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

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

Initially, porcelain stoneware was used exclusively as tiles for installing floor coverings in objects with heavy loads. It was installed in industrial workshops and in in public places. IN last years The scope of use of the described material has expanded significantly due to its special properties. Ordinary consumers liked the following unique characteristics ceramic granite tiles:

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

Ceramic granite tiles

In addition, ceramic granite does not crumble, does not wear out during use, and does not scratch even under significant loads. All these advantages also lead to a significant disadvantage of the material - it is very difficult to cut with my own hands without resorting to the help of specialized companies.

Difficult does not mean that cutting porcelain tiles at home is absolutely impossible. Next, we will describe all the tools with which you can independently cut ceramic granite products according to your needs geometric parameters.

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

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

An ordinary grinder is quite effective. With its help, both figured cutting of porcelain stoneware and straight simple cutting are performed. To do this, the tool must be equipped with a special disk for dry cutting. Such a nozzle must be diamond coated.

When using a grinder, it is recommended to first outline the contours of the cut with a marker, regular pencil or chalk. Then you will never damage the tile or get a bevel along the cut line. Porcelain stoneware should be firmly fixed on some stable device (for example, on a workbench), and a sprayed nozzle should be installed in the direction of movement of the tool.

Cutting porcelain stoneware with a grinder

Now you can start cutting the tiles. The grinder's movements must be performed smoothly; near the edge of the product, it is advisable to slow down the speed of movement of the tool. With some effort you will get an even cut. True, there is a possibility of chipping.

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

With a manual tile cutter (it must be mounted on a durable frame, which guarantees the safety of the work and minimizes labor costs) you can cut ceramic granite up to 1.2 cm thick. This tool Typically used for corner cutting and straight cuts. To obtain round holes in the tiles, you need to use a tile cutter with a ballerina - special device designed specifically for these purposes.

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

Working with an electric tile cutter

The disc on the electric attachment allows you to make cuts at a 45-degree angle. You cannot do this kind of work with a manual tile cutter or grinder. The disc must be taken as sharp as possible. The efficiency of cutting, as well as the absence of defects, depends on the quality of its sharpening and strength parameters.

How to cut porcelain tiles electric tool? Refer to the following diagram:

1. Mark the ceramic granite product.
2. Secure the tiles to a special platform.
3. Fix the diamond blade in the tool and make sure it is securely fastened.
4. Apply a shallow scratch to the tile according to the markings. Please note that the disc should extend 0.8–1 cm further from the edge of the product.
5. Break the tile into pieces along the scratch made, applying the required force.

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

If you decide to use such a disk, follow the following pro tips:

• always make cuts from the front side of the tiles;
• handle small chips that may form during work;
• Use minimal force when cutting items to prevent them from splitting.

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

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

Processing the edges of the product from chipping

Direct cutting of a large number of tiles can be performed using a unit with a gear-type disk, which many home craftsmen have. You need to mount a disk (diamond) on such an installation, with which you can carry out dry cutting.

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

• mark the cutting line;
• press the ceramic granite product against work surface two hands;
• move the tile forward onto the rotating disk.

Usage circular saw requires maximum care. The tiles have to be moved manually, which can lead to serious injury to your fingers. Be extremely careful when working with this tool!

What is ceramic granite or porcelain tile? It's artificial finishing stone. These are, first of all, ceramic tiles with a slightly modified composition of raw materials (feldspar and mica). Tiles fired at a high temperature, about 1200 ᵒC, and subjected to high pressure.

Porcelain stoneware is an excellent finishing material that combines the best qualities of ceramics and natural stone. The material is stronger than granite, wear-resistant and resistant to aggressive environments. There are a variety of tiles produced by industry.

Types of porcelain tiles:

• Technical porcelain tiles;
• Glazed;
• Matte;
• Polished;
• Structured or patterned porcelain tiles;
• Lapped;
• Aged;
• Thin - slim.

Porcelain stoneware tiles can be cut into any shape and configuration at home. Porcelain tiles are often used to decorate floors, stair steps, porches, walls and basements of a house. Although the material is very hard, it often leaves inaccurate chips at the cut site. Types of cutting porcelain tiles at home - using a grinder with a diamond blade (diamond), tile cutter, glass cutter, jigsaw, water jet cutting (only industrial cutting on professional equipment).

