Cutting ceramic tiles. Cutting tiles and porcelain stoneware with a grinder Cutting tiles

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During the use of ceramic tiles as a facing material, the methodology and technology of working with tiles has been constantly improving. They learned how to cut the tiles efficiently and with minimal physical effort. The result is a smooth, rounded edge that does not require additional sanding. In the creation of professional tools for cutting tiles, the unique features of the material were taken into account and, based on experience, the most effective ways impact on him.

A high-quality and efficient way of cutting is possible with an electric tile cutter that uses a diamond cut-off wheel and a water supply. This technology guarantees a minimum amount of dust, minimum cost physical strength. How to cut tiles without a tile cutter? Is it possible to cut at home ceramic tiles with comparable results?

Professional tilers, having thoroughly studied the properties of tiles, have learned to use different tools for working with ceramic material. Moreover, if for some reason it is not possible to use professional equipment, they are able to make a tool from improvised means. It is easy to cut tiles with such a tool.

It is recommended to take advantage of the invaluable experience of specialists

To cut material when carrying out cladding at home, you must have the following tools:

• flat surface;
• a guide fence with a right angle at one end, the so-called "square";
• drill with a victorious tip;
• glass cutter, office knife;
• "Tile-cutting pliers" - miniature pliers with a wheel for cutting tiles on one side and a transverse convex plate on the other;
• drill with nozzles in the form of "crowns";
• jigsaw with diamond wire;
• "Bulgarian".

It is important to remember that the tile material must be prepared before cutting. Soaking ceramic tiles for thirty minutes before starting to work with them can solve the problems of dust, fragility and increase its pliability.

To cut off a part of the tile with high quality, you need to draw a clear groove on a glossy surface and then break it with a quick, confident movement. This can be done easily using different tools: a glass cutter, a drill with a victorious tip, a cardboard knife and a ruler. The procedure in all cases will be the same:

• put the tiles on a flat surface with the inside side down;
• make the necessary markings and draw a clear line with a pencil using the "square";
• we draw a furrow along the ruler, pressing with medium force on a glass cutter or drill;
• we put a drill under the notch line, press on the tile from both sides and break it. Alternatively, you can break the tile by placing it on the edge of the table along the cut line and pressing sharply on it.

With the "rolling pliers", it is much easier to break tiles as they are specially designed for this. It is enough to bring the transverse plate from above so that the cut groove passes exactly in the center of the pressure plate, and then squeeze the forceps. In this case, a quality fault is obtained.

At home, you can make quite suitable tools for cutting tiles if it is not possible to use a special tool. For example, a 6mm or 8mm diameter winder bit can be ground on a diamond disc like a pencil. The main thing is: do not grind off the victorious layering and make the edge without edges. The rounded shape of the point allows for deep cuts when applied to the side of the "square".

All of the above methods are suitable for cutting wall tiles, but when working with thicker floor tiles that have a dense structure, use other tools.

For example, it is advisable, along with under hand tools use the "grinder". At the same time, in order to complete it, the most suitable discs for cutting granite with a smooth crown and diamond discs, which allow you to quickly cut the tile material.

The sequence of work can be as follows:

1. First, you need to draw a fairly deep line with a glass cutter or a special drill. To do this, you can run it over the outer surface several times.
2. Then with the help of the "grinder" you need to start carefully cutting along the outer edge of the notch. In this case, it is advisable to deepen by no more than 3 millimeters. After performing this procedure 2-3 times, you can get a high-quality incision.

Cutting floor tiles can be done in another way:

1. We also draw a furrow on a glossy surface using the same tools at hand.
2. We turn over the tile and make an incision with a "grinder" from the inside exactly according to the external marks.
3. After breaking, it is recommended to sand the edges with sandpaper.

Direct and curly cutting of tiles can be carried out using a "grinder" with a diamond disc. The productivity of such work is comparable to an electric tile cutter. Although the quality of the cut with the help of the "grinder" is inferior, but if it is required to carry out large-scale mobile work, this tool is indispensable. After the incision, additional resurfacing will be required.

When working with a grinder, special attention should be paid to safety

• Work must be carried out in safety goggles and a respirator, since cutting in this way is accompanied by big amount dust.
• Do not use the tool without a protective "casing" and with a loose disc. In this case, cutting can only be done with a diamond blade.
• The cut should be made in the direction "away from you".
• The tile material must be firmly fixed to a horizontal surface.
• The grinder is a dangerous tool, therefore certain skills are required to work with it.

