How to cut porcelain tiles at home

The type of cladding material determines how it can be cut. The most important thing in this matter is not only the material, but also the role assigned to each tile in the composition. Tiles are usually produced in collections. well-thought-out in terms of color and pattern sets. Most collections consist of several obligatory elements.

porcelain, tiles, home

  • Background tiles do not usually have patterns. In the collections there can be several different colored tiles. It’s better to cut tiles in places where the background is homogeneous, so the cut tile will not be so conspicuous.
  • Borders. small elements that separate large colorful arrays of tiles, often they have a rectangular format. If possible the cutting of borders can be avoided, if these elements do not match the walls.
  • Tiles with Graphic or Embossed Artwork. this kind of tile. It is better to refrain from cutting tiles with decorations right away. For this purpose, at the stage of laying tiles with decorations should be carried out in the central places of the room. It is also not recommended to place tiles with decorations under ceilings or at the floor.

Laying tiles without a preliminary laying increases the number of elements to be cut. If you plan the layout on paper, you can avoid a lot of trimmings and scraps. Read more about mistakes when laying tiles in the article “https://www.sdvor.com/articles/new/581/”

  • Floor tiles are usually thicker than wall tiles, so it is harder to cut them. In addition, on the floor more often use large-format tiles, irregularities when cutting it, too, are noticeable.

Floor tiles should be cut more often if the corners of the room deviate from 90 degrees. For this reason, for laying tile coverings on the floor, the walls in the room must be aligned. Read about levelling walls with plaster in the article “https://www.sdvor.com/articles/new/588/”

The complexity of the cut depends on the position of tiles in relation to other elements. It is desirable that in these places there are no important and expensive tiles (borders, decorations). this point is solved by the preliminary layout of elements. For example, the curbs must not rest against utilities or sockets. In areas where the tile joints with outlets, with batteries or with sanitary equipment, the tiles make complex cuts (circular, semicircular cut).

The number of junctions, in which it is necessary to cut a tile, is better to minimize them at the planning stage.

Tile material

The material from which the tiles are made often depends on the thickness and durability of the material. Some materials have a high density, respectively, not every tool can cut them. Some materials require a delicate approach and can only be cut with a specialized tool.

  • Ceramic tile is the most common variety, it is covered with a decorative glazed coating on top. Tiles are divided into wall and floor, the latter is usually thicker, making it harder to cut.
  • Porcelain tiles have a high density, this determines its low water absorption. Because of this, such tiles are often used for floors, wet areas and streets. It will be difficult to cut porcelain stoneware with hand tools. Cutting is better to do with an electric or handheld tile cutter.
  • Clinker tiles. a kind of high density facings, it is used for exterior works (facing, paving areas, etc.).). For thick clinker will need an angle grinder or water saw (electric tile cutter).

Methods of cutting porcelain tiles

First you need to choose a cutting method based on the characteristics of the material, the area of the room, aesthetic requirements and personal experience. For example, if the area of the room is large, then the use of a mechanical tile cutter or electric jigsaw is not justified, these tools are suitable for finishing apartment areas. The use of an angle grinder is also not always suitable, as it generates a lot of dust, noise and the quality of the cut leaves much to be desired.

We are often asked if you can cut porcelain tiles with a hand cutter? Of course you can try, but the result will probably not please you. The tool is not designed for this material, and you will only damage the tiles. Below we will consider each of the methods in detail.

Cutting with a mechanical hand cutter

The use of a mechanical tile cutter is ideal for work with small amounts of tiling, bathroom, toilet, kitchen or hallway in apartments or private houses. The advantages of the device include:

  • No dust and noise at work;
  • Does not require electricity;
  • It is mobile and easy to maintain;
  • Relatively safe and suitable for both experienced craftsmen and beginners.

For the record. Among the disadvantages we can highlight the possibility of making only an even cut. Inexperienced users may receive a poorly chipped cut. There is no way to remove the bevel and the cutting wheel quickly wears out when working with porcelain tiles.

Important! Before you cut tiles with a mechanical tile cutter, make sure that the device is in working condition, stands on a flat surface, all the elements are securely fixed and have no backlash. If the tool is not an expensive model, you must grease the guide slides of the carriage before working. In expensive models there are bearings on the cutting carriage, which ensure smooth movement.

