How to cut mosaic on mesh without chips

How to cut porcelain stoneware with a glass cutter

This is the easiest tool to use. It also gives a minimal effect. Using a glass cutter, you can cut off porcelain stoneware, but provided that its thickness is small. This is how the wall cladding is most often cut. The glass cutter cannot cope with floor tiles.

There are two types of tools: with a carbide roller and with a diamond cutter. The latter option cuts better, but fails faster. Its cost is higher than that of a roller analogue.

With a glass cutter, you can make a straight or curly cut. In the latter case, you will also need special nippers. To cut the tiles in a straight line with the mowing line, proceed as follows:

  • We lay the cladding on a flat base. Determine where the cut line will go.
  • We take a ruler, lay it along the future cutting line of the cut and press it with our fingers.
  • Gently, but with strong pressure, draw the line along the ruler with the tool. We try to scratch a deep enough groove at a time. Otherwise, chips cannot be avoided.
  • We put the part on the edge of the table or workbench and press firmly on its edge. So that the liner splits along the intended mowing line.
  • Grind the edge if necessary.

If you want to make a curved cut, a line is cut with a glass cutter. Then you need to take nippers and use them to remove sections of the tile. The closer the cut is to the mowing line, the smaller the pieces should be chipped off. The edge with such processing will turn out to be sharp and not entirely even, so it must be sanded.

mosaic, mesh, chips

Cut off the plate without chips

Porcelain stoneware belongs to the materials of increased strength. There are practically no pores in it, it does not absorb water and does not crumble. It is very difficult to even scratch it. Therefore, home craftsmen have the question of how to cut off porcelain stoneware without chips and is it possible at all. It must be admitted that theoretically this is possible, but in practice it turns out very rarely. often, small chips remain on the cut, which have to be sanded.

To keep them as small as possible, experienced craftsmen advise following these recommendations:

  • Cut the part from the top side. Most material chips appear where the cutter exits the plate.
  • The smaller the thickness of the selected cutting disc for the grinder, the lower the likelihood of chipping.
  • Reduce torch speed at the start and end of the line of the cut.
  • When working with a mechanical tile cutter, apply more pressure to the lever than when cutting a regular tile.
  • Make a cut slightly to the right of the intended mowing line so that it remains on the cut piece. Then it will be possible to remove unwanted chips with a sander.

It is very important that the tool is of high quality and suitable for the material of choice. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to get a beautiful cut without chips. If, nevertheless, they appear, which happens most often, the defects should be sanded down. You can use sandpaper or a diamond sponge.

Cutting Glass Mosaic Tile WITH NIPPERS (So Easy!)

The best option is a grinder with a special attachment. This is the so-called turtle or flexible diamond circle. They are distinguished by the diameter of the particles deposited on the surface of the diamond coating. The turtle can only work with a grinder, the model of which provides for 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 stoneware with an electric tile cutter

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

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

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

  • We outline the cutting line.
  • We fix the part on the bed using special clamps. If you have to make a curved incision, you will have to hold it with your hands.
  • We start the device. First, we select the minimum speed of the disk, so the part does not deform.
  • Increase the cutting speed gradually. Make sure that the element does not move from vibration.

An important point. The product should be stacked so that the cutter starts to cut its front side. That is, on equipment with an upper cutter, the part is laid face up. On a bottom disc appliance, place the tiles face down.

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

Tools for cutting porcelain stoneware

Before determining how and how to cut porcelain stoneware at home, you should understand its features. It is a composite material that successfully combines the properties of natural stone and ceramics. It is made by pressing a mixture pre-fired at high temperatures. The result is a highly durable and wear-resistant material. In the production process, it can be given a wide variety of colors and textures.

The surface of ceramics is matte, glossy, structured, etc. Consider this when choosing a cutting method.

You can cut a fragment of a tile using various tools:

  • glass cutter;
  • electric tile cutter (aka wet cutter);
  • mechanical tile cutter;
  • angle grinder;
  • waterjet cutting attachment.

The latter method is not used in a home workshop, since it is assumed that special expensive equipment is available.

