Which tile cutter is best to buy for your home? Which tile cutter is better to choose?

Working with ceramic tiles or artificial stone unthinkable without a tile cutter. As technology improved, so did the tools designed to cut ceramics. If initially devices similar to larger roller glass cutters and pliers were used, then later the cutting process was improved and partially mechanized. This is how manual mechanical tile cutters and electric tile cutters appeared.

Manual mechanical tile cutter - universal tool, equally successfully used in work by both professionals and amateurs. Choosing a manual tile cutter is the key to successful work.

What is this article about?

Tile cutter device

All manual tile cutters are designed in the same way. Before choosing a tile cutter, make sure it has:

Bed (base) - made of stamped sheet metal(cheap models) or cast aluminum (magnesium, titanium) alloy. The base can vary in length - from 400 to 1000 or more mm. The length of the base determines the size of the tiles that you can cut using the device. Professionals always recommend purchasing tile cutters as much as possible. big size(along the length of the bed), which the model you choose allows. This will save you from having to purchase an additional tool or limit your design projects tiles of a certain size that can be cut on your existing tile cutter.

Guides - initially, the designs of tile cutters included two parallel guides running parallel to the long side of the frame, along which the carriage with the cutting element moves. But, in Lately appeared a large number of models that have one guide made of reinforced metal profile. These models, due to a misunderstanding, for some reason began to be called “professional”, although any professional tiler will say without hesitation: The monorail is less convenient to use, since it does not allow the roller to be accurately positioned above the cutting line. You have to tilt your head and look from the side, which, of course, is uncomfortable. No professional will work with a tool that initially contains such a defect.

Each type of guide has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The disadvantages of two guides made of polished tubes may include their insufficient rigidity (this is a problem with Chinese-made manual tile cutters) and poor sliding of the carriage along the guides as a result of construction dust. You have to take very good care of the guides and periodically lubricate them during operation.

Monorails usually do not have this disadvantage. The carriage with the cutting roller moves along the monorail on bearings. This makes the cut easier and smoother. But bearings should also be carefully looked after.

The cutting roller is the main element that characterizes the quality of the cut and the service life of the tool without replacing the part. In all manual models, the cutting rollers are replaceable. They can have different diameters and mounting holes. Be made on a rolling or sliding bearing - it all depends on the class of the tool.

The cost of a high-quality cutting roller can reach 1/3 of the cost of the entire tile cutter, therefore, you should treat this working part of the tool with care and avoid impacts or strong mechanical influences (do not forget to tilt the roller when breaking a tile).

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Lever

The length and strength of the handle is no less important than the quality of the guides. The main requirement for it is sufficient rigidity so that when the tile breaks, it does not spring or bend. The presence of a pad on the handle is also important. The pad in the form of a ball made of hard plastic (the domain of the “Chinese” cutters) is uncomfortable to grip and, during large volumes of tiling work, can rub a callus on the palm. Pads made of soft rubber-like polymers are more comfortable and less dangerous, but you should avoid buying tools with complex “anatomical” handles. A fingerboard with grooves is usually inconvenient because it forces you to adjust to the size of the instrument. Everyone has hands different sizes. That's why the best option is the smooth handle of their soft polymer.

Marking rulers

Cheap models usually have only a primitive, very inaccurate millimeter scale printed on one of the end sides tile cutter Quite often, the cutting roller does not coincide with the central mark on such a scale, and the scale itself is fixed on the frame and does not allow it to be adjusted after replacing the cutting roller.

More advanced models, in addition to the ability to adjust the scale after replacing the cutting roller, have a solid arsenal of additional rulers that allow you to very accurately set the dimensions of the cut tiles and adjust the cutting angle in the vertical and horizontal planes. This greatly simplifies the work and you should never neglect the presence of these devices.

Ballerina

In most cases, equipping a manual tile cutter with a “ballerina” for cutting round holes in ceramic tiles is nothing more than marketing ploy, designed by adding an option to hide the low quality of the instrument as a whole. “Ballerinas” are used very rarely. The quality of the cutters leaves much to be desired; they are enough to cut 3-5 holes. After this, the cutter needs to be replaced, and it is difficult to select this cutting replacement element, unlike cutting rollers.

