Readers ask: How To Cut Hard Ceramic Tile?

Is it hard to cut ceramic tile?

Common 1/4-inch tile found in most tile stores that’s used for bathroom walls and kitchen back splashes is not nearly as hard as porcelain. These can be nipped by hand or cut easily with a traditional snap tile cutter. It won’t take long for you to see how easy it is to use a traditional snap cutter and tile nippers.

How hard is it to cut porcelain tile?

Porcelain tile is very hard; therefore, you need a powerful wet diamond saw when you want to cut your tile. However, it can be difficult to cut porcelain without chipping it.

Can you cut ceramic tile with a jigsaw?

The jigsaw is an ideal tool for cutting a variety of substances, including ceramic tile. Small and light weight, the jigsaw is easily handled regardless of your skill or strength.

Can you cut tile without a tile cutter?

There are several methods for cutting tiles by hand without a tile cutter, using a cutting tool such as a glass cutter or a carbide-tipped pencil. Firmly press the edge of the glass cutter or carbide pencil along the line, using a carpenter square as a guide. Do not cut entirely through the tile.

Do you cut ceramic tile upside down?

Regardless of the kind of tile you’re cutting, the best method is to cut with the front of the tile facing up. The front is the side that will be exposed once you lay the tile. This method ensures the smoothest finished edge on the tile with the least amount of chipping.

Can a hacksaw cut tile?

A manual tile cutter, hacksaw or wet saw are generally best for porcelain tiles used in bathrooms. Whatever tool you use the process is similar: score a shallow cut in the tile and then use the brittle nature of the porcelain to snap the tile apart.

Why wont my tile cutters cut straight?

Try double scoring the end that is not braking correctly. you could just be missing some pressure on the scoring action. Try slowly breaking the tile with smaller push down actions with the breaker on the tile and slowly move up the tile doing the same instead of one swift snapping action.

Why does my tile break when I cut it?

Because of the compressed, fragile nature of tile, it can crack, break and fragment when you try to cut it. The best way to keep tile from cracking is to use a score-and-snap tile cutter or a diamond wet saw.

Do you have to use a wet saw to cut ceramic tile?

The wet saw is a must if you want to feel cutting glass tiles as if it was butter. Compared to tile cutters, wet saws are best for large projects. You can cut tile faster, easier, and with more precision than manual tile cutters.

What kind of blade do you use to cut ceramic tile?

The Blade. The best type of blade to use with an angle grinder when cutting ceramic tile is a diamond-tipped, smooth-edge blade without any notches or serration. Notched blades are for porcelain and serrated blades are more suited to natural stones.

How do you cut ceramic tile by hand?

To cut ceramic tile by hand without a tile cutter:

1. Mark the top of the tile where you want to cut it.
2. Place a square on the tile slightly away from the mark.
3. Use a glass cutter to score the tile on the cut line.
4. Place the tile on solid surface with a wire clothes hanger under the tile aligned with the score mark.