Then perform the work according to the step-by-step list:

  • Mark the tiles with a pencil or marker, which can be wiped off after the cut;
  • Lay the material on the bed of the appliance so that the line of the cut corresponds to the markings on the bed. If there are no markings, roll the cutter bar effortlessly over the intended mowing line and make sure it does not move away from the intended cut;
  • Then with a light pressure on the handle make an incision in the direction from yourself;
  • Then press the special paws on the tile to split it.

Important! Do not double-cut and do not press the handle too hard, this can lead to chips. When pushing on the tile to break it, make sure that the cutting wheel is outside the material and doesn’t press into the porcelain tile. For clarity we suggest to watch the video material, where the expert shows the process of cutting on the machine.

Cutting porcelain tile with an angle grinder

Using an angled grinder for cutting porcelain stoneware is not the best solution. The obvious disadvantages of this tool are the noise, a lot of dust, an uneven cut with many chips especially on glossy porcelain tiles, and the increased danger of the tool. Of course, in the hands of an experienced technician angle grinder does a good job, but if you have little experience and the work is carried out in the apartment, it is better to buy a mechanical tile cutter.

Step by step instructions when working with an angle grinder is as follows:

  • Lay the porcelain tile on a flat surface, preferably under a foam pad or a piece of board so as not to damage the surface of the floor;
  • Using an alcohol marker, pencil or chalk (depending on the type of surface), draw a line of notch;
  • Secure the tile with a clamp or foot, first wear special safety shoes;
  • Turn on the angle grinder and make the notch in the direction away from yourself to a depth of 2-4 mm;

Important! The cut should only be made once. It is not necessary to cut the tile to its full depth, this will lead to overheating of the cutting disc and its damage. If the angle grinder has a regulator of turns, it is recommended to set the range of 6 to 8 thousand. RPM when using a 100-120 mm disc.

  • After you finish cutting, put the porcelain tile on a flat and hard surface, under the cutting line on both sides you can put nails, two screws or any other object that will serve as a fulcrum and raise the tile by a few millimeters.
  • With a sharp motion, press down on opposite planes of the cut and the tile will break along the scythe line of the notch, as shown in the video below.

Most likely, the edges of the break will be uneven, and to grind them you can use the same angle grinder or sandpaper with coarse grain. Use a grinder is acceptable for those cuts, which subsequently will be hidden or are in a little visible places. On our site you can read in detail how to choose a disk for cutting porcelain tiles and tiles with an angle grinder.

Tip. In order to minimize the probability of splintering at the cut of porcelain stoneware, specialists put several layers of masking tape on. This also avoids the appearance of accidental scratches on the tile surface.

Electric jigsaw and circular saw

The use of an electric jigsaw when cutting porcelain tiles is rather an exception than a rule. Some craftsmen use the jigsaw to create straight and small cuts in small quantities, for example, to remove the corner as shown in the video. For large amounts of work the jigsaw is not suitable, because when cutting porcelain tiles, there is too much load on the tool and it can simply burn out. However, for cutting thin ceramic tiles the jigsaw is quite suitable.

For the cut to be more even and with a minimum of chips, it is recommended to soak the porcelain tile in water beforehand. For cutting use the special diamond saws as shown on the photo above.

For your information. It is important to use a saw with a dusting, and not a special diamond wire for cutting. The wire, popularly called a rope, is used for thin ceramic tiles, but it is not a good choice for more durable porcelain tiles.

As for cutting porcelain tiles with an ordinary circular saw, we strongly recommend not doing it, although you can find a lot of information and videos demonstrating this process on the Internet. There are special circular saws for this purpose, which are designed specifically for cutting stone. This is a high-speed machine, which is equipped with special discs for wet or dry cutting, a coolant system for disc cooling and dust removal. An example of such a saw is shown in the photo and video clip. The process of cutting is quite simple and does not require special skills, except for the observance of elementary safety rules.

Working with electric tile cutters

For the most comfortable work with large volumes and to achieve maximum quality of the cut, professional tools such as electric tile cutter are used. It is a special machine for cutting tiles and porcelain tiles, which has a bed with the possibility of fixation of the material, adjustable angle of incidence, a system of dust removal and water supply for blade cooling. The photo shows two types of machines with different saw positions.

  • Machine with fixed built-in saw and functional stand more suitable for home use. Includes a tub of water in which the lower part of the disc is immersed.
  • Electric tile cutter with an external saw is considered a professional tool and more difficult to work with. However, these machines are high performance, dust-free due to the water supply system, low noise, and relatively safe.