A grinder with a diamond wheel is often the only option for cutting porcelain tiles. But when working with this famous tool, there are some nuances. The fact is that when cutting tiles, this work involves the release of a huge amount of harmful dust, an unpleasant burning smell and wild noise. Therefore, when working with an angle grinder, it is necessary to protect your eyes with safety glasses and also wear a respirator.

When cutting tiles, you need to know that the diamond wheel must be held straight, without moving it, and clearly follow the line drawn on the back of the tile.

You must work with the disc carefully, guide the disc along the line, stepping back beyond the cutting line by 2-3 mm from the line towards the chips. You also need to press the tool firmly and move it along the line calmly, with great pressure. If you make a cut this way, the cut will be neat, without chips. There is also one piece of advice when working with porcelain tiles. Ceramic granite tiles must be firmly fixed, clamped with clamps and screwed to a stationary surface, for example, to a table. The fact is that this must be done in accordance with safety regulations - after all, when cutting, you need to press hard on the tool.

The best way to cut porcelain stoneware

Porcelain tiles are wonderful as reliable finishing construction material. It is especially used when finishing floors in public buildings with a high degree of traffic, for example such as trading floors supermarkets and shops, hotel lobbies, floors at train stations and airports. What are the sizes of porcelain tiles?

Dimensions of ceramic granite tiles (cm):

• 30x30;
• 45x45;
• 60x60
• 120x360.

The last size of porcelain tiles belongs to the so-called thin porcelain tiles, which are most often used in residential renovations. It is especially beautiful when decorating walls and plinths of facades of private houses. There is another way to cut porcelain tiles, but for small amounts of work - this is using a glass cutter.

How and how to cut porcelain tiles for flooring

It is best to cut porcelain tiles for the floor using a grinder with a diamond wheel. But it is necessary to use individual means protection from dust and noise.

Personal protective equipment when working with an angle grinder:

• Protective gloves;
• Glasses;
• Headphones;
• Respirator.

Experts give some tips for beginners when working with an angle grinder, if you need to cut porcelain tiles for the floor, because these tiles are thick. It is necessary to place polystyrene foam under the tiles, placing it on a solid flat surface. To reduce the number of chips, you need to stick on the cut place on the tile on the front side. masking tape and apply the cutting thread on top of the tape with a pencil.

The tiles must be cut only on the front side.

At large thickness tiles, to control the accuracy of the cut, it is necessary to use a metal construction angle, it is attached with clamps to the tile, on the front side and thus it is possible to cut the tile correctly.

Complex figured cutting of porcelain stoneware

Very often it is necessary to cut shaped sections into porcelain tiles. For example, for curved steps, holes in tiles for columns or pipes. How should this be done?

Which method to choose to cut porcelain tiles into shapes:

• Hole saw;
• Ballerina;
• Bulgarian.

What is the specialist advice in these cases? Hole saw - does a great job when you need to make round holes in porcelain stoneware. But alas, it works slowly but neatly. Ballerina - also copes with the task of sawing round holes in tiles, but does it very sloppily, the edges remain uneven and often have to be finished by hand, and trimming is inevitable. Bulgarian is the most the best option for curved cuts.

When cutting tiles, the cutter should go slightly beyond the cutting line by 2-3 mm towards the chips.

Thus, it is possible to correct the unevenness of the cut with a grinding machine. The grinding machine must be operated independently. All tile ends must be sanded grinder or sandpaper. Next comes the final processing of the tile sections - it is necessary to finish it with a grinding machine, using flexible grinding wheels with a grain size of No. 80-100.

Simple cutting of porcelain tiles with a tile cutter

You need to find out what types of tile cutters there are. Types of tile cutters - manual and electric (this stationary machine). Essentially, the operating principles of electrical and manual tile cutter almost the same. But they differ in price.

An electric tile cutter has more convenience and quality in cutting tiles compared to a manual tile cutter, but an electric tile cutter has a fairly high price, no one rents it out, and it has high energy consumption. But the quality is, of course, excellent. During operation, there is practically no dust from the tiles, since when cutting, water is supplied to the circle and cools it.

