Laying tiles is a technologically complex task, so its implementation is often trusted to professionals. But if we are talking about a small area of finishing and there are at least basic skills in working with cladding, then it makes sense to save on third-party services. One of the most important stages of the process will be the preparation of tile fragments for laying in bypass areas and corners. Accordingly, you will need a tool for processing the material. How to cut tiles? Mechanical tools like a tile cutter and electrical equipment also help in this matter. The choice of one or another technical assistant depends on the characteristics of the tile itself and the amount of work.
Working with a manual tile cutter
The best solution if you plan to serve a medium volume of material, while maintaining high quality cuts. Of course, obtaining even edges and the speed of the process will depend on the skill of the performer, but the design fully helps the owner. Tile cutter basedon a small bed with a frame, guides and a cutting roller. The tool is controlled by a handle. The outer surfaces of the structure and the workpiece itself should be cleaned first. The latter is placed in a special grip, and then cutting is performed. If we cut tiles with a manual tile cutter, then initially we should focus on a one-time pass. This means that the roller applies a mark only once, otherwise a curved or chipped edge is likely to result. But the operation does not end there. Such a tile cutter only makes a cut line, but the fragment is separated separately by breaking with special nippers.
Features of cutting with an electric tile cutter
For one-time homework, it is not always advisable to purchase such a model, but, be that as it may, in a large household it will help in the future with the processing of other tile materials. This type of tile cutter is distinguished by the presence of a massive frame (usually on racks), an electric motor and a saw blade that directly performs cutting. How to cut tiles on such equipment? Initially, the workpiece is marked along the cutting line, after which it is fixed on the worktop of the unit with a clamping bar. Some models of electric tile cutter allow you to change the position of the tile on the desktop, adjusting it in detail to the optimal cutting direction. The operator then turns on the motor and starts the rotation of the disk. Hardware settings usually allow speed settingrotation with the rate of movement of the workpiece under the working head. With this tool, you can work with tiles with a thickness of about 40 mm. By the way, for a manual tile cutter, this maximum is 15-20 mm.
Can I use a glass cutter?
Technically, not the best solution to the problem, but it has a big plus - affordability. For only 300-500 rubles. you can purchase a good roller model of the tool, provided with a miniature reservoir for supplying oil to the working head. How to cut tiles at home with a glass cutter? The cutting technique is the same as in the classic glass cutting. At the preparation stage, marking is applied along the clipping contour. Next, the workpiece is placed on a stable and rigid surface and clamped with one hand. Moreover, the tile should be fixed by means of a metal ruler or bar, the back edge of which will converge with the intended line. After that, a risk is applied with the second hand (usually the right one) with a glass cutter. The pressure should be as high as possible, which will facilitate the subsequent breaking operation. For this, tile cutters or special tongs are used, which allow scrapping strictly along the line with minimal damage.
How to cut tiles with a grinder?
A kind of combination of machine tools and mobile hand tools. With the same electric tile cutter, the angle grinder is similar in high power, which allows you to cut off even parts of porcelain stoneware. But for this it is necessary to equip the tool with a diamond disc. Preparation for workis carried out according to the rules described above with cleaning of tile surfaces and marking. The most important and responsible condition for high-quality and safe work will be the reliable fastening of the workpiece. It is advisable to place it on a metal workbench, using the complete clamping devices for clamping. Next, we cut the tile with a grinder so that the saw blade gently and without jerks rests on the target surface along the marking line. Powerful devices do not cause any special problems and easily perform cutting, but it is important to take into account that the "grinder" leaves a lot of dust behind it already in the process of work. For this reason, either a construction vacuum cleaner with instant removal of processed products, or a respirator that protects the respiratory system should be provided.
Using a jigsaw
This tool is mainly used for working with wood. Its functional element is represented by a thin file that allows you to create an accurate and accurate cut. For tiles, you should choose jigsaw models with a power of at least 1500 watts. Moreover, the saw blade must also have an appropriate purpose for hard materials, otherwise it will break off on the solid structure of the workpiece. At home, we cut tiles on special supports - so that their height corresponds to the final length of the file. The movement must be slow. Moreover, for a high-quality cut, it is recommended to moisten the section of the tile along which the marking passes before work. With sufficient power, the jigsaw will provide smooth edges without serious defects, but this appliesthin tile material only.
How to make curved cuts and holes?
For a curved cut, if you have experience, you can even use a "grinder". The quality of the result will depend on the ability to direct and work out the cut in the turning areas. But the jigsaw described above is best suited for figured cutting, since it gives a minimum of vibration, is well controlled and does not lead the file to the side. But how do you cut tiles to form small holes? To do this, you can use two tools - the same mechanical tile cutter with a "ballerina" or a hole saw. As for the first option, it is represented by an optional addition in the form of a circular cutter, which can form holes with a diameter of 20-80 mm. Moreover, the work is done manually like a conventional drill - a force is applied through the handle to the cutter, which rotates and thereby forms a circular cutting. In turn, the hole saw is a nozzle for the same grinder or its modification. That is, the cut is performed by a toothed crown rotated by an electric motor.
Differences in working with different tile materials
In most cases, ordinary home craftsmen deal with ceramics and, in particular, with tiles. These are clay products with a thickness of 15-25 mm that have undergone heat treatment. This group of materials can be serviced without any problems with hand tools - from a glass cutter to a tile cutter. We cut the same tile bythe direction of the functional organ, maintaining the direction of the intended contour and not relieving pressure along the entire line. But sometimes it is necessary to process thick and hard materials, which can be used in laying paths and flooring. It can be both stone agglomerate and porcelain stoneware. In this case, you can not do without an electric tool. Two basic rules should be observed - reliable fixation of the workpiece itself and tight control of the body leading the cutting nozzle.
Cutting Safety
For high volumes of work it is advisable to use safety goggles. They will prevent dust and small fragments from getting into the eyes. Particular attention is paid to the protection of hands. Gloves, for example, should only be used when preparing tiles. Work operations are performed without them, as there is a risk of hooking on the cutting body. In any case, the hands should be away from the cutting line. If ceramic tiles are cut with an angle grinder, it is important to monitor the overheating of the equipment. Electric tile cutters provide a separate function for supplying water to cool the working equipment, but in the case of the grinder, you will have to take short breaks and independently lower the temperature of the saw blade with the workpiece.
Conclusion
The cutting of tile sheets in itself is only part of the overall preparation for facing work. And in order for the result to justify itself in terms of aesthetic properties, the processed fragments should be sanded. The amount of finishing work will depend on the accuracy of the basic cutting. How to cut tiles with a tile cutter so that the edges meet the requirements for the coating as much as possible? The scrap rate at the cut-off stage is reduced not only by the competent handling of equipment and tools. Lubricants are also important. At a minimum, wetting in plain water will increase the accuracy of the cutter. Industrial oils and kerosene are also used to work more efficiently with glass and tile cutters.