Tip! When using any type of porcelain tile cutting machine, you must place the tile with the face of the cutting disc. It is very important to control the pressure the tile has to exert because the quality of the cut depends on it. If the pressure is too high, the diamond cutting disc will start to heat up, and the cutting line will have many chips. Before you start, practice and determine the pressure force on a test sample.

Important! Be sure to secure the porcelain stoneware to the bed before working. Tile displacement can cause the disc to jam, and if the machine is an expensive model, it will simply stop if there is too much stress on the cutter.

Electric units allow you to cut the bevel at an angle by changing the angle of the working saw or bed, an example of such work is shown in the video below.

If you are using quality cutting discs, over time it may appear that the wheel has worn out, is slow to cut, and leaves more chips. In fact, with frequent use, particles of porcelain tile get caught in the diamond area and stick there. This is especially often seen on machines with water supply. If this happens, do not rush to change the disk, but clean it:

  • Take an ordinary grinding stone and make a couple of notches on it. It usually helps to remove the ceramic particles from the cutting blade. You can also cut old red brick or sandstone for cleaning.
  • Often included with an electric tile cutter is a brush with a coarse metal fluff, which is also used to clean the disc.

There is also a more original way of restoring the lap. It is enough to simply remove it and turn it over for rotation in the opposite direction, make a few cuts, then put it back in its normal position according to the marking on the wheel.

Also you may be interested in the option of water-jet cutting of porcelain stoneware.

How to cut porcelain tiles at home: the choice and use of appropriate tools

Before cutting porcelain tiles at home it is necessary to choose a suitable tool for this purpose, through which it will be possible to work qualitatively, as well as to find out the related nuances that allow you to avoid mistakes, which can lead to damage to the material.

Unique characteristics of porcelain stoneware

Ceramic granite, also called kerogranite, is a finishing material of artificial origin, which in its appearance and performance is little different from natural stones. It is used in the finishing of residential apartments and public buildings, as well as for high-quality coating of facades of various buildings.

Originally, porcelain tiles were used exclusively as tiles for installation of floor coverings on sites with heavy loads. It was installed in industrial workshops and in public places. In recent years, the scope of use of the described material has expanded significantly, due to its special properties. Ordinary consumers will appreciate the following unique characteristics of ceramic granite tiles:

  • antistaticity;
  • eco-friendliness;
  • external aesthetics;
  • frost and wear resistance;
  • hygiene;
  • durability of operation;
  • fire resistance;
  • high durability.

Ceramic granite tilesIn addition, porcelain tiles will not crumble, wear out during use, and will not scratch even under heavy loads. All these advantages stipulate a fat disadvantage of the material. it is very difficult to cut with your own hands, without the help of specialized companies.

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

Cutting with an angle grinder

An angle grinder is a universal tool for cutting and processing a multitude of materials. It does not belong to special tools because of its versatility. In the household with the help of an angle grinder you can solve many issues.

In order to cut porcelain tiles, almost any angle grinder is suitable. No need for high power. A small, lightweight tool is even preferable. RPM is more important than power. A powerful tool will cut the tiles faster, but just the speed here can affect negatively. you will get less neatly.

The main issue is the selection of the cutting wheel. It is the choice of blade that is of particular importance. And it’s not about the seating size (it goes without saying).

Choice of cutting disc

Only diamond discs can cut the material. Diamond discs are available in two styles: continuous and segmented. To get the best results, it is recommended to try and make cuts with different cutting wheels. For cutting porcelain tile there are peculiarities when using both solid and segmented discs:

    The solid discs are positioned by the manufacturers mainly for wet cutting. Т.е. for water-cooled or special liquids cooled cutting. Not suitable for cutting without cooling, because they can fail quickly. However, when the aim is to make a cut with as few splinters as possible, a solid disc may be the best choice. This is situational and largely depends on the specific material (quality, thickness, relief, and so on) that is being handled;

Besides type, discs differ in a whole set of parameters: the density of the diamond coating, height of the cutting edge, disc thickness, etc. It is better to follow the recommendations of the disk manufacturers. The discs themselves usually have an indication of what they are used for.

Discs under 2.0 mm thick are not suitable for cutting with a manual angle grinder. The height of the cutting edge should be greater than the thickness of the tile (this affects the cut finish).