Processing granite at home (video)

It is clear that cutting porcelain tiles is quite difficult. And most often, beginners should seek advice from specialists. They have special tools and experience.

Porcelain tiles are versatile facing material. With its help, you can finish both walls and floors, and it is used both indoors and outdoors. outdoors. Naturally, as when working with any facing material, when laying porcelain tiles you cannot do without trimming them. And if for tiled or ceramic tiles An ordinary glass cutter will do, but with porcelain stoneware the issue is somewhat more complicated.

Since porcelain stoneware tiles are much harder and more durable, cutting them will require special tools, when working with which you must follow certain rules. So what and how is it better to cut porcelain tiles?

Overview of tools for cutting porcelain tiles

How to cut porcelain tiles? Experts advise choosing a tool based on what goals you are pursuing. Let's look at each in more detail.

The glass cutter is not intended for cutting porcelain stoneware, but if there are no other options, you can use it

This tool is not intended for cutting porcelain stoneware, however, if there is no alternative, you can use it, however, only in cases where small amounts of work are involved.

Manual tile cutter

Simple and reliable tool for cutting porcelain stoneware

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

Cutting porcelain tiles into professional level

A professional tool that allows you to make almost perfect cuts with straight or slightly rounded edges. An electric tile cutter is designed specifically for these purposes, and therefore has clear advantages not only over manual devices, but also over electric ones.

Porcelain tiles can also be cut with an ordinary grinder

This universal tool, with which you can also cut porcelain tiles. True, in this case the grinder must be equipped with a special “diamond” disk. The grinder is a good option for both professionals and amateurs.

Wire cutters

Nippers - the simplest tool for curly cuts

Wire cutters are the easiest tool for figure cutting tiles in general and porcelain tiles in particular. To be precise, the nippers do not cut, but break off small pieces of tiles, resulting in a groove or bend of the desired shape.

"Ballerina"

With the help of a ballerina you can make holes of any diameter

This is the name of a special tool with which you can make holes in porcelain stoneware different diameters.

A hole saw or diamond bit makes perfectly straight holes in porcelain tiles

Best tool both for curly cutouts and for making holes in tiles. Allows you to cut porcelain tiles of any thickness and hardness.

Comparison table of tools for cutting porcelain tiles

Tool	Advantages	Flaws	Conclusion
	Easy to use. Low price.	Not suitable for thick and medium tiles or for processing large quantities of material. High concentration is required if it is necessary to make an even cut.	A glass cutter should only be used in cases where no other options are available.
Manual tile cutter	Relatively low cost. Easy to use. Ability to make precise straight cuts.	A manual tile cutter cannot cut a strip narrower than 0.6 millimeters. The edge of the tile at the fracture site will have to be additionally cleaned from small chips and irregularities. A manual tile cutter can only make straight cuts.	Quite suitable for small “home” jobs. Low price, ease of use and high-quality results make a manual tile cutter optimal for minor repairs.
Electric tile cutter	Ability to cut even the thickest tiles. No cut edge required additional processing. It can be used to cut tiles straight or make shaped cuts. All dust and small debris are collected in a special container, leaving workplace clean. The tiles are cut very quickly and completely effortlessly, which makes it possible to process large volumes porcelain stoneware.	High cost of the tool. It is necessary to strictly follow the technology and safety regulations.	An electric tile cutter is the best option for professional builder. But buy it for a one-time use home renovation economically unprofitable.
	There is no need to purchase a separate tool for cutting tiles. It is possible to make both straight and curved cuts. Suitable even for thick tiles.	Deviations from the intended incision site are possible. Large amount of dust during operation. High risk of injury during work. The need for additional treatment of the incision site.	Despite some shortcomings, it allows you to get a fairly high-quality result and makes it possible to process a large number of material.
Wire cutters	Low price. Easy to use.	The edges after cutting remain uneven and require serious additional processing.	If you use a manual tile cutter to cut tiles, you can't do without nippers.
"Ballerina"	Low price. Possibility to make holes of different diameters.	The cut edges remain uneven. If the settings are incorrect, you can damage not only the tiles, but also the instrument itself.	It is better to use the tool for making holes that will not be visible.
	The tool is designed to work with any brand of porcelain stoneware. The cut line remains fairly smooth and requires virtually no additional processing.	Relatively high cost. The ability to make holes only of a certain diameter. A large amount of dust during work.	The hole saw is an excellent professional tool. However, purchasing it for home use doesn't make sense.

