How to cut paving tiles with an angle grinder. Cuttings treatment

How to cut paving slabs at home

The question of what to cut paving tiles is relevant for everyone who is engaged in the arrangement of the yard area, creates garden or pedestrian paths, mounts coatings of various types of this material. Installing tiles without cutting is nearly impossible. there will still be areas where you need to install a section that is smaller or different shaped, especially when it comes to shaped tiles.

Incorrect cutting of paving slabs can lead not only to considerable financial costs (the larger and more complex the configuration of the area to be laid, the more will be cut tiles and, accordingly, waste if the task is performed incorrectly), but also risk to health, life. The use of the tool requires knowledge of safety rules and peculiarities of the work.

In many ways, the difficulty of cutting influences the shape of the tiles: square and rectangular tiles are easier to mark and cut than wavy, hexagonal, Z profile, etc.д. In the process of laying paving stones usually form certain patterns, ornaments that require a careful adjustment of the elements to size. In addition, you must know how to properly process and edge of the cut tiles, so that the coating was neat and aesthetic.

Different tools are used for cutting tiles, the choice depends on the master’s skills, type of tiles, conditions and peculiarities of work. But, first of all, you need to study all existing technologies.

How to cut a paving tile?

In the process of paving paving tiles there is a need to cut them. It is necessary in order to create a complete composition most accurately forming this or that design. Cutting is not a difficult process, which you can do yourself, but it requires some knowledge and skills.

It is necessary to begin with the preparation of the necessary tool (its set depends on the method of work):

To get the result, mark the place of the cut. For this purpose will do not only a pencil, but also a chalk, and even a felt-tip pen. The main thing is that the line for the trimmer is even and clearly visible.

In order to obtain a material of a particular shape, you can use several methods, differing not only in approach, but also in labor intensity.

Methods of cutting:

• Splitting. To get it neatly take a chisel in your hands and with a hammer start tapping on the planned line. It has to be done with light strokes, going over the same place over and over again. You will notice how the tool will gradually start to plunge into the material until it splits.
• Splitting.

You will need a special divider on the stone. You can buy or rent one from a building supply store. The technology of the work is very similar to the previous method, but slightly modernizes it. The machine is equipped with a sharp blade, under which the intended future cut is placed.

Of course, the usual one will also work, but the work takes a little longer and requires more patience. A diamond blade copes with the task perfectly, but it is quite expensive. But it is not necessary to buy it, and you can just rent it for a while.

To avoid damaging an expensive tool, familiarize yourself with the correct technology of its use and follow it. The tiles themselves should be wetted, thus securing the rented equipment from combustion.

Regardless of the method chosen, strictly adhere to safety rules and wear protective clothing, which closes the exposed areas of the body as much as possible. The most important element of it is protective goggles, which will protect the eyes from construction dust, but also protect the skin from accidental splinters that can scratch.

Features of cutting tiles with an angle grinder

It’s no secret that when tiling all sorts of surfaces in various houses and buildings, it often turns out that the total area to be covered is not a multiple of the size of the tiles. From one, and more often from two edges, there are places where a whole tile simply does not fit. And then the cutting of facing tiles into parts of a more suitable size becomes an urgent necessity.

Simply break off the fragments from the whole tile is unrealistic, because in this case it is almost impossible to predict in advance the shape and size of the splinters. Professional tilers-facers use special tools for this purpose, but if the tiles are laid by their own efforts and you can not get access to such tools, then for cutting it is quite suitable electric grinder, more commonly known as an angle grinder.

Necessary equipment and safety precautions

In general, tiles are cut with the angle grinder in the same way as bricks, paving slabs or facing stone. First of all, it is necessary to take a special cutting disc with diamond chips, designed for dry cutting on ceramic tiles and stone. Its quality directly affects the cleanliness of the cut line. The smoother and cleaner the more diamond inclusions in the material of which the disc is made. The best discs are made by the German company Bosch, the edges of the sliced them almost no chips of enamel coating, but they cost about 20 per piece with a diameter of 12.5 cm.

