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Ceramic And Porcelain Tile Cutting With Angle Grinder: A Practical Guide
An angle grinder can be used to cut ceramic and porcelain tiles. Cutting tile with an angle grinder requires techniques that need to be applied properly. Today we will discuss ceramic and porcelain tile cutting with an angle grinder: a practical guide.
Differentiation Between Ceramic And Porcelain Tile
- Clay, minerals, and water are combined to make ceramic tiles, which are then baked in a kiln.
- Ceramic tiles come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and shapes. They are a more versatile option available in the market.
- Ceramic tiles are generally more affordable than porcelain.
The features of porcelain tile are:
- A denser kind of clay that is burnt at a greater temperature is used to make porcelain tiles. They become denser and less permeable as a result.
- Porcelain tiles are very durable and resistant to wear and tear, scratches, and stains.
- Due to their more complex production processes and denser composition, porcelain tiles are often more expensive than ceramic tiles.
How to cut out electrical box in tile. Grinder cutting tile #shorts
Preparing For Tile Cutting
You need to follow some steps before you start cutting the tile with an angle grinder. Some of these steps are:
- Make sure to wear protective gear.
- Measure the mark that you are going to cut and then secure the tile on a level surface.
- Choose the right blade for your grinder for tiles.
- Adjust the grinder equipped with a porcelain tile cutting disk and plan the cutting process.
Cutting Ceramic Tiles
It’s important when cutting a ceramic tile to use the good technique so that it doesn’t damage the tile. There are a few considerations you should take into account before starting your work with the tile.
Step-By-Step Process For Cutting Ceramic Tiles With An Angle Grinder
Follow these steps below to prepare for cutting a ceramic tile:
- The tile’s desired cut location should be measured and marked.
- Ensure the grinder is set to the proper depth and the blade guard is in place.
- Place the ceramic tile on a workbench or a proper area so it doesn’t move during the process.
Tips For Achieving Clean And Accurate Cuts
Follow these tips to achieve precise cuts on ceramic tiles:
- Select a blade that is specifically designed for cutting ceramic tiles.
- Don’t rush the cutting process. Move the grinder slowly and steadily along the marked line.
- To keep the blade and tile cool and prevent overheating, use water to lubricate the blade while cutting.
Cutting Porcelain Tiles
Cutting porcelain tiles with an angle grinder requires a different technique than cutting ceramic tiles. It can be done with a grinder equipped with a blade for porcelain tiles.
How to cut porcelain tiles with a grinder?
Some of the steps required to cut porcelain tiles are:
- Porcelain tiles require perfect measurement and placement to avoid getting damaged when cutting tile with a grinder.
- Make a series of shallow cuts along the scored line with the angle grinder.
- Make deeper cuts after the initial shallow cuts by going back over them. To prevent harming the tile, keep the blade traveling in a straight path.
Cutting Porcelain Slabs: Techniques And Best Practices
Use a clamp or a specialized cutting table to secure the slab in place before making the cut. When cutting a large porcelain slab, it’s a good idea to make relief cuts to prevent the slab from cracking.
Advanced Techniques For Cutting Tiles
Cutting tiles can be a tricky task. Equipped with the right techniques and tips, you can achieve clean and precise cuts.
How to cut tiles with a grinder for intricate designs?
For detailed patterns, using a grinder on tiles demands a steady hand and a lot of time. Here are some pointers for using a grinder to cut tiles for complex designs:
- Apply a pencil or marker to the tile and draw your design there. Ensure that your design is exact and clear.
- Utilize a blade that is narrower and made for cutting curves and complex forms.
- A high-speed grinder will make it easier to cut through the tile quickly and smoothly. Consider the Jusfitools 20V angle grinder for precise and smooth performance.
Encouragement For Readers To Try New Tile-Cutting Projects With Confidence And Skill
Cutting tiles can be a rewarding experience equipped with the right tools and techniques. It may look daunting but anyone can learn how to cut tiles with a grinder.
Starting with simple jobs and working your way up is one of the secrets to good tile cutting. Don’t let more difficult projects or designs overwhelm you.
It’s also important to choose the right tools for the job. The Jusfitools 20V angle grinder will give you the perfect experience on a budget.
