In our time, ceramic tile has become the most popular material, which has found wide application in the performance of finishing work in the bathroom, kitchen, bathroom. Given the fact that many home craftsmen do the laying work themselves, a completely logical question arises: what is the purpose of cutting ceramic tiles?
As you know, glazed tile is a very fragile building material that is not amenable to bending and deformation. It is made of clay, which is molded, dried, a layer of glaze is applied, and then burned in an oven. The resulting product acquires the necessary strength, has a beautiful aesthetic appearance and durability. And on how to properly cut ceramic tiles, it depends on how successful the DIY repair will be. There are several ways to do this type of work. Let's consider each of them separately.
1. Glass cutter
If the amount of work is small, but you still do not know how to cut ceramic tiles, get a glass cutter. And you don’t even need a diamond. For this, an ordinary roller is quite suitable.
First of all, markup should be applied. This can be done with a marker or a regular soft pencil. After that, you need to put the tile on a flat hard surface and draw a glass cutter on it from the far edge of the tile to yourself (so that a noticeable groove remains on the enamel surface). In this case, it is necessary to evenly press on the glass cutter as it moves. Now you need to break the tile. There are two ways to do this:
- put a match or a small carnation under the tile and press on the edges of the tile;
- put the tile on the table so that the cut line coincides with the edge of the table, then press on the protruding part of the tile.
It should be remembered that an incision can be made only once.
2. Tile cutter
If the amount of work is quite large, it is best to purchase a tile cutter. It should be noted that a good tool costs at least 500 rubles. When buying, you need to pay attention to its foundation, which should be tough. The guide along which its working part moves must be thick-walled. If you still have doubts about how ceramic tiles are cut, then take one piece with you to the store and check the quality of the tile cutter on the spot.
To cut the tiles in this way, it is necessary to mark it, place it on the base of the tile cutter, firmly pressing it to the ruler-stop. Then, holding the handle, draw it along the tile in the direction away from you, applying small pressing forces. After that, slightly press on the lever - from the influence of the corner located on the handle, the tile will break exactly along the cut line.
To achieve the desired result, the tile cutter is best attached to the floor or other flat surface (for this there are holes for fasteners on it). In addition, a couple of drops of engine oil can be dripped onto the cutting wheel.
3. Electric tile cutter
And how do true professionals cut ceramic tiles ? Electric tile cutter. Such a tool is not cheap, but its diamond blade is able to cut and more durable porcelain. In addition, tiles cut by an electric tile cutter have smooth, well-rounded edges. So that dust and small particles do not pollute the room, a special tank with water is provided in which they settle. When using an electric tile cutter, work must be done in protective equipment - glasses and gloves.
4. The grinder
Also, ceramic tiles can be cut with a grinder. Very often it is used to perform curly sections. And although it cuts tiles almost like an electric glass cutter, cutting with a grinder turns out to be less accurate, and jagged edges remain on the cut. When using a grinder, it should be remembered that this is an instrument of increased danger. Therefore, during operation, special safety measures should be observed.
In conclusion
Now, knowing how and how to cut ceramic tiles, the choice of a tool for interior decoration depends entirely on you - on your capabilities and the amount of work ahead.