If you need to make holes and semicircular cutting lines at home, use a drill with special nozzles, nippers with carbide clamps.

When drilling you need:

• prepare a point on the tile, having previously discarded the glaze;
• start drilling with a spear drill, and then use the nozzles.

The peculiarity of working with forceps is to “bite off” fragments of ceramics along a previously drawn contour. It should be remembered that only small pieces need to be removed. In any case, after such procedures, it is important to sand.

Every master who is engaged in wall cladding with ceramic tiles knows that it is impossible to lay them without cutting. This is true both for wall cladding and for laying porcelain stoneware on the floor. But not everyone knows that you can use an ordinary grinder (angle grinder) for pruning. Let's consider how to perform this operation correctly and without chips.

For cutting ceramics, special discs are required, which can be stone or metal with diamond coating. Stone ones are rarely used, as they are rather thick and quickly grind off, and during work they generate a lot of dust. The cost of stone discs is several times less than metal ones, but experts prefer to work last.

Metal discs can be:

• solid;
• segmented.

Processing of ceramics is preferable to produce solid discs... When working with such discs, there is a time limit: they cannot continuously cut for more than 1-1.5 minutes. Then you should let it cool while the grinder is idling.

Segmented designed for cutting paving stones, porcelain stoneware, natural stone or concrete.

The segments are designed for better cooling of the tool during operation.

Cutting ceramic products

To cut tiles with a grinder, you need to master three cutting directions.

Straight cut

It is not difficult to master it, at the same time the cutting line is clean and without chips. When performing the work, the tiles are securely fixed on a flat surface, marked with a pencil or felt-tip pen. The part to be cut should hang freely from the table. The cutting tool is positioned at right angles to the workpiece. Carefully, without jerking, slowly lead the angle grinder along the marked line. The tool should be moved towards you so that the marked line is visible.

Angle 45 0

It is often necessary to make docking, which means cutting the material at an angle of forty-five degrees. This angle can only be obtained with a large workout. But you can use this technique: first, cut the workpiece in a straight line, and then carefully with a disc, sandpaper or sharpening stone process the edge at the desired angle.

Notched neckline

It is often necessary to cut round hole in a tile. You can do the job correctly with angle grinders if you have certain skills. To do this, mark a hole on the workpiece and circle the line with a felt-tip pen, mark the center of the circle. They begin to cut at a slight angle, slowly, along inside lines, gradually passing along the entire circumference. Then the sectors are cut through, they are taken out in turn, cutting the ceramics if necessary. Finally, the edges are processed with a file, getting an even circle. This processing is called a dry cutter.

Such holes are usually cut for drainage or ventilation.

When performing curved machining of workpieces, it is easiest to perform rectangular cutouts... In order for the cuts to be smooth, without chips, it is necessary to regularly change the cutting wheel. If you use segmented discs, then chips will appear on the cut line.

How to get rid of dust when cutting tiles

Cutting tiles with a grinder is not very difficult, but it generates a lot of dust. There are techniques that can help reduce dust formation. For this, specialists use special tile cutters, but buying them for a one-time job is impractical due to the high cost. Therefore, when processing parts, the craftsmen act differently. First, a layer of glaze is cut through - it almost does not produce dust, the main dust appears when a layer of fired clay is processed. Then it remains to gently break the ceramic tile and process the edges with an abrasive material.

A common way to get rid of dust is to moisten the workpiece. To do this, water is constantly poured into working area work with a diamond wheel. After each pass of the tool, fill the seam with water or install a special device for supplying water to the working area. This device attaches directly to protective cover grinders. As a result, the workpiece is processed without dust.

Cutting porcelain stoneware

When performing repairs, not only walls are faced. The floors in the bathroom and toilet are covered with porcelain stoneware tiles - an artificial material that replaces granite and marble. Its cost is several times less than natural, but in terms of hardness and abrasion parameters, porcelain stoneware surpasses them. V Lately it became ubiquitous. It can also be cut with a grinder.

To do this, you need to know the basic methods of processing material at home.

1. Choose the right cutting tool. It should say what it is used for: porcelain stoneware, hard ceramics, etc.
2. To reduce chips, choose a disc with a continuous cutting edge. The thickness should be kept to a minimum.
3. Choose a cut-off wheel with a high diamond coating height.
4. The grinder must have speed controller.

