How to cut ceramic tiles with a manual glass cutter?

Before starting a bathroom or kitchen renovation on your own, it is better to learn how to cut tiles with a glass cutter, because this is a very simple and cheap way. After all, resorting to the help of a master is expensive, as is purchasing special equipment for cutting tiles. Therefore, with a small scope of work, it is better to do everything yourself and with a simple tool. The only thing that is necessary in this case is to be careful not to chip the edges of the ceramic product with a glass cutter, and everything will work out.

Which glass cutter should I use for tiles?

Glass cutter is a roller cutting device with an edge made of carbide components of cobalt, tungsten or pobedite.

The latter material tends to quickly lose its sharpness and reduce the quality of the cut, so experts do not recommend using it on ceramic tiles. But tungsten and cobalt lend themselves well to sharpening even after wear and tear, although they are more expensive than others.

Another suitable option is an oil glass cutter, where lubricant is supplied to the cutting area. It facilitates the processing process, reduces surface resistance, provides high quality cuts and extends the service life of the device.

The most durable and high-quality glass cutter is a diamond one. For comparison, tungsten devices are capable of processing up to 400 m of coating, diamond – up to 10,000 m. Corundum is firmly mounted in the head of the device, but as it becomes dull, its position can be changed. The absence of chips and burrs on the edge is guaranteed by a glass cutter with a diamond.

Advantages and disadvantages of cutting tiles with a glass cutter

Advantages of using the device:

low cost and mobility;
simplicity and high speed of work;
noiselessness;
does not require personal protective equipment.

Disadvantages of cutting tiles with a glass cutter:

not suitable for processing large quantities of tiles;
not able to cut through too dense and thick ceramics;
some models are not suitable for processing tiles;
high probability of damage to the processed material.

Types of glass cutters

Glass cutters are manual machines. Depending on the type of working part, they are presented in the following varieties:

Pobeditovy . A stationary cutter made of tungsten carbide and cobalt is used as a cutting element. The tool quickly becomes dull during the cutting process and creates a groove of uneven depth.
Roller . The movable cutter is a wheel with a diameter of 5 mm made of hardened steel or a chemical compound of carbon and tungsten. The number of rollers can reach 6 pieces. The V-shaped section of the teeth ensures a uniform stroke. In this case, a trace remains uniform in depth. In some models, the working part is removable and can be replaced with a new one.
Oily . Outwardly similar to a roller, but differs in design. A container of lubricating fluid passes through the handle of the tool. The metal head is equipped with a screw to regulate the supply of lubricant. The liquid entering the groove reduces the friction force and helps create a cut of the same depth.
Diamond . A soldered crystal is used as a cutter. The design of modern models allows you to change the position of the diamond using a screw. This increases the service life of the cutter. Glass cutters are produced in two modifications: amateur ones with artificial crystal; professional with multi-faceted sharpening and natural diamond, with their help you can cut material of greater thickness.

The most durable models will be those with tungsten carbide rollers; steel ones wear out the fastest.

When working with tiles, a tool of any kind presses a shallow groove on the surface along which the element is broken.

For which tiles is the glass cutter not suitable?

The use of a glass cutter is justified only for glazed varieties of tiles, the surface of which resembles glass in structure and appearance. Restrictions also apply to the thickness of the tile product - its maximum values should not exceed 5 mm.

It is impossible to process mirror tiles with a glass cutter. Its dimensions and laying pattern are selected in such a way that solid elements are used.

Gypsum tiles are not recommended for processing - their rough coating will be difficult to cut, crumble and delaminate. Porcelain tiles with a high wear resistance class (two or higher) would not be the best option. These are durable and rigid types of materials such as porcelain tiles and floor tiles.

Although, as for porcelain stoneware, its suitability for cutting will be determined by the brand. For example, Chinese tiles can be processed well with diamond and oil glass cutters.

Advantages and disadvantages of a glass cutter

The undoubted advantage of cutting tiles is its financial availability, and, accordingly, the cost of tiling work in general. Manual glass cutters of roller and oil types are silent and do not create dust in the room, which is important for housing where there may be other residents besides the master. Also, hand tools are indispensable for figure cutting, in design solutions that require originality and exclusivity.