Comment down below if you have any questions related to cutting tile with angle grinder.
How to Cut Tile Using Common Tools
If you’re doing a DIY tile installation, you’ll likely need to cut a few tiles to fit into corners, along fixtures, and into other irregular spaces. There are many ways to cut tile, some of which work better than others in certain situations. This guide breaks down the six most commonly used tile cutters to help you choose the best tools and techniques for your specific project.
Preparing to Cut Tile Yourself
Most tile cutting tools use the same process of measuring and marking the tile, snapping or cutting, then smoothing out the edges. Some projects may require multiple tools. To choose the right tile cutters for your tile installation project, know what type of tile you’re working with, how many tiles you’ll be cutting, and exactly what type of cuts you’ll need to make.
With all that in mind, consult the table below to see which tools best suit your needs.
| Glass cutter | Ceramic, glass | Small, straight cuts |
| Manual or snap cutter | Ceramic, porcelain | Small projects; angled or diagonal cuts |
| Angled grinder | Ceramic, porcelain tile, glass tile, marble tile, stone | Around doorways, vents, curves; fixed tiles installed on walls |
| Wet saw | Ceramic, porcelain, glass, marble | Large projects with lots of cuts |
| Tile nippers | Ceramic, porcelain, marble | Irregular cuts; arcs, circles, and notches |
| Dremel | Ceramic, porcelain, marble tile | Holes for plumbing and valves |
If you’ll be cutting a large number of tiles for a big project, you may want a power tool over a hand tool. Cutting tile with a power tool creates lots of fine dust that’s hard to clean up and dangerous to breathe, so use proper protection.
Wear hearing protection and a respirator, and set up an outdoor workspace if possible. If you must work indoors, cover exposed surfaces and openings with plastic sheets to contain dust. This includes Windows, doors, vents, and drains. Have a vacuum handy for dust collection.
Follow these steps for tile that will go the extra mile
How to Cut Tile
While the general process is the same for each type of tile cutting tool, the techniques used for different tools are unique. Specific methods for using each are laid out below to help you choose the right tools for your project and use them properly.
Using a Glass Cutter
A glass cutter is a hand tool with a rotating wheel that’s ideal for small cutting tasks that involve simple lines. It can be used to cut glass or ceramic tile cleanly without chipping but shouldn’t be used on corners or curves. Follow the steps below to use a glass cutter. You’ll also need a ruler, a pencil, a wire hanger, and an aluminum oxide rubbing stone or sanding sponge.
- Measure the tile with your ruler to determine where you need to cut.
- Mark a guideline for the cut on the glazed side of the tile with your ruler and pencil.
- Position the tile on a flat surface with the ruler parallel to your guideline.
- Press the glass cutter firmly into the line, scoring but not cutting through.
- Position the scored line over the wire hanger on a flat surface.
- Snap the tile clean by gently pressing down on both sides, or cut it with tile nippers.
- Smooth out sharp edges with your rubbing stone or sanding sponge.
Using a Manual Tile Cutter or Snap Cutter
Manual tile cutters and snap cutters are safe, low-budget alternatives to power tools that can cut ceramic or porcelain tiles without electricity or water. They’re ideal for small projects with relatively few cuts and can make diagonal or angled cuts. However, they won’t cut curves or bevels and tend not to work for tiles over three-eighths of an inch thick.
Follow the steps below to learn how to use a tile cutter or snap cutter. You’ll also need a pencil and aluminum oxide rubbing stone.
- Measure your tile and mark a pencil guideline where you want to make a cut.
- Position the cutter on a flat surface, perpendicular to you with the lever towards you.
- Place the tile beneath the blade rails and snug against the end stop, glazed side up.
- Position the guideline of your tile over the cutter’s central guideline.
- Press the lever over the guideline until it reaches the end stop to score the tile surface.
- Flip the breaker bar down over the cutting wheel.
- Snap the tile by applying firm, gentle pressure to the lever.
- Smooth rough edges with your rubbing stone.