How to cut porcelain stoneware with an angle grinder without chips

Almost every home craftsman has an angle grinder, or an angle grinder. Therefore, it is she who is most often cut porcelain stoneware. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to make such a cut without chips, but it is quite possible to minimize their number. For this, it is very important to choose the right disc. He must have:

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

An angle grinder is a potentially dangerous tool, so safety rules should not be neglected. You should take care of the means of protection. The kit includes:

  • Respirator, as a lot of dust is generated when cutting.
  • Safety goggles to prevent possible exposure of disc fragments to the eyes.
  • Special clothing.
  • Earplugs or ear muffs to protect your hearing from loud noise.

It is not recommended to neglect protective equipment, even if it is planned to cut several plates.

Cutting porcelain stoneware tiles correctly with an angle grinder is quite simple if you follow the instructions:

  • Preparing a place to work. Lay a substrate on the leveled surface, which will protect the base. You can choose penoplex, polystyrene, etc.
  • We put the part on the base with the front side up, mark the section of the cut on it. So that there are fewer chips, we glue a strip of masking tape on it, draw a cutting line along it.
  • We put a metal corner on top of the tile along the cut path, fix it with clamps. This will allow you to make an accurate cut. This must be done when cutting products with a large thickness.
  • We start the angle grinder. We cut the part at a time, direct it “away from ourselves.” To get an even edge, cut off the fragment so that the marking line is preserved on the product. It will be removed during the sanding process, and the tile will retain the specified size.
  • We remove the masking tape, if necessary, we grind the end of the part.

If the plate is thin or you do not need a perfectly straight cut, you can simplify your work. an angle grinder does not make a cut, but only a cut. After which the fragment is broken off with a sharp strong movement.

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

How to cut porcelain stoneware with a tile cutter

The principle of operation of the tool is somewhat similar to the glass cutter. There, too, there is a cutting roller that moves along the guides. In addition to it, there is a bed on which the part is laid, a lever and guides. 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:

  • The base of the device. 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 guides and supports.
  • Smooth movement of the carriage. It is desirable that special bearings provide this.
  • No backlash when advancing the carriage. If it is available, it is impossible to make a straight cut.

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

To cut off a piece of porcelain tiles with your own hands along a straight mowing line, you need to follow these steps:

  • Place the tile cutter on a solid, level base.
  • On the product we outline the line of the cut.
  • We lay the part on the bed so that the trajectory of the roller goes exactly along the basting.
  • We make an incision by pressing on the carriage and moving it away from us.
  • We release the handle and break the part with strong pressure.
  • We grind the cut to remove 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:

  • A fragment already 6 mm wide cannot be cut 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 and what to cut porcelain stoneware at home: 4 proven methods

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

Mosaic pliers

In order to correctly cut with pliers, you should take them in the cutting hand, while with the other hand (index, middle and thumb), hold the mosaic firmly and motionlessly. Next, you need to place the mosaic between the two surfaces of the nippers. Now, having covered the tile with the blades, about half, make a break. The direction of this break is set by turning the pliers in one direction or another. To make the applied effort stronger, hold the wire cutters at the ends of the handles. First, it is advisable to practice on a rough mosaic, and only then move on to the main samples.

How to cut a mosaic

Novice mosaic masters often have a question. how to cut (chop) a mosaic, with what tool. Even experienced craftsmen cannot always answer this question. Even now, there are still builders who use a conventional “angle grinder” as a cutting tool. But with such a tool, apart from the mosaic, you can cut something else, something “necessary”. Sometimes ordinary glass cutters are used to reduce the cost, but you can’t do much with such a tool, and it’s not convenient either.

Professionals who value their time and the quality of the work performed should have a high-quality professional tile cutter that can cut mosaics as well. But this option will result in a pretty penny, and it will be problematic to perform curly elements on them.

Like this tile cutter with a mosaic mat, you can cut quickly and a lot, but this type of cutting is not suitable for artistic splitting.

Therefore, for those who do not know how to cut a mosaic, we hasten to share a list of tools and methods designed specifically for this lesson. Almost any master can learn this, whether he is a beginner or a skilled worker with experience.

How to cut mosaic on mesh without chips

In this article we will tell you about the methods of cutting (splitting) mosaics.