Porcelain stoneware cutting technologies

Let's look at the technologies for cutting porcelain stoneware using the most popular tools.

Manual tile cutter

Despite its simplicity, a manual tile cutter provides a fairly high quality of work. The tool consists of a support platform, two guides, thanks to which the cut is perfectly smooth, a lever with a cutting roller and clamps for breaking the tiles.

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

The manual tile cutter is suitable for tiles with a thickness of 8 mm, 1 cm, etc. (up to 12 millimeters). Please note that the thicker the tile, the larger the cutting roller should be in diameter. Ideally, these two values ​​should coincide.

Preparing the tile cutter for work

Before starting work, you need to make sure that the cutting roller is not dull and its size corresponds to the thickness of the selected tile. If necessary, the roller is replaced.

After fastening, the roller should rotate freely. If this does not happen, try dripping a little oil into the mounting points.

The ease of movement of the tile cutter along the guide rods is determined. If the cutting element passes tightly or, on the contrary, dangles, it is worth checking the bearings and cleaning the guides.

Cutting porcelain stoneware

The cutting technology on a manual tile cutter is quite simple.

• After taking measurements, make appropriate marks on the tile with a pencil or marker;
• the tiles are laid on the tile cutter platform, the cutting line is aligned with the cutting roller;
• so that the tile does not move during cutting, it must be fixed by hand;
• the roller is installed on the edge of the tile and, gently pressing the lever, it is drawn along the entire cut line;

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

IMPORTANT! To prevent chips from appearing at the cut site, try to cut the tiles “in one step.”

• after the cut is made on the tile, it is secured to the platform with fixing tabs so that the cut line is between them;
• They begin to press on the part of the tile protruding beyond the platform with their hand until the tile breaks.

When cutting with a manual tile cutter, the edges of the tiles are quite smooth, but the appearance of small chips and unevenness is possible. In this case, the deformed edge must be sanded.

Video: how to cut porcelain tiles with a manual tile cutter

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

A grinder can cut a wide variety of materials, porcelain stoneware is no exception.

Preparing for work

To cut porcelain stoneware, a special “diamond blade” must be installed on the grinder. When installing the disk, check that it is securely fastened, and be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves.

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

Working with an angle grinder

The technology for cutting porcelain stoneware differs little from cutting other materials.

• Markings are applied to the tile with a pencil along which the cut will be made;

Using a grinder you can make shaped cuts and even holes

Unlike a manual tile cutter, a grinder can make not only straight, but also shaped cuts.

• The tiles are cut along the marked line with a grinder. To reduce the number of chips, try to cut the tiles “in one go”;
• Since when cutting porcelain stoneware with a grinder, small chips and cracks may remain on the edges and front side of the tile, the end of the tile after cutting is cleaned with sandpaper or a grinding disc.

Video: how to cut porcelain tiles with a grinder

If the two previous methods are considered within the framework of “dry” cutting, then the next technology refers to “wet”. In other words, during the process, water is supplied to the tile cutter, which protects the cutting element from overheating. This ensures an almost perfectly even and smooth cut.

Electric tile cutters come in two types: with a movable and a fixed disk. In the first case, the cutting module moves along the tile along special guides, in the second, the tile is fed onto the disk using a platform or simply by hand.

IMPORTANT! When working with stationary tile cutters, you must carefully follow safety regulations.

In addition to the platform and cutting module, most electric tile cutters are equipped with a container of water into which part of the cutting disc is immersed. This helps protect the disk from overheating and also significantly reduces the amount of dust during operation.

Preparing for work

Before starting work, you should check the reliability of the disk fastening and the presence of water in a special container.

If the tile cutter has already been used, then the cutting disc must be cleaned and the water changed, since porcelain stoneware chips that have fallen into it interfere with the cooling process.

Tile cutting

A professional tool allows you to cut porcelain tiles almost perfectly

The cutting technology itself with an electric tile cutter is very simple: a pre-designated cutting line is aligned with the cutting disk and a special lever moves it along the tile or feeds it onto the disk.