Disadvantages - for significant amounts of work, a manual glass cutter is ineffective. A separate item can be noted when cutting porcelain stoneware or ceramic floor tiles. In such cases, hand tools are used extremely rarely, since slabs made of such material have increased strength and thickness.

Summarizing what was said earlier, we come to the conclusion that it makes sense to use manual roller and diamond tools for small-scale cladding and in cases where it is not financially profitable to buy a more expensive professional tool - an angle grinder or a tile cutter - for one-time cutting.

How to cut ceramic tiles with a glass cutter?

If the tiles and the glass cutter match each other in properties and characteristics, you can proceed directly to cutting.

Preparing for work

First, you should decide on the number of tiles and purchase ahead of time a little more elements than the calculated area. This will allow you to perform a training cut and protect against defects. You will need the following set of tools:

glass cutter;
a strong ruler or triangle 2-3 mm thick;
device for marking - marker or pencil;
thin strip of wood;
device for grinding - file, needle file, drill with a grinding attachment.

Since it is recommended to use a roller glass cutter to cut tiles, you will need roller lubricant. Among the preparatory work, we can mention the obligatory soaking of the ceramics. Water will fill the smallest pores and cavities in the material, the tile will become less fragile and will not crumble when cutting. The minimum soaking time is 1 hour, the optimal time is at least 3 hours.

Markings on tiles

After calculations for laying the tiles are determined with the configuration and dimensions of the product. The markings are applied with a marker on the glossy side. The marker can be replaced with a soft pencil or felt-tip pen.

It is necessary to take into account that a glass cutter will not take a strip less than 1 cm wide, and it will not be possible to break such an edge after cutting. Therefore, experienced craftsmen recommend leaving an allowance of about 1 cm - it is better to grind off excess ceramics than to cut the element again.

Performing ceramic cutting

Step-by-step instructions for working with ceramic tiles:

The tiles are laid with the glazed side facing out. Measure and mark the correct distance from the edges.
Pressing a ruler or square to the cutting line, use a glass cutter to make an even groove. The ruler should be pressed along its central part, and the glass cutter should be pressed with moderate force and as evenly as possible so that the depth of the groove is the same along the entire length of the tile.
There is no need to cut through the entire thickness of the tile; the remaining layer can be easily broken by hand.

Fracture along the cutting line

Craftsmen distinguish two ways of breaking cut tiles:

Place a strip or nail under the groove from below, press on the central zone and split;
Place the ceramics on the workbench so that one of the edges hangs from it - it will be enough to simply press on the hanging part with your hand.

If there is a need to break off a narrow ceramic strip, you should use pliers.

The fracture will be smooth only when a single clear cut is made on the surface. It is prohibited to move the tool along the element several times.

The work is completed by grinding, which will allow you to obtain a smooth edge and remove burrs and chips. Coarse sandpaper, a grinding stone or a file will come to the rescue.

Preparing for work

Before you start cutting tiles, you need to prepare for the job. In addition to the cutting process itself, you need to clarify some points about the work.

Selecting a glass cutter

Types of glass cutters

If you decide on a glass cutter as the main tool for cutting ceramic tiles, then you can choose three models:

Roller type glass cutter;
Oil type glass cutter;
Glass cutter with diamond tip.

Of course, the simplest and easiest to use is a roller type glass cutter. A small roller (also called a roller) as a cutting tool provides a thin cutting line without chipping along the edges. An oil-type glass cutter is a good alternative, the operating principle of which is the same as that of a roller cutter.

Only it is equipped with an automatic supply of liquid-oil to the cutting mechanism. The oil is located in the cylinder of the pen shaft and provides lubrication during cutting, which greatly facilitates the work. Both of these models of roller glass cutter do not require special training; a beginner can easily handle them.

A diamond glass cutter requires an “experienced” hand. Only a specialist who knows firsthand how to use it and has “accustomed” to a diamond cutter can cut ceramic tiles with such a tool. Otherwise, a lot of tile material will be damaged.

Don't worry if the cut edges don't immediately turn out as sharp as you want. Uneven cut depth may depend not only on lack of experience and incompetence in using the cutting tool, but also on the poor quality of the ceramic material itself.