Tip! Check the condition of the disc before every cut. In case of any discrepancies the disc must be changed, otherwise the risk of splintering increases.

  • Mark the tile on the tile. A construction marker is best for this.
  • Position the tile on a flat surface. In some cases, it will be more convenient to fix the tile to the surface with screw clamps or to secure it to the workbench.
  • For a clean cut, a metal strip can additionally be clamped along the mowing line. You will then have to cut along it.
  • Cutting is carried out from the front side, as the output is the largest number of chips. You can do a double cut. First make a small groove on the front side, and make the main cut on the back side. This method minimizes damage to the face surface.
  • If there are no strict requirements to the cut, it is possible not to saw to the end. After making the cuts, break the slab with your hands.
  • It is recommended to guide the tool starting from yourself.
  • Additionally grind the cut, if necessary.

Do not forget about safety, in the video below, the author wonderfully laid out how to work safely with an angle grinder:

General recommendations

When using an angle grinder, always wear protective equipment:

  • a suit that covers the legs and arms;
  • safety goggles (preferably a mask);
  • Protective gloves or gloves;
  • A respirator (in the case of a significant amount of work is mandatory).
  • It is possible to cut an element of almost any shape. For a shaped cut, you need good skills with the tool;
  • It is possible to trim tiles that have already been laid in place;
  • Tool availability.
  • traumatic
  • It is very difficult to get geometrically accurate cuts;
  • High labor intensity of getting a clean cut without splinters;
  • low speed of work;
  • High dust and noise level.

With an angle grinder it is not possible to get a perfect cut the first time. To obtain accurate cuts without splinters cut with an indentation of 2-5 mm from the line. Then bring it to the right size by grinding. This is a fairly time-consuming operation and takes a lot of time, so it is recommended to carry out only with the elements, which will be in a visible place.

Or use a trick, as in the video below:

There is only an electric tile cutter for porcelain tiles. There is no specialized manual tile cutter for porcelain tiles. But for these purposes, you can use a good quality handheld tile cutter. You most likely can not find a cheap suitable tool, and if you use one, you will just end up with a broken tile.

A good bed with a strong stiffener. Otherwise, when you break the tile the bed will sag and the tile will break out of line;

  • No slack in the carriage (usually dependent on the thickness of the guideways). As you use it over time, any handheld tile cutter begins to play. Therefore, it is not recommended to use old, untested ones;
  • The thicker the tile, the thicker the diameter of the cutting roller should be;
  • The carriage should run smoothly. This is achieved by using special bearings. A smooth ride can also be achieved with a bearingless dobby, but in my experience this is short lived and unstable.е. Once it runs smoothly, the next time there is no guarantee.

Technology

  • To mark the tiles, it is recommended to use a building marker.
  • Laying the tile on the tile cutter evenly along the line.
  • Carefully guide the line away from yourself with light pressure. It is important to maintain the same amount of pressure throughout the line. Important! For porcelain stoneware the line is drawn once. No more than one line may be drawn. Otherwise, the break may not pass along the line.
  • Place the tile claw on the tile and break along the line by applying pressure.
  • Grind the cut if necessary.

Pay attention to the restrictions on the use of handheld tile cutters:

  • only straight cuts through the entire tile;
  • it is almost impossible to break off precisely strips smaller than 6. 7 cm. (depending on the thickness of the material);
  • problematic, with chipping, breaking of beveled lines if the cut hits the ribs on the back side.

For particularly neat lines, you can use the same technique as for the angle grinder. Draw the line with an indentation of 2-3 mm., and then grind to the desired size. Only used in visible areas.

The subtleties of the process of cutting porcelain stoneware

Choosing the method of cutting ceramic granite is not a simple task. Some people advise to choose laser cutting, others. manual or even cutting with a glass cutter.

There is also some debate about whether the wet or dry method is better. Therefore, before you start working, it is necessary to study the nuances of each cutting method to choose the one that suits you best.

What to cut porcelain tiles at home

In connection with the high strength characteristics of the artificial finishing ceramic stone during the installation of often there are a number of questions: how to cut ceramic granite tiles for floors and walls, whether it is possible to cut it at home, how to avoid chips? Depending on the quality of the tiles and its parameters, the recommendations for work vary, but it is possible to identify a number of tools and techniques to achieve optimal results when cutting porcelain tiles.