At the same time Chinese disks of the same purpose and size are 4 times cheaper, and the quality of cutting is not much worse. Cutting tiles with a metal cutting disc is not a good idea and can be dangerous.

It is worth remembering that cutting tiles with an angle grinder can be accompanied by a risk of injury. To avoid it, there are some simple safety precautions that are better to follow strictly. Firstly, particles inevitably fly off the tile while cutting, and considering the rotational speed of the disc their acceleration in flight is extremely high. If you get into the eyes, they enter so deeply that it is almost impossible to remove them without surgical intervention. That’s why protective glasses or a transparent mask must be worn on the face. Secondly, the disk should go deep into the tile surface only by one third of its diameter, at least by half. Otherwise, the angle grinder can jerk and fly out of your hands. This is fraught with the risk of tile damage at best, and at worst with serious hand injury. Traumatic safety precautions must be kept in mind at all times.

Features of the cutting process

For the non-professional in the tiling business, it is worth reporting a few useful rules, with the observance of which the cutting of tiles with an angle grinder will be quite easy.

• the line for the cut trimmer should run along the face side of the tile. This significantly reduces the size of sheared fragments of enamel coating.
• While cutting, the angle grinder must be held in such a way that the direction of disc rotation is in the opposite direction from the working side. Then the splinters won’t fly into it.
• After some time during cutting, particles of molten metal form on the cutting edge of the disc and begin to slide on the tile surface. To remove them, you need to go lightly running angle grinder on the concrete surface. Then the melted metal will fly off and the surface with the diamond chips will be exposed again.

To avoid fine ceramic dust around the drifts, and just to make the process easier, you can take a 5-liter plastic canister and cut off one of its walls. Then you can lean on one edge of the body of the angle grinder, and on the other tile to be cut, and direct them toward each other. The direction of rotation of the disk should be downward, into the canister, where all dust and chips will fly. However, for this movement must be precise, otherwise the tile will simply burst. If the necessary skill for such work is absent, it is best to set the angle grinder stationary, and all the maneuvers to produce a lighter tile. This also gives them a second hand free.

The body of the angle grinder can be taped vertically to the table leg so that the cutting edge of the blade is above the table surface. Then a cut out table top is made, with a slit for the disk, on which the tile will be put. It turns out a kind of constructive semblance of a circular saw.

In the other case, the angle grinder is placed horizontally on the table and fixed with two clamps. The cutting disc must protrude completely over the edge of the table. The tile will be brought to it by weight with two hands. The process of cutting will be much safer and save a lot of tile if you take for it an angle grinder, which has a function of switching speeds.

Then an angle grinder can quite effectively replace a special tile cutter.

The choice of angle grinder for cutting paving tiles: preparation of the tool for work, safety precautions

Paving tiles are one of the most popular materials for organizing garden paths. This material is strong, durable, resistant to the environment, chemicals, easy to clean and easy to install, etc.д.

When organizing paths, it is sometimes necessary to cut paving slabs into pieces of a certain size.

Safety rules

before, How to cut paving tiles with an angle grinder Paving tiles can be cut with a guillotine or any other method, it is essential to protect the paver. In the unpleasant case it is difficult to guarantee the safety of work and no risk of injury.

• Protective equipment (especially if the method chosen for tile cutting involves a huge amount of dust, high speed of rotation of the parts, etc). goggles, respirators, special clothing of very thick material will help to save people from injury.д.). safety goggles, respirator, special clothing made of very thick material will help to prevent dust and injuries.
• Special headphones, allowing you to protect yourself from the very loud noise.
• Study of rules of operation of the chosen tool. the general ordinare: not to bring the fingers to the rapidly rotating mechanisms, carefully work with power tools, thoroughly inspect the instruments and parts before starting work, do not use a broken or improperly working devices. Each method involves its own set of rules: for example, if implemented cutting paving tiles with an angle grinder, the tool is held necessarily 2-handed at the side handle, use protective shielding from dust and sparks, to ensure electrical safety, etc.д.
• While working to watch the details and mechanisms. a knife guillotine, grinding discs angle grinder must be changed in good time, to use only if full compliance with the standards of quality.

