Use Tile Nippers For Hard Cuts. Expert Interview. This article has been viewed 64,372 times. However, you will also need to cut the tile into different shapes. You can buy a glass cutter at a craft store or hardware store for around $10. This article was co-authored by Art Fricke. Steps to Cut tile without a Wet Saw. This can be easily done by using a pencil. Then, go over your cutline a few times, instead of trying to cut through it in one motion. You can buy a square at a hardware store or from an online retailer. When installing glass tile, you will inevitably need to make a variety of cuts. Find a flat piece of plywood or stiff foam that you can put underneath your tile. The “front” of the tile is the side that’s smooth or glazed. The sheets typically measure about 12 inches square, and the mesh can be cut easily with a utility knife. To lock the fence, there should be a small lever on the side of the fence. Support wikiHow by For a dark piece of tile, lay a strip of masking tape on top of the tile where you want to cut and draw your line on top of the tape instead of the tile. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Scoring should sound like a scratching or crackling noise. Use a crayon, pencil or marker (NOT a permanent marker) and mark the area that needs to be trimmed. ThePrecisionTools.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The process takes longer for bigger and thicker tiles, but just be patient, and don’t look away at any point. Wet saws can be a bit expensive, so they’re better suited for bigger jobs, good quality tiles and small tiles that need to be handled carefully. Hearing protection, like earplugs, are also a good idea to muffle the sound of loud power tools. Mark the tile where it needs to be cut. You can use another type of clamp if you don’t have a C-clamp. 1. Looking away for even just a second is very dangerous. unlocking this expert answer. You should press it towards the saw evenly with both hands to make an even and smooth cut. It is advisable to wear a respirator mask and goggles to protect yourself as you work. There are ways to cut tiles without even using a tile cutter. It helps pay for web hosting. Then clamp your tile securely onto a firm surface like a sawhorse. All you need to do is score your tile with the glass cutter and a square or metal ruler. If only a few ceramic tiles need to be cut, a glass cutter and a wire hanger can be used to get a clean, precise cut. You can use the tile nippers to clear the odd cuts and smoothen it out using an emery cloth. Measure and mark up the notch you want to remove. The aim is to indent the tile, not to cut through it. This is to allow room for your marker when drawing the line. Wearing safety glasses when you break the tile will protect you from any pieces that might fly off. How can I cut through ceramic tile without a cutter? and more, depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the assembly. But you don’t necessarily need a tile cutter. Support wikiHow by If you need to, you can use a piece of scrap wood to push the tile through the blade. In this video I show you how to cut tile. Learn everything you want about Cutting Tiles with the wikiHow Cutting Tiles Category. Measure the area where you want the tile piece to fit. Here's how to do it. Rushing the process will end up with jagged edges or an inaccurate cut. Whether you’re fixing the tiles on your patio or designing a mosaic for your child’s bathroom wall, tile-cutting is an essential part of the job. Some models of tile cutters can serve to make holes. Do snap cutters work well for glass? It is small pieces of tile with a mesh backing but is staggered tiles and I need straight line for corners. Safety gloves can help prevent injuries to your hands when you’re using a saw. The harder the material of the tile, the more cuts you’ll have to make. This tool removes small fragments of the cladding, so that later the tiles can be laid, for example, near pipelines. Trying to speed up the process may damage your tiles and while this won’t cost much if you’re working with cheaper tiles, it can set you back if you’re using high-end tiles. [1] X Research source If you don’t have a tile marker, a lead pencil or crayon will work, too. If you don’t have a square, you can use anything that has a straight edge. If your tiles have rough edges one you’re done, you can use a brick or concrete block to sand and smoothen it. Mark a line for the area you want snipped-off and indent it (you can even use a glass cutter for this step). Once you’ve done this, gently press the tile downwards so that it breaks along your indented lines. You won’t need to apply any pressure because the tile should just glide through. Don’t use a permanent marker. If you don’t have a wire hanger, you can use a thick piece of regular wire. Wet saws are a great way to cut tiles without a tile cutter, especially if you’re working with premium quality tiles. Never take your eyes off the blade as you cut. Keep your hands as far away from the blade as possible. Will the same tile cutter work? If you’re working with curved or rounded edges, an angled grinder can also do the job. Before you store the saw, clean it with a damp cloth to remove any dust and grit. If you aren't a professional, it's likely that you aren't frequently working with tile — which can make renovation projects seem nightmarish, if you need to cut ceramic tiles and find yourself without access to a ceramic tile cutter. Then, slowly and carefully pull the grinder along the cut line to ‘score’ the tile. This will be very difficult to remove from the tile in the end. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If you don’t have a tile marker, a lead pencil or crayon will work, too. Place your tile on the sliding table part of the saw and align it with the saw blade matching with your previously made marks. Glass tile is a popular material used in homes for aesthetic purposes. Don’t worry! Make sure the tile is free of the blade before you reach over to turn off the saw. Always wear safety glasses when using power tools to protect your eyes from debris. Wear safety glasses and gloves to protect yourself from flying debris. How to Cut Tile Without a Tile Cutter. 1. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. While it’s possible to cut tile without a saw, you still need other tools to do the job manually, namely an angle grinder. So whether you’re trying to fit ceramic tiles on your front steps or porcelain tiles in your dining room, you can easily get the job done without using a tile cutter. And most importantly, be patient. Unlock premium answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/tile-installation/how-to-cut-tile-with-a-grinder/view-all/, https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/carpentry/how-to-use-a-clamp/, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-cut-ceramic-tile-with-a-glass-cutter/, http://howtospecialist.com/indoor/how-to-cut-tiles-with-a-wet-saw/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/how-to-make-precision-cuts-with-a-diamond-tile-saw/view-all/, https://www.homedit.com/how-to-use-a-wet-tile-saw/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Using a ruler or set-square, draw straight lines to mark off the area you want to cut (any straight-edged item can be used as a guide for you to draw the line). By using our site, you agree to our. Can I cut glass 4×12″ tiles without a plunge cut wet saw? The debris given off when using a wet saw can cause your eyes to become swollen and puffy, make your throat itch or give you a dry cough. unlocking this staff-researched answer. Stationary tile cutting machines are in great demand among tools for cutting porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles. Position the square 0.64 inches below the line. For the next step, you can use either a thin wire hanger or any other wire thin enough to fit into your indent (place it on the lower side of the tile). Start the saw, press the tile with both hands with the sliding table. The most budgetary version of a hand-held tile cutter can cost 470 rubles. Set a square along the cut line during this step to help guide the glass 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. If the tile isn’t breaking cleanly, don’t apply too much force since that will destroy the tile. Line the saw blade with your outline. Harder or thicker tiles should be pushed through at a slower rate. If you are tiling a bathroom, you are sure to run into a pipe or two you have to cut holes for. If you have a circle template or rounded edge you can trace, your line will be more accurate. A wide variety of how to cut ceramic tile without a tile cutter options are available to you, such as warranty, color family. Don’t cut through the tile the first time you go over it with the blade. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Some recommended products may use affiliate links. But this tool also has its disadvantages: such a tile cutter can not make a cut at a distance of less than 5 mm from the edge of the tile; if you need small pieces, about 5-7 mm, you have to be very careful. https://todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-cut-ceramic-tile-with-a-glass-cutter Mark the tile in the same way you would when using a grinder. Pull it out towards you to unlock it and push it in against the saw to lock it. Homeowners wishing to do their own tile work are presented with two major tools to cut the tiles: the wet tile saw and the snap tile cutter. For straight cuts on full tiles, that is fairly easy to accomplish with using a snap tile cutter or wet saw.Sometimes, though, the section you need to cut off is too narrow for the snap tile cutter … Spotless and beautiful, these how to cut a tile without a tile cutter are the future. First check whether the cutting wheel is ready for operation. Use a blade with a continuous rim on your grinder to avoid getting jagged edges on your tile as you cut. How Can I Cut Tile without a Saw? You'll find a variety of types at a hardware store. Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. Did you know you can read premium answers for this article? Tiles can be cut in straight lines with a tile cutter but nothing more than that. For more tips, including how to trim a tile with a wet saw, read on! If you feel like the blade is straying from your outline, just push the tiles into place again. The same precautions for PPE apply here as they do for the bricks. Just remember to wear the necessary safety items, such as goggles and gloves to avoid any casualties. Home Renovation & Repair Specialist. Make sure the wood or foam is at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick. Cutting porcelain tiles around the toilet for pipes and exposing waste needs a curvy cut rather than drilling holes. The tile should snap very easily. One of the best methods on how to cut ceramic tile without a tile cutter is by using nippers for hard cuts. If the shape/design of the texture is not very deep, a good technique to cut the tile is to repeat the incision more than one time in order to create deep and complete incision. The cutter is available at most hardware stores. About 0% of these are Tiles. It depends on which is most comfortable for you. Well, it mostly depends on the type of texture and on the tile cutter that you own. The fence can be adjusted to fit your tile. If you want to do the job cheaply and without burdening yourself with yet another one-off tool cluttering your workshop, the snap tile cutter will be your best option. Gently push your tile along the fence. Any ideas on how to cut tile without buying a tile cutter. Can they cut slivers off the short and long ends or do I need a wet saw for that? When you start using the grinder, ensure that the part of the tile that you’re cutting is hanging off the edge of the worktop to avoid cutting that too. Don’t try to trim too much of the tile at once or you risk cracking it or cutting beyond your line. If it doesn’t, you may need to score it again. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Cut-Tiles-Without-a-Tile-Cutter-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Tiles-Without-a-Tile-Cutter-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Cut-Tiles-Without-a-Tile-Cutter-Step-1.jpg\/aid10355604-v4-728px-Cut-Tiles-Without-a-Tile-Cutter-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"