After choosing the tool, prepare workplace and begin to cut the granite with a grinder. To do this, you need to perform such sequential actions.

1. Place the material on a flat surface, placing it under it thin foam or similar material.
2. Fix the tiles securely to the surface with clamps.
3. To reduce chips, glue masking tape and make markings, along which it is necessary to cut off the excess part.
4. Prepare a vacuum cleaner to remove dust.
5. You need to cut from the front side by moving grinder away from you.
6. It is recommended to cut not along the marked line, but slightly to the side. This is done for the subsequent grinding of the end of the porcelain stoneware in order to remove irregularities and chips.

Cutting paving stones with angle grinder

Having private house, there is a need for styling paving slabs or paving stones to be cut to size. For this, a universal device is also used, which is available in almost every home - an angle grinder.

Paving stone processing has its own characteristics, but basically it is carried out in the same way as cutting porcelain stoneware. The main differences are that the work is done outdoors. Material processing should be done on a separate site: the generated dust settles on the paved paving stones and can spoil it appearance... If this happens, you should immediately sweep it off with a stiff brush.

To cut the paving stones, choose a diamond blade for concrete processing. The angle grinder should be held at right angles to the workpiece, and the diamond wheel should be moved exactly along the marking line. It is necessary to cut the tiles to a depth of a little more than half, and then simply break and trim.

Safety when cutting tiles with a grinder

To ensure safe cutting of tiles with a grinder, paving stones or porcelain stoneware, the following safety rules should be observed.

1. All operations must be performed in overalls, excluding the possibility of getting it into the rotating parts.
2. Mandatory application protective glasses.
3. It is recommended to use earplugs.
4. Tools, carriers and other accessories must be in good working order.
5. Persons who are at least 18 years of age and trained in the operation of cutting equipment must be allowed to work.
6. If used wet processing, make sure that the sander does not get into the water. Otherwise, electric shock may result.
7. Do not process workpieces at maximum speed, work in rooms with good ventilation.

Anyone doing home renovation is faced with tiling. Accordingly, this material must be cut. Modern technology mechanizes this procedure.

There are manual, electric tile cutters, and even whole ones. It will not be difficult for a novice master to cut any material - tiles, ceramics and even porcelain stoneware.

But any equipment costs money. With a small amount of work, you can rent a tile cutter (though, again, not free). And if you have to do this task regularly, from time to time? A few visits to the tool rental and you will spend the cost of a brand new tile cutter.

Is it possible to cut tiles without a tile cutter?

Of course, because it was somehow cut before the invention of this tool. Let's remember the technologies of the forgotten years, as well as use modern tools.

Important! General principle cutting tiles - create a scratch along the cut line. Microcracks will help form the perfect fracture when you apply force.

Glass cutter

Every home has a similar tool. Even if you don't have it, don't despair. The next time you put things in order in the closet or on the balcony, you will definitely find it. And it will have the inscription "Made in the USSR".

The process of cutting tiles is no different from cutting glass. You mark a line, and draw along it with a glass cutter roller.

If you do not suffer from hand tremors, you can do without a guide. By practicing on a few spoiled pieces, you will gain the necessary skill.

If the hand can shake, take any even object. It could be another tile or a steel ruler.

The main rule is that you need to cut in the direction "towards you", from the very edge to the end of the tile. The force must be strong and even throughout the cut.

If you do everything correctly, a characteristic crisp sound will be heard. Breaks in the crunch mean that the line is not solid. At the end, the glass cutter should forcefully slide off the tile.

Important! The cut is made in one pass. If you draw a second groove, the tile will break unevenly.

After applying the scratch, the tiles must be gently broken. No clamping between two bars! There are only two ways: on a table or on a nail.

1. Place the tiles on the edge of a table or other flat surface. With one hand, hold the tile on the table, with the other firmly press down on the free edge. Make sure that the broken part does not fall out of your hands
2. Place the scratched tile on a flat surface with an object under the cut. For example - a nail

The tool can be hand or electric.

Hand tools include tile cutters, or their ancestors - glass cutters.

The power tool can be universal, designed for various operations (angle grinder, jigsaw, electric drill) or special. Special tools include tile cutting machines.

Things to consider when choosing a tool

The factors that must be taken into account when choosing a tool can be both technical and purely domestic.

