What to cut porcelain tile for the floor

What to cut porcelain tile for the floor

If you decide to put porcelain tiles in a small hallway, it is not advisable to buy a professional tool. The strength of this material depends on the specific manufacturer, some varieties are amenable to hand tools.

The easiest, most versatile and inexpensive tool used to cut ceramic tiles. a hand cutter. It can be a roller cutter or a diamond cutter. The latter cuts more accurately and qualitatively, but wears out faster.

For work you need a ruler or a flat rail. Put it along the cutting line and press it firmly against the tile. the ruler will not let the glass cutter slip to the side. When cutting, the tool should be pressed against the surface as hard as possible to scratch the top layer of the tile deeper. Try to do it in one pass, otherwise the porcelain tile may split unevenly.

Now the tile must be broken. To do this, put it on the edge of the table so that the line for the break trimmer slightly protrudes over its plane. Press sharply and firmly on the edge of the tile. If the groove is deep enough, the porcelain tile should break along the marked line.

Another option is to use a handheld tile cutter. This tool on the principle of action resembles a glass cutter. it also uses a roller or diamond, scratching the upper surface of the tile. But a tile cutter is more convenient and efficient. Its working plane is covered with a material that prevents the tiles from slipping, and a lever moving on guides helps create enough force.

Cutting porcelain tile with a tile cutter is simple. Draw a line with a marker to trim the cut and put the tile on the work surface so that the cutting roller passed strictly along the line. Pressing down on the handle of the tool, make the cut and break the tile using a special stop on the working part of the tool.

Cutting porcelain tiles with an electric tool

If you have a great deal of porcelain tiles to cut, it is much more convenient and productive to use an electric tool. One of the most convenient options is an electric tile cutter with water cooling. Its diamond disc easily cuts even the toughest porcelain tile, and water cools the disc and greatly reduces dust.

Start by marking the work by applying a trimmer line to the tile for the future cut. Turn the tool on and place the porcelain tile on the work table so that the disc is against the marked line. The feed of the workpiece onto the disc should be done smoothly, holding it with both hands.

Despite all the convenience of an electric tile cutter, it can hardly be called a universal tool. Therefore, many people prefer to cut porcelain tiles with an angle grinder, which can be found many applications. Its obvious advantage is the ability to make curved cuts.

To cut ceramic tiles, you will need a diamond disc designed for dry cutting. Be prepared for a lot of dust. After marking the workpiece, lay it on a sheet of plywood or particle board so as not to damage the surface of the table or floor. It is advisable to fix the tile so that you can hold the tool with both hands.

Do not try to cut the tile in one pass, otherwise you may damage it. First make a shallow cut of the top layer. The resulting groove will prevent the angle grinder disc from jumping off and simplify your work by acting as a guide. Be sure to observe safety precautions when working with the angle grinder! Do not remove the protective cover, do not install a larger disc and wear glasses. a splinter of porcelain tile can injure your eyes.

How to cut porcelain tiles at home: the methods and necessary tools

If you have the time and desire, many people prefer to do repairs on their own, as it helps to significantly save money and gain personal experience. When it comes to facing the room with porcelain tiles, many people overestimate their capabilities relying on previous experience with regular tiles. As for the laying technique itself, the process is identical, but cutting porcelain stoneware requires a little different skill and knowledge of the peculiarities of the material from the master. In this article we will tell in detail, how to cut porcelain tiles at home even without any experience, what materials are required and give some useful tips.

To begin with, it is necessary 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 rooms. 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 it is possible to cut tiles with a manual cutter? You can certainly try, but the result will probably not please you. The tool is not designed for such material and you will only ruin the tile. Below we will consider each of the methods in detail.

Cutting with a mechanical handheld tile cutter

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

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

For information. Disadvantages include the ability to make only a straight cut. If you are inexperienced, the cut may have minor chipping. It is not possible to chamfer and the cutting wheel wears out quickly when working with porcelain tiles.

Important! Before cutting porcelain tile with a mechanical tile cutter, make sure the appliance is in working order, stands on a level surface, all elements are securely fastened and have no backlash. If the tool is not an expensive one, it is necessary to lubricate the guide slides of the carriage before use. The more expensive models have bearings on the cutter carriage to ensure smooth running.

