How to cut tiles with a manual tile cutter - video instructions. How to properly cut tiles with various tile cutters? How to cut uneven tiles with a manual tile cutter

Every craftsman should know how to cut tiles with a tile cutter so as not to spoil the rather expensive material. Any tiling work with ceramic tiles is not complete without trimming when it is necessary to obtain fragments of the required size and shape. For good appearance It is necessary that the cut is smooth and neat, and that after grouting the joints there is no sharp, uneven edge sticking out.

Classification of manual tile cutters

To cut tiles in small quantities, you can use hand tools. Cut tiles in large volumes it is much more convenient using electrically driven devices.

Based design features, the following types of manual tile cutters are distinguished:

1. Roller. The simplest device in which a carbide roller is used as a cutting element.
2. Mechanical. The tool is equipped with a rigid carriage, thanks to which you can cut with extreme precision.
3. On bearings. The smoothness of the cutting action is determined by the presence of bearings on which the bushings are installed.

Cutting tiles can be done either with hand tools or with an electric tile cutter, grinder, wire cutters, or glass cutter. This can even be done with a jigsaw, but it is better to use devices specially designed for this, as they allow you to achieve the desired quality of cut.

Advantages and disadvantages of manual tile cutters

Like any other tool, a manual tile cutter has its positive and negative qualities, which should definitely be taken into account when choosing a device for cutting tiles.

Among the advantages are the following characteristics:

• independence from electrical networks;
• possibility of use at any temperature and humidity;
• compactness;
• light weight;
• low cost.

The disadvantages include the following qualities:

• cannot cope with a large volume of work;
• does not allow cutting a strip of tile less than 1 cm;
• Difficult to cut particularly hard materials.

Manual tile cutter device

The design of manual tile cutters is the same, there are only some differences regarding functionality. The following working parts are distinguished:

• a base that serves as a platform for the location of all working elements;
• tubular guides along which the carriage with the cutting wheel moves;
• carriage - in addition to the cutting roller, it is equipped with a special concave foot for breaking off the cut part of the tile;
• cutting element - carbide roller rotating on an axis;
• the handle that moves the carriage.

How to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter

Experienced craftsmen before cutting tiles manual tile cutter, it is recommended to keep the tiles for some time in warm water. It will become a little softer, which will reduce the likelihood of cracks and chips. To reduce friction and improve cutting quality, it is recommended to drip machine oil directly onto the marking line or onto the cutting roller.

Safety precautions

You need to know how to safely cut tiles with your own hands and how to avoid possible injuries. There are a number of requirements that must be met:

1. Inspect the tile cutter for functionality and damage.
2. Check the carriage stroke. It should move smoothly, without jerking.
3. The guides must be even and smooth, without damage.
4. The cutting disc must have a smooth surface, without burrs or gouges. It should rotate on the axis freely, without creaking or getting stuck.

For safety reasons, you should use protective plastic glasses and fabric gloves.

How to use a manual tile cutter correctly

To use a manual tile cutter correctly, you should be guided by the following technology:

1. Draw a marking line on the front side of the tile using a marker or felt-tip pen.
2. Fix the material using special clamps, while the marking line should be located exactly under the cutting wheel.
3. Place the cutting element at the beginning of the marking and lightly press it.
4. Holding the handle, smoothly move the carriage away from you along the cutting line. The pressure should be strong enough to cut the glaze. Attaching great effort, you can break the tile or damage the glazed layer at the cut site. Insufficient pressure will not allow you to break hard surface and then break the tile.
5. Move the handle to the middle, lower the lever (if included), then press it or hit it sharply. If there is no lever, the tile is placed on the edge of the table along the cut line and broken by pressing on the part protruding beyond the edge.

