Preparing for work

Ceramic, tiled, porcelain and gypsum tiles – quite comfortable material for finishing walls in residential premises. But before you start laying it, you need to learn how to properly cut tiles at home. After all, the smoother the tile is cut, the better the final result will be. It’s rare that you can choose the dimensions of a tile so well that you don’t have to cut it. When tiling, for example, an apron in a kitchen, it is unlikely that it will be possible to lay only solid plates of tiles, especially at corners, protrusions, places where pipes exit and outlets are located.

Before you start cutting tiles, you need to remove them from the packaging, carefully inspect and sort them, since any batch of even the highest quality goods has small errors and defects, such as:

• mismatch of shades
• unevenness of the front glazed coating
• mismatch in length, width or corners of tiles
• chips and cracks received during transportation

Of course, with the above in mind, the material must be purchased with a reserve; usually an extra 10% is enough. By the way, you can practice on the rejected material and “get better” if cutting tiles is not yet a well-practiced skill for you.

After sorting, the tiles should be soaked in water for a period of one to three hours (the more modern the cutting tool, the less soaking time is required).

During this time you should prepare:

• table, stool or cutting board
• pencil, marker or felt-tip pen (for marking)
• long ruler or measuring tape
• square, ideally metal
• respirator
• earplugs/headphones (for working with a machine or grinder)

What to cut with?

First, let's list the most common and accessible tools for cutting tiles:

• roller glass cutter
• wire cutters
• hacksaw
• electric jigsaw
• manual tile cutter
• mechanical tile cutter
• electric tile cutter
• a circular saw
• Bulgarian

If you need to cut just a few tiles for personal use, then the simplest tools that are available in almost every home are sufficient. But if you want to make money by laying tiles and, accordingly, cutting them, you will need to purchase the appropriate professional power tools.

Roller glass cutter represents wooden handle with a small diamond rotating wheel at the end. Cutting tiles with a glass cutter is the most famous, although not very simple, method. It is used for small volumes of work and on not too thick and durable tiles. To cut tiles using a glass cutter, you need to use a ruler and press the roller from edge to edge along a pre-marked line. In this case, you cannot tear the tool from the surface of the tile, nor It is not recommended to repeatedly use a glass cutter along a line that has already been cut once.

The glass cutter will not cut the tile completely, but will only scratch a strip. Next, you need to carefully, slowly, break the tile, placing it with the resulting cutting line on the edge of the table or board, lightly tap it with the handle of a glass cutter and press on the hanging edge. As a result, the material should crack exactly along the intended line. After separating the parts, the roughness can be smoothed with sandpaper or a file.

Nippers are typically used to break off pieces of tile. They are used if it is necessary to cut tiles to fit holes in various places: under pipes, platbands, window sills, sockets, etc. Nippers do not cut in the literal sense of the word, but break off small pieces from the tile along the cut line. The nippers themselves have two carbide-coated clamps in their design - the upper one cuts through the shiny glazed layer on the tile, and the lower one serves as a support. They work with nippers like this: apply a cutout outline to the tile, clamp the tile with the nippers, clamp both halves of the tool and break off the tile along the markings. If necessary, the resulting cut is cleaned with a file.

You can also cut tiles with a hacksaw. It is better to purchase a special hacksaw for ceramics; in appearance, it is almost no different from other types of hacksaws, for example, for metal or wood, with the only exception that its blade is coated with a special coating of tungsten carbide. The main advantage of using a hacksaw is that the cut edges come out smooth, without chips, nicks or roughness, and therefore require almost no additional grinding.

Jigsaw– quite a universal and functional tool. You just need to purchase a special abrasive file (the so-called “rope”) for working with tiles. With its help, the tiles are cut evenly and accurately, and it also allows you to make holes and shaped cutouts in the product. To cut a tile, you must first secure it, then turn on the jigsaw at medium speed and make a through cut along the pre-planned contour.

Manual tile cutter reminds in its own way appearance pliers, with the only difference that one tip has a protrusion, and the other has a characteristic cutout. In addition, a roller diamond cutter is placed on the edge of the tool. Using this tile cutter is quite simple. First you need to cut through the glazed side of the tile with a roller. Then, holding the tile with pliers, break the segment exactly along the line. It is important to ensure that the protrusion is on the front glazed side, and the cutout is on the back matte side.

Mechanical tile cutter According to the principle of its operation, it is similar to a large glass cutter with additionally attached guides and a lever. When using a mechanical tile cutter, the tiles are placed on a stand under the guides, and the lever is pulled to the nearest position. After this, the tile should be aligned along the line, and the cutter roller should be placed on the edge of the marked line. Then you need to carefully move the cutter roller forward along the line using a lever, pressing lightly on it in the process. At the end of the operation, the tile independently splits exactly along the cut line. However, the disadvantage of such a tile cutter is that they will not be able to cut a piece less than 5 mm.

Electric tile cutter It is used quite rarely at home; it is mainly in demand where tiles have to be cut on an industrial scale. The tiles are cut with this tool using a rotating diamond-coated disk, which is permanently moistened with water from a special container. The material should be fed to the disc carefully, otherwise the tile may crack.

The main advantages of such a tile cutter electric machine are the absence of dust during operation, as well as a perfectly smooth cut shape, without chips or cracks. The significant disadvantages are that this tool emits a rather loud roar during operation, rotates very quickly, and also throws sparks around itself. Therefore, special precautions must be taken when working with it.