Choose the tool depending on the task and volume

Among the tools that can cope with the cutting of porcelain tile at home, you can distinguish the following:

The choice of tool depends on the amount of work to be done, the thickness of the tile or stone, the quality needed, the type of cut (straight or curved) and the financial capabilities of the builder. Each of the tools has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Knowing these advantages and disadvantages, a craftsman can make a decision about the necessity of their application.

One of the most common tools, which are used when it is necessary to cut stone, is the grinder. a good result can be achieved with the right cutting technique and a quality diamond blade. Carefully study the instructions on how to cut porcelain tiles at home with an angle grinder.

One of the main ingredients for successful cutting of porcelain stoneware with an angle grinder without chipping is the quality of the disc. Since this type of tile is considered to be a very durable material, which in terms of hardness exceeds even natural granite, it is necessary to use diamond discs to cut it.

Recommendations for selecting a diamond disc:

  • choose the disc for the material you are going to cut (the disc may say hard granite, hard ceramic, porcelain);
  • The disc must have a continuous cutting edge;
  • the thinner the disk, the less probability of splintering when cutting;
  • The higher the height of the diamond segment, the longer the disc will last;
  • to buy it is necessary to know the parameters of the angle grinder, namely: what size (outer diameter) of the disc is suitable for the machine, the diameter of the seating hole, non-compliance with these parameters is unacceptable;
  • pay attention to the recommended RPM during operation and compare this with the capabilities of the grinder.

Example of a porcelain tile disc with a solid cutting edge

Due to the appearance of new varieties of porcelain tile on the market, it is becoming more difficult for manufacturers to develop a disc that will fit all types equally well, so it often happens that a craftsman has to try several options to achieve an optimal result.

When working with a grinder, safety precautions should be observed, so it is necessary to buy protective equipment in the first place:

  • safety glasses;
  • a respirator. during work a lot of dust is formed, which, when inhaled, settles in the lungs;
  • overalls, headgear;
  • earphones, earplugs.

Do not neglect protection, even if you need to divide one tile into parts.

Many people ask whether it is possible to cut porcelain stoneware with an angle grinder without chipping? Unfortunately, chips will always be there, but their number and size is realistic to minimize, following some recommendations.

Technology and rules for cutting porcelain stone:

When cutting porcelain stoneware with an angle grinder at home, small chips may occur on the cut. With grinding, you can achieve the effect of almost factory cut. Ideal for this task are diamond flexible grinding discs, called “turtles”. They differ in the particle size of the diamond powder applied.

For polishing, it is usually enough to use a 0-100 grit size disc, but since the quality of porcelain tiles is variable, you can try different grit sizes.

To use the tile requires an angle grinder with adjustable speed, the average recommended speed is up to 3000 rpm, at higher speeds the disc can fly off the tool.

Also for grinding small chips it makes sense to try the use of sandpaper, and for the final polishing. a sponge with a diamond coating. For the final filing of the tiles at a 45 degree angle you can also use a turtle.

Among the advantages of using an angle grinder for cutting porcelain tiles are the following:

  • availability: almost every home has an angle grinder, and if laying and cutting porcelain tile is not a professional activity, there is no need to buy additional tools;
  • the possibility of making both straight and curved lines, cuts at an angle of 45 degrees;
  • Possibility of working with already glued porcelain tiles.
  • a lot of dust;
  • noise, which may be the reason for the impossibility of use in apartment buildings;
  • Injury hazard.

Among the popular tools for fast cutting porcelain tiles with their own hands can be allocated a manual tile cutter. The quality of both tiles and tools varies, but, following the recommendations, you can pick a tool that will cope with the work.

The principle of operation of all mechanical tile cutters is almost no different, but it is worth paying attention to the elements that affect the quality:

  • cutting element thickness: the thicker the tile, the more powerful and thicker should be the diameter of the cutting roller;
  • frame: the thickness of the metal of the frame must be such that the base is rigid and does not sag or vibrate during the work when the tiles are split;
  • The guides and their supports must be strong;
  • The handle. the stronger the handle, the more powerful the lever;
  • The carriage should not play, if there is a play of the carriage, the cut may not turn out even, there will be an arc;
  • Smoothness of movement of the carriage is provided by special bearings, which are not present in every model, but for cutting hard stone their presence is desirable.