The technical nuances include:

• the need for curly cutouts in ceramic tiles;
• the need to trim the end of the tile at an angle;
• need for interior cutouts or curved lines;
• unevenness of the face of the tile and others.
• amount of work required.

Household factors include the following:

• the need to maintain silence;
• the need to cut tiles without dust ;
• availability of free space;
• availability of free Money other.

Which tool to use

Let's review from cheap tool options to more expensive ones.

In skillful hands and a grinder, you can cut a circular hole;)

If there is no need for complex trimming, and the tile has a flat front surface, it is quite possible to get by with a hand tool. For those who do not have any special tool in their arsenal, a glass cutter may be the cheapest option. Cutting rates will be minimal, and the same can be said for quality. But if the volume of work is small and you are determined to keep costs to a minimum, you can start with it and see the results. If the quality suits you, you can stop there. If you do not have basic knowledge and basic skills in using a glass cutter, then the question remains, how to cut ceramic tiles?

It is worth considering purchasing a tool that can facilitate and speed up the cutting process. tile... It is important to take into account the possibility and necessity of using this tool in the future. For example, the use of a manual tile cutter is limited to this operation only. In other areas, you will not be able to use it. And if you do not plan to do this business regularly in the future, the purchase of this tool is unlikely to be justified.

However, for household needs, an angle grinder (grinder) may well come in handy. Depending on the cutting wheel, it can cut metal, wood, brick, concrete, and ceramic tiles. Buying this power tool would be well worth it.

Alternatively can be used. It is also applicable for cutting various materials. Its advantage is the ability to cut along curved lines. Such a need arises when you need to bypass the tiles, plumbing connectors, sockets and other protruding elements. For this, you will need to purchase a diamond core bit.

The grinder can also cut off curved lines, but with relatively large bending radii. In that case, decide , the better to cut the tiles, you can experimentally or by having someone who is able to perform the necessary trimming.

The disadvantage of using angle grinder (grinder) will be increased noise and the presence of dust. The jigsaw will also make some noise, but the dust will be much less.

For a person planning to professionally engage in this type of labor activity, the acquisition of both a manual tile cutter and various power tools will be relevant. It is worth considering the option of a tile cutting machine, the price of which can range from several thousand to several tens of thousands of rubles.

Methods for cutting tiles

Exists different ways cutting ceramic tiles. First, we suggest watching a video on how to cut ceramic tiles and listening to the opinion of experts.

Tile cutter the fastest and easiest way to cut tiles in a straight line. First, a cutting line is marked on the tile (with a pencil or thin marker). The tile is inserted into the tile cutter and the edge perpendicular to the cut is pressed against the stop bar (on the side farthest from you). In this case, it will turn out straight cut under 90⁰. The lever with the diamond cut-off roller is pressed against the nearest edge of the tile and is moved with a uniform movement to the opposite side. Then the lever must be pressed (not hard). The tile should break along the cut line. If it does not break, you must once again walk the roller away from you until it stops and press down again.

If necessary, irregularities are removed on the edge resulting from cutting. This can be done with a spatula or other metal object of sufficient hardness.

Now let's discuss how to cut tiles without a tile cutter.

Glass cutter... After you have gone through the cut line with a glass cutter, the tiles must be laid on a flat surface. Under one edge of the cutting line, place a small diameter nail parallel to the cutting line. On the one hand, we hold the tile with our hand, on the other, we press down with a level or rule. This method allows good craftsmen cut off strips from 15 millimeters wide.

Bulgarian. This method has several advantages over hand tools. With the help of a grinder, you can cut relief tiles . After marking the cutting line, the tiles must be placed so that there is no support under the cutting line, since the cutting wheel will sink below the tile. It is also advisable that the tiles lie not on a hard surface, but on rubber or hard foam. These materials will dampen possible vibration.

How to cut the tiles in a circle? For cutting with a grinder, there are special circles for cutting ceramic tiles. Their cutting edge does not have cuts or waves that are found on wheels for brick, concrete and other materials. Also, diamond dusting consists of smaller particles. These two factors contribute to cutting with much less chipping. It is important not to exceed the diameter of the circle provided for your grinder and to use a protective cover.

09-04-2015

Wall and floor covering works different premises ceramic tiles cannot do without cutting the tiles, since usually it is not always possible to use only whole plates and some of them have to be cut. How to cut a tile with your own hands? What tools should be used for this? How can you cut the tile so that the tiles have smooth edges and the plate does not split?