Since the cut edges on an electric tile cutter are almost perfectly smooth, no additional processing is required.

How to make holes in porcelain tiles

Sometimes situations arise in which porcelain stoneware does not need to be cut, but a hole must be made in it. In principle, this problem can be solved with the help of a small grinder, but in this case the hole will not be very even. Let's look at the two most successful methods.

"Ballerina"

Special tool for cutting tiles and thin porcelain tiles. In its design, the “ballerina” resembles an ordinary compass. The cutter moves along a special bar from the central support, thereby making it possible to make a hole of any diameter.

To make work easier, the ballerina can be inserted into an electric drill

The technology of work is very simple: the center of the “ballerina” is fixed on the tile, and a circle is drawn with a cutter pre-fixed at the required distance. After this, with a light blow they knock out central part holes. If you are working with porcelain stoneware, it is better to make several turns of the cutter without lifting the tool from the tile. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to get into an already drawn line.

Diamond crowns

A diamond crown makes it possible to make a perfectly even hole in porcelain stoneware, and without special effort. Its only drawback is that the size of the holes is clearly limited by the diameter of the crowns themselves.

A diamond bit allows you to drill perfectly straight holes in porcelain stoneware

The crown is inserted into a regular drill, after which a hole is made in the selected location.

Please note that the drill must be set to maximum speed.

To avoid chipping, porcelain tiles should be drilled only from the front side.

Video: how to make holes in porcelain stoneware

You can learn more about the technologies for drilling holes in porcelain stoneware by watching the following video:

Cutting porcelain tiles is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Enough to “arm yourself” necessary tools and after a little practice you will definitely achieve excellent result. Good luck with your renovation!

Before determining how and what to cut at home, it is worth understanding its features. This is a composite material that successfully combines the properties of natural stone and ceramics. It is made by pressing pre-fired high temperatures mixtures. The result is a very durable and wear-resistant material. During the production process, it can be given a wide variety of colors and textures.

The surface of ceramics can be matte, glossy, structured, etc. This is worth considering when choosing a cutting method.

You can cut a tile fragment using various tools:

• glass cutter;
• electric tile cutter (aka wet cutter);
• mechanical tile cutter;
• grinder;
• device for waterjet cutting.

The latter method is not used in a home workshop, since it assumes the presence of special, expensive equipment.

Cutting the plate without chipping

Porcelain stoneware is a high-strength material. It has virtually no pores, does not absorb water and does not crumble. It is very difficult to even scratch it. Therefore, home craftsmen have a question about how to cut porcelain stoneware without chipping and whether this is even possible. We must admit that this is theoretically possible, but in practice it happens very rarely. More often, small chips remain on the cut, which have to be sanded.

So that there are as few of them as possible, experienced craftsmen It is recommended to follow these recommendations:

• Cut the part from the top side. Most chips in the material occur where the cutter exits the insert.
• The thinner the selected cutting disc for the grinder, the lower the likelihood of chipping.
• At the beginning of the cut line and at the end of it, reduce the speed of the cutter.
• When working with a mechanical tile cutter, you should apply more pressure on the lever than when cutting regular tiles.
• Make the cut slightly to the right of the intended line so that it remains on the cut fragment. Then it will be possible to remove unwanted chips with a grinding machine.

It is very important that the tool is High Quality and was suitable for working with the selected material. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to get a beautiful cut without chips. If they do appear, which happens most often, the defects should be sanded down. You can use sandpaper or a diamond sponge.

The best option- a grinder with a special attachment. This is the so-called turtle or flexible diamond wheel. They are distinguished by the diameter of the particles of diamond coating applied to the surface. The turtle can only work with a grinder, the model of which provides the ability to regulate the number of revolutions. If it is higher than three thousand per minute, the nozzle may fly off the axis.

How to cut porcelain tiles with a glass cutter

This is the easiest tool to use. It also gives minimal effect. You can cut porcelain stoneware using a glass cutter, but only if its thickness is small. This is how they cut most often. WITH floor tiles The glass cutter won't do the job.

There are two types of tools: with a roller made of hard alloys metals and with a diamond cutter. The latter option cuts better, but fails faster. Its cost is higher than that of its roller counterpart.