If everything was done correctly, the tile should break neatly exactly along the cut line. Some models have a built-in ruler and swivel base for cutting tiles at a 45-degree angle. More details in the video:

How to use a tile cutter

For a small number of tile cuts, you can use tile cutters. They are convenient for making rounded cuts and fine adjustment of fragments when laying tiles. This device is similar to pliers. The cutting roller is placed on holding jaws.

Cutting is carried out as follows:

• markings are applied to the glazed surface of the tile;
• along the line, in one movement, an incision is made with the cutting disc from the far edge towards you;
• The tongs are placed with the tool feet up (on the glaze), the cut line should be in the middle (between the side surfaces of the feet);
• Carefully press the handles, breaking off the unnecessary fragment.

How to use a roller tile cutter

The roller tile cutter is the most simple device for cutting tiles, but its capabilities are limited. Soft material It can cut, but it will not be able to cut hard and dense tiles. This tool can only cut a few pieces, because its productivity is low.

Along the applied marking line, a groove is made with a cutting roller from edge to edge of the tile. If the cut is deep enough, the element easily breaks along the cut line. To do this, you can place the tile on the edge of the table or on a large nail and apply pressure.

How to use an electric tile cutter correctly

Specialized equipment for working with tiles various thicknesses(even more than 16 mm) is considered an electric tile cutter. They can make straight, diagonal and curly cuts. The design of an electric tile cutter includes: a work table, an electric drive, a saw head with a tile cutting disc and a cooling system.

How to properly cut ceramic tiles with a tile cutter electric drive, can be understood by the following instructions:

• marking is carried out;
• the desired position of the element is established along which the material is shifted along the cut line;
• the workpiece is placed on the desktop of the device;
• the engine turns on;
• hands push the tile towards cutting disc(the force is increased when the disk comes into contact with the material);
• the equipment turns off.

Another type of electric tile cutter is available, in which the motor is located on top, and the tool must be held in your hands. In this case, stands are installed on a horizontal plane and tiles are laid on them. The tool makes a cut along the line.

Hand tools will be sufficient for small masonry areas and for a small number of cuts. When working with tiles, professionals will need a powerful and reliable power tool that allows them to cut better and has unlimited capabilities.

How and what is the best way to cut ceramic tiles? In this article we will look at all the options for solving this problem with our own hands. Moreover, work with both tiles and ceramic tiles will be considered.

When carrying out tiling work indoors using tiles, each time you have to deal with sections of walls and floors where laying a whole clinker tile is impossible.

You need to cut off part of the product, but do it in such a way that the edges of the tile are even (watch the video).

At the same time, there is also a risk of breaking the entire expensive ceramics. To avoid this, you must use special devices, which include both professional expensive tools (tile cutters) and more simple types equipment (glass cutter, grinder, etc.).

Electric tile cutter with diamond blade is an ideal mechanism that can cope with any type of tile. With its help it is easy to achieve smooth cuts with rounded and smoothed edges.

To do this, you just need to lay the pre-marked tile on the working surface of the device and slowly move it under the blade. The tile should be pressed firmly onto the platform with both hands. At the same time, do not forget about safety precautions:

• it is necessary to wear safety glasses to prevent small fragments of tile material from getting into your eyes;
• control the water level in the pan, thanks to which the disk is cooled;
• change the water in a timely manner if it becomes clogged with tile chips.

By the way, mosaic tiles You can cut in the same way, taking great care.

The disk on this device can withstand up to 1000 cuts without replacement. However, the blade must be periodically cleaned of ceramic particles. To clean, you can simply make a few cuts in the grinding stone.

But in any case, it is advisable to inspect the equipment for possible defects, and also check the operation of the engine. It is also worth noting that it is not easy to find spare parts for all models of electric tile cutters, so it would be a good idea to foresee this in advance.

The most important advantage of this equipment, of course, is the cutting speed. Professional craftsmen spend no more than a minute on one ceramic tile.

Cutting tiles at an angle of 45 degrees will require more advanced equipment, the price of which is several times higher. But to prepare a small amount of material, it will be enough to secure it firmly and use a regular tile cutter, grinder or jigsaw.