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

  • Make a marking on the tiles with a pencil or marker, which can be wiped off after the cut;
  • Lay the material on the bed of the tool so that the cut trimmer line corresponds to the marking on the bed. If there are no markings, roll the cutting wheel lightly over the marked line and check that it does not move away from the marked cut;
  • Next, with light pressure on the handle, make the cut in the direction away from yourself;
  • Then press the special feet on the tile to split it.

Important! Do not make the cut twice and do not apply too much pressure to the handle, as this can cause chipping. When pressing the tile to break it, make sure that the cutting wheel is outside the material and does not rest on the porcelain tile when pressing it. 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 angle grinder to cut porcelain tile is not the best solution. From the obvious disadvantages of this tool can be noted noise, a lot of dust, uneven cut with a lot of chips especially on glossy porcelain tiles, increased danger of the tool. Of course, in the hands of an experienced specialist angle grinder copes well with the task, but if you have little experience and the work is carried out in the apartment, it is better to buy a mechanical tile cutter.

The step-by-step instructions for working with an angle grinder are as follows:

  • Lay the porcelain tile on a flat surface, preferably put under it 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 (depends on the type of surface), apply the trimmer line to the notch;
  • Secure the tile with a clamping clamp or your foot, previously wearing special safety shoes;
  • Turn on the angle grinder and make an incision in the direction from yourself to a depth of 2-4 mm;

Important! Only make one cut. There is no need 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 speed regulator, it is recommended to set the range of 6 to 8 thousand. RPM when using a 100-120mm disc.

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

It is likely that 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 an angle grinder is acceptable for those cuts, which will later be hidden or are in little visible places. On our website you can read in detail how to choose a disc for cutting ceramic granite and tiles with an angle grinder.

Safety precautions when cutting

Safety rules when working with cutting tools are as simple as possible, following them is a must, because your health and even life depends on it. When using non-electric tools, a basic set of protective equipment is gloves and goggles. Gloves will help avoid cuts from the sharp edges of the material, and goggles will prevent splinters and dust from getting into your eyes.

When working with electric tools, angle grinder or tile cutter, particular attention must be paid to safety:

  • Never change or clean the cutting wheel when the machine or angle grinder is plugged in. De-energize all equipment.
  • It is forbidden to plunge the cutting disk into porcelain stoneware by more than one third when cutting with an angle grinder. When working with the tile cutter, the wheel must not be lowered by more than half.
  • The angle grinder must have a protective cover and the cut of the tile is made in the direction from yourself.
  • Wear thick protective clothing and do not leave any exposed body areas. When the cutting wheel is heated, spray particles can bounce off and cause burns on the body.
  • It is important to use heavy-duty gloves. Practice shows that knitted gloves are not suitable and can cause injury. Often, if the tool is mishandled, the disc or counter nut will catch the threads of the glove and can twist them.
  • There should be no dangling straps or clasps on clothing, and if you have long hair, you need to hide it in a headdress.

Since power tools produce noise and often a lot of dust, goggles, headphones and a respirator are indispensable.

Cutting with an angle grinder

An angle grinder (angle grinder) is a versatile tool for cutting and processing a variety of materials. Due to its versatility does not apply to special tools. There are many things you can do in the home with an angle grinder. For cutting porcelain stoneware, almost any angle grinder will do. There is no need for high power. A small, lightweight tool is even preferable. RPM is more important than power. A powerful tool will cut the tile faster, but just the speed here can affect negatively. it will turn out less neat.

The main issue is the selection of the cutting wheel. It is the choice of the wheel that should be paid special attention to. And it is not about the seating size (it is a matter of course).

Choice of cutting disc

material can only be cut with diamond discs. Diamond discs are available in two kinds: continuous and segmented. For best results, it is advisable to try and make cuts with different discs. For cutting porcelain tiles there are peculiarities when using both solid and segmented discs:

  • Solid discs are positioned by manufacturers mainly for wet cutting. Т.е. for cutting with water or special liquids. And they are not suitable for cutting without cooling, because they can break down quickly. However, when the aim is to produce a cut with as few chips as possible, a solid disc may be the best choice. This is situational and depends largely on the specific material (quality, thickness, relief, etc.) that is processed;

In addition to 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 (it affects the purity of the cut).