In such a situation, the situation will be corrected by sanding paper (sandpaper) with medium or coarse grain, thanks to which the ends of the cuts are rubbed, resulting in a perfectly smooth edge.

Additional tools

To cut tiles/tiles in a high-quality manner, you need the following set of tools:

The glass cutter itself (roller, diamond or with automatic oil supply);
A marker for drawing a cutting line, preferably water-based, so that the marking can be easily removed without leaving marks.
A metal square or ruler that is used for measuring and as a guide when cutting tiles/tiles;
Table with a stable horizontal surface;
A wooden block (pencil) for lining the fracture site;
Paper for sanding medium and coarse fractions;
Protective gloves;

The nuances of cutting tiles with a glass cutter, advantages and disadvantages

Special mechanical tools and electrical devices are much more convenient for cutting ceramic products than a glass cutter. But such special devices are much more expensive. Therefore, if cutting tiles is carried out at home with small amounts of work, it is more practical to use a glass cutter. After all, it is completely inappropriate to use expensive tools when you only need to trim a few tiles.

The glass cutter has some advantages over other devices for cutting tiles:

affordable price;
ease of use.

But using a glass cutter also has significant disadvantages:

it is not suitable for large volumes of work;
the tool is not able to cut through dense tiles;
there is a possibility of damaging the tiles.

Using such a tool is not very convenient. The glass cutter has a small roller that makes shallow grooves. Therefore, you have to break the tiles manually, which creates the risk of the tiles cracking or breaking unevenly. Due to such sequential procedures of marking, notching and breaking, the entire process of cutting a clay plate is quite long and tedious. Therefore, it is not recommended to use a glass cutter for large volumes of work.

Even the glass cutter, with its small roller, is not capable of cutting through heavy-duty porcelain stoneware. It is also unlikely to scratch thick floor tiles to the depth required for breaking. The tool is only capable of cutting thin wall tiles. Therefore, for large volumes of work or cutting powerful products, it is better to purchase a special tile cutter.

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Safety precautions

Before you start finishing work and, in particular, cutting tiles, you need to take care of your workplace.

The table or any other surface must be well secured.

Check work tools and necessary equipment.

If the room is not well lit, it is necessary to use portable lamps powered by 12-42 V sockets. Pay attention to cleanliness in the workplace - excess tools and construction debris lying underfoot can lead to injury.

According to safety standards, the employee must be provided with special clothing and personal protective equipment. More details about this:

Suit made of thick fabric - protects the body from possible cuts and injuries when working with cutting tools;
Glasses – protect your eyes from debris and dust particles. The glass in them must be made of plastic or unbreakable material;
Respirator - protects the respiratory system from dust that is formed when cutting tile material. This protection is used when there is a large volume of work.
Gloves – protect your fingers from cuts on the sharp edges of the tiles. In some cases, rubberized ones are used if the surface of the tile material is glossy or has been degreased.

When doing work cutting tile material, you need to be extremely collected and attentive, use the work surface, and not break the tile along the cut line by weight or on your knee.

Compliance with safety regulations, the use of special clothing and personal protective equipment makes it possible to cut tile material without injury and with maximum efficiency.

Other methods of cutting tiles

Using a glass cutter is not the only way to cut tiles. You can use a whole series of tools that can handle the processing.

Bulgarian

The angle grinder is suitable for both straight and complex cutting of tiles. It can give tiles a specific silhouette, make oval, round and rectangular cuts, and cut at an angle of 45°. The best attachments for processing tiles are diamond-coated steel discs, combination wheels, segmented and solid dry cutters.

But first you need to study the markings of the disc and make sure that it is suitable for working with this type of ceramic. Due to their design features, solid dry cutters require thermal unloading - cooling with water. And they can work continuously for no longer than 15 seconds.

Segmented models are a better option; moreover, they can be used to cut thick tiles – floor tiles and porcelain tiles.

Drill

A drill and a hammer drill are suitable not only for cutting ceramics, but for making holes of different diameters and shapes. The main thing in working with this device is choosing the correct nozzle in terms of configuration and diameter:

“ballerina”;
full-bodied with notches;
in the shape of a peak;
cylindrical;
crowns for drilling holes for wiring communications.