The length of the tool does not affect the quality of the work, this parameter is considered by each master depending on personal needs. It is not worth buying a short tile cutter, thereby limiting yourself in the possibilities, it is always better to have a versatile tool that will allow you to cut material of different sizes, not forgetting the frequent need to cut diagonally. It is also worth bearing in mind that long tile cutters are more likely to arc.

Many models have additional features that do not affect the quality of the cut, but are very functional in the work:

  • side limiter, which allows you to make a series of lines in a straight line and a diagonal without marking on each tile, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the process;
  • Left-handed approach.

Check the quality of parts and operation of the tool before you buy it. Examine the tool in the store, try to cut the tile. Even tile cutters of the same model can vary in build quality, so if you have a choice, check everything.

The technology of cutting with a hand-held tile cutter is the same for all materials:

There is nothing complicated about the technology with a hand-held tile cutter, but if there is little experience, before finishing work, do some training.

Watch a video on how easy a handheld tile cutting tool handles porcelain tile.

Advantages include the following:

  • no noise or dust as compared to an angle grinder
  • you do not need electricity to work;
  • high speed of operation;
  • the possibility of replacing the roller (cutter);
  • A good tile cutter gives a clear cut.
  • If the porcelain tile surface is ribbed or if the cut hits a glue rib, you may get a splinter when you break it;
  • impossibility to cut a strip of less than 0.6 cm from the edge
  • Cutting porcelain tiles with a manual tile cutter is often possible only in a straight line, for curved lines or chamfering, you have to use an additional tool;
  • Price. a quality tool that is suitable for cutting stone will not cost cheap.

In addition to the angle grinder and manual tile cutter, to cut porcelain tile for the floor, you can use electric tile cutters. As in the case of an angle grinder, the cutting element of this tool is a diamond disc, the quality of which determines the smoothness and flatness of the cut. When working with an angle grinder on the dry to work electroplitkorez use water, which is fed to the drive during operation and cools it.

  • No dust and practically no noise;
  • The absence of the human factor “shaking hands”;
  • The possibility of shaped lines;
  • the ability to cut off less than 0.6 cm from the edge of the tile.
  • A good electric tool costs several times more than even the most expensive hand tools;
  • if the work is carried out outside in the cold season, the water on their hands freezes them severely;
  • the constant need to change the water in the tank;
  • Some machines have a lot of water splashing when working.

An electric tile cutter for cutting small porcelain tiles at home

For porcelain stoneware, it is better to use wet cutters with an upper disc feed, but among electric stoneware cutters there are budget versions with a lower feed, which many people use exactly at home when cutting porcelain stoneware.

in such a case, tiles should be placed face down on the countertop.

To cut a stone with a small wet cutter, it takes much more time compared to using a hand-held tool, but, despite this, performers with little experience prefer the wet cutter, because the cut with this tool turns out to be more difficult, but better.

It happens that it is necessary to cut stone elements of such form that all above mentioned tools can not cope with. In this case, you can look for in the city possible hydro-abrasive cutting. cutting stone with a jet of water with abrasive impurities under pressure.

With the help of this technology it is possible to cut porcelain tiles not only with a straight line, but also to cut any artistic elements for finishing. This technology gives a high quality edge, usually requiring no further processing.

The quality of artificial granite is different, without seeing the material, even the most professional craftsman can hardly say what is better to cut porcelain tile for the floor without forming chips. If the necessity occurs to cut porcelain stoneware, and it is impossible to do it at home, address to the organization that provides hydro-abrasive cutting.

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Porcelain tile is a universal facing material. It can be used for both walls and floors, and it can be used both indoors and outdoors. Naturally, when working with any facing material you can not do without cutting it when laying porcelain tiles. And if for glazed or ceramic tiles the usual glass cutter will do, then with porcelain tiles the question is somewhat more complicated.

Since tiles made of porcelain tiles are much harder and stronger, to cut them you will need special tools, and you must follow certain rules when working with them. So what and how is better to cut a ceramic granite tile??

Overview of tools for cutting porcelain tile

What is better to cut a tile from porcelain tiles?? Experts advise to choose a tool, based on what goals you are pursuing. Let’s consider each in detail.

The glass cutter is not designed for cutting porcelain tiles, but in the absence of other options, you can also use it

This tool is not designed for cutting porcelain tile, but in the absence of an alternative, you can also use it, but only when it comes to small amounts of work.