It is much more efficient to use an electric drill with a drill bit. ceramic tiles.

Models of tile cutters

The entire variety of models of manual tile cutters available for sale is divided into:

  • household (amateur);
  • professional.

A professional manual tile cutter is more reliable. Good manual tile cutter withstands heavy loads, fails less often and is usually more convenient to use. These advantages come at a price. The difference in price between an amateur and a “pro” model with similar characteristics in terms of the size of the cut tiles can reach 15-20 times the size. You should focus on the rating of manual tile cutters.

Therefore, when purchasing a tile cutter, you should soberly assess the volume of work for which it will be designed and the size of the ceramic tiles with which you will have to work.

You should choose a tile cutter of the largest size according to the length of the bed only if you decide to lay it yourself floor tiles made of porcelain stoneware about 20 mm thick. In all other cases, it will be enough to purchase a tool that will be 30% longer than the length of the tile you are going to work with. This margin will provide the ability to cut the tiles at an angle or diagonally.

Professional models

"Sigma"

Italian professional tile cutters "Sigma" are considered one of the best available for sale on the market. Russian market construction tools.

They have a classic design with two tubular guides along which the carriage moves on bearings. This ensures a very smooth operation during cutting.

The tile cutter has a ruler with a guide that can be installed either on the left or on the right. The base is spring-loaded, which is convenient when working with ceramic tiles of small thickness (less than 8 mm). The minimum distance from the edge of the tile that can be cut using a tile cutter is only 8 mm - a result not achievable for other models!

Another convenient feature is the ability to adjust the movement of the carriage “from you” or “towards you” - depending on the master’s habits.

The maximum thickness of the cut tiles is 20 mm.

RUBI

The Italian company of the Boada brothers – “Germans Boada” S.A. RUBI has been producing tile cutters since 1951. RUBI tile cutters have tools for both professionals and amateurs. Accordingly, their prices vary. The only thing that remains is the high quality and reliability of the tool.

Top models of RUBI tile cutters, for example model TX-900-N 17971, have:

  • Powerful cast frame;
  • Chromed hard guides;
  • Replaceable cutting rollers d-8 and 18 mm for cutting thin ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware;
  • Additional rulers and guides that allow you to adjust the cutting width and angle;
  • Adjustable cutting depth;
  • Adjustable depth of lowering of the lever legs when breaking tiles;
  • Tile thickness up to 20 mm, tile length – up to 750 mm;
  • The tile cutters are supplied with a plastic case for easy transportation and storage.

VARANGIAN


The professional monorail tile cutter has a reinforced design.

It is equipped with:

  • A carriage sliding on a monorail on bearings;
  • Spring-loaded work table base;
  • Rotating ruler with quick fixation at any angle;
  • Replaceable breaker jaws for working with tiles of various thicknesses.

The replaceable roller d-22 mm is made of tungsten carbide and is not inferior in hardness to synthetic diamonds. It has titanium coating, providing soft sliding on the surface without squeaking.

The maximum thickness of the cut tiles is 20 mm.

Supplied with a plastic case.

BIBER


The German origin of the Biber brand, which began producing hand-held measuring and construction tools back in 1949, would allow one to hope for the high quality of the tools produced. But... Unfortunately, the transfer of significant production volumes to factories in South-East Asia(mainly in China), they completely killed this brand. In addition, more than 90% of products are counterfeit.

Original BIBER tile cutters are designed for professional use. They have reliable design, a carriage on bearings, a replaceable carbide cutting roller d-22 mm, an external graduated rotary ruler that allows you to cut tiles at any angle.

Cuts tiles and porcelain stoneware up to 15 mm thick.

DIAM

Despite the Latin spelling, the DIAM brand is Russian. But production is localized in Italy. That is why it is of high quality, and the tool is classified as “professional” and is popular for its high reliability.