You can do the same when cutting in a semicircle, although in this case the craftsmen recommend carefully securing the tiles in a vice. Most likely, cutting the tiles figuratively will not work. It is better to entrust this work to a specialist, especially if the material is expensive.

Manual tile cutter

A less expensive tool, which is used mainly by amateur craftsmen, is manual tile cutter. With its help, it is quite convenient to cut tile fragments with a thickness of no more than 6 mm.

It is not difficult to master the work with this equipment, and the cutting speed of the material will be much higher than when working with a jigsaw:

• markings are applied to the surface of the tile using a pencil or marker;
• the tile is laid on the base, adjusting it so that the wheel coincides with the marking line;
• by controlling the handle of the tile cutter, move the wheel along the line;
• the product is fixed using “wings”, which will allow you to divide ceramic or clinker tiles into two even parts;
• after a light blow with your hand on the handle of the device, the desired fragment is obtained.

The main advantage of a manual tile cutter is its independence from sources electrical energy. Its use is especially important in places where access to electricity is problematic. Besides, manual device can be used without risk in conditions high humidity. And its small dimensions and weight, usually not exceeding 10 kg, make it convenient for transportation.

Cutting tiles with a glass cutter

A glass cutter is the simplest and most inexpensive tool. It is successfully used for processing thin tiles. At the same time, the method of cutting tiles, as seen in the video, is practically no different from the technology of cutting glass.

The work is carried out as follows:

• Markings are applied to the glossy side of the product using an erasable marker;
• Having attached a ruler or a corner to the line, you need to draw the glass cutter in the direction from the far edge towards you, while trying to distribute the pressing force as evenly as possible;
• tiled or floor tiles placed on the edge of the table along the cut line, and, holding one part of it, gently press the other with your hand;
• the edges at the fracture site can be further processed sandpaper.

Of course, working with a glass cutter will require some skill. Therefore, if you lack the proper experience, you should not train on expensive ceramic materials.

Tile cutter-tongs

Very convenient tool is a tile cutter. With its help you can cut in almost any conditions. The tool itself looks like pliers. At one end there is a cutting wheel.

Thus, it is similar to a glass cutter that is combined with a wire cutter. At home, such a device is often simply irreplaceable. It is inexpensive, but at the same time it is quite justified in small volumes of work. Actually, all this work is reduced to a minimum:

• along the marking line they are drawn with a cutting wheel mounted on tongs;
• The lips of the forceps are brought to the edge of the product;
• the plate of the tongs is placed on the front surface of the tile, and central part installed above the furrow;
• The tongs apply gentle pressure, after which the tile breaks off evenly.

This tool does a much better job than a glass cutter.. But it is also not easy to cut thin strips with its help. To do this, in any case, you will need more complex and expensive equipment.

How to cut tiles with a grinder

Many novice craftsmen wonder: is it possible to cut tiles with a grinder? Can. When using a grinder to cut tiles, great opportunities arise. Unlike other tools, it can be used not only to cut straight strips, but also to make complex shaped cuts.

With some effort, it is quite possible to cut a rather beautiful hole in the form of a circle in the product. Thanks to the diamond blade, you can cut tiles quickly enough, both wall and floor, but the cuts are very poor quality and definitely require additional processing - the edges have to be ground.

You need to cut the tiles with a grinder very carefully so that there are no chips on the glossy side of the tiles. To do this, the diamond wheel must be new and of high quality, and the product must be cut with back side. A more detailed view will be given step-by-step instruction on video.

When working with an angle grinder, it is not always possible to achieve an accurate cut. The eye may fail or, for example, the hand may tremble under the weight of the tool. The correct thing to do would be to secure the grinder to a stationary base and manipulate the tile itself.

You can attach the grinder to the leg of the workbench using clamps so that the disc points upward, or attach the grinder to the edge of the workbench in a horizontal position.