Simple and reliable tool for cutting porcelain stoneware

Simple and easy to use tool that allows you to cut even strips from porcelain tiles. The tile is clamped with a special clamping clip, and then the lever with the cutting tool makes the cut. As a result, the tile can be easily broken at the point of cut.

Cutting porcelain tile on a professional level

Professional tool that produces nearly perfect cuts with straight or slightly rounded edges. The electric tile cutter is designed specifically for this purpose, so it has distinct advantages not only over handheld devices, but also over electric ones.

Stoneware can also be cut with an ordinary grinder

This is a universal tool that can also be used to cut porcelain tile. However, in this case, the angle grinder must be equipped with a special “diamond” disc. The angle grinder is a good option for professionals and amateurs alike.

How To Cut Porcelain Tiles by Hand with Grinder without Chipping. Testing Diamond Blades 4 Tiling

Pliers are the easiest tool for shaped cuts

The pliers are the simplest type of tool to cut tiles in general and porcelain tiles in particular. To be exact, pliers don’t cut, but break off small pieces of tile, making it possible to achieve a groove or a bend of desired shape.

The ‘ballerina’ can be used to make holes of any diameter

This is the name of a special tool that can be used to make holes of different diameters in porcelain tiles.

The circle saw or diamond core bit makes perfectly straight cuts in porcelain tile

The best tool for making cuts and holes in tiles. Allows to cut porcelain stoneware of any thickness and hardness.

A comparative table of tools for cutting porcelain tiles How to cut porcelain tiles

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How and what to cut porcelain tile for the floor. the choice and work with tools In

Cutting ceramic tiles at home Today, tile is firmly at the top of the list

Review of tools for cutting porcelain tile

With what to cut a tile from a porcelain tile? Experts advise choosing a tool based on what goals you are pursuing. Let’s consider each in more detail.

The glass cutter is not designed for cutting porcelain tile, but if you don’t have other options, you can use it too

This tool is not designed for cutting porcelain tile, but if there is no alternative, you can also use it, but only when it comes to small amounts of work.

Manual tile cutter

Simple and reliable tool for cutting porcelain tiles

Simple and easy-to-use tool that allows you to cut straight strips from porcelain tile. The tile is fixed by special clamps, after which the lever with a cutting element is made an incision. As a result, the tile can be easily broken at the point of cut.

Electric tile cutter

Cutting porcelain tiles on a professional level

A professional tool that produces nearly perfect cuts with straight or slightly rounded edges. The electric tile cutter is designed specifically for this purpose, so it has clear advantages not only over manual devices, but also over electric ones.

Porcelain stoneware can also be cut with an ordinary angle grinder

It is a universal tool that can also be used to cut porcelain tile. However, in this case, the angle grinder must be equipped with a special “diamond” disc. Angle grinder is a good option for professionals and amateurs alike.

The cutters are the simplest tool for shaped cuts

The cutter is the easiest tool for shape cutting tiles in general and porcelain tiles in particular. To be precise, pliers don’t cut, but break off small pieces of tile, allowing you to achieve the desired shape groove or bend.

“Ballerina”

The ‘ballerina’ can be used to make holes of any diameter

This is the name of a special tool that can be used to make holes of different diameters in porcelain tile.

Circular saw

A circular saw or a diamond drill bit makes perfectly straight holes in porcelain stoneware

The best tool for both shaped cutouts and making holes in tile. Allows you to cut porcelain stoneware of any thickness and hardness.

What tools are used for cutting

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

Manual tile cutter

The cutting element in the hand-held tile cutter, as well as in the glass cutter, is a roller, but not a carbide, and diamond. When rolling it with pressure on porcelain tiles, microcracks are formed in the surface layer. Next, the tile is broken into two parts.

