How To Cut Tiles With A Grinder? What Kind Of Disc Can Be Used To Cut A Ceramic And Tile Product, Cutting With A Diamond Wheel Without Chips

When doing renovations, many homeowners find it necessary to cut ceramic tiles, which can be done using a grinder. This tool allows you to do this work at a high level, with minimal risk of chips or cracks. In this article, we will tell you how to cut ceramic tiles using a grinder.

Required tools and materials

Cutting ceramic tiles is a laborious process that requires maximum concentration. The difficulty is largely due to the fact that the tile is made of a durable material. Dust-free tiles can be cut and sawed down with a tile cutter, but such a tool is not cheap. With conventional cutters and saws, this is almost impossible to do, and the cut will certainly be uneven and unattractive. An ordinary grinder is best suited, the cutting wheel of which allows you to neatly cut the tiles even at home.

Despite the fact that this process is relatively difficult, if you get the hang of it, it does not take much time and does not require much effort. This task can be handled by an ordinary homeowner who has not dealt with such work and will be able to cut off even a "hog" without the help of a tile cutter.

You can cut tiles using the following tools:

special tile cutter;
diamond tools;
Bulgarian.

You don't need to purchase any special equipment to get the job done. A household grinder and grinder are ideal for creating a high-quality cut. You can buy these tools in every hardware store at an affordable cost. The main thing that you need to pay attention to when choosing is the quality of the disc.

For cutting ceramic tiles, those that have a diamond coating are suitable. Their use minimizes the formation of cracks and chips. It is forbidden to use discs used for metal work, as they will only damage the tile. Even if you manage to cut with the help of such a circle, it will be uneven and of poor quality. This is due to the sliding of the disc on the tile, due to which the presence of small cracks is inevitable. At the same time, when it comes to home surface finishing, you can ignore these damages, since they will surely disappear during subsequent processing.

When cutting with a grinder, be sure to take care of protective measures. It is important to have protective glasses, because during work you can injure your eyes due to sparks or tiles. You can buy them at any hardware store.

In no case should you neglect safety measures, since the risk of harm is quite high.

Be sure to carry the following attributes with you:

glasses;
mask;
thick gloves.

Please note that the selected grinder or grinder must have a speed regulator, since many modern inexpensive tools are devoid of this function. Such models operate at the highest speed, which is why it is impossible to cut tiles with their help.

We cut the tiles correctly

Using tiles for wall decoration, a situation will surely arise when you need to cut off part of the slab so that it fits into the remaining space. Moreover, a similar procedure will be required regardless of which type of tile you choose. Cutting is required most often when unique patterns are created on the walls or various decorative objects are formed using tiles.

If you have already prepared all the attributes you need for work, you can consider how the tile should be cut correctly. The grinder is an excellent assistant in the matter under consideration, since with its help you can create not only straight cuts, but also curly cuts. Next, we will look at how to cut tiles in various ways.

A straight cut is as simple as possible:

First, you need to fix the tile on the plane so that it does not slide or ride on it.
The part of the tile that needs to be cut must remain in weight. The surface line will be the guideline for the notch line;
It is necessary to take the grinder so that you can see the cutting line. If you hide it from yourself, you will not be able to make an even cut.
You need to direct and move the blade towards you, and not away from yourself. This is the mistake many beginners make. Hold the tool firmly and level so that it does not move in different directions, otherwise the cut will be ugly. Holding the grinder crooked can damage the disc, as it can fly off because of this.

A round hole is made as follows:

Initially, you need to use a marker to draw the required hole. You need to paint on the glossy side of the tile.
Then you need to determine the center of the circle. This can be done using straight lines drawn crosswise.
Gently file the tiles from the inside with a grinder in a circle until we go deeper.
It is necessary to turn the grinder so that the blade gradually fits into the outlined circle.
When the cut is deep enough, you need to saw through the drawn cross along the drawn lines, after which you carefully take out the resulting 4 sectors of the circle.

You need to cut the tiles only on the front side, since this is the only way to get a cut without various defects. Consequently, all possible damage will be concentrated on the back of the tile, which will be covered with tile adhesive.

It is best to measure and mark the tiles to be cut from the start.

To cut at a 45 degree angle, follow the instructions below:

It is important to note that cutting the tiles obliquely is more difficult than making a straight cut. However, this is much easier than creating curly elements. You need to start by doing.
The grinder must be turned so that the disc is located at the angle you need, while you must carefully drive the blade, removing excess, so that at the end an even angular cut is obtained.
Perfectness can be achieved by using ordinary sandpaper, which is best fixed on a block.

An abrasive paper should be used for each piece as this will help improve the appearance of the cut.

Important nuances

The grinder must be set at a low speed so that you can control and adjust its actions. When you have the ability to secure the tool, be sure to do so, as this will simplify your work. Having secured the grinder, you will only need to move the tile along the desired trajectory.

If there is no possibility of securing, then the floor will be the best place to work. Be sure to put bars or lumber under the slab. It is important to note that setting a low speed should also be due to the fact that this will exclude the discarding of the blade or disc upon contact with the surface.

Turning on the maximum speed will surely simplify the cutting process, but this increases the risk of damage to the tiles, which can simply fly to pieces. The easiest way to cut is the straight line, since even a beginner can handle this job. When it comes to rounding, then more effort will be required. If you have not previously encountered such work, then we recommend that you first try your skills on defective material.

You can protect the tiles from chips by using a special grinder or sandpaper. This work is not difficult, but it will significantly improve the quality of the cut. Thus, you can get rid of existing defects.

If you decide to choose a sander for this work, and not sandpaper, then you need to work at the minimum speed.

Be sure to follow these guidelines:

you need to work in special clothes;
safety glasses are required;
it is recommended to use earplugs when working;
all used devices must be in good condition;
work can only be performed by adults who know the safety rules for using a cutting tool;
when wet processing, make sure that the sander does not get into the water, as this can lead to an electric shock;
you cannot process slices at maximum speed;
you need to work in a room with good ventilation.