Tip! Check the condition of the disc before each cut. If there are any irregularities, change the disc, otherwise there is an increased risk of splintering.

Technology

  • Marking the tiles. A construction marker is best for this purpose.
  • To place the tile on a flat surface. In some cases it might be more convenient to secure the tile to the surface with screw clamps or to fix it into a workbench.
  • In order to obtain an even cut, you can additionally strengthen a metal strip along the cutting line with screws. You will need to cut along it afterwards.
  • Cutting is done from the front side, as the output produces the greatest number of chips. You can make a double cut. Make a small groove first on the front side, and make the main cut on the back side. This method will minimize damage to the face surface.
  • If there are no strict requirements for the cut, it is possible not to saw all the way through. After making the cuts, break the slab with your hands.
  • It is recommended to guide the tool starting from yourself.
  • Additionally sanding the cut, if necessary.

General recommendations

When using an angle grinder be sure to use protective equipment:

  • suit, covering the legs and arms;
  • safety glasses (preferably a mask);
  • Protective gloves or gloves;
  • a respirator (obligatory in case of a considerable amount of work).
  • It is possible to cut an element of practically any shape. For the shape cut, you need good skills with the tool;
  • Possibility of undercutting tiles that have already been laid in place;
  • Tool accessibility.
  • high risk of injury;
  • It is very difficult to get geometrically accurate cuts;
  • High labor intensity to get a clean cut without chips;
  • low speed of work;
  • high dust and noise level.

With an angle grinder can not be the first time you can not get a perfect cut. 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 sanding. This is a fairly time-consuming operation and takes a long 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:

What is better to cut porcelain tiles

Porcelain stoneware is excellent as a reliable finishing building material. It is especially used in finishing floors in public buildings with a high degree of traffic, such as sales areas of supermarkets and stores, hotel lobbies, floors at railway stations and airports. What are the sizes of tiles of porcelain tiles?

For cutting porcelain tiles it is necessary to use special tools

Ceramic granite tile sizes (cm):

The last size of porcelain tile belongs to the so-called thin porcelain tile, which is most often used in the repair of residential premises. It is especially beautiful when finishing walls and plinths of facades of private houses. There is another way to cut porcelain tile, but for small amounts of work. it is the work of the glass cutter.

The advantages of porcelain tiles

Most consumers choose porcelain tile for flooring precisely because of its technical properties and characteristics, but do not forget about the appearance. Such facing will resemble a natural stone as much as possible, will make your repair stylish and rich. But that’s not all you need to know, figuring out what to cut porcelain tile for the floor and not only.

  • Strength and durability are the main advantages of this material. It can be used for a very long time, practically without losing its appearance. However, exactly because of its special strength and resistance to mechanical damage, its cutting is much more difficult.
  • Stains do not form on creative granite, which are impossible to wipe off, and it does not fear aggressive environments.
  • The material is environmentally friendly, because only natural components are used in its composition and during its production. Besides, bacteria and microbes are notlikely to reproduce on it, which is also important.
  • The clarity of cuts and edges of porcelain stoneware allows you to create the most monolithic surface without joints if necessary.

Disadvantages of ceramic granite coverings

If you are going to learn how to cut ceramic granite tiles for floors and other coatings, it does not hurt to learn about its disadvantages.

  • The main disadvantage of porcelain tiles consumers believe its rather high cost, although compared to the natural stone, it is much cheaper.
  • A cold floor with a stone finish, too, not everyone likes, but this drawback is easily solved by installing a system of underfloor heating.
  • Another disadvantage is a really slippery surface, especially if water has dripped on it. That’s why for bathrooms it’s better to take this material not with a smooth, but with a rough texture.

As you can see, there are far fewer disadvantages than advantages, and even those can easily be bypassed if you think hard. It remains only to figure out what to cut the porcelain stoneware at home, because this case is not easy.