A circular saw It is also rarely used at home, since working with it requires a separate workshop. Such a tool is a full-fledged machine equipped with a toothed disk. Cutting tiles requires a special dry cutting diamond blade. During the cutting process, the prepared tile is pressed against the table and carefully moved forward along the intended line.

But in almost any household there is an angle grinder. Using this tool you can also cut tiles, you just need to take care of purchasing a diamond cutting disc and install it in the direction of movement of the tool. To cut, you must first apply markings to the tile, and then carefully make a cut in it, smoothly moving the tool at medium speed “away from you.” Disadvantage of working with an angle grinder: a large number of dust and sparks, so when working it is necessary to observe all possible safety measures. In addition, after cutting with a grinder, small chips may form along the edges of the tiles, which will need to be sanded.

Cutting methods at home

Professionals prefer waterjet and laser cutting, which are performed on special machines. Their advantage is that there is practically no significant mechanical or thermal effect on the surface of the material being processed. Cutting with a water jet mixed with abrasive or a laser beam controlled by a modern computer is used mainly in working with metal, but when cutting particularly durable floor tiles they have no equal. These machines can produce perfect cuts in a wide variety of shapes.

At home, it is also quite possible to perform curved and shaped cutting (for example, with rounded corners, diagonally or at 45). In this case, it is best to use a power tool or jigsaw with a diamond thread. With their help, you can perform quite delicate work even on such a particularly durable material as porcelain stoneware.

Regular thin glossy wall tiles can be worked with a glass cutter and a roller. But if there are a lot of such tiles, it is better to purchase a special tile cutter. Also, if you don’t have power tools, you can try to process the cuts ceramic tiles or mosaic tiles with nippers, and then sand them thoroughly. The main thing is not to “bite off” the notches in very large pieces.

Stone-like gypsum tiles are the easiest to cut, since the gypsum polymer material from which they are made is quite plastic. Gypsum tiles can be cut even with a regular wood saw, but a fine-toothed hacksaw is best for cutting such tiles.

How to cut a hole?

When cutting holes (for example, for pipes), an ordinary drill can come to the rescue. The highest quality and smoothest holes are obtained using attachments in the form of diamond crowns, but the high price of such products does not allow purchasing them for small-scale work.

When working with ceramic tiles, you cannot do without adjusting the products. Sometimes they need to be adjusted to size, in other cases a circle or recess needs to be cut for the pipe. Ceramic tile cutting can be done in several ways. Each of them is good in its own case.

Ceramic cutting options

Each of the methods is good in something different and suitable in one case or another. How to cut ceramic tiles? There are three main ways to cut ceramic tiles evenly:

1. Using a grinder with an appropriate circle.
2. Use an electric, manual tile cutter or special nippers.
3. Handy tools for cutting ceramic tiles, such as a glass cutter, a well-sharpened nail or a drill.

In order to understand all the intricacies of the work, you need to consider each option in detail.

Cutting ceramic tiles with a grinder

Cutting ceramic tiles at home is done using a grinder. If you don’t have a specialized tool for ceramics at hand, then an angle grinder is always handy. In addition, there are cases in which it is necessary to make subtle adjustments by cutting off only a thin strip of 0.5–2 cm. The tile cutter will not help in this case due to its widely spaced support legs.

How to cut ceramic tiles at home using a grinder? All you have to do is take a pencil or marker, make a line on the ceramic tile, and then cut. You should monitor the heating during the process. You shouldn't cut it in one go. Otherwise, the product may crack. For the desired result, the movements of the grinder are made smooth, without pressing.

Advice! You need to walk the grinder along the drawn line not in the very center, but along the line, from the side of the trimmed part. By cutting the ceramic along a strictly marked line, the fragment will become smaller by a couple of millimeters.

How to properly cut ceramic tiles with a grinder? There are some tips for this:

1. It is better to carry out the process in weight, in which case the vibration from the tool will be compensated by hands.
2. After trimming, the edges may be sloppy. Therefore, a careful repeat pass is made at the site of the first cut.
3. Sandpaper will help smooth out uneven surfaces.
4. The grinder is a very dangerous tool. To protect yourself, you should wear gloves, wide safety glasses or a shield before cutting. You need thick clothing and leather shoes.

Choosing a cutting disc

It is important to know which disc to cut ceramic tiles with. Only diamond-coated metal discs are suitable for this purpose. However, there are 3 types of similar products on sale:

1. Discs for concrete.
2. Discs for stone, natural or artificial.
3. Brick discs.

A disk for cutting ceramic tiles can be recognized by the missing holes on the solder. It is uniform and smooth. As for discs for concrete, they are made with slots. Using such discs will generate strong vibration when cutting. This is fraught with destruction of the facing material and the appearance of chips on it.

Important! The fragments formed during cutting scatter in all directions. The likelihood of injury increases.

Using a manual tile cutter

This is the tool that is most often used when working with facing materials, because that’s what it was created for. The machine for cutting ceramic tiles is used by both craftsmen and amateurs. All you have to do is buy it at your nearest hardware store. Price depends on size. Minimum cost – 350 rubles. For an additional price, an improved option is available that allows you to cut ceramics at an angle of 45° for joining.

Note! Don't buy the cheapest tile cutters. They can break the finishing material due to improper balance of the elements.

