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Views: 83 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-06-20 Origin: Site
Cutting tiles
It is almost certain that the borders you are dealing with are not perfectly straight and are multiples of the tile size. Cutting tiles is the only way to make most projects successful.
The two best tile cutters are the manual tile cutter and the electric tile cutter. Manual tile cutters usually take less time to cut tiles, are more convenient and easier to use, but are limited to cutting in straight lines. Electric tile cutters take more time to cut tiles and require more skill to use, but can cut all the cuts needed for the job.
Each of these is available from RUBI stockists. Which one you should choose is a completely different matter. Ready to learn the difference between manual and electric tile cutters? Let's get started.
Everyone should have a manual tile cutter in their toolbox. This cutter looks a bit like a car jack, with a top to bottom bar. The tiles are placed inside the cutter and scored. The tiles will break along the line of the score.
A tile cutter is by nature easier to set up and use than an electric tile cutter. You need to place the tiles in the cutter, score the tiles and then using the breaker, break the tiles along the scored line.
Some harder porcelain can be difficult to scribe and cut, so we recommend using an extreme scribing wheel or a durable scribing wheel, which tends to cut deeper into the surface of the tile, making the cut easier and more accurate.
For tiles, harder or deeper scoring can cause damage to the delicate glaze on the tiles, so we recommend using a 6mm or 8mm scoring wheel for lighter scoring.
One trick to carving glass is to carve gently with a 6mm carving wheel, as applying too much pressure to a tile while carving can cause it to crack or create jagged edges. As you can see, it is not always easy to break a tile along the carving marks. Sometimes the manual tile cutter doesn't score deep enough. Other times, the tiles have a lot of internal tension and don't want to break accurately. Expect to be dealing with more than a few tiles.
However, manual tile cutters have some serious benefits. They're cheaper than electric tile cutters, they're portable, and they don't require complex skills to operate. (Although you do need skill to align your tiles).
Manual tile cutters are best suited to small kitchen splashbacks, projects with lots of straight cuts and projects where an electric tile cutter is not suitable due to space/area constraints.
Electric tile cutters are best suited to projects that your manual tile cutter cannot cut (literally). At first glance, the electric cutter looks like a table saw. A rotating diamond blade cuts the tiles, while a guide keeps them straight.
Water sprays from around the cutting blade to ensure that the tiles don't smoke and burn and that the diamond blade stays cool. Some tables have a reservoir, while others can be connected to a water source.
Electric tile cutters cut very straight tiles. The guide rails help to make accurate cuts. With some skill, it is also possible to cut tiles into complex shapes. While manual tile cutters can only cut straight, electric tile cutters can form L and U shaped cuts and cut out inserts (for sockets etc.).