Roller cutters (tongs) for mosaic

Roller cutters (pliers) for mosaic is the most convenient and functional cutting tool. This tool can combine the functionality of a glass cutter and, in fact, the mosaic cutters themselves. Outwardly, this tool is somewhat reminiscent of a modern can opener. The tip of the pliers consists of two strong, sharply-sharpened discs. A piece of mosaic is inserted between these discs, and by squeezing the handles, under the influence of force, the discs cut the mosaic in half. If you practice well with this tool, you can make not only straight cuts, but also curly cuts, giving the mosaic a different shape. When the cutting rollers become blunt, they just need to be turned a little, having previously loosened the screws with which they are pressed against the pliers body. When the desired position is selected, retighten these screws.

It is worth noting that when working with any of the above tools, you should follow safety measures. Because, for example, using roller cutters, when cutting, a fragment of the mosaic can please the performer in the eyes. Therefore, when working, wear protective glasses, and gloves can be worn on your hands so that the fragments do not fall under the skin. Thus, you will protect yourself, and you will be able to act confidently and accurately.

There is a whole line of specialized ones specifically for processing. Such a tool will be especially useful when making mosaic panels or decors. Since in this process, the mosaic chips are constantly being cut and crushed into smaller pieces, which must be skillfully folded together.

Mosaic cutting is a real challenge, especially for those new to the craft. Glass or stone can behave completely unpredictably, break into pieces that are not planned in shape and size. Special mosaic cutters can help in the correct processing of the mosaic.

There are several types of them. Some are for cutting mosaic chips,

others for splitting (preliminarily draw on the chip with a glass cutter,

and then they just break with the help of specialized forceps)

One of the most popular and essential tools is the roller cutter. They are also different in design, but they have the same principle. One of the most convenient are the cutting pliers with the mosaic fragments catcher.

A very handy invention. During the cutting of the mosaic, fragments like “bullets” can bounce in different directions from the cutting site. Such a bag, located on one side, prevents them from scattering in different directions. On the other hand, the piece will simply end up in your hand. Also, a traditional set is almost always used: this is a chisel knife and a hammer. This kit serves for more detailed processing. A chisel knife is driven into a block or paneled in order to use its cutting edge as an auxiliary surface (see figure), and give the desired shape with a hammer.

Ceramic tile cutting tool

can be cut with an ordinary roller. We mark it with a soft pencil or marker, then put the tile on a flat hard surface and, pressing evenly on the glass cutter, roll it from the far edge of the tile towards ourselves so that a visible strip remains on the enamel.

Only one incision is made. To break a tile along the cut line of the mowing line, you need to place a match or a small nail under it and lightly press on both sides of the mowing line.

good for when the volume of work is small and you do not want to spend money on tile cutters. However, it is difficult to perform a large amount of work with a glass cutter. In fact, if you need to cut at least a dozen tiles, then it would be nice to “splurge” on a manual tile cutter.

The difference between a tile cutter and a glass cutter is that the cutter wheel is larger in size (1.5 cm in diameter), which allows you to cut to a greater depth. Itself is similar to tongs, as it is equipped with a device that allows you to break the tiles after making an incision.

And with a glass cutter and a manual tile cutter, it is good to cut n. Of course, you can try to cut tiles intended for laying on the floor with them, and it is quite possible that you will succeed, but for floor tiles (and even more so, if it is) it is better to purchase a stationary tile cutter. It allows you to cut tiles with less loss and more precision. Hence the intermediate conclusion: if there is a need to cut floor tiles, it is better to immediately purchase a stationary tile cutter.

The cutting technology is somewhat different from cutting with a manual tile cutter: the tile is marked, installed on the base, tightly pressed against the stop ruler (the tile cutter itself would also not be bad to rest or screw on. there are holes for fasteners in it), cutting is done from oneself in one motion with a slight pressure on the tile; the tile at the end of the cut is broken by light pressure on the lever using the angle located on the lever. Little tip: craftsmen apply a few drops of machine oil to the cutting wheel. and cut is easier and the cut is cleaner.

with a diamond blade makes perfectly straight cuts with smooth and slightly rounded edges, in contrast to the sharp edges obtained with simple tile cutters. Hence, the best quality of the cut tiles, the ability to use to obtain curly cutouts, the ability to cut pieces less than 5 mm, you can cut tiles and porcelain stoneware of any hardness.