All nozzles must be made of carbide metal and coated with a layer of diamond coating. The most convenient way is to get a set of attachments for different tasks.

After securing the nozzle to the body, check that there is no play and begin drilling at the intended point. On a glazed surface, the nozzle may slide; masking tape glued to the smooth side will help increase the friction force.

Hacksaw

A hacksaw is an alternative option for cutting tiles with a glass cutter. Sawing is carried out only with carbide blades or coated strings.

Budget accessories for a hacksaw are suitable only in cases where you need to cut a small amount of tile.

Marking and preparation are carried out according to the standard algorithm - soak the tiles in water and mark the cutting lines with a marker. A unit of tile is laid on a clean, level base (countertop), leaving an overhanging part marked for the cut. The tiles are fixed by hand and a precise and even cut is made with a string.

A circular cutout for a pipe for a hacksaw is also not particularly difficult. Using a pencil, draw a circle for the tube and drill a hole in the center. A sawing string is threaded through it without a frame, and then the hacksaw is assembled into a single structure. All that remains is to saw off the intended area and remove excess segments.

Jigsaw

Electric jigsaws are equipped with a wide variety of attachments, including those suitable for cutting tiles. The edge of the nozzles is made of hard material with diamond or tungsten carbide coating, which ensures its increased strength.

How the tool works:

Perform markings on the surface of the tile.
Fix the nozzle and check the reliability of the connection.
Bring the device to the tile, starting cutting strictly at a right angle. To prevent the tile or instrument from deteriorating, move carefully, without jerking, jolting or additional effort.

Advantages of tiles

Tile has many advantages - it does not burn, does not emit toxic substances, it is resistant to temperature changes and chemicals, and does not conduct electricity.

Quite often, tiles are used for interior and exterior decoration of premises. This is due to the fact that it is a highly durable material. Properly installed tiles can withstand pressures of approximately 30,000 t/m², making them even stronger than reinforced concrete. Consequently, the tile is practically not subject to deformation. Another important advantage of tiles is that they are hygienic, easy to care for, dirt can be easily removed from them, and their surface does not promote the development of bacteria. The tiles are not afraid of moisture. That is why it is often used to decorate bathrooms, showers, and toilets.

Tile does not ignite, does not emit toxic substances when heated, and is not subject to destruction upon contact with highly toxic chemical elements. The tiles are resistant to different weather conditions - snow, rain, direct sunlight - this makes the tiles a wonderful material for exterior decoration. A particularly significant advantage is that it does not conduct electric current, so its use is safe in any conditions.

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The disadvantage of tiles, perhaps, is their high thermal conductivity, making them cold upon contact. The tiled floor is unpleasant to walk on bare feet. However, this drawback is easily corrected by combining tiles with heated floors.

All of the above properties of tiles are inherent in them only if they are installed correctly.

Nuances and recommendations of the masters

The functionality of the tongs and the glass cutter-roller is combined with the tile cutter-tongs. It is suitable for processing the most difficult types of tiles.
An oil tile cutter requires filling the container no more than a third full. To cut a limited number of ceramic products, simply dip the roller into a container of lubricant.
Tiles intended for sawing must be free of dust and dirt. This will help maintain the trajectory of the glass cutter.
If it was not possible to cut through the tile the first time, you need to return 2-3 mm from the place of separation and continue to draw the line.
At the beginning and end of the outlined cutting line, use the glass cutter with less pressure to avoid splitting.
Beginners should use lightweight glass cutters with wooden handles.

Using a glass cutter to cut tiles is justified at home. The method is considered acceptable only for thin wall tiles. To work with more durable materials, it would be advisable to use a power tool.

Subtleties and tools

It is better to use models with a thin tip rather than a diamond one; it will be easier for them to cut tiles and the cuts will be even.
If you need to cut more than 10 units, it is worth purchasing or renting a special tile cutter.
To ensure smooth edges after cutting, they can be carefully sanded with fine sandpaper.
It is better not to use a glass cutter to cut porcelain stoneware; this material is thicker and stronger, which means it will be very difficult to make a neat cut.
A glass cutter can easily and quickly cut wall tiles; for floor tiles, it is better to use special tools; this division is determined by the thickness of the coating.
To make the cutting process easier, the tiles can be pre-soaked in clean water for several hours.
If the intended cutting line is 1 cm or less from the edge, it is not recommended to use a glass cutter.
Using special tongs will greatly simplify the task. They can be rented or purchased if you plan to cut a significant amount of tiles.