A handheld tile cutter is used as follows:

  • Check the condition of the tool: make sure the roller is sharp and firmly fixed, and the carriage has no backlash. A blunt edge and loose support would affect the quality of cut. In this case the roller is replaced. If it is loose from side to side, you should tighten the fixing screws. In case of carriage jamming, the bearings are changed or the guides are cleaned and lubricated with machine oil. Do the same if there is a backlash. It is useful to drop oil on the roller as well, so it will rotate easier and wear less.
  • According to the results of measuring, apply the cut line to the tile.
  • Place the module on the base of the tool so that the roller runs straight down the mowing line. In this case the carriage is installed on the tile supporting feet, so that the cutting element does not touch it.
  • With one hand press the tile to the base, grasp the tool handle with the other hand and set the carriage into operating position: the supports are removed, and the roller is placed on the tile.
  • Bring the roller to the beginning of the cut line and, pushing on the handle, roll it along the module from one edge to the other. Constant force and speed are required for a quality cut.
  • With the other hand, continue to hold the tile, preventing it from shifting.
  • Then the carriage is placed back on the tile with the support feet and the module is broken by pressing on the handle, while continuing to hold it by hand. If the quality of the cut is poor, the edge is ground with an angle grinder equipped with a cutting disc for stone.

Electric tile cutter

The electric tile cutter cuts with a diamond-coated disc, which is rotated by an electric motor. A motor also moves the table with the tile clamped on it or the head with the disc (depending on the model) along the mowing line of the cut.

Disks, called wet-cutters, are used. They provide a high quality cut, but need liquid cooling. Two methods of cooling are used in different models:

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

The crumbed disc is cleaned by cutting the pressed sand brick with it or by setting it backwards (in the absence of a pointer to the required direction of rotation).

angle grinder

For cutting porcelain tiles, the angle grinder is also equipped with a diamond cutting disc, but it is designed for dry cutting (dry cutter).

It is made of segments, which improves heat dissipation, but cuts are poorer.

Rules for choosing a disc for cutting porcelain tiles:

It makes a difference which way the disc rotates. If they are installed the wrong side, the cut is of poor quality, and the risk of injury increases.

When cutting porcelain tile with an angle grinder follow these rules:

  • The disc is periodically inspected and if any chips or other damage is found, it is replaced.
  • The tile is fixed with clamps. It is also useful to attach a steel strip along the cutting line. then it will be easier to cut the tile evenly.
  • The operation is performed in one pass. A disc makes splintering easier, and the more cuts it makes, the higher the percentage of those defects.

The tiles are not cut to size, but with an allowance of 2 to 5 mm. It allows you to grind the edge, removing chips and cracks. Grinding is carried out with a stone wheel.

If the edge is supposed to hide the skirting or a corner and therefore high requirements for its quality are not imposed, grinding can not be performed. Also in this case it is not necessary to cut the tile completely: it can be notched and then broken.

Protect the eyes with goggles, the respiratory system with a respirator, because a lot of dust is generated. To reduce its amount in the surrounding space during the work, you can use a construction vacuum cleaner. For this, an assistant is needed.

Circular saw

A circular saw can be turned into an electric tile cutter by replacing the circular saw with a diamond-coated cutting disc. The tile will have to be fed on the disk by hand, so you need to act very carefully.

Electric jigsaw

This tool can be used for cutting porcelain tiles of small thickness. To do that, they use a diamond-studded filament.

Pliers

You can break off a small edge width with the pliers. within 1-1,5 cm. To get a smoother cut, you can first go over the tile with a glass cutter.

Ballerina

This tool is used for big-diameter holes in porcelain tiles.

Like a compass, with a pilot drill bit and one or two blades on swivel arms.

The distance between the pilot drill and the cutters, and thus the diameter of the hole to be drilled, is adjustable.

In other words, the ballerina, contrary to the drill bit, is a universal tool.

  • Use a diamond drill to make a hole in the middle of the planned opening for the alignment ballerina drill. Do not activate the hammer mechanism on the drill, because it will damage the tiles.
  • They install the ballerina in the drill, insert the pilot drill bit in the prepared hole and cut a circular notch halfway through the thickness of the tile with the cutter. The percussion mechanism is also not used.
  • Turn the tile over and remove the remaining material from the other side.

The drill bit is cooled with water while working.

The slippage of the porcelain tile drill bit at the beginning of drilling is avoided in various ways:

  • scratch a hole with the sharp corner of the file;
  • stick a paper adhesive tape on it;
  • they put a mark with a stationery corrector;
  • a drill guide, a block with a drill guide hole, pressed forcefully onto the tile, is used.

Waterjet cutting

An expensive unit is used, which delivers a thin stream of water (with a diameter of a few tenths of a millimeter) under high pressure, with a mixture of crumbs of hard material. The cut is quick and high quality, but this equipment is only available at larger workshops.