Another obvious advantage of electric tile cutters is the cleanliness of work. dust and tile particles settle in the water tank and do not pollute your environment. Cutting tiles with an electric tile cutter does not present great difficulties, however, it requires compliance with safety measures. standard protective equipment is required: gloves, glasses.

Such a tile cutter is more useful for professionals. it costs quite a lot, takes up a lot of space. So, if you are not going to make money with it, you shouldn’t take it.

Along with tile cutters, tiles can be cut with an angle grinder.

can also be used for both straight cuts and curved cuts. The disc is used with diamond plating. An angle grinder cuts tiles as well as a tile cutter, but since it is a hand tool it cuts less accurately and leaves jagged edges. Big minus. a lot of dust.

The angle grinder is a very dangerous tool and must be handled with extreme caution. When using this tool, you must have protective goggles, headphones, a dust mask and be very careful.

An angle grinder is the best option for cutting tiles at home. In addition, it is useful for other types of work.

To drill a hole in a tile, special drills or crowns of different diameters are used.

Mosaic making. Roller cutters.

All sorts of tales are often told about how to cut a mosaic. Human fantasy is limitless. nippers, tile cutters, etc.

It’s simple. cut with an angle grinder.

It is better, of course, to do this with the help of “DREMEL”. But this is another tool in an infinite cost chain.

The impeller blade must not “hit”. This happens in Bulgarians who have worked for more than 2-3 years. You can cut with any circle designed for cutting ceramic tiles.

The success of the cut depends on the type of mosaic, and on what material the mosaic elements are fixed. It is better, if possible, to cut the mosaic on the grid. Even when broken, the pieces remain anchored to the grid of the sheet.

There is such a type of mosaic (or rather the back side) that it is difficult to cut. Some elements burst in half when cutting, due to the relief of the back side.

A glass mosaic sometimes comes across, but the glass is somehow strange, Chinese. Cuts without problems like plastic.

Cutting mosaics with large mosaic elements, especially in the middle, is excellent. When the line of the cut is moved to the edge, the narrow part often splits.

The basic rule when cutting is gradual. First you need to mark the cutting line with the cutting wheel (during the first pass). Then evenly and gradually deepen into the glass surface along the entire length of the cut.

To make a smooth cut, you must lay a guide along the intended mowing line. These can be long lengths of ceramic tiles. After several cuts, the guide must be changed. the edge of the tile is grinded with a cutting wheel, and the evenness of the cut is disturbed.

How to cut tiles without a tile cutter

When performing various construction work on your own, there is often a need to cut ceramic tiles 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: It’s not about constant work and large volumes, but about small batches or even piece products. In such cases, it makes no sense to buy an expensive tool, it is quite possible to do with improvised means.

Safety engineering

To ensure safety when cutting tiles, the following requirements must be met:

  • use a protective cover;
  • hold the angle grinder firmly, do not turn it vertically;
  • use appropriate PPE. overalls, goggles, respirator, gloves, etc.;
  • work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

In addition, it is necessary to observe electrical safety techniques, do not use a faulty tool with broken insulation of the case and wire. Before cutting the tiles with an angle grinder, prepare the workplace, provide appropriate conditions. lighting, ventilation, etc. Compliance with these simple rules will allow you to avoid injuries and get the job done without harm to health.

Solid dry cutters

A wet or solid blade that does not have thermal relief cuts and therefore requires water supply to the work area for cooling. Without this, the time of continuous operation is only 10 to 15 seconds, after which the disc is left to rotate for 20 to 30 seconds. idling. Otherwise, the silver solder will weaken and the diamond plating will wear off. Also, overheating leads to deformation of the disc.

With water supply, tiles can be cut continuously.

Solid disc cuts better tiles than segmented.

Water is supplied to the cutting zone in three ways:

Can tiles be cut with an angle grinder

an angle grinder, on the other hand, is a versatile tool used for many tasks, which is why it is available in almost every household.

And if the tiling is performed by the homeowner himself, it is more logical to use this particular tool.

In addition, an angle grinder, unlike a tile cutter, can make round holes if there is no appropriate equipment for a drill. a cylindrical drill (crown) or a ballerina.

How to cut tiles with an angle grinder without chips and dust

In order to reduce the number of chips, the following rules are followed:

  • Start cutting from the front. Most of the chips are formed when the cutting blade exits the material.
  • At the beginning and at the end of the pass, the rotational speed of the disk is reduced.
  • Cutting is performed in one pass. With each additional pass, the number of chips increases.