Among the disadvantages of using this tool you can note a large number of dust during work and fragments flying around. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is recommended to use safety glasses and gloves.

To cut porcelain or granite tiles, it is better to use a ventilated diamond blade, as if it gets too hot, additional cooling will be required.

It is most convenient to cut porcelain stoneware using wet cutting machines. Under no circumstances should you cut tiles or porcelain tiles using a blade designed for metal.

In general, it can be said that cutting tiles can be carried out different ways, and each master always has the opportunity to choose the most suitable one for himself.



Laying ceramic tiles it cannot be done without trimming or cutting it to the required size. You have to cut the tiles in the corners of the room, when laying along the walls and along the edges of the room, when laying on the floor. When cutting tiles, it is important to get a smooth edge of the tile without chipping, and it is important not to split the tile. There are several types to achieve this result. special tool for cutting tiles. Tile cutting tool that excellent result cutting at a low price per tool, this is a manual tile cutter, which will be discussed in this article.

Manual tile cutter

The tile cutter is a manual cutter of small thickness. Cutting tiles is done by first cutting the glazed surface of the tile and then breaking it along the cut line. Tile cutters come in different sizes to suit the tiles they are designed for.

A manual tile cutter is the simplest and most convenient device, allowing you to cut the tiles into pieces. It costs from 500 rubles and more, depending on how sophisticated it is, and it saves a lot of time and effort. By the way, some stores rent it, so if you need it for a short time, ask the store or the place where you bought the tiles.

Manual tile cutter device

The manual tile cutter is designed as follows:

The tile is fixed and cut with a wheel (3) in a straight line along the line of the future fault. Then the lever (5) lowers and breaks the tile into 2 parts. The whole process takes a maximum of 1 minute.

• Before using the tile cutter, pour a few drops of oil onto the guide frame and marking wheel.
• Make sure the wheel is secured properly (it is often held in place with a small bolt) and that it does not move from side to side, otherwise the cut will be crooked.
• Check whether the wheel is worn out and if necessary, replace it (you can find a suitable one at a tile store). It will be easier to cut the tiles.

Depending on the structure of the tiles you are working with, you can cut even 5-6 mm tiles with a tile cutter. Typically, the denser the tile, the easier it is to cut with a tile cutter and therefore the more likely it is to cut a narrow strip. Although this is not necessary, it is better to experiment before making the necessary cuts. If you are unable to cut a thin strip of tile with a tile cutter, you can use an electric tile cutter or make a notch with a tile cutter and break off any excess with cutters.

As a last resort, you can use a glass cutter and a nail instead of a tile cutter. Use a glass cutter to score the tile and place the back of it on the nail, aligning the cut line with it, and press down on both sides of the tile with your thumbs. You can also cut tiles hand saw(a jigsaw) with a carbide blade, but the procedure will take from 5 to 10 minutes, while on a tile cutter it will take from 5 to 10 seconds. However, neither of these methods produces as clean a cut as a tile cutter.

How to properly cut tiles with a tile cutter

1. To directly cut tiles with a tile cutter, first mark the cutting lines with a felt-tip pen on the tile. 2. Place the tile on the base of the tile cutter, aligning the cutting line and the scoring wheel. (If you are making many cuts of a given size, use a screw to secure the bounding box in one position.) 3. Hold the tile in place with one hand and the wheel handle with the other. 4. Raise the handle so that the wheel touches the surface of the tile from its upper part and move the handle towards you. 5. Press with light pressure, enough to apply the mark and do only one pass wheel. Usually, if several passes are made along the cutting line, the cut will be of poor quality.

Video: How to choose a manual tile cutter

How to cut tiles into pieces using a tile cutter

In order to divide the tile into parts along the intended line, install “wings” at the base of the handle at the level of the lower third of the tile. It is better to cover the “wings” with adhesive tape, thanks to this there will be no traces of them left on the tile. Many craftsmen hold the tile in the desired position by lightly pressing the handle thumb left hand, then lightly hit the handle with the palm of the right hand.