Using a glass cutter, you can make a straight or shaped cut. In the latter case, you will also need special wire cutters. To cut tiles in a straight line, proceed as follows:

1. We lay the cladding on a flat base. Determine where the cutting line will be.
2. We take a ruler, lay it along the future cutting line and press it with our fingers.
3. Carefully, but with strong pressure, draw a line along the ruler with the tool. We try to scratch a deep enough groove at one time. Otherwise, chips cannot be avoided.
4. Place the part on the edge of a table or workbench and press firmly on its edge. So that the cladding splits along the intended line.
5. Sand the edge if necessary.

If you need to make a curved cut, use a glass cutter to draw a line. Then you need to take nippers and use them to remove sections of the tile. The closer to the cutting line, the smaller the fragments should be chipped off. With this processing, the edge will turn out sharp and not entirely smooth, so it must be sanded.

How to cut porcelain tiles with a tile cutter

The principle of operation of the tool is somewhat similar to a glass cutter. There is also a cutting roller that moves along guides. In addition to it, there is a bed on which the part, a lever and guides are placed. It is very important that the diameter of the cutting element matches the height of the tile.

In addition, when choosing a device, pay attention to:

• Device frame. The metal from which it is made must be thick enough so that the base does not vibrate or bend during the cutting process.
• Strength of guide elements and supports.
• Smooth carriage movement. It is desirable that this be ensured by special bearings.
• No backlash when moving the carriage. If it is present, it is impossible to make an even cut.

Tile cutters vary in length, and it is best to choose a long model. This will make it possible to cut porcelain stoneware different sizes, not only along the side, but also diagonally.

To cut a piece of porcelain tile in a straight line with your own hands, you need to follow these steps:

1. Place the tile cutter on a solid, level base.
2. We mark a cutting line on the product.
3. We place the part on the bed so that the trajectory of the roller passes exactly along the mark.
4. We make the cut by pressing on the carriage and moving it away from us.
5. Let go of the handle and use strong pressure to break the part.
6. We sand the cut to remove any possible chips.

Working with a mechanical tile cutter is very simple; even a novice master can handle it. There are, however, some disadvantages that you need to be aware of:

• It is impossible to cut a fragment already 6 mm wide in this way.
• It is also impossible to chamfer or make a curved cut with a mechanical tile cutter.
• If the cut falls on the edge under the glue or the surface of the material is ribbed, there is a very high probability of chipping.

How to cut porcelain tiles with an electric tile cutter

In the recommendations on how to cut porcelain tiles at home, you can read that it is convenient to do this with a wet cutter. That's what they call a tile cutter electric type, for which a cutting diamond disc is used. To cool it, water is supplied to the part during the cutting process (hence the name of the device).

There are two types of equipment: with top and bottom supply of tiles. The first ones make the cut as accurately as possible and are more expensive. For home work, budget devices that feed parts from below are often purchased.

Devices of any type make it possible to make cuts not only straight, but also curved. To cut a piece of porcelain tile, do the following:

1. We outline the cutting line.
2. We fix the part on the frame using special clamps. If you have to make a curved cut, you will have to hold it with your hands.
3. Let's start the device. First, we select the minimum disk speed, so the part does not deform.
4. Gradually increase the cutting speed. We make sure that the element does not move due to vibration.

Important point. The product must be laid so that the cutter begins to process its front side. That is, on equipment with an overhead cutter, the part is placed face up. On a device with a lower disk position, the tiles are placed face down.

The cuts made on such equipment are more accurate and better than on a mechanical device. It is especially appreciated by beginners, as it is able to completely eliminate the so-called trembling hand factor. In addition, the device allows you to cut fragments less than 6 mm wide, does not create dust or noise. The main disadvantage of the device is the high price of high-quality models.

How to cut porcelain tiles with a grinder without chipping

An angle grinder, or almost everyone has one home handyman. That’s why it’s most often used to cut porcelain tiles. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to make such a cut without chips, but minimizing their number is quite possible. For this, it is very important to choose the right disk. He must have:

• high-quality diamond coating;
• marking confirming that the device is intended for cutting porcelain stoneware;
• minimum possible thickness;
• continuous cutting edge.