The amount of dust is minimized as follows:

  • Cut only a shallow groove, then break the tile. When cutting the glazed coating, little dust is generated, almost all of it is released when cutting the main array of tiles.
  • Water is supplied to the cutting zone as described above.
  • Use a construction vacuum cleaner. You will need an assistant to manage it.

How to cut tiles without damage

You can use different tools to neatly trim tiles when laying it, but DIY repairmen are more often interested in the question of how to cut tiles with an angle grinder without chips.

What is special?

Using a tile cutter is not complete without the subsequent refinement of the edge with sandpaper or a bar.

angle grinder (angle grinder) speeds up the process and gives a clean cut, but this will require using the correct working techniques.

Wheel speed is critical.

The higher it is, the smaller the size and number of small chips will be. A common mistake is using a tool with a large diameter disc. According to the experts, it is easier and safer to use a small angle grinder, especially when making curved cuts.

The quality of the edging depends on several factors:

  • the accuracy of the mowing line of the cut;
  • reliability of fixing the material, no surface movement during operation;
  • the correct choice of the side from which the tile is cut;
  • tool used (disk).

The cutting technology depends on the characteristics of the material, the thickness of the tile and the configuration that you want to give. The easiest way is to make a straight cut; to give a curved shape, you will have to use special methods.

Important! To obtain the desired result, you will need to organize a workplace with a device for firmly fixing the tiles and convenient access to the treated surface.

Power tools for cutting porcelain stoneware

Power tools in the form of:

�� How to Easily & Safely Cut Mosaic / Small Tiles➔ Either 12″x12″ Sheets or Individually (DIY Tip)

  • electric tile cutter;
  • angle grinder;
  • jigsaw;
  • circular saw;
  • drills with a ballerina;
  • waterjet installation.

Drill

As strange as it may sound, an electric drill is often used to cut porcelain stoneware. Using the “crown” or “ballerina” nozzle in the tile, you can make a round hole of the required diameter.

The crowns have a given diameter, and the ballerina works like a compass, so she is used to make a large hole.

Jigsaw

This tool is suitable for cutting thin porcelain tiles. To do this, you need to take a diamond-coated thread.

How to cut porcelain stoneware, how to do it

Porcelain stoneware is a facing material made from natural raw materials. It possesses high indicators of strength and wear resistance. Due to this, porcelain stoneware slabs are used for both interior and exterior decoration of premises.

Despite the high hardness of the material, it is quite fragile. often during cutting, chips appear on the front part. But this can be avoided by choosing the right tool.

How to cut porcelain stoneware without chips

At first glance, it seems that porcelain stoneware is difficult to process and cannot be cut with your own hands. However, if you adhere to the recommendations of specialists, then everyone can do it.

As already mentioned, regardless of the selected tool, you should start cutting porcelain stoneware exclusively from the front side, since chips tend to appear when the tool leaves the tile.

When cutting porcelain stoneware with a power tool, control the speed of the cutting blade: at the beginning and at the end, it should be reduced.

You can learn more about the cutting process with a manual tile cutter from the instructions that came with it.

How to cut porcelain stoneware

What method to process porcelain stoneware tiles directly depends on the volume of material:

  • if it is supposed to use cladding material in small living quarters, then manual processing with a tile cutter can be dispensed with;
  • to increase productivity when processing large volumes of tiles, you will need a power tool.

When working with a manual tile cutter, the processing is very slow and not always of high quality, since when the cutting part of the tile cutter leaves the plate, chips appear on its surface. Therefore, it is recommended to cut porcelain stoneware from the front side, regardless of the tool used.

The advantage of a manual tile cutter is that there is no dust and noise when working with it, but this cannot be avoided with power tools.

angle grinder

You can also cut porcelain stoneware at home with an angle grinder. To do this, you need to purchase a diamond-coated disc with a thickness of 2 mm and an edge width greater than the thickness of porcelain stoneware.

REMEMBER! When working with an angle grinder, place the disc on the correct side and be sure to protect your eyes with glasses, as many chips are formed during processing. Cutting should be done in one step, otherwise the cut will be uneven. You also need to leave a margin of a few millimeters for sanding the edge.