Using an Angled Grinder
An angle grinder is a handheld power tool ideal for curved, square, L-shaped, and circular cuts around doorways, vents, drains, and pipes. It requires less skill and setup than a wet saw, though it can’t handle large quantities of tile. Use a diamond-tipped blade for cutting ceramic or glass tiles, a notched blade for porcelain, and a serrated blade for marble or stone.
Follow these steps to use an angled grinder, holding the blade vertically for straight cuts or horizontally for rounded cuts. You’ll also need a pencil, clamp, masking tape, and aluminum oxide rubbing stone or sandpaper.
- Measure the tile and mark your desired cut shape with a pencil.
- Clamp the tile to your work surface and place tape around the edge to prevent chipping.
- Score the tile by carefully pulling the angle grinder along your marked guideline.
- For rectangular cuts, score the tile again on the back.
- Cut the tile with deeper and deeper passes until you go cleanly through the tile.
- Smooth out edges with your rubbing stone, sandpaper, or the flat side of the blade.
Using a Wet Saw
A wet saw is a power tool that uses a water-cooled diamond blade to quickly and precisely cut large quantities of ceramic, porcelain, glass, or marble tile. Tile is fed into the blade on a sliding table while a pump sprays water over the blade to keep it cool and control dust. Only make cuts if your blade is sharp and water is flowing properly over the blade.
A wet saw can be messy, so set it up somewhere where water won’t be an issue. Wear safety goggles and gloves, avoid loose clothing or jewelry, and keep your hands as far away from the blade as possible. Be sure to read all instructions for the wet saw before you start, then follow these steps to make your cuts. You’ll also need a pencil and aluminum oxide rubbing stone.
- Set up the saw on a solid, level surface and fill the water reservoir or tray.
- Measure and mark a guideline on your tile where you want to make a cut.
- Tape tile edges to prevent chipping and place the tile in water.
- Set the rip fence. The widest part of the tile should stay between the blade and fence.
- Align the tile guideline with the blade in a position that supports the tile on the table.
- Start the saw and give it 20 seconds to get up to speed and for water to start flowing.
- Guide the tile slowly along the fence into the blade with both hands, glazed side up.
- Push the tile between the blade and the fence until it completely clears the blade.
- Turn off the saw and let it power down completely before removing the tile.
- Smooth rough edges if needed using a rubbing stone or sandpaper.
Using Tile Nippers
Also called a nibbling tool, tile nippers make small snips that larger tools can’t. This is ideal for irregular cuts such as curves, arcs, circles, notches, and other tiny cutouts. Nippers can be used to cut around toilet flanges, faucet valves, and door cases in ceramic tiles and some thinner porcelain or stone materials. They can’t be used for large, straight cuts, however.
Follow these steps to use tile nippers. You’ll need a pencil, measuring tools, and sandpaper.
- Measure and mark your tile with a pencil where you want to make a cut.
- Cut your tile down with a snap cutter or wet saw if needed to get close to the cut area.
- Snap the tile in small chips by carefully, but forcefully squeezing the nippers.
- Smooth the edges of the tile with your sandpaper or a rubbing stone.
Use a Dremel
A dremel can be used to create a hole in the center of a tile for pipes or valve fixtures. You can drill a hole into loose tile that hasn’t been installed or into fixed tile that’s already attached to a wall or floor. Dremels are ideal for ceramic tile, though with a diamond bit they can cut through porcelain or marble. Follow these steps to cut a hole in a tile with a dremel.
- Measure and mark the tile where you want to make a cut.
- Clamp the tile to a solid surface to keep it in place while cutting.
- Tilt the dremel to a 45-degree angle and push into the tile until it’s at a 90-degree angle.
- Pull the dremel out gently once you reach the end of your cut line.
Tips to Cutting Tile without Chipping
You can use a few different methods to cut ceramic tile without chipping the edges. Start by fixing a piece of masking tape along your guideline mark to make the line easier to follow with your tool. Making slow, shallow cuts will help prevent chipping. Cuts that are an eighth-inch deep are best.
If you have a wet saw or other power cutting tool, insert notches in the tile before cutting all the way through. This is called scoring. With a notch system in place, you can gently apply pressure while cutting with any tool to reduce the likelihood of chipping. Apply even pressure through the entire cut until you’ve gone all the way through the tile end-to-end.