How to cut ceramic tiles at home with a tile cutter? Instructions:

1. The ceramics are installed in the tile cutter. There is a special mark on the instrument. The line on the tile made as a cutting guide should line up with the mark.
2. The handle of the tile cutter is lowered, after which in a smooth movement, with one speed and pressure, the handle is moved along the tile away from you. It is necessary that the roller cuts through the coating (glaze) to a uniform depth. One wiring is enough. It is not recommended to make multiple passes. They will not improve the cut, but will only worsen the situation. Microscopic discrepancies are created and the final fracture will be of poor quality.
3. The tile cutter has special feet with which you need to break the cut product. The movement is sharp and strong.

There is a metal bump on the tile cutter platform. It is protected by soft linings that help the tiles not to be damaged after a break.

Tile cutter in the form of tongs

This is a cheap type of ceramic tile cutter. Its price ranges from 190 to 350 rubles. The purchase is rational only for cutting at home, with a small volume. The facing material must be thin. The cutting technology is as follows:

1. Markings are applied to the ceramics, taking into account seams and gaps.
2. You need to apply a metal ruler to the tile along the line, and then run the cutter once along the ceramic. You need to apply medium-moderate pressure on the tile cutter so that a visible strip is formed. The tool should be passed from the edge towards you.
3. Gently pressing the handle will help crack the ceramic.

Using an electric tile cutter

If the object is large and you have to cut a lot of products, then it is rational to purchase an electric tile cutter. With him, the work will be done quickly and efficiently. The tool has a cutting wheel and a water supply system. The circle is not simple, but diamond-coated. And water is needed to remove dust and cool the surface of the ceramic. The cost of the unit is 3500–4100 rubles.

How to cut ceramic tiles with this tile cutter? The process is reminiscent of working with a grinder.

Cutting with improvised means

It is not always necessary to do a large amount of work. Why waste money if you need to cut several tiles. In this case, you can use the following tools:

• ordinary glass cutter;
• sharpened nail or drill;
• assembly or stationery knife.

How to cut ceramic tiles with a glass cutter? The algorithm of actions is as follows:

The required piece will break off. It is clear that it will not be possible to make a perfect cut. But you can save money. And after that, it’s enough to rub the cut with sandpaper. In addition, if you put the tiles in clean water, then the cutting process will become better.

Note! Some people ask whether it is possible to cut ceramic tiles with a jigsaw. Yes, but the cut will not be as high quality as we would like. Application electric jigsaw rational when adjusting tiles laid in an inconspicuous place. But, there are special diamond-coated saws for manual or electric jigsaws. This option is allowed.

Complex shaped cutting of ceramic tiles

In addition to standard cutting of products, in which an even cut is made, there is shaped cutting of ceramic tiles. Tile cutters in this case become useless, since they can only make straight cut lines.

One of the common cases is a socket. How to cut a hole for a socket in ceramic tiles? It all depends on the circumstances. Sometimes it is enough to make a U-shaped cut to fit the size of the outlet. Another option is to split the two tiles into two rectangular pieces and cut them off. In this case, the long side is cut with a tile cutter, and the short side with a grinder. External corners are carried out according to the same scheme.

Advice! When applying markings, 1.4 to 1.8 mm is subtracted for the distance from the wall, and 2.5 mm for the grout joint.

There is another way to perform a U-shaped cutting. Any acceptable method is used for this. For example, the same ruler and glass cutter for creating cuts in the glaze. After which the excess parts are chipped off, and the edges are rubbed with sandpaper.

But how to cut a hole in ceramic tiles for a pipe? It’s more difficult here, since there are no right angles. The hole should be round and even. Professionals use special crowns that are diamond-coated and allow you to quickly make a hole required diameter under a sewer or water pipe.

But what if there are no such crowns? The first option is to use a tile drill or a pobedit drill bit. This is not the easiest way, but it is quite feasible:

1. Before cutting a circle in a ceramic tile, you need to install the tile on a flat and clean surface.
2. Markings are applied to the surface of the tile.
3. Using a drill bit, straight holes are made in the intended circle. They need to be made dense, the closer the better.
4. Using the same drill, you need to remove the remaining gaps, doing the work at an angle of 45 degrees.
5. The hole will be rough and sloppy. Therefore, this can be corrected with sandpaper and large wire cutters.

If this hole is made for a faucet or for sub-racks, then you don’t need to bother with aligning the edges, they will disappear.

When you need to make a hole of a larger diameter, for example, for forced ventilation, a mini grinder with a ceramic disc is used. Again, markings are made on it, and with the help of a grinder, two cuts are made crosswise. Then four even cuts are made between them to form a square. The remaining edges are cut off with nippers. Don't bite off large pieces right away. At the end everything is cleaned with sandpaper. Another cutting option is directly along the contour of the intended circle to half the thickness. After which an incision is made crosswise across the entire thickness. There are 4 elements left to break off.

You can make a hole using a jigsaw and a special string for it. The tile is marked, a hole is made in it, into which a string for a hand jigsaw or a tile saw for a jigsaw is inserted. A hole is made along the contour. It will turn out smooth and neat.

One of the most popular methods is to use a drill called a “ballerina”. A ballerina will allow you to make round holes as accurately as possible correct form various sizes.

Conclusion

There are many options for cutting ceramic tiles. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, they help to cope with the task effectively. For this, a grinder, special tile cutters and available materials are used.