If the tile does not crack, hit harder. If the tile still does not crack, take another tile and start all over again.

If the cut edge of the tile is visible after the tile is in place, you can smooth the sharp corner with a sanding stone or sandpaper. Craftsmen usually have several types of stone for soft and hard tiles. If the cut edge is covered by another tile, e.g. inner corner, there is no need to align the edges.
That's all. Good luck to you in your endeavors!

Video: How to cut tiles with a manual tile cutter

It is extremely difficult to select the dimensions of the tiles so that the final row is laid from solid elements and not from parts. Before they went on sale convenient devices, the craftsmen managed to come up with a lot of ways that allow you to break the product smoothly along a pre-drawn line.

The following tools were used for this:

• wooden beams clamped in a vice;
• drills from Pobedit;
• glass cutter, etc.

The tiles were cut with hacksaws and grinders. However, there were many marriages. As a result, home craftsmen began to use tile cutters.

The tile cutter consists of a bed (solid base) and guides attached to it. A special carriage equipped with a cutting roller slides over these elements. Having made a groove on the surface of the tile, you press on it using a stop, after which the canvas begins to break off exactly along the line.

At first glance, there is nothing complicated here. But even after studying the instructions for use, some craftsmen do not always understand how to use the devices. Over time, experience comes, but its price depends on the volume of damaged tile products.

First you should know about the material part. There are many types of this tool. They are designed for tiles different sizes and varieties, as well as for different volumes of work.

Tabletop electric

This type of tile cutter is circular saw, which is fixed on the guides. At the bottom there is a processing table with clamps.

The tile is fixed at a certain angle, and the master must simply run a circular tool over its surface. In this case, special diamond-coated discs are used.

The saw rotates at high speed, which allows you to make an even and solid cut. Some models of tile cutters are equipped with a liquid cooling system.

With this tool can produce high-precision cutting. The craftsman has the ability to cut a strip several millimeters wide, which is impossible to do with a mechanical tile cutter. Another advantage is the ability to make a groove.

As for the disadvantages, there are only two of them: limitations in the size of the processed element and a rather high price. Can be used in household, although this device is often used by mobile construction teams.

Stationary device

In fact, this variety is a full-fledged machine designed for cutting tile products.

Has the same functions as desktop version. But the quality of processing and capabilities are much higher. The tile cutting table is suitable for all tile sizes. Also, the electric stationary model has a higher power motor.

Besides the high cost, this the unit also requires quite a lot of space. Therefore, such equipment is used only by developers of large projects characterized by large volumes of work.

Besides everything else, electric tile cutters You won't be able to make a curved line.

Hand power tool

If you need to do apartment renovation on your own or you are building a house out of stone, then you will not be able to do without this tool. You can use the equipment rental service, but the cost of the mechanical device allows you to purchase it for permanent ownership.

This tool should be discussed in more detail. Using a manual tile cutter is not that easy, despite simple design. However, it is not easy to become a glazier - you need special knowledge and skills.

The main thing is not to be afraid of breaking the tile when cutting. Most of Damaged products are the result of a poorly drawn groove, so you need to figure out how to use a manual tile cutter.

By mastering this skill, you will minimize the number of defects. Before cutting tiles with a manual tile cutter, You should familiarize yourself with a number of rules:

Preparing the tool for work

Before you start processing the material and study the instructions, you need to clean the surfaces from crumbs, debris, dust and dirt. Then you need to check whether the rubber mats fit tightly. Next, using a square, you need to measure the angle of the surface being machined relative to the carriage. This indicator should be exactly 90 degrees.

After this, you should check the backlash of the cutting element and smooth operation. If necessary, lubricate the bushing and inspect the condition of the cutting element.

All connecting and fastening parts must be securely tightened. Faulty fastening can lead to damage to expensive products.