In order to quickly and efficiently cut ceramic tiles, you will need the following tools:

glass cutter with a thin disc;
pencil or marker for marking;
metal ruler;
a match, a small nail or a thin piece of wood.

A few secrets

If you need to cut tiles along a curved line or into thin strips, special pliers are used.

In cases where it is necessary to cut thin tile strips, you can use special nippers or pliers that need to be broken off in small pieces. In stores you can find cutters designed for cutting ceramic tiles. It combines a glass cutter and wire cutters at the same time. If you choose a cutter, you need to take it with a replaceable wheel or with a diamond glass cutter.

It is convenient to use a glass cutter for one-time household work; for a large scale of work and if great accuracy is required, you need to use other cutting methods, for example, a tile cutter. It works on the same principle as a glass cutter, only it has a larger cutting roller. A tile cutter is a hand tool whose operating principle is similar to that of a glass cutter. The difference is that the tile cutter has restrictions on the thickness of the material being cut. First, the enamel is cut with a cutter, and then the tile is broken along the line. A tile cutter is a plier-like tile clamp with a glass cutter built into it.

A glass cutter is a more versatile tool compared to a tile cutter, but both of them are only suitable for home use.

stage - cutting ceramics

Cutting tiles with a glass cutter is similar to cutting glass with the same tool. The soaked and marked ceramic sheet should be placed on a flat, hard surface with the glossy side up. To avoid damaging your hands, it is better to wear work gloves. The markings must be drawn along the mowing line with a glass cutter, pressing on it. For the accuracy of the mowing line, it is wiser to use a ruler, corner or template as a guide. It is recommended to move the cutting tool in the direction from the far edge of the ceramic towards you. The pressure on the cutter should be of medium strength in order to cut the tiles without crushing them.

When cutting ceramics, the main thing is to cut through the durable outer layer. The result is an even, thin line of grooves that weakens the strength of the tile. For a thick plate, you need to make a groove on the back side. The groove from the glass cutter remains shallow; it is impossible to cut the tiles with a glass cutter. Therefore, the refined clay product must be broken into two parts along the cutting line of the cut.

the tile after cutting , without cracks, you must be able to break it correctly. There are several ways to separate parts of a clay plate:

It is necessary to place the tile on the table so that the cutting line and the edge of the furniture coincide. With one hand you need to hold the edge of the tile left on the countertop, and with the other hand, gently press on the free part of the ceramic. Thanks to such manipulations, the tile should break neatly along the groove of the mowing line.
Place a match or a small nail along the cutting line of the cut under the tile and press lightly with your hands on both sides. If the cut is made correctly, the tile will separate along the groove of the mowing line.
If it becomes necessary to break off a narrow strip of tile, it is better to disconnect it with pliers.

In order for the cut to occur evenly, the force must be evenly distributed throughout the entire cutting line of the cut. When separating parts, do not lift them high, otherwise they may fall and break. If irregularities have formed after cutting, they can be broken off with carpenter's scissors. If you need to cut the tile not straight, but along the circumference, you need to make markings with a pencil, make a notch with a cutting tool and carefully bite out small pieces with pliers, forming a recess.

At the end of the work, it is advisable to sand the cut area with coarse sandpaper or a grinding stone. The result will be a beautiful smooth surface, the cut will look neat and aesthetically pleasing.

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stage - cutting ceramics

the tile after cutting , without cracks, you must be able to break it correctly. There are several ways to separate parts of a clay plate:

It is necessary to place the tile on the table so that the cutting line and the edge of the furniture coincide. With one hand you need to hold the edge of the tile left on the countertop, and with the other hand, gently press on the free part of the ceramic. Thanks to such manipulations, the tile should break neatly along the groove of the mowing line.
Place a match or a small nail along the cutting line of the cut under the tile and press lightly with your hands on both sides. If the cut is made correctly, the tile will separate along the groove of the mowing line.
If it becomes necessary to break off a narrow strip of tile, it is better to disconnect it with pliers.