DIAM tile cutters have the characteristic professional equipment nodes:

  • Cast frame made of high-strength aluminum alloy;
  • Hard chrome plated all-metal guides;
  • Spring loaded work table;
  • Extension rulers and stops, fixed at different angles;
  • Replaceable carbide cutting rollers d-22 mm;
  • The maximum thickness of the cut tiles is 20 mm. Length – up to 750 mm;
  • Supplied with a plastic case.

Ceramic tiles have now become one of the main finishing materials. And this is quite understandable and understandable: it has a huge number of advantages.

However, in order to lay the tiles correctly and efficiently, the master must have at hand necessary tool and devices. Such tools undoubtedly include the tile cutter, the abundance of models of which sometimes plunges users into the deepest confusion. Which tile cutter to choose, how to choose a tile cutter - these are the questions asked by almost everyone who has decided to start laying tiles.

Our article today will help you find answers to these questions, in which we intend to talk both about the parameters for choosing tile cutters and about the main models and brands that are of legitimate interest.

Basic parameters that determine the choice of tile cutter

Having thought about how to choose an inexpensive but good tile cutter, and going to the store, you should imagine at least in general terms the design of this rather simple, but very important tool in the course of work. This picture will certainly help you with this:

When choosing specific model The main attention should be paid to the following parameters:

Frame strength

The best manual tile cutter is one that has a strong and reliable frame. This is what guarantees the durability of this tool. Signs indicating the reliability of the product include, in particular:

  • the thickness of the metal used in the frame. Insufficient thickness often causes vibrations and, as a consequence, causes the tiles to split;
  • the strength of the working handle, since it is this element that allows you to apply the necessary force, which is especially important in cases where work is carried out with porcelain stoneware products.

Tool length

To an uninitiated person it may seem that length in no way affects the choice of a manual tile cutter. However, it is not. It is not worth buying a tool that is too short to save money. By overpaying quite a bit, you can become the owner of a universal tile cutter that can even work with floor tiles.

If you watch quite a few videos on the Internet on how to choose a manual tile cutter, you will understand that a large-sized tool can open for you additional features. So, with its help you can, for example, cut tiles diagonally using the diagonal laying method.


Smooth ride

Almost all high-quality tile cutters have special bearings that provide smooth operation, which is important for operation. If your choice falls on a device without bearings, do everything to test it in operation. If this is not possible, the key to trust in a tool can be the recognition of its brand.

Some additional information to help you understand which tile cutter is better

In this question of how to choose a manual tile cutter, user reviews will, of course, help you. However, knowledge of some of the nuances characteristic of these devices may be useful for you. Such nuances, in particular, include the following:

  • tile cutter cutting roller made from durum varieties steel naturally becomes dull over time. It cannot be sharpened, it can only be replaced;
  • an additional advantage is the presence of a rotating ruler in the tool, which allows making cuts at an angle;
  • Availability additional settings, taking into account the thickness of the material and improving the quality of cutting. However, such settings are present only in devices belonging to the most expensive price categories.

Best tile cutter: brand rating

How to choose a tile cutter - numerous videos that are available on the Internet will help you in this matter. We hope that our article will help you decide which tile cutter to buy for your home. In this regard, some benefit can be derived from the description of the most popular models and brands, which we now intend to present to you. The rating we provide is valuable because it is based on the latest user reviews collected in 2018.

RUBI

This brand is Spanish, but the bulk of the instruments of this brand are produced by enterprises in China. The most famous and respected models of this brand include the STAR-60-N - a manual tile cutter that is classified as a professional one. Experts especially appreciate the characteristic features of this instrument. highest quality manufacturing. The inherent excellent rigidity of the structure - both the guides and the base - allows you to perform perfectly smooth cut, produced by the cutting attachment strictly along the marking line.

The tool has a length of 610 mm and is capable of working with both porcelain stoneware and tiles 430x430 mm.

The only parameter of this tile cutter that can be attributed to its disadvantages is its relatively high price. However, this does not frighten craftsmen who are professionally involved in laying tiles, since having this tool and possessing good experience, they are always able to perform guaranteed quality work.