You also need to pay attention to the height of diamond coating. The larger it is, the longer the disk will last. There are many varieties of porcelain stoneware sold in stores, so it is better to purchase discs designed for cutting certain type material. Universal models may not be effective enough.

The grinder is potentially dangerous, so do not neglect safety rules. You should take care of protective equipment. The kit includes:

• Wear a respirator, as cutting produces a large amount of dust.
• Safety glasses to prevent possible disc fragments from getting into your eyes.
• Special clothing.
• Earplugs or headphones to protect your hearing from loud noise.

Correctly cutting porcelain tiles using a grinder is quite simple if you follow the instructions:

1. We are preparing a place to work. We lay a backing on the leveled surface to protect the base. You can choose penoplex, polystyrene foam, etc.
2. Place the part on the base front side up, mark the section of the cut on it. To reduce chipping, glue a strip of masking tape onto it and draw a cutting line along it.
3. Place it on top of the tile along the cutting path metal corner, fix it with clamps. This will allow you to make an accurate cut. This is a must when cutting thick products.
4. Let's launch the grinder. We cut the part at a time, directing it “away from ourselves”. To get a smooth edge, cut off the fragment so that the marking line remains on the product. It will be removed during the grinding process, and the tile will retain its specified size.
5. Remove the masking tape and, if necessary, sand the end of the part.

If the plate is thin or a perfectly even cut is not required, you can simplify your work. The grinder does not make a cut, but only a cut. After which the fragment breaks off with a sharp, strong movement.

Using a grinder to cut porcelain tiles is very convenient. First of all, because this is the most affordable of all the devices that can be used. They can make cuts various shapes, including any curved one. However, the grinder is dangerous, you need to work very carefully. It is very dusty and noisy.

conclusions

There are many ways to cut porcelain tiles. All of them are quite effective. When choosing the best option for yourself, you need to take into account the availability or accessibility of special tools and your own experience when working with them. If you don’t have the skills, you should think about an electric tile cutter; it’s more expensive, but it allows beginners to make straight cuts.

• Text: Inna Yasinovskaya

When planning façade cladding or installation flooring indoors or outdoors, many people choose porcelain stoneware. This material is an order of magnitude superior to conventional ceramics in terms of strength, while maintaining decorative qualities. At the same time, such tiles are close in durability to natural stone, but much more practical to install. However, it is not always possible to form an even coating without additional processing of the material, which raises a fair question about how to cut porcelain tiles at home without the use of machines and other specialized equipment.

Features of cutting porcelain stoneware

The difficulty of processing porcelain tiles is due to their characteristics. This is enough hard material, which in structure resembles stone. Accordingly, the tool for cutting it should be selected with special care. Porcelain tiles are a cross between granite and ceramics. But in the case of stone, you cannot do without the help of professionals if you need to get perfectly straight sides. With ceramic tiles, things are not so dire, and it is quite possible to limit yourself to standard cutting kits. When deciding how to cut porcelain tiles at home, you can immediately consider tools such as a grinder, tile cutter, jigsaw, etc. The processing process is quite painstaking and time-consuming, but this is the only way to get the optimal result without outside help and financial costs .

Preparing the tool for work

Regardless of which tool will be used in the work, it is necessary to check its technical condition. Even professional knowledge of how to cut porcelain tiles at home will not help if the equipment is in poor condition. This is especially important if you plan to operate a device that has been in storage for a long time. So, first of all, the integrity of the cutting organs is checked. These can be diamond rollers, saws, crowns and other abrasives. At the same time, the quality of their sharpening and the fixation system are checked, on which safety will directly depend. Next, the reliability of the housing fastenings and the position of the nuts and screws are assessed. If a power tool is used, it is necessary to check all contacts, and in some cases, the lubricant.

Cutting with a grinder

If you choose this tool, you should immediately prepare for the fact that the work process will be accompanied by a large amount of dust and dirt. In addition, safety measures must be observed - the presence of gloves and safety glasses is a prerequisite for preparing for the operation. must have a special cover that protects from material fragments.