About Porcelain Stoneware

Porcelain stoneware is a dream come true of the finishers about a material that combines the properties of ceramics and natural stone. Obtained in the process of pressing powder from clay sand and kaolin, kiln-fired ceramic granite has high decorative and performance qualities. The nature of production allows to produce tiles of any color through the introduction of coloring oxides in the composition and any texture: glazed, matte, polished, structured. The material is stronger than granite, it is resistant to wear and corrosive substances.

porcelain, tile, floor

The decorative panel is inscribed into the main background. The work of cutting tiles. porcelain tiles

How to cut porcelain tile at home

From the technological point of view there are two main ways of cutting porcelain stoneware. You can use a variety of tools and devices, but regardless of the number and type of technical equipment, porcelain tile is still cut by two methods:

  • Mechanical cutting of porcelain stoneware. In this case the cutting line is selected with an abrasive tool;
  • The method of nailing. On the surface of the porcelain stoneware, a deep scratch is cut along the future cutting line. Next, a bending or shear force must be applied to the porcelain tile, and the tile is split exactly according to the marking.

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

After laying the tile on a sheet of drywall, you can cut tiles with an angle grinder along virtually any trajectory, it is important just take your time and press the edge of the disc evenly to the surface of the porcelain tile. Otherwise it is easy to overheat the tile at the point of cut, which will lead to a nicks.

How to cut porcelain tile with a tile cutter

Table or floor device for cutting any type of facing tiles is a small frame with guides on top and a carriage with a carbide head. The carriage is either lever-operated or electrically driven. Simple and easy to use at home.

At home the tile cutter is the most available tool for cutting porcelain tiles

Before you cut porcelain tile, lay the tile on the frame and fix it with plastic or metal stops. It is necessary to prevent the material from displacement in the process of making the cut. Then you bring the cutter head to the tile edge and push the lever away from you, the diamond or hard-alloy tip carriage makes even passing on the tile surface, leaving behind a deep scratch.

All that remains is to make a slight, but sharp movement to break the porcelain stoneware into two pieces. One of the ways to cut porcelain tiles with a handheld tile cutter is

  • It is very easy and comfortable to cut porcelain tiles at home, you can master the cutting technique even with minimal experience and skill;
  • The formation of a minimum amount of dust, which is very valuable in home conditions, especially if you plan to lay porcelain tiles in a small area of the floor or wall.

The electric tile cutter is similar in design to a circular saw for working and sawing wood. In order to cut porcelain tiles, you only need to set the size of the cut strips, and then you can saw in unlimited quantities.

Home compact version of the electric tile cutter

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

It is easier to cut thin strips of porcelain stoneware with an angle grinder

How to cut porcelain tiles with a glass cutter

Technology of cutting tile material using a hand-held glass cutter does not differ much from the previous method. The only difference is that instead of a slide moving on guides, you have to cut porcelain stoneware with a small tool, held in your hand.

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

To break the material, the tile is laid on the table so that the line for the scratch trimmer coincides with the edge of the table top, pressed from above with a board and sharply break the material into two halves. For home conditions there is no easier way, but to master the technique, you need to practice cutting on the waste stoneware or glass.

The advantage of this method is considered simplicity and the minimum amount of equipment required. It is easier to store the handheld glass cutter with diamond at home than the tile cutter. The disadvantage of the method is that you have to learn how to conduct the diamond trimmer line along the marking at a constant speed, and most importantly. to do it continuously, in one movement, while accurately dosing the force applied to the porcelain stoneware surface.

In addition, it is very difficult to cut material with a glass cutter without chipping, so if possible, it is better to use a diamond rather than a carbide roller.

How to cut porcelain stoneware with a jigsaw

It is quite an unusual way of cutting ceramic tiles. The use of an electric or manual jigsaw to cut a very thick and hard material, always raises certain doubts of beginners. Nevertheless, it is quite realistic to cut ceramic and porcelain stoneware with a jigsaw even at home, but only if certain requirements are met:

An overview of porcelain tile cutting tools

What to cut porcelain tiles with? Experts advise to choose a tool, based on what goals you pursue. Let’s consider each one in detail.

Glass cutter

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 if there is no alternative, you can also use it, though only when it comes to small amounts of work.

Manual tile cutter

Simple and reliable porcelain tile cutting tools

A simple and easy-to-use tool that allows you to cut straight strips from porcelain stoneware. The tile is fixed with special clamps, after which the lever with a cutting element makes a cut. As a result, the tile breaks easily at the point of cut.

Electric tile cutter

Cutting of porcelain stoneware at the 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 handheld devices, but also over electric ones.

angle grinder

It is also possible to cut tiles with an ordinary angle grinder

This is a universal tool, which can also be used for cutting tiles from ceramic granite. But, 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.