As you know, the ZUBR brand is a popular Russian brand, under which a large number of different construction tools are produced. The most respected among the tile cutters produced within this brand is EXPERT 33195-60. This device is capable of accurately cutting tiles of varying hardness, up to porcelain stoneware. The limiting parameters of the products processed by it are:

  • width – 600 mm;
  • thickness – 30 mm.

The mechanism, which is resistant to physical impact and weighs 5 kg, includes a very hard cutting roller that can maintain its performance for quite a long time. With all due respect to the advantages of this tile cutter, experts recommend that when purchasing it, make sure that there is no play in the roller, which can negatively affect the quality of the cuts it makes.

VIRA

The VIRA brand has existed on the Russian market since 2004. During this period, he managed to gain a large number of fans and regular customers. Buyers appreciate the products manufactured under this brand for the very good relationship between its quality and the price set for it.

The above fully applies to tools such as VIRA tile cutters. When thinking about which tile cutter is best to choose, many craftsmen give preference to tools of this particular brand. Fortunately, VIRA offers quite a sufficient choice for home craftsmen: using products produced by this manufacturer, you can cut tiles measuring 300 and 400 mm.


When deciding which model to choose a manual tile cutter among STAYER brand products, most buyers give preference to product 3310-48. They are driven to this decision by the versatility of this device and its very affordable price. The length of the cut, like the VIRA tool, is about 400 mm, which in most cases is quite enough. In addition, the tile cutter 3310-48 allows you to process tiles whose thickness can reach 16 mm.

An additional bonus for owners of tile cutters 3310-48 is the presence of special device, called ballerina and allowing you to cut into blanks round holes radius 15÷40 mm.

However, when deciding which tile cutter to choose for your home and leaning towards a STAYER brand product, you should know that there are also significant complaints about them expressed by their owners. The main shortcomings noted are:

  • play in the cutting roller;
  • insufficient structural rigidity.

Defects noticed by buyers can cause a significant deviation from the applied markings during cutting, which ultimately results in scrap and additional expenses for users. For this reason, when buying a STAYER tile cutter, the final choice should be made only after performing a test cut, which allows you to identify possible factory defects.

STURM

When purchasing a manual tile cutter and wondering which one is better within the STURM brand, many home craftsmen ultimately choose the 1072-TS-500-1 model. And this decision of theirs is quite understandable for the following reasons:

  • this model is very different affordable price;
  • the device is very compact, and its weight does not exceed half a kilogram;
  • The design of the tile cutter is very simple and at the same time quite reliable;
  • The length of the cut it makes reaches 500 mm.


However, when choosing a manual tile cutter and deciding which one is better, it is still better to start not from such a parameter as its cost. Of course, the 1072-TS-500-1 tool from the STURM brand is attractive for its price, but having purchased this product, you will have to put up with the following significant disadvantages:

  • rapid dullness of the cutting element;

inability of the tile cutter to cut thick ceramic tiles.

Ceramic tiles have such a wide range of advantages that they are used almost everywhere in both residential and business premises. Its practicality, hygiene, resistance to many aggressive influences are constantly expanding the scope of its application, and the owners are all more houses and apartments decide to use it in their homes as a finishing material.

If you are also planning to carry out a renovation and decide to lay tiles during it, then be prepared for the fact that at some point you will need tiles of non-standard length and width, i.e. tiles will have to. That is why, before starting work, you should always think about how to choose and purchase a good tile cutter.

Types of tile cutters

Because the tile depending on its purpose it has various characteristics, devices for cutting it also have some significant features. These devices are either electric or manual. The first ones are designed to carry out large-scale work and are, naturally, quite expensive. For home renovations, a good manual tile cutter is sufficient.

Ideal for small jobs, a manual tile cutter is quite easy to use. It consists of a cutting element, a protractor, a floating base and a guide that eliminates the formation of backlash. Using a manual tile cutter you can cut tiles up to 1.5 cm thick.