Ceramic tiles are a very popular building material that is used to finish any surface. On modern construction market There are a huge number of devices for working with it. This article will discuss in detail all kinds of tile cutters for tiles and methods for cutting them.

Kinds

When working with any type of ceramic tile, it is impossible to make perfect masonry without using a special tool. And since the tile consists of a clay base and glaze, then, first of all, when finishing works It is advisable to first cut the glaze layer and then divide the tile into the required parts.

Unusual methods of laying tiles - diagonally, with a shift, according to a finished pattern or pattern - involve cutting. And in decorative works With tiles, a tile cutter is simply irreplaceable.

Let's consider possible methods and types of work on cutting ceramics:

• Mechanical method- cutting a material of a softer density with a knife made of a dense material by deep or not very deep pressing or cutting, and then breaking it manually. Hand tools that will help cut tiles - glass cutter, manual tile cutter.
• Method using power tools. In this case, the cut is made with the same material as when using hand tools, only the cutting element drives the mains-powered motor.

• Method using a powerful jet of water and a strong abrasive material, which arrives on the surface of the tile. Used for cutting porcelain stoneware.
• Method using laser beams – suitable for dense tile material.

Trimming tiles may be necessary in the following cases:

• working with tiling on a limited surface, it is necessary to trim the initial and outer elements for a more beautiful placement;
• when placing it according to a certain pattern;
• if there is any on the facing surface functional devices– sockets, pipes, lamps, exit to sewer system, you need to make a hole for them;
• To create beautiful carved ceramic elements, you need to cut tiles using suitable tools.

The type of trimming of the product depends on the tool that will be used for this:

• a small cut of tiles can be done with a diamond blade of a grinder, even if the tiles have already been laid on the surface;
• for cutting classic smooth tiles at home when carrying out small-area repairs, a manual tile cutter with a diamond knife is suitable;

• if the volume of finishing work is large or further work with thick tile material is expected, it is better to purchase an electric tile cutter;
• If you want to save money on repairs, then a simple manual glass cutter will help you cut ceramic tiles without a tile cutter. It is cheap, easy to use and the safest of all types of tools, but this type of cutting requires more time and is only suitable for thin trim tiles;

• also, to carry out tiling work, you will need special diamond wheels-attachments for a regular drill if necessary, make a hole for a socket, for example;
• For artistic and decorative cutting there is a special method - WaterJet waterjet cutting. This high-precision water cutting is carried out with the lowest temperature of the contacting surfaces and allows you to make beautiful ornaments from any hard, dense material, such as porcelain stoneware and a natural stone. Cutting is based on a directed flow of water with special abrasive sand particles, which can consist of such a dense material as garnet;

• laser cutting- V laser machine there is a directed high-power beam that makes an even deep cut of any building material without chipping;
• plasma cutting.

Water, laser and plasma cutting good because you can cut and process a large number of tiles at a time. In this case, the edges of the tiles are perfectly smooth, the tiles do not break, and all cuts are precise.

It is used on an industrial scale, since this cutting method is very expensive.

Materials

Each type of ceramic tile requires its own cutting method.

The choice of tile cutter depends on the thickness and external characteristics of the facing material. Based on density, you can distinguish soft, medium and hard tiles. The most difficult material to cut is, of course, natural stone and porcelain stoneware.

They have the highest density and highest price compared to other tiles, so you need to carefully select the tool for cutting them.

Let's consider the possible types and options of tile materials that can be cut at home, starting with the softest:

• One of the most easily processed facing materials – gypsum. It is very often used in construction, including for making gypsum tiles. There are many types of such tiles, ranging from simple imitation of stone and brick to all sorts of interesting textures. Such a tile whole line pluses - it is quite light in weight, its excess edges are easy to trim, but the only minus is that it is not moisture resistant and is only suitable for decorative finishing. You can cut such tiles manually.
• Tile under the brick has a denser structure than gypsum, so it is more difficult to work with than gypsum, but pruning is done in the same way.
• Ceiling Foam tiles can be easily cut with a utility knife.

• Ceramics smooth and voluminous requires a tile cutter or grinder.
• Porcelain tiles– the material is very dense, so to cut it you will need a water jet or an electric tile cutter.
• Ceiling tiles made of plastic As the most budget-friendly material during the New Year's season, it is used to make decorative snowflakes.

Cut out snowflakes from ceiling tiles A marker, a cardboard template and a regular stationery knife will help.

Required Tools

Knowing the properties of the material used and the properties of the cutting tools, choosing the right one will be much easier.

In order to cut tiles, use the hardest natural material called diamond. All cutting elements are almost always made using it.

Easy to use and inexpensive, the glass cutter has a small diamond stone placed on the end for cutting. The jigsaw cuts using a special diamond-coated string. A circular saw with a special disk attachment has a special coating on the working element. An electric tile cutter is a machine that cuts material using a diamond wheel.

Basic tools used for cutting tiles:

• glass cutter;
• tongs, pliers;
• ceramic hacksaw;

• drill;
• tile drill, nails;
• diamond bits;

• jigsaw with tungsten string;
• manual tile cutter;
• Bulgarian;

• ballerina;
• electric tile cutter;
• circular saw with a special diamond attachment;

• file, sandpaper, paper tape, construction pencil;
• stationery knife.

Subtleties of the process

First of all, before cutting tiles, you need to take care to protect your eyes, face from dust, as well as your hands - for this you need goggles, a mask and protective gloves, especially if you plan to work with dangerous power tools. Certain types of tools will help you cut tiles correctly, but each type of cutting has its own nuances.