Put the finishing touches on your kitchen with a backsplash that’s to die for
DIY or Hire a Professional
Cutting and installing tile yourself is a labor-intensive project that may require you to invest in some tools you don’t already have. If you want a beautiful tile wall, floor, or backsplash, you’ll need to make precise cuts. DIYers with prior tiling experience tend to get better results.
However, DIY tiling will save you between 600 and 800 on average compared to the cost of tile installation by a professional. Those savings may be worthwhile to handy homeowners on a tight budget.
FAQs
Can I cut tile without a wet saw?
If you want to know how to cut a tile without a wet saw, you can use hand tools that don’t require electricity. A manual tile cutter or snap cutter works well for the larger tiles that wet saws are typically used for. If you’re working with large quantities of tile, however, power tools are best.
Is it better to cut tile wet or dry?
It is better to cut tile wet when using a fast-moving wet saw to reduce dust and chipping. However, tile can be cut dry when using most cutting tools.
How to Cut Tile – Tools, Methods, and When to Use Them
If you’re about to tackle your first DIY tile project, then you’re probably wondering what tools you’ll actually need for the job.
In this article (and the video above), I’m going to talk about five different ways to cut tile so you will quickly learn which tools you actually need and which tools you can forget about.
Whether you are cutting ceramic tile, porcelain tile, glass tile, glass mosaic tile, or even natural stone, I’ll show you exactly which tile cutting tools and methods you’ll want to use (and which ones are a waste of time and money).
Tile Cutting Method #1 – Manual Tile Cutters
The first tool I want to mention is the manual tile cutter. This is a very common tile cutting tool and can be used on ceramic, porcelain, glass, and terra cotta tiles.
It basically scores the tile with a small carbine blade and then snaps the tile as demonstrated in the video at the bottom of this article.
This method of cutting tile is fast, easy, and doesn’t create any dust. It’s also an inexpensive tool to buy. The one in the image above cost just 50 and is perfect for ceramic tile up to 24″. However, larger tiles or harder tiles like porcelain will require a heavy duty version.
Porcelain is much harder than ceramic and requires a more robust tile cutter. If you are cutting porcelain and plan to buy or rent one of these tools, then make sure it is rated for cutting porcelain tile.
The manual tile cutter will also work on mosaic and glass mosaic tiles.
The tile cutting method will not work for most natural stone tile, however.
Tile Cutting Method #2 – Wet Table Saw
Wet table saws are staple tile cutting tools. They can cut any kind of tile and they cut a very smooth and straight edge. This is an essential tool for cutting natural stone tile and it will work with pretty much any type of tile except for glass tile.
If you’re doing a ceramic tile project, then this tool isn’t 100% necessary, but it will save you a lot of time and give you cleaner cuts. And, if you are cutting a lot of tiles to the same exact size (like when installing subway tile) this tools can save even more time.
This tool uses a diamond blade circular saw to cut the tile and pumps water onto the blade to eliminate all dust and keep the blade cool. Wet table saws come in variety of different sizes so the bigger the tile you are cutting, the bigger the wet table saw you will want to get.
A small wet table saw like you see above can be rented for about 200 per week and is a worthy investment for the DIY tiler.
Tile Cutting Method #3 – Handheld Manual Tile Cutter
The handheld manual tile cutter scores and snaps the tile just like the manual tile cutter I talked about above. However, it’s much smaller and fits in your hand.
If you look around online, you’ll see all kinds of videos of people using these and claiming how awesome and easy they are to use. However, I found this tool almost useless. That’s because you have to push hard to score the tile which makes it very difficult to cut a straight line. It’s also hard to follow a guide while cutting.
This thing can cut ceramic tile pretty well, but not straight or accurately.
So, do not waste your time or money on one of these tools.
Tile Cutting Method #4 – Angle Grinder With a Diamond Blade
The angle grinder with the diamond blade is such a useful tool. I’ve found thousands of uses for it as a pro handyman. And, it can also be used to cut any kind of tile (everything except glass).
It’s great for making small detailed cuts and circular cuts in tile. However, it does have downsides. It creates a lot of dust and it doesn’t cut a very smooth edge.
This