Cutting Paving Tiles with an angle grinder

The choice of angle grinder for cutting paving tiles: preparation of the tool for work, safety precautions

Paving tiles are one of the most popular materials for the organization of garden paths. This material is strong, durable, resistant to the environment, chemicals, easy to clean and easy to install, etc.д.

When organizing paths, it is sometimes necessary to cut paving tiles into pieces of a certain size.

Diamond discs for tile and concrete. Cutting ceramic and paving tiles with an angle grinder

Diamond blades for tile and concrete. Diamond tools review and test cutting ceramic and paving slabs

Cutting paving slabs

Cutting of paving slabs with a diamond wheel.

Concrete, brick or granite is cut with diamond-studded discs designed for dry cutting.

Cutting features

Cutting paving slabs is a processing of concrete block with the addition of crushed granite of about 2-8 cm in thickness. They can be cut in different directions: lengthwise, crosswise, and diagonally. Shaped cuts are also possible if necessary. When cutting, it is necessary to take into account that concrete has a dense structure due to the peculiarities of production (the main production method. vibrocompression) and the material itself (the raw material is added to the filler, which can be a granite rubble). The whole process of cutting can be divided into 3 stages:

The amount of work and their complexity depends on the shape of the tile, the pattern to be formed. When using square or rectangular paving stone, in most cases only cross cutting is required, which simplifies the work. Difficulties can arise with the formation of ornaments, or when using tiles of different colors. In such cases, the clarity must be maximum, which means that it is necessary to make correct calculations and marking.

The most difficult variant of cutting is the corner cut, which is needed to insert the elements into the overall design. Such work is performed only with a hacksaw for metal.

Cutting parameters

Cutting paving tiles is the processing of a concrete block with the addition of granite rubble about 2-8 cm thick. They can be cut in different directions: along, across and diagonally. If necessary, shape cutting is also possible. When cutting, it is necessary to take into account that concrete has a dense structure due to the peculiarities of manufacturing (the main method of production. vibrocompression) and the material itself (in the raw material is added filler, which can be a granite rubble). The whole process of cutting can be conditionally divided into 3 stages:

The amount of work and their complexity depends on the shape of the tile, the pattern to be formed. When using square or rectangular paving stones, in most cases only a cross cut is required, which simplifies the work. Difficulties can arise when forming ornaments or when using tiles of different colors. In such cases, the clarity should be maximum, which means that it is necessary to correctly make both calculations and marking.

The most difficult cut is the corner cut, which is needed to insert the elements into the overall construction. Such work is performed only with a hacksaw for metal.

Ceramic tiles. how to work with the fragile material?

Working with such material is slightly more difficult, because one wrong move can cause damage to the upper layer of the tile and ruin its appearance. The best way to work is with an angle grinder. And here there is only one thing left. to choose the right disc. Professionals advise to use diamond cutters, which are not afraid of high temperature, their use does not lead to melting of the edges of the tile coating.

There are segmented metal discs with grooves on the edge of the blade. The outer edge of the product is coated with diamond grit. disc thickness can be up to 4 mm. in this case the choice of blade depends on the density of the tile. This variant is suitable for both ceramic and concrete products. It is possible to buy a disk with a solid edge without any jagged edges. They are made of steel, with a diamond grit on top. When working with ceramic tiles it is better to use discs, the diameter of which is from 12 to 36 cm. The main advantage of this blade is that the disc does not create load on the paving stone, so you can use it to cut even very thin pieces of paving stone.