In order to be of high quality, it is necessary to use special tools and devices. If the work to be done is of a small volume, then hand tools are usually used. When covering large areas with tiles, professional equipment is used. Let's take a look at various techniques and tools for cutting ceramic tiles.

How to cut tiles?

Cutting tools: A-tile cutter; B-bit carbide; S-grinder; D-manual tile cutter; E-pliers; F-glass cutter; G-hacksaw for metal.

On the market, manufacturers sell a variety of attachments and tools to accomplish this task.

Of all the offered variety, you can use the following for independent work:

• manual slab cutter;
• its electrical counterpart;
• tile cutters;
• regular roller glass cutter;
• the so-called grinder;
• metal pencil with a victorious tip.

How to use these tools when cutting tiles will be discussed below.

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The use of a hand-held machine at work

Such a plate cutter is used to cut plates with a thickness of no more than 5-6 mm. The tool has a very reasonable price and makes it possible to relatively easily and quickly cut the required number of tiles - it is well suited for doing cladding work with your own hands.

It is applied in the following order:

• mark the part to be cut with a pencil or felt-tip pen on the tile;
• the material is installed on the base of the device so that the cutting line is under the impeller of the machine;
• using the tool handle, carefully draw along the marked cutting line with the impeller;
• the tile is fixed on both sides of the intended cut using the so-called wings;
• lightly hitting the handle of the machine, separate an unnecessary piece from the tile.

If after several such blows the tile remains intact, then try to cut the next plate.

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Electric ceramic cutter

This device has a diamond disc as a working tool and will cope with tiles of any thickness.

When working, you get smooth cuts with rounded smoothed edges.

Such a machine can be used for any amount of work, it is used when cutting various ceramic and stone slabs, with the exception of those coated with carbide chips, which can damage the diamond disc.

They work on this device like this:

• a cutting line is applied to the tile with a pencil;
• the marked tile is placed on the working platform of the machine, and tightly holding the plate with both hands and pressing it to the base of the device, slowly move the material under the blade of the diamond disc;
• when working, special glasses are used to protect the eyes and the level of cooling water in the machine pan is constantly monitored;
• the liquid is periodically changed - during operation it becomes clogged with ceramic chips;
• do not try to increase the speed at which the tile is fed under the disc - it may crack.

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How can you cut tiles with wire cutters?

This tool is used, if necessary, for holes in different places: for platbands, for water pipes etc. Nippers do not cut in the literal sense of the word, but break off small pieces from the tile along the cut line. The nippers themselves have 2 carbide-coated clamps - the upper one cuts through the glazed layer on the tile, and the lower one serves as a support for the plate. Cutting pliers are used like this:

• the contour of the recess is applied to the tile;
• insert the tile into the nippers so that the upper clamp is on the marked line;
• squeeze both halves of the tool and break the tiles along the markings - you cannot "bite off" large pieces, the edges will turn out to be uneven or the tile itself will crack;
• Having completely passed along the marking and removing unnecessary material, the cut on the tile is cleaned with a file or diamond sandpaper.

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How to cut a tile with a glass cutter or grinder?

With a glass cutter, you can make a straight cut in the material quite quickly. To do this, perform the following operations:

• mark with a pencil (felt-tip pen) a line along which they are going to cut the tile;
• press a square of material to the table with one hand, and with the other, directing the glass cutter towards oneself and holding it at an angle of 90 °, hold the tool with pressure along the marked line;
• the cut plate is placed on wooden block(or on the edge of the table) and with a blow of the palm break the tile along the cut line.

To use a glass cutter, you need a certain skill, so this tool can be used with a small amount of work.

In addition, difficulties arise in its application when performing a curly cut line. Now let's look at how to cut a tile with a grinder.

To use it in facing work, you need to purchase a diamond disc, which allows you to use this universal tool for cutting tiles both along straight and curly lines. Compared to an electric tile cutter, the grinder is more mobile, but loses to it in terms of cut quality. After cutting the tile with this tool, you need to clean the sections with a file or sandpaper. Use the grinder like this:

• a cut line is drawn on the plate;
• the tile is fixed in wooden clamps, or it is pressed with a foot and a cut is made with a grinder;
• the edges of the cut are cleaned with a file.