You can often find tile cutters in the form of tongs, which look like pliers. They are used, as a rule, when it is necessary to adjust the size of a very small number of tiles. When using such a tool, an incision is made along the tile enamel using a diamond disk, then the tile is broken along the incision using metal corner. Some manual tile cutters have a circular cutter that allows you to make circular cuts of the required diameter.

What to look for when choosing a manual tile cutter

Frame reliability

You should make sure that the frame frame is really strong, since this greatly determines the service life of the entire device. To avoid shock absorption during the tile splitting process, the base must be steel and must be of sufficient thickness. The presence of depreciation can cause an increase in the scrap rate. If you have a choice of several manual tile cutters, then preference should be given to the one with the longest handle. The length of the handle determines the moment of force when pressing, which is especially important when working with porcelain tiles.

Device length

The greater the length of a tile cutter, the greater its versatility. If the length of the tile cutter is short, then the range of work with it will be limited only to tiles of a strictly defined size. If the machine is long enough, then it can be used to process any floor and wall tiles. It is worth emphasizing, however, that the cost of the tool is directly proportional to its length.

Smooth ride

The smoothest running is for those flat cutters that are installed. This parameter can only be checked in practice by cutting several tiles. The tile cutter must produce an even and straight cut, and the sliding must be smooth. The breaking of the tile must occur strictly along the intended line.

Most the right tool in the work of a tiler - a tile cutter. If you could just buy tiles and lay them evenly and without adjustment, the life of a tiler would be much easier. But, alas, standard tiles are not always suitable and not everywhere - which means you will have to trim them accordingly. right size. And to do this, you don’t have to worry about using “improvised means”: a specialized tool, manual or electric, will be much more convenient and accurate. And, if a manual tile cutter can be bought for separately planned repairs, then an electric one with constant use and large volumes of work will definitely pay off and be more convenient. We present you the rating best tile cutters, short review their advantages, disadvantages and assessment by professionals on a 10-point scale.

How to choose a tile cutter?

Before you start tiling the surface, you need to decide on the type of tile cutter to choose. Tile cutters are:

  • electrical;
  • manual (mechanical) tabletop;
  • manual compact.

Manual tabletop tile cutters

Mechanical tile cutters are simple in design and easy to use. The mechanism consists of the following elements:

  • Base (bed)
  • Carriage with handle
  • Guides
  • Paw
  • Cutting roller

Sometimes, to ensure smooth running of the carriage, it is equipped with bearings. The main disadvantage of a manual tile cutter is the limitation on the size of the tiles. You will not be able to cut a fragment longer than the frame; it simply will not fit on it. There are also restrictions on the thickness of the tiles - cutting more than 20 mm will be very problematic. As for the advantages, there are many of them:

  • Compactness.
  • Light weight.
  • No need for electricity.
  • Safety at work for the master.

Compact manual tile cutters

There are 2 types of manual compact tile cutters: nippers and roller cutters. Using nippers, you can form shaped holes in the tiles. Of course, they cannot make an even cut. As for the roller cutter, for household use it fits perfectly: it takes up no more space than a felt-tip pen, is safe to use, and costs “3 kopecks.”

Electric tile cutters

Electric tile cutters are usually designed for professional work with tiles and porcelain stoneware. With their help, you can cut a strip of any width, which cannot be said about mechanical tools (their capabilities are usually limited to 30 - 40 mm). Any configurations (except curved ones) are cut out with an electric machine, so the accuracy of the work will be maximum.

The operating principle of the tool is similar to a grinder. But there are a number of advantages:

  • Ideal cutting line.
  • Virtually unlimited cutting depth (but not larger size the disk itself, of course).

The designs of tile cutters vary greatly, each with its own characteristics and applications. In one case, hand-held “nippers” will do, but in another, a powerful electric tile cutter on a bed will be required. A mechanical tabletop will be interesting if you don’t have access to an outlet - but even here you shouldn’t forget about battery-powered models, as long as there is enough energy in the batteries stored in advance. And in any case, not all models are successful and worth the money - so we will traditionally begin to separate the wheat from the chaff.