaic pattern, a contrasting frame around the perimeter or other pattern, it is only important to correctly develop a sketch and make a tile cut of the required shape and size. This is best done by specialists or builders who have the skills of cutting tiles and have the necessary tools for this.

Marking porcelain stoneware when cutting at home

It is difficult to give the required shape to porcelain tiles at home, but it is best to cut off extra centimeters along a straight mowing line with a tile cutter or roller glass cutter. Before cutting, be sure to fix the tiles well, as shown in the video. For marking, you need a marker and a ruler, and the marking line is made on the front side of the tile.

It is important not to make a mistake in measurements, because the perimeter of the floor is not always strictly rectangular, and a slight deviation after a couple of meters may be a noticeable error on the tile. That is why it is impossible to cut the entire tile at once according to the same marking. If the parallel sides of the perimeter exactly coincide in length, all angles are 90 °, then you can safely mark all the tiles along the wall in the same way. The stop ruler on the cutting machine saves time and effort as it can be used to make a series of repeated cuts of equal dimensions without a marker. When installing, if the edge should go under the skirting board or frieze, it does not need to be processed.

Ideally, the tile cutter is installed on a flat surface, the porcelain stoneware tiles are placed face up and fixed by pressing against the stop ruler, which is provided for the tile cutter. The tile is cut from itself to the side of the ruler, pressing on the half of the cut tile, after which the unnecessary part is broken off. If a corner or an uneven chip has formed, the excess can be removed with pliers.

Tip: On the tile, errors are eliminated when cutting, because only one cut is allowed, and the tool must work with an even load. On the front surface of the porcelain stoneware, there should be a noticeable groove along which the tile is split. The cutting line itself should be more than 1cm from the edges. Sometimes it is advisable to make round hole pieces on two halves of the cut tile. This operation is performed using a corner on the top of the forceps and a metal tooth on the bottom.

Methods for cutting and processing porcelain stoneware

Cutting porcelain stoneware tiles can also be mastered at home, when there is special equipment. It can be a universal cutting tool with different attachments, a special machine tool tile cutter, router, tile cutter or other devices. However, most of them can only cut in a straight line with no corners, curves, bends or holes, such as cutting porcelain stoneware with a tile cutter. In most cases, after cutting, porcelain stoneware needs to be additionally processed, and sometimes an uneven chip and other defects on the edge are obtained. If the uneven cut goes under the skirting board, then it does not need to be additionally refined, and for curly laying, every facet of the elements laid on the floor is very important.

Drilling of porcelain stoneware is required in places where pipes exit and cable passes, for fixing finishing elements and structures, decor items in interiors. It is relatively easy to drill or cut evenly porcelain stoneware tiles on your own, at home.

Regular cutting of porcelain stoneware is necessary to fit the tiles to the perimeter of the floor and walls. The selection of tiles in size and perimeter, which will surely lie on the floor without cutting, is a great success, especially considering that it is quite difficult to remove an extra centimeter and a half from porcelain stoneware. If you have the skill of working with ceramic tiles, then you can continue to work with porcelain stoneware. A high-quality cut is possible when working with a special diamond-coated disc and coolant (lubricating-cooling emulsion).

Curly cutting is needed for laying out mosaics, structural elements. Circles are cut out when passing through a ceramic granite plate of communications. Sometimes the intricate design of intricate partitions requires precise alignment with surface curves. Sometimes you need to tile an interesting surface relief, and you cannot do without curly cutting. For complex curved cutting or other “jewelry” processing of the edge of the tile, you will need water jet cutting.

Tip: Considering the hardness of the material, it is best to use only carbide drills or a diamond-coated disc that are capable of overcoming porcelain stoneware. The shape of the tip is selected depending on the cutting method. Do not rush to set the universal tool to the maximum revolution so as not to burn, but this is how you get the perfect groove. Remember that it is undesirable to cut tiles on a dry surface, since a lot of dust and small chips are formed, it can spoil the tool, clogging the disc and other working elements with these suspensions.

• Features of porcelain stoneware
• The main advantages of polished porcelain stoneware over natural materials
• Methods for cutting and processing porcelain stoneware
• Industrial cutting
• Marking porcelain stoneware when cutting at home
• Features of working with different tools when cutting porcelain stoneware
• Decorative properties of porcelain stoneware

Features of working with different tools when cutting porcelain stoneware

In the absence of a tile cutter for porcelain stoneware, cutting an angle grinder is suitable, the tiles are cut from themselves. A tile cutter is also suitable. this is a semblance of a roller glass cutter, and we fix the tile on the bed, it simultaneously cuts and chips off the unnecessary part. High-quality cutting of porcelain stoneware is more affordable even if there is a milling cutter with stone drills at high speeds, but the cutter gives a low-quality cut.

Also, for cutting porcelain stoneware tiles, use an electric tool, tile cutter or wet cutter, as well as a circular saw with a diamond cutter. There are other types of similar equipment, but the principle is the same. it is important to make a perfectly flat groove on the tile and split it without defects.

