How to use a tile cutter: step by step instructions, recommendations and types

If you have ever been engaged in the work on lining surfaces of walls or floors with ceramic tiles, then you should know how to use a tile cutter. With this tool, you can adjust the products to the desired size. This method is the most common and qualitative, and manipulations are noiseless, exclude the formation of a large amount of dust and do not imply the need for a master of professional training.

Need for a tile cutter

In rare cases, tile laying does without cutting material, much more often professionals and home masters have a tile cutter, which they can use at any time. If you are already engaged in similar repair works or only plan to improve the surface with tiles, then you should choose the most suitable model and learn how to use a tile cutter.

As is known, ceramic glazed tiles are made of baked clay, and from the top it is covered with glaze. The technology of production is very simple: the clay gets a certain shape, is dried to fix the volume, and then the glaze is applied to the surface. During the manufacturing process the product is fired under the influence of high temperatures, due to which it acquires strength, aesthetic appearance and durability. In the finished form, the tile does not undergo bending and deformation, but remains fragile and easily breaks. These qualities are at the head of the choice of the cutting method.

Instructions for using an electric tile cutter

If you are faced with the question of how to use electric tile cutters, then you can be sure that this tool with diamond discs allows you to get a high-quality result and achieve high productivity. With the help of it you can cut any tile, granite or stone, each of these materials can have a certain firmness and shape.

Using an electric tile cutter, you get smooth rounded edges that are different from the sharp ones formed during the application of the traditional tile cutter.

In addition, you can use this equipment with pliers, this will allow you to make figured notches of high quality. Do not leave this unit unattended, as in the troubleshooting process. The master must use safety glasses and individual protection against noise. If you notice the occurrence of sparks or malfunctions, as well as strong noise, then stop using the tile cutter. Before using a water tile, you should analyze whether the working disk rotates freely. The bath with a cooling liquid should be filled with water, and the disk should overlap by three centimeters.

Components of the instrument

The main elements of electric tiles are:

• Cutting blade;
• platform;
• Bath with water.

During operation, water will flow to the knife, prolonging its service life and reducing the amount of dust. The cutting speed will be affected by the pressing force, which depends on the composition of the blade material and the density of the tile. When you first touch the disc to the tile, the pressure should be light. Next you should increase it, and by the end of the cutting again reduce.

Nuances of use

It is important to fix the product well before starting, this will eliminate vibration and prevent jamming of the blade. If you are concerned with the question of how to use the tile cutter and extend its life, you should remember that the tile will arrive in the bath and mix with the liquid. As soon as the water becomes dirty and falls onto the cutting blade, this will reduce the service life. Therefore, the replacement of dirty water is of great importance for quality work.

If, during the work, you notice that the tile has slipped to one side, this can cause the formation of scrapes. Sometimes the tile is completely drawn under the working disk and discarded. In order to exclude this, specialists apply pressure to both sides of the tile. Sometimes this helps to avoid jamming the blade in the cut.

Additional recommendations for using an electric tile cutter

Many novice masters are wondering how to use a tile cutter. If you have already started using the tool, you will notice that the disc is able to withstand a certain number of wet slices. Due to the fact that ceramics enter the work surface, it provides for periodic cleaning. It can be done by sawing old sand molds for bricks. The blade should be removed and inverted, ensuring its rotation in the opposite direction. This method can not be used when the blade has a stamped direction indicator. Once the blade is completely worn out, it can be replaced, and in order for the disc to last for a long time, it is necessary to choose the blade depending on the material to be sawn.

Using a manual stationary tile cutting machine

The most popular tool for cutting tiles and porcelain tiles is hand tiles , which includes:

• lever;
• Frame;
• Carriage with a cutting wheel.

To use the equipment on the surface of the tile with a pencil, markings must be made. Further, the tile is located on the surface of the frame, so that the marking coincides with the direction of the cutting disc. The incision should be made under a slight pressure. It is important to feel its strength so that the tile is not crushed, and the furrow is deep enough. This will break the product by incision. These movements must be carried out once, otherwise the edge may turn out to be uneven.

What to look for

How to use the tile cutter manually should be known to every master who is planning to tile laying. In the next step, the handle must be put in an active position to break off the edge of the product. Confident movement of the tiles should be broken after the notch. The cut pieces must have a width of 10 mm or more, otherwise qualitative cutting will not work.

Recommendations of a specialist

When using a manual tile cutter, it is necessary to pay attention to the fastening and the condition of the roller, it should rotate freely and be even. Movement of the carriage with the cutting roller should be as smooth as possible, and jerks should be eliminated, for this purpose this element is equipped with a bearing. The bed should be flat and clean before starting work, while the handle should be checked for mechanical damage.

Before using the tile cutter manually, you must moisten the product in water, simplify the cutting and a drop of engine oil, which should be applied to the line of the future cut. The use of a manual stationary tile cutter is advisable for thick and durable ceramics with average volumes of work.

Recommendations for using a roller tile cutting machine

Not very convenient and the most primitive is a roller tile cutter, which is intended for not too dense and hard ceramics. If you have a tilting roller, how to use it, you should find out even before the start of work. The technology involves applying a marking line to the surface of the product, a soft pencil should be used for this. The tile is placed on a board or plywood, after which you can make one incision. On the tile cutter, the master should press evenly, trying to create a deep groove from one edge to the other. To separate the tiles into two parts, place it on the nails and apply a little pressure. It is not difficult to learn how to use manual tile cutters, you can buy this tool at the lowest cost in comparison with analogues, but it is suitable only for cutting piece material.

Instructions for the use of tongs

On sale today you can find a tile cutter, how to use it, will be described below. With the help of this device, simple cuts can be made. The device is low in cost and small in size, and with it a certain amount of work can be done at home without any difficulties. As in the above-described cases, manipulations must begin with a marking, which should be carried out with a cutting circle installed on the tool. If you compare this element with the same on a conventional glass cutter, then it is large, this allows you to get a deep cut in the ceramic tile.

In order to produce a break, the tongs are wound to the edge of the product. By forming a small angle, a wide plate should be placed on the front surface of the product, while the central part should be placed along the fold line above the furrow. The master should gently squeeze the tiles with forceps, breaking off the excess section. Now you know how to use tile cutter, but you should know that such a tool does not allow cutting thin strips.

Features of cutting with a rake tile cutter

Before using a rack tile cutter, you should become more familiar with the design features of the tool. If it is a professional model, you can remove the cutting device during operation and check its sharpness. This tile cutter has a base and tubular runners, along which the cutting element will move from the hard alloy. Do not go through the same place of cutting several times, because the result will not be positive. In order to get a quality tile after cutting, you should be able to competently break the material. On the base there is a tubercle with which the edges of the ceramic product are raised above the surface. Thanks to this addition, you can break the product by placing it on the ledge. Among other things, ceramics can be broken with the help of a T-shaped heel, which is located in front of the roller. This heel is set in the center of the cut so that when pressing the lever, it presses against the blade. With this tile cutter it will be possible to cut the material diagonally.