Let's look at the main features of cutting tiles for each type of tool:

• Simple glass cutter. Thin wall tiles must be marked with a marker, drawing a straight line. Lay the tiles on flat surface and make a cut along the outer edge. It is important to know that you need to trim the tiles slightly away from the edge of the line, otherwise the required part of the tile will be several millimeters shorter. Also in this case, you can use an oil glass cutter, which will be more effective.

To break the tile, you need to place a long convex object under it.

• Manual tile cutter. If you need to trim tiles, including for decorating tile baseboards, you can use a manual tile cutter with a sharp cutting element. The tile cutter consists of a guide roller and tongs that allow you to break the tiles at the end of the cut. The cutting element must be pressed gently and evenly and moved along the tile away from you. Such a tool will help to do a larger amount of work, but in this case the edge of the tile will not be very smooth and will need to be sanded.

• Bulgarian. To quickly cut dense tiles, you can use a grinder, but in this case the edges of the tiles will also not be very smooth and will need to be sanded. The tool itself is easy to use; you need to cut it carefully, along a pre-made line away from you, when the saw blade begins to rotate at a certain speed, approximately 3.5 thousand revolutions per minute. The cutting disc of the grinder must be diamond-coated, and there must be free, flat space under the grinder.

You need to cut continuously. The downside of this tool is a large amount of dust and shavings that fill the entire space around. You will also need to work with this tool very carefully, wearing a respirator and goggles.

• Electric tile cutter. A universal tool that costs a lot of money, but it can also be rented. The advantages of an electric tile cutter are that the tile can be cut at an angle, quickly and very smoothly. Also, tiles can be of any thickness and texture. The tool consists of a platform, a cutting element and a device for supplying water to the cutting line.
• Ballerina. A special tool that helps make round holes in tile material using a drill.

If there is a need to make a shaped cut according to a drawing, you can use a glass cutter or an electric tile cutter; the choice in this case depends on the thickness of the tile.

If you need to make a simple round or square hole for an outlet, you must first mark a line along which the tile will be cut. To do round hole, you can use a drill, a jigsaw, a ballerina, or a diamond-coated crown. For square hole The same tools plus a grinder will do.

Let's consider the option of working with a ballerina and a drill:

• make a hole with a drill in the middle of the tile;
• fix the diameter of the future circle on the ballerina, install it on the drill;
• then install a drill on the recess and drill to the middle of the tile, then with reverse side cut carefully until a circle appears.

You can also make a round hole using a jigsaw. The disadvantage of this option is the high energy consumption of this work. To carry out the work, you need to purchase a special tungsten string, which will need to be installed on the instrument. You can find tungsten filament in any supermarket that sells building materials. The cut must be made from the back side of the tile, first making a special hole with a drill in the middle of the circle outline.

A round hole in the tile can be made using diamond sputtering on a special nozzle, which can be different sizes. First of all, you need to mark and protect the tiles with tape. Next, you need to attach the diamond bit to the drill and start drilling slowly. The downside of the option with a nozzle is that the unit heats up quickly, so it needs to be cooled during operation. After the hole is ready, you need to polish its edges using sandpaper.

You can also make a round hole using a grinder. In this case, you also need to purchase a special disc reinforced with diamond coating. With a grinder you can both cut and sand. When starting work, you need to make a dotted outline with a marker, then use a grinder with a disc away from you to make a neat cut, gradually increasing the force used. Next you should sand the edges.

A round hole can be made using a drill and pliers, but this will take more time. These tools are found in almost every home. Option will do for an already laid surface. If the tiles have not yet been laid, it is better to keep them in hot water for about forty minutes. In order to make a hole, you need to outline the outline and protect the remaining surface of the tile with tape. Next, stepping back from the edges, you need to systematically drill holes around the circumference. Then break out the inner circle with pliers and sand the edges with a file.

A manual glass cutter is also suitable for cutting shaped holes, but only on thin tiles. In order to make a hole, you need to outline the contours and drill a recess in the middle, then carefully cut a circle with a glass cutter using a ruler. Then, using pliers, carefully break out the edges. All irregularities are smoothed out with a file.

For figure cutting decorative details that will be parts of a beautiful ceramic decorative panel, you need to use a special machine. This tile cutter is expensive and you need to work on it very carefully and accurately, following a certain technology.

This option is suitable for professionals in their field. When working on such a machine, you first need to make marks on the future part, then smoothly move a special handle along the cutting line. Having finished the line, you need to methodically tap the entire surface with a wooden hammer to separate the decorative part from the main part of the tile.

Working on such a machine is very difficult for a beginner, and the price won’t pay for itself without subsequent use at home, so most craftsmen use a grinder for decorative tile work.

As mentioned above, all cutting machines are divided into manual and electric.

When choosing an electric machine, you must first of all pay attention to the manufacturer, because if you buy a cheap tile cutter, you will have to carry it for repairs too often. The second point that you need to pay attention to is the quality of the cutting element, because it is he who does all the main work of cutting tiles.

The cutter must be of high quality, made of hardened durable metal. Otherwise, the saw will wear out and break very quickly.

When a tile cutter is selected, you need to remember that its cutting disc must be regularly checked for dirt and chip residues. The disc must be cleaned using a special grinding tool, which is usually used to polish the already cut edges of the tiles.

