How to cut Porcelain Tile. This is a type of fired and glazed clay tile that’s hard and smooth like glass.
This makes them great for bathroom and kitchen walls, as well as floors. However, they can get chipped very easily so the key is to cut them carefully.
When you have to cut porcelain tiles for any DIY installation job it’s important that you are able to make accurate cuts in three different categories.
large sections, nipping off smaller pieces and cutting curves into your wall/floor project to fit around larger obstructions (like water tanks or radiators).
Lastly, if you’re planning on laying some large porcelain tiles (12 inches x 12 inches or larger), be sure to calculate the measurements correctly so that you can create a round or rectangular area from your center tile without any overlap.
How to cut Porcelain Tile
When it comes to cutting porcelain tiles there are a few different options available to you. You can use the first, which is your standard tile nippers and cutters.
You can also get a wet saw if you intend on doing this for a living and don’t mind paying more for it as well as taking longer to learn how to operate it properly.
Finally, some people decide that the Dremel tool works well enough for them or are just getting started in their profession or hobby before taking on any of the higher-priced machines so they opt for that instead.
These methods work just about as effectively but do rely on what you are willing to spend as well as what type of job you’re looking to do first.
Cut Porcelain Tiles with a Tile Cutter
This is the best tool that doesn’t get much attention or use in the construction industry. The tile cutter really doesn’t require any introduction at all and it can be used for many of the same things like a wet saw.
That isn’t to say that it’s just an alternative to wet saws; there are some situations where a tile cutter will do a better job than a table saw, as well as less expensively and with more convenience.
There are cases where tile cutter can make cuts up to 3/4 inch wide and produce crisp edges without sacrificing quality like you might have trouble with on your table saw when cutting that much in one swipe.
Cut Porcelain Tiles with a Wet Saw
The best tile saws come equipped with clever accessories that adjust to the specific angle of your tile, making 45 and 90-degree angles easy.
You can also use a miter gauge for straight cuts or a self-squaring cut line to avoid overhanging which is usually the only kind that catches on one end or another and comes out chipped.
Improper pressure will cause you grief as well so make sure you’re using the fingers of one hand to maintain an even amount of pressure along the entire blade length.
On finished work, clean up any leather-like residue after it has hardened and then give it 3 or 4 coats of finish made for tiles preferably an acrylic finish for extra durability.
An Angle Grinder Can be used
Use a power tool like an angle grinder to make accurate cuts of porcelain tiles in different shapes and sizes.
Cuts such as L-cuts, dots, curves, and straight lines are easier to accomplish with this powerful tool as well as window frame cuts, particularly while working around toilets.
Make sure you know which edge is called “waste,” because it is typically best when the other edge of your cut can remain intact for installation.
If you’re making curved cuts, for example, use electrical tape or some other marker to create the curve on one side so that you can follow instead of veering off of your line.
Be careful when using your angle grinder and make several small cuts rather than one large one if possible to avoid jamming the single-disc blades.
Cutting Porcelain Tiles with a Drill Bit
Circular cross-sections can be quite tricky when it comes to drilling holes.
Drill bits make a nice circular cut in the porcelain tile and are versatile enough to work on many other materials.
However, for ceramic tiles, you want a clean and circular hole that will fit the screws, plumbing pipes, space for radiators, and other fittings in place correctly.
This can be done with the help of drill bits which create clean holes quickly and easily as opposed to traditional means.
For large diameter holes, you should use a masonry bit instead since they’re strong enough for cutting through harder surfaces that require more strength, such as bricks or concrete.
Cutting Tiles with a Tile Nipper
Tile nippers are wonderful tools for cutting angles and curves and also several types of shapes in tiles. The best tile nippers for this job are the ones that come from Qep and Kobalt.
First, put the outlines of the shape you want to make on your tile using a pencil so that when you go to cut, the resulting outer edges will not be angled or curved, which makes it easier to take off large pieces.
Next, you need to figure out where exactly you’re going to start nipping away at your tile as they’re often hard to break straight into. Once that’s been figured out, press down with a firm grip onto your lines.
It’s very important to avoid applying too much pressure onto your cutter, otherwise, you risk ruining both of them and having to give yourself another fresh try elsewhere.
A lot of people get frustrated with these tools because sometimes it takes several tries before getting a piece removed; this is normal! Have patience with all of your productivity tools.
How to cut porcelain tile
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