What can be replaced

Home craftsmen can also make a homemade manual tile cutter. In fact, the cost of creating it is comparable in price to a full-fledged “store” set of tools. So this game is not worth the candle.

If you need to cut tiles, but a suitable device is not available, then you can use a diamond glass cutter and a block of wood. You can break off a tile by placing a pencil or something similar under it and then pressing on its edges with your hands.

Of course, this method is not suitable for processing porcelain stoneware, and thick ceramic products cannot be processed using it.

So It's better to choose some inexpensive tool rather than spending money on purchasing new tiles, which will be damaged during operation.

It is not possible to select a tile size so that the final row is made up of entire segments. Before the appearance good tool many methods were invented for how to evenly break tiles along a certain line - both a glass cutter and Victory drill, and two blocks, compressed in a vice.

We cut the tiles with a grinder or with a hacksaw for metal (in a unique way - along the surface). All the same, the percentage of marriages was simply huge.

Finally, a tool called a tile cutter has become available to all craftsmen, the instructions for which give a complete idea of ​​how to handle it.

Description of the tool

The tool is a huge base (bed) on which the guides are fixed. A carriage with a cutting roller slides along them (like a glass cutter). Having made a groove on the tile, you press on it with some kind of stop, and the canvas begins to crack along your line.

It would seem that everything is very easy and understandable. However, even after studying correct instructions, many good craftsmen do not immediately understand how to work with this tool and perform quality repairs. Experience will come sooner or later, but its cost will be determined by the number of damaged tiles.

Basic rules on how to use a tile cutter

First, let's study the material part. There are many varieties of this instrument. They are created on different types and tile sizes, and most importantly, for different volumes of work.

Electric tabletop tile cutter.

Electric stationary tool.

In fact, it is a unit for cutting tiles.

• The functions are almost the same as those of the tabletop unit. Only the functions and quality of work are better. Cutting table calculated for tiles of any size, including porcelain floor tiles for large areas. A higher-quality motor has been installed that helps make cuts on tiles of any thickness.
• Besides the unaffordable price, this machine will take up a lot of space. Therefore, it is used only by construction organizations on large sites.
• Remember! With all its advantages, the electric disc tile cutter is designed only for linear cutting. Cutting a curved line or making a hole will not work.

Mechanical manual machine.

Cutting tiles with a manual machine.

Do not assume that you will be offered complete instructions like a funny treatise: “How to hammer a nail efficiently.” Having studied the technology of manual cutting of tiles, you can start working with the lowest percentage of defects.

Common problems and their solutions

To wet or not to wet? Good masters It is recommended to soak the tiles for an hour before cutting. If you don’t have a bathtub of the right size, just put the ceramics in a bucket of water. Large floor panels can be wrapped with a wet cloth.

Moisture-saturated ceramics will not crumble along the edges of the cut, and the fracture will be clean.

Cut towards yourself or away from yourself? The carriage with the roller moves quickly in the direction “away from you”. The tile is preliminarily resting on the support unit without any backlash or simple backing. You need to start from the very edge; part of the cut should not be shorter than the tile. You need to press hard to accurately cut out the layer of glaze. The movement must be fast and smooth. Before starting work, craftsmen advise practicing on destroyed workpieces. It’s better to ruin one piece of paper than to constantly break expensive material during work. How to break a furrow? At the end of the cut, we bring in working position the stop is in the shape of an inverted tick and sharply press it onto the tile. The workpiece will break exactly along the cut (provided that the groove is deep).

Cutting porcelain tiles with a tile cutter.

In fact, porcelain stoneware is no more difficult to process than ceramics. The difficulty lies in the thickness of the workpiece and its dimensions. The slab is most often 50x50 or 60x60 centimeters. To work you will need a tile cutter with the right size bed and a strong cutting roller, preferably diamond-coated. Otherwise, the technology will not change.