Pliers

The cutters are the easiest tool for making curved cuts

The cutters are the easiest tool for cutting tiles in general and porcelain tiles in particular. precisely, the clippers do not cut, but break off small pieces of tile to create the groove or the required shape bend.

“Ballerina.”

It is possible to make a hole of any diameter by means of the ‘ballerina’

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

Circular saw

Circular saw or diamond drill bit makes perfectly flat holes in porcelain stoneware

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

Tile cutting tools comparison chart

Tools Advantages of Disadvantages Conclusion
Glass cutter Easy to use. Inexpensive.

The technology of cutting porcelain tiles

Consider porcelain tile cutting technology with the most popular tools.

Manual tile cutter

For all its simplicity, the hand-held tile cutter produces a fairly high quality of work. The tool consists of a support platform, two guides that make the cut perfectly flat, a lever with a cutting roller and clamps for breaking tiles.

Some models of handheld tile cutters are equipped with a “ballerina”, which allows you to do round holes of different diameters in the tiles.

porcelain, tile, floor

The handheld tile cutter is suitable for tile thicknesses of 8 mm, 1 cm, etc. д. (up to 12mm). Please note that the thicker the tile, the bigger the diameter of the cutting wheel should be. Ideally these two values should be identical.

Preparing the tile cutter for use

Before you start, make sure that the cutting roller is not blunt and its size corresponds to the thickness of the chosen tile. The roller can be replaced if needed.

After fixing, the roller should rotate freely. If this does not happen, try a drop of oil on the fixing points.

Determine the ease of movement of the tile cutter on the guide rods. If the cutting element runs tightly or, on the contrary, is loose, it is worth checking the bearings and cleaning the guides.

Cutting porcelain tiles

  • After measurements on the tile with a pencil or marker make the appropriate marks;
  • The tile is placed on the platform of the tile cutter, combine the cut trimmer line with the cutting roller;
  • To prevent the tile from shifting during the cutting, it must be fixed by hand;
  • the roller is installed on the edge of the tile and, smoothly pressing the lever, spend it along the entire line of the cut;

The smoother you move the roller, the better the finished cut will be.

IMPORTANT! To avoid chips in the cut, try to cut the tiles “in one go”.

  • Once the cut on the tile is made, it is fixed on the platform with the fixing feet so that the line for the cut trimmer is between them;
  • start pressing on the part of the tile protruding from the platform by hand until the tile breaks.

When cutting with a handheld tile cutter, the edges of the tile are fairly even, but small chips and irregularities cannot be ruled out. In this case, the deformed edge should be sanded off.

We offer you a master class on cutting porcelain tiles with a manual tile cutter.

angle grinder

You can cut a variety of materials with the angle grinder, and porcelain tile is no exception.

Preparing for work

For cutting porcelain tile on the angle grinder must be installed a special “diamond disc. When installing the disc, make sure it is securely fastened, and be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves.

IMPORTANT! Since the angle grinder is a very dangerous tool, the use of all protective elements and compliance with safety rules is mandatory.

Work with angle grinder

The technology of cutting ceramic granite itself is not much different from cutting other materials.

In contrast to the manual tile cutter the angle grinder can do not only straight but also shaped cuts.

  • The tiles are cut along the marked line with the angle grinder. To reduce the number of chips, try to cut the tiles “in one approach”;
  • When cutting porcelain tiles with an angle grinder small chips and cracks can appear on the edges and face of the tile, the end of the tile is trimmed with sandpaper or a sanding disc after cutting.

Electric tile cutter

While the previous two methods are considered “dry” cutting, the following technique refers to “wet” cutting. In other words, during the process, water is applied to the tile cutter, which protects the cutting element from overheating. A nearly perfect, smooth cut is thereby assured.

Electric tile cutters are of two types: movable and stationary discs. In the first case, the cutting module moves along the tile on special guides, in the second. the tile is fed to the disc with a platform or simply by hand.

IMPORTANT! When working with stationary tile cutters, it is necessary to be particularly careful to follow the safety rules.