When deciding to purchase a manual machine, you should remember that this option is only suitable for home use. interior decoration. However, some types of porcelain tiles can also be cut manual machine. You also need to pay attention to the quality of the platform - it must be very stable and dense to withstand the pressure of the cutter. This tool is not suitable for large-scale work. This type Tile cutters can also perform angled cutting and regular ceramic cutting.

When starting work, be sure to check the condition of the roller and the density and clarity of the tiles fixed to the machine. The roller should move along its axis without difficulty, and the width of the tile should be no more than fifteen millimeters.

When carrying out tile cutting work, be sure to consider the following tips:

• when choosing tiles, it is better to focus on medium-density tiles - they will crumble less during processing;
• when working with tiles, it is better to wet them so that the material is more flexible;
• when handling a manual tile cutter, do not put too much pressure on the handles, otherwise the tile will simply break;

• after cutting, be sure to sand the tile so as not to cut your hands with its smooth edge;
• When cutting a round hole for a socket, you must step back from the edge of the tile by 2-4 cm, otherwise the tile will simply crumble when drilling;
• when using a grinder, you need to place flat wooden bars under the surface of the tile for optimal performance;
• if it is necessary to cut out a corner element, the cut of the rectangle with a grinder from both sides to the corner is not made completely, the unnecessary element is simply broken out with tongs, and the remaining surface just needs to be polished;

• It is also better to make a hole for a narrow water supply pipe with a grinder, first sawing out the edges, then cutting through the entire circle in strips; the remainder should be filed down with a grinder and processed with a cutter or file;
• also circle under drainpipe can be marked and, having made diametrical markings, cut out first with outside, then from the inside. Next, the edges are processed using a special attachment on a puncher.

Using scraps

Most frequently asked question, which arises after completing the main work with tile materials at home or professionally - how and where to use leftovers, fragments and trimmings of ceramic material.

Of course, there are many ways to put the remaining uneven ceramic tiles, and the main option here is mosaic masonry. That is, all ceramic parts are cut to size if necessary and laid out according to the smalt principle. For this purpose, special diagrams, drawings and patterns are developed.

Moreover, you can decorate any surface with such mosaic parts - from a concrete or brick wall to glass, wood or even chipboard. After such finishing, any surface will become unique, and the decoration of the room will be updated and transformed, because creating a design is a creative work.

When finishing work from such material, it is necessary to adjust the cuttings and fragments in thickness to ensure evenness of the pattern, as well as in color to create the desired pattern.

In this way you can update the porch of the house, the surface street shops, walls and floor on the veranda, the surface above the doors and between the windows, window sill, countertops or even make new finishing walls in the bathroom. You can create completely new designer items - vases, flowerpots, pallets, lamps.

There are times when it is more difficult to cut ordinary tiles along the contour of a circle, square, or simply trim them than hard and dense porcelain tiles. The grooves from the glass cutter are practically invisible on such a tile; a manual tile cutter does not cut it, and even a grinder cannot cut such a tile from the outside.

If the ceramic tiles are hardened, front side it will not be possible to cut it, to do this you need to make cuts with a grinder with inside 2-3 millimeters deep, then use tongs.

For a hole for a round rosette, you can use two types of cutting with a grinder - first make a mark in a circle, cut diagonally with a grinder, then cut out square notches on the inside, then break it out in a circle along the edges with pliers, while wetting the edges.

When cutting tiles, it is better to additionally mark the places of future breaks with a glass cutter to avoid further chips. . The best option for a glass cutter is an oil cutter (when cutting, an oily liquid is supplied to the stone circle), since it glides more easily over the tiles, including the glaze, and leaves behind a more even cut with fewer chips.

Successful examples and options

The presented examples demonstrate options for the location of communications and electrical devices in the holes of ceramic tiles.

Cutting ceramic tiles is a complex and responsible task that requires selection individual instrument for each type of coverage. The article discusses all types of tiles and tools for cutting them, so after reading the material, the question of how to cut floor tiles will immediately disappear.

Cutting tiles for wall cladding

The tiles used for wall decoration differ from others, for example, from floor tiles, in their softness, which allows them to be cut without any problems. You can cut this tile using several tools, which we will discuss below.

Glass cutter

A roller glass cutter is a cheap and convenient tool that is perfect for cutting small amounts of material.

Its main advantage is its ease of use:

• To cut a piece of tile, lay it on a flat and hard surface, after which, make markings on it;
• The next step is the actual cutting: run the glass cutter from the end of the tile towards you along the intended line, pressing on the surface;
• Breaking off a tile is not difficult: take a thin object, such as a pencil, and place it under the cut line, then press on the tile on both sides of the cut.

You can facilitate this process using a more advanced model - oil glass cutter. The handle of this tool has a built-in reservoir into which the user pours the mixture. machine oil and kerosene. During cutting, the mixture flows onto the roller and thereby facilitates the process of cutting the material.

Manual tile cutter

You should only buy a manual tile cutter or rent one if you have a large amount of work awaiting you. The main advantage of this cutting method is its simplicity and lack of effort.

A manual tile cutter, as you can see from the photo, is a simple tool consisting of guide tubes, a cutting element and a lever. The tile is placed inside the tool, after which, pressing, it is passed with a cutting roller. The cutting process is completed by pressing on the lever, which will break the tile at the cut site.