Tile

Among the latest developments in universal decorative coatings for surface finishing is porcelain stoneware. This material, excellent in every sense, combines the main advantages of natural stone and ceramic tiles. Due to its unique properties, very durable tiles, surpassing ordinary ceramic ones in many respects, are actively becoming the leaders in building and finishing materials. However, it is the hardness and high strength of the material that creates some difficulties during installation. this is cutting porcelain stoneware, so you have to use laser, waterjet, plasma and other types of cutting.

Features of porcelain stoneware

The production process of porcelain stoneware resembles the formation of a wild stone, and the result is something like ceramic tiles. Porcelain stoneware, as its name implies, has combined the properties of two materials. ceramic tiles and granite. It is based on high-quality clay with all kinds of pigments, additives and fillers, both chemical and natural. It is made under high pressure and high temperature, the process resembles the birth of natural stone from various components in the bowels of the earth. Because of its hardness, cutting porcelain stoneware at home is very difficult.

Although porcelain stoneware is one of the fairly new finishing materials, it gradually pushes aside natural marble and granite, ceramic tiles and wild stone. Today, porcelain stoneware is widely used as a finishing material and a complete decoration of modern interiors. It is used not only in the traditional laying of conventional washable surfaces and mosaic panels. on steps and stairs, in bathrooms and bathrooms. Porcelain stoneware can be seen in the interior decoration of government offices and banks, on the floor in a medical clinic and on the stairs of an expensive hotel, on the steps at the entrance to a shopping center or in the kitchen of a residential building.

At train stations, in supermarkets and in banks, where the surface of the floor and the lower part of the walls is subjected to daily intense stress and mechanical stress, there is no more versatile and relatively inexpensive finishing material than porcelain stoneware. It is perfectly suited for large mosaic panels or artistic compositions, where the layout provides for ornaments and rosettes contrasting in color and texture. However, patterned decoration is impossible without curly cutting of porcelain stoneware.

Homogeneous porcelain stoneware or porcelain stoneware mass is an evenly colored tile with a natural texture. With some abrasion, it does not change color and texture, but it can fade a little over time, without losing its attractiveness, but requires polishing. The most popular variety is “salt and pepper” texture, as well as plain tiles or monocolor. Imitation of natural gems and other varieties of natural stone is the most expensive option of porcelain stoneware, and it is considered an elite.

Today they have learned to make homogeneous tiles for malachite and jasper, granite and marble, onyx and lapis lazuli, amber and other ornamental stones. There are also options that exactly repeat concrete and asphalt, wild stone and brickwork, petrified lava, and other hard natural surfaces. Their manufacturing technology is approximately the same, but a special pigment and inclusions are required. The most difficult thing is to create porcelain stoneware with a play of the color of a natural gem and a similar structure. For external similarity with natural fossils, inclusions from anthracite, natural marble, crushed glass or fragments of shells of mollusks are often added to porcelain stoneware.

All polished surfaces do not like abrasive detergents and hard particles that can destroy the top layer of the tile. Water dripping regularly on the same spot can also damage smoothly sanded porcelain stoneware. Wet polished surfaces are quite slippery, so it is not recommended to lay this tile on the bathroom floor, it is more suitable for wall cladding. However, for the floor in the kitchen and toilet, in the hallway and on the stairs, it is irreplaceable, but it is still better to lay out such floors with homogeneous unpolished tiles.

The main advantages of polished porcelain stoneware over natural materials

Today, porcelain stoneware is actively used for independent decoration, for mosaic laying, and as an additional facing material. It is harmonious in interiors with an emphasis on eco-friendly materials in the decoration, in the vicinity of wood texture, wild stone, natural textiles, indoor plants and aquariums. Elite polished porcelain stoneware has proven in practice its superiority over natural stone and other finishing materials in a number of parameters:

• its quantity does not depend on the volume of stone mined in the quarry;
• it is often harder and does not have internal cracks and chips;
• he has excellent consumer characteristics;
• in most cases, porcelain stoneware is not inferior in quality to natural materials;
• it is more affordable;
• its tiles can be cast in any size, while some varieties of natural crystals are of limited size;
• porcelain stoneware is sufficiently homogeneous and devoid of natural defects that are found in almost all crystalline formations;
• it is convenient for cutting and stacking;
• a repetitive uniform pattern is guaranteed, in contrast to the natural variety of natural stone;
• it is a safe and environmentally friendly finishing material, and natural stone often has background radiation;
• a very hygienic material that practically does not absorb water, unlike simple ceramic tiles;
• porcelain stoneware has increased wear resistance;
• visually it is almost indistinguishable from natural materials.

The most advantageous porcelain stoneware “under the stone” looks in public receptions and restaurants, in offices and halls, on the stairs and in the pool, in the hallway and on the balcony. The only difficulty is cutting it, drilling and trimming the ends, or cutting porcelain stoneware at an angle of 45 °, which results in well-joined corners. This work cannot be done at home without equipment, since for trimming tiles at an angle of 45 °, a special machine or cutting tool is required that can handle greater hardness.

Wet installation of docked porcelain stoneware slabs gives the best quality corner treatment when finishing.