In addition to the platform and the cutting unit, most electric tile cutters are equipped with a container of water, in which a part of the cutting disc is immersed. This allows to protect the disk from overheating, and also greatly reduces the amount of dust during work.

Getting ready for work

Before starting work, check that the disc is securely fastened and that there is water in the container.

If the tile cutter is already in use, the cutting disc should be cleaned and the water changed, because chips of porcelain tiles in the water prevent proper cooling.

Tile cutting

A professional tile cutter can cut porcelain tiles almost perfectly

The very technology of cutting on an electric tile cutter is very simple: a pre-determined line for the trimmer of the cut is combined with the cutting disc and a special lever moves it along the tile or feeds it to the disc.

In case of manual feeding of tile, it is not recommended to press both halves of tile, because it is highly probable that the tile will be shifted to one side, which can have a negative impact on the quality of cut.

Since the edges of the cut with an electric tile cutter are almost perfectly flat, they do not need additional processing.

How to get rid of dust when cutting tiles

An electric jigsaw is an indispensable tool if you need to cut tiles along a curved line, and the required curves are quite steep. However, it is very difficult to use an electric jigsaw for cutting in porcelain tiles, this method is only suitable for ceramic tiles. Naturally, it is not just an ordinary saw for wood fiberboard, but a special diamond saw for a jigsaw of good quality, since the tiles have an increased strength. A circular saw is more suitable for cutting porcelain tiles.

Before making an inside cut with the jigsaw, it is necessary to drill a hole, the diameter of which will be slightly larger than the width of the diamond file. It should be drilled with a few millimeters more than the drill radius from the cutting line inwards so as to give a reserve for possible chips when drilling.

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Cutting with an angle grinder

Angle grinder (angle grinder). a universal tool for cutting and processing a variety of materials. Not a specialist tool due to its versatility. In the home with an angle grinder can solve many issues.

To cut porcelain tiles, almost any angle grinder will do. There is no need for high power. A small, lightweight tool is even preferable. RPM is more important than power. A powerful tool will cut tiles faster, but just the speed here can affect negatively. you will get less accurately.

The main issue is the selection of the cutting wheel. It is the choice of wheel that you should pay special attention to. And we are not talking about the seating size (it goes without saying).

Choice of cutting wheel

material can only be cut with diamond discs. Diamond discs are available in two types: continuous and segmental. For best results it is recommended to try and make cuts with different discs. For cutting porcelain stoneware there are special features when using both solid and segmented discs:

    Solid are positioned by manufacturers mainly for “wet” cutting. Т.е. for cutting with water or special liquids cooling. And are not used for cutting without cooling, as they can quickly fail. However, when the aim is to produce a cut with as few chips as possible, the solid disc may be the best choice. This is situational and very much depends on the specific material (quality, thickness, relief, etc) being cut;

In addition to the type, discs differ in a whole set of parameters: the density of the diamond coating, the height of the cutting edge, disc thickness, etc. It is better to follow the recommendations of the disk manufacturer. The discs themselves usually indicate the purpose for which they are used.

For cutting with a manual angle grinder discs less than 2.0 mm thick are not acceptable. The height of the cutting edge should be greater than the thickness of the tile (it affects the purity of the cut).

Tip! Check condition of blade before each cut. If there are any deviations, the disc must be changed, otherwise there is an increased risk of splintering.

porcelain, tile, floor

The technology

  • Draw a marking on the tile. The best way to do this is to use a construction marker.
  • Place the tile on a flat surface. In some cases it will be more convenient to fix the tile to the surface with clamps or to secure it to the workbench.
  • In order to obtain a smooth cut, you can additionally use clamps to secure a metal strip along the cutting line. You will then have to cut along it.
  • Carry out the cutting from the front side, because the output will have the largest number of chips. You can make a double cut. First make a small groove on the front side, and make the main cut on the back side. This method will minimize the 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.
  • Grind the cut additionally, if necessary.

General recommendations

When using an angle grinder must use protective equipment:

  • Wearing a suit that covers your legs and arms;
  • Protective goggles (preferably a mask);
  • Wearing protective gloves or gloves;
  • Respirator (mandatory for large amounts of work).
  • The ability to cut an element into virtually any shape. For the shape of the cut need good skills with the tool;
  • The possibility of trimming tiles that have already been laid in place;
  • tool availability.
  • risk of injury;
  • It is very difficult to obtain geometrically accurate cuts;
  • High labor intensity of obtaining a clean cut without chips;
  • Low speed of work;
  • High amount of dust and noise.