This tile cutter has disadvantages:

1. You will not be able to cut strips smaller than 5mm;
2. The edge of the cut tile will have to be additionally sanded, because sometimes the cut turns out uneven.

Cutting floor tiles

Ceramic floor tiles are a fairly durable material, and cutting them by hand is problematic, so when thinking about how to cut ceramic floor tiles, choose one of the special tools presented below. When adjusting the tiles, the thickness of the floor tiles with adhesive is taken into account, which is very important.

Electric tile cutter

An electric tile cutter is an ideal option if you are concerned about how to cut your floor tiles while maintaining a clean edge and beauty.

A tile cutting machine is a complex design that a beginner will have to figure out by reading the instructions. This machine consists of a powerful engine, a platform on which a cutting element, for example, a diamond-coated disk, is fixed, and the machine also has a reservoir into which water is poured.

Models of electric tile cutters vary, so in some models the bottom of the blade is immersed in water, while in other models only the area where the tile is cut is wetted. Thanks to water wetting, less ceramic dust is released during cutting and wear on the cutting disc is reduced, which will extend its service life.

It is also worth mentioning how to cut floor tiles with a tile cutter:

1. Take care of your safety and wear safety glasses, because while working, fragments may fly off the tiles;
2. Cutting tiles is done by pressing the tile onto the disk. The first contact between the tile and the knife should be soft, and then gradually increase. Toward the end of the cut, also reduce the pressure;
3. Lightly press on the edges of the tile to avoid rolling over on one side, which will lead to a bunch of problems, for example, damage to the material, surrounding areas and the machine;
4. Change the liquid in the bath, because dust remains in it, which significantly reduces the service life of the cutting disc.

Using an electric tile cutter you can process all types of tiles; in addition, the machine will allow you to cut at 45 degrees, leaving smooth edges without chips that do not have to be processed manually.

If you have already decided how to cut floor tiles, then take your time, because an electric tile cutter is... expensive pleasure, so you should only buy it if you plan to cut ceramics regularly. The solution to the price problem can be the rental of construction equipment.

Cutting with a grinder

Bulgarian is the most best option for people who are renovating their home. This tool is relatively inexpensive, and it can be used for more than just cutting tiles, so it’s worth buying. Ease of operation is also a huge advantage of an angle grinder, because even a beginner will be able to cut floor tiles at home using an angle grinder.

When choosing an angle grinder, it is better to take a model that has a speed switch to cut tiles at a speed of 3.5 thousand revolutions per minute or lower. If the rotation speed of the saw blade (for concrete or diamond) is higher, the tiles may split, and hot chips flying at high speed clearly make work difficult.

In addition to the advantages, the grinder also has disadvantages:

1. It creates a lot of dust and debris;
2. The edges of the cut tiles turn out sloppy, so they will have to be further processed using a file and sandpaper;
3. The high risk of damaging yourself is the last drawback of this tool. Be careful to hold the grinder firmly before cutting floor tiles, and wear safety glasses or a mask, as well as a respirator.

Shaped cutting

Often, tiles have to be cut not in a straight line, for example, to fit a sink, toilet or pipes. Below we will talk about how to cut floor tiles at home, adjusting them to the shape of various designs.

Ballerina

If your question is how to cut floor tiles at home, obtaining a hole of a certain diameter, then you should use the tool with the photo - a ballerina. This is a circular drill that allows for adjustment of the diameter of the hole being cut.

If you want to cut floor tiles in this way as accurately as possible, then use a special tripod for a drill.

The only disadvantage of the drill is that it is only enough for 20 holes in the tiles.

Wire cutters

A simple tool, but it will help you get a wide variety of tile shapes. Take small bites starting from the edge. The method is simple, so be prepared for the fact that you will get sloppy edges and will have to further process them.

Conclusion

Now you have figured out how to cut floor tiles, but remember that you will not always be able to do without professional tools, so you can contact a company that specializes in cutting a variety of materials.

In the production of various construction work You often need to cut ceramic tiles yourself at home. To do this, it is not at all necessary to have a professional tool - a tile cutter. Let's make a reservation right away: we're not talking about permanent job and large volumes, but about small batches or even one-piece products. In such cases, it makes no sense to buy an expensive tool; you can easily get by with improvised means.

1. Cut in a straight line. In this case, you need to distinguish where the cut is taking place. If less than 2 cm remains from the cutting line to the edge, then such a cut can be classified as figured;
2. Round holes in tiles of various diameters;
3. Curly cutouts;
4. Mosaic elements. If there are requirements for precise geometric shapes, then this type also applies to curly cuttings. Otherwise, this is actually crushing the tile into pieces. The products are placed in a bag and, using a heavy tool (hammer, sledgehammer), are crushed to required proportions. The exception may not be ceramic tiles.

Methods for cutting tiles

The methods given are mainly suitable for cutting tiles at home. But also applicable or limitedly applicable to other types of tiles. You can cut tiles without a tile cutter in the following ways:

Angle grinder (grinder)

Generally speaking, this universal tool. Just as craftsmen used to be able to cut down a house with one ax, now they can cut down anything with the help of one grinder. The author witnessed how a smooth round hole with a diameter of 5 cm was cut out.

Note! The method is suitable for straight curly types and with minimal skills in handling curved line tools of any configuration.

For cutting you will need:

• Bulgarian. Any power and any type;
• Cutting wheel (stone or diamond);
• Safety helmet or goggles (required);
• Full protective suit and gloves (recommended);
• Respirator (recommended);
• Clamp Additionally in some cases (clamp or vice).