Depending on the planned result, you can determine how to cut porcelain tiles at home with a grinder - for example, it can be curly or straight processing. During the work, it is not necessary to try to cover the entire thickness of the element, since the tile can easily break along the created cut. However, this line should be deeper than in the case of cutting conventional ceramic tiles. Among the disadvantages of using an angle grinder, one can highlight the need to ensure special conditions work and relatively low cut quality. The first disadvantage is due to the fact that a lot of dust and fragments appear, and the second is associated with rough processing with diamond abrasives.

Using a tile cutter

Popularity this method This is due to the fact that the tile cutter is designed specifically for working with materials such as ceramics and porcelain stoneware. The quality of the resulting cut in this case is higher than when working with an angle grinder, but subject to the rules for operating the equipment. Despite the prevalence of electric models, it is a good idea to know how to cut porcelain tiles, as this method is more accurate. But it is important to note that it is advisable to make the cut once, since repeated attempts to get it and make the desired break can spoil appearance element.

Techniques for working with a tile cutter

When the initial cut is ready, you should continue fixing the tile, raise the handle of the tool and place the paws in the center of the line so that its stop is directed into the tile. Next, you need to press the handle and increase the force, achieving a break. The parameters and quality of the resulting cut are determined not only by the user’s manipulations, but also by the structure of the porcelain stoneware itself, its composition and hardness. If there are excess chips left on the edges of the tiles, they can be easily removed with pliers.

Processing porcelain tiles with a glass cutter

The amount of force required by the glass cutter is not so high compared to the tools described, so this method is advisable to use only in cases with a small amount of work. Now we can move on to the question of how to cut porcelain tiles with a glass cutter to obtain a result of equally decent quality.

A roller glass cutter must have a diamond element to process tile material. Before work, the tile itself is immersed in water for about 30 minutes to make the cutting process easier. Next, the element is laid on a smooth surface. The incision should also be made only once with strong pressure. The cutting part must be rolled along a pre-marked line from the far point towards you. As a result of this operation, a groove should form on the porcelain stoneware coating - it will serve as the basis for further fracture. To facilitate breaking, it is necessary to place a thin wire, nail or match on the formed line. By applying double-sided pressure, the tile is divided into two parts.

Cutting with a jigsaw

This method will also require considerable effort and is more suitable for modest volumes of tiles intended for cutting. Unlike alternative methods, this option involves sawing. By the way, knowing how to cut porcelain tiles with a jigsaw will allow you to perform similar operations. In addition to patience, you should stock up on replacement cutting blades, which will certainly be required when working with dense material.

The first step is to fix the file. A jigsaw should be drawn along the marked line on the tile so that the most even cut is formed. To eliminate the possibility of overheating of the tool, it is also necessary to wet the material. This is how it works electric model, but there is also hand jigsaws, which, with appropriate skill and effort, allow you to create accurate and even curly cuts. Again, the main thing is to use files or diamond wires suitable for specific purposes. Of course, the cutting procedure will take a lot of time, but this is one of the best examples, demonstrating how to cut porcelain tiles at home with maximum precision. This method is especially useful if you need to create curved cuts for the further implementation of electrical devices.

Creating holes in porcelain stoneware

Often, cutting operations are complemented by drilling. To do this, you can use special drills, and if you need to create holes of large diameters, you will need a powerful low-speed drill. Knowing some principles of how to cut porcelain tiles at home will help with this procedure, but there are also some nuances. For example, drilling can only be done with outside porcelain stoneware tiles, because reverse side the release of the working element will cause chips. In some cases, it is also possible to use a ballerina to create holes. This tool is good because it allows you to manually adjust the cutters, so you can precisely adjust the parameters of the hole.

Processing of any material that is intended for decorative design, aims to obtain a high-quality result without affecting aesthetic properties. In the case of tiles, this is especially important, since it will not be easy to disguise defects. Obtaining smooth sides and precise lines is largely ensured by initially correctly marked contours. For example, taking into account the principles of technology on how to cut porcelain tiles with a grinder, we can draw a conclusion about the meaning of the cutting lines. The performer takes the contours as the main direction in the work process. In addition, safety issues are also important - protection from splinters, dust, as well as protection from failure of the equipment itself are primary measures in preparation for work. Of course, you can’t do without small tricks, including the use of water to wet porcelain stoneware, the use of suitable cutting elements and uniform distribution of loads during the process of forming a cut.