With an angle grinder it is not possible to get a perfect cut the first time. For accurate cuts without splintering, cut with an indentation of 2-5 mm from the line. Then brought to the right size by sanding. This is a rather labor-intensive and time-consuming operation, so it is recommended to work only with items that will be in a visible place.

Or use a trick, as in the video below:

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Recommendations for the work

The technology of cutting porcelain stoneware depends only on the tool you will use.

Cutting tiles for the floor with an angle grinder involves several sequential operations:

  • Before starting the work, the material should be secured firmly on a flat surface. It can be a special bed or a wooden board. It is important that the product does not slip, as it is dangerous, and will not allow the operator to saw evenly.
  • It is necessary to cut porcelain tiles slowly, consistently moving the angle grinder along the marked line. If a lot of dust forms, you can sprinkle water on the place of the cut. This will also slightly reduce the temperature of the saw, and increase its service life.

Cutting the material with an electric tile cutter is carried out almost the same technology as the processing of the angle grinder. Here, too, the tile is fixed on the machine, but the carving is formed only at a shallow depth along the entire cutting line. After that, the product is taken out and simply broken.

Working with an electric jigsaw, you should adhere to such specific recommendations:

  • First of all, you should draw the contours by which the cutting will be performed. It is advisable to moisten the porcelain stoneware slightly with a little water. After that you should slowly start breaking down the tiles, constantly watching the condition of the wire.
  • During the work it is desirable to blow off the dust, which not only covers the marks, but also clogs the thread. This will allow you to better control the movement of the working body.
  • If the filament reaches an edge or an end, it is important to control the load on it. Reduce speed slightly to keep the tool in one piece and achieve a smooth cut.

If you decide to use a circular saw for machining, then there are a few nuances here as well:

  • The tile should only be placed on the bed. Cutting by weight is not acceptable, as it will cause injury to your hands or other organs.
  • Move the product along the previously marked line in the direction of travel of the disc. It is important that the blade enters the material, not leaves it. Otherwise you will have difficulty holding the sheet and the quality of the cut will be significantly reduced. Both sides must be held firmly with your hands to prevent the material from slipping out.

Try to follow all safety rules for working with circular saws.

Particular attention should be paid to facing. For such purposes, special automated machines capable of processing an edge at an angle of 45 degrees are used.

To cut the material, it is simply placed on the frame and secured with special clamps. After that rollers give it to the knives, where they remove the bevel. It is quite difficult or almost impossible to get something like this at home. But you can try to do it with an angle grinder, which can remove the ends.

Tips from the Professionals

It is practically possible to get a quality cut at home.

For these purposes, you should simply follow a few rules of experienced craftsmen:

  • It is necessary to cut porcelain stoneware only from the front side of the material. It allows minimizing the appearance of chips. If you perform this procedure on the contrary, then the saw will simply tear the decorative layer and give it an ugly appearance when it comes out.
  • After cutting, it is desirable to treat all the ends with a professional grinder. This allows you to get rid of small chips, which are not always needed on the surface of the product.
  • Correctly cut only with a little physical effort. Otherwise, this can lead to the splitting of the material or the appearance of a large number of large chips.
  • Use only quality saws and other cutting tools. This will not only cut more pieces, but will also reduce the risk of cracking during work.
  • When there is a need to cut an L-shaped piece from porcelain stoneware, then it is advisable to use resilient materials as a backing. Such a base will not allow the product to crack in the corner, where the risk of its formation is the highest.
  • Holes are best made with diamond crowns or special ballerinas. They create a hole with straight edges and an exact, precisely defined size. If you do not have this tool, then you can try to cut the hole with an angle grinder. But this approach requires skill in working with this tool.
  • Be sure to use protective clothing that minimizes exposure to dust or other unforeseen factors on the body.

Cutting porcelain stoneware is a complex process that requires compliance with all the nuances of working with this material. Working with this product, use only quality and serviceable tools. Only this way you can get an even and beautiful cut, which will fit into the interior of the room.

On how to properly cut tiles with a handheld tile cutter, learn from the following video clip