Pre-mark the tiles, preferably by scratching the line with any sharp tool. As a last resort, drawing a line with a construction marker is allowed. During operation, a lot of dust is generated and the marked lines can be erased when it is removed.

Straight small cuts along the edges of the tiles can be made by laying the tiles on a flat surface on a table or floor. First cut the surface a few millimeters. With this operation, the tile’s own gravity and frictional force are enough to hold the product in place. For deeper passes, you can additionally step on the edge or hold it with an assistant. At curly cuts It is better to attach the product to the tabletop with a clamp or secure it in a vice, after placing pieces of cardboard or thick fabric under the jaws.

Advice! Place a piece of plywood under the product to avoid damage to the surface of the table or floor.

The cut is carried out in several ways:

It is recommended to use for complex cuts: on edges or curved ones. The fact is that with this method there is a lot of dust, consumption cutting blade, time costs and labor costs. A regular straight line can be cut in much simpler ways.

Jigsaw

If there is neither a tile cutter nor a grinder, then a jigsaw may be available. An underrated instrument by many!

Note! In a similar way you can use manual jigsaw with a stone saw. But the cutting speed will be an order of magnitude lower.

Required:

Sawing in the usual way. Cutting too rounded slots is problematic, as the file gets stuck. Not thick (wall) tiles can be sawed well. It is very difficult to saw through porcelain floor tiles in this way. For a little relief, it is suggested to pre-soak the material.

Glass cutter or any sharp tool

This method can only be used to cut tiles. And only in a straight line. Another limitation is that the parts should not be less than 2 cm wide.

Required:

To ensure a clear cut without chipping or going sideways, the scratch must be applied carefully. It is enough to scratch the top, glossy layer.

Advice! When applying marks, pay attention to the beginning and end of the scratch. Often, at the very beginning and at the very end, the scratch is not deep enough. This is due to insufficient pressure and psychology. At the very beginning we are just trying it on and the pressure is relaxed. At the very end there is an acceleration and the risk is “lubricated”. This may cause the fault to move to the side in these places.

When applying marks with a knife, make several passes to get a deep scratch.

The application of a scratch depends on the hardness and sharpness of the tool used. If the tool is sufficiently hard and sharpened (a glass cutter with a sharp roller, a spear-shaped sharpened Victory drill, etc.), then one pass with good force is enough. If the tool is dull or out of soft material(a utility knife), then several passes will be required. Eventually the furrow should deepen below the glossy layer.

Several splitting methods:

Round holes

Depending on the diameter of the holes, tools and attachments are selected. Any tools with a rotating tip (drills, screwdrivers, hammer drills, hand rotators, etc.) are most suitable for making holes in tiles.

Note! The power of the tool does not matter, the rotation speed is more important. It is desirable that you can set a low rotation speed. Above 500 rpm is only harmful cutting tool. Although the hole is made faster, the cutter gets very hot and fails faster. In addition, high rotation speed increases the likelihood of chipping along the edges of the hole.

Various attachments for drilling holes in tiles.

Nozzles for small diameters (up to 15 – 30 mm):

• Special drills with one-sided acute-angled sharpening. Nai the best option, but quite expensive. Lasts a long time, drills into almost any hard tiled surface;
• Spear-shaped drill bits for tiles. Cheap drills are the best option for one-time work. When used on simple tiles, they will last for several dozen holes;
• Drills with carbide tips (for concrete, stone, for hammer drills, etc.). Not the best option, but if necessary, you can make a couple of holes with them.

Large diameter nozzles:

• Crowns with various materials (diamond, corundum, tungsten carbide). Refer to professional tools and are expensive;
• "Ballerina." In the center is a spear-shaped drill; the location of the second cutter is adjusted by moving a rod secured to the central leg with a bolt. A cheap option that will allow you to cut several holes of different diameters.

Starting from a diameter of 50 mm, holes can be cut with a grinder. It is recommended to carry out all work wearing a protective mask or goggles.

Figured breaking out

Sometimes you need to make curved lines. The lines can be not only straight, but also semicircular. Such breaks are more problematic when they do not start from the edge. In such cases, you will have to first make a hole and then break it out.

Figured breaking out of tiles.

There is a special tool for breaking out - pliers with a wheel. But for one-time work it is not advisable to purchase a special tool. Therefore, you can get by with ordinary pliers.

The breaking technology is very simple. The pliers (or tongs) are strongly compressed, causing the material to crumble, or they are compressed and sharply turned (only far from the fault line, at least 5 mm). Small pieces break off. If you try to break off a large piece at once, you can ruin the whole job. A part may break off behind the line of marks.

Long, straight, narrow pieces across the entire tile are broken off by sharply turning the pliers to the side. Pre-clamp them along the line of the marks (a scratch, of course, must be applied). In this case, the entire length of the tile may not break off and the procedure will have to be repeated on the remaining part. Then the remaining sharp protrusions are also carefully broken off.

The simplest way is to apply a mark and hit it on a sharp corner. In this way, you can easily and quickly prepare most of the elements.

Sawing is used if you need to cut a piece not through its entire length. In this case, several sides are cut, and one is broken off along a solid rod or through clamps.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just send in the form below a detailed description of the work that needs to be done and you will receive offers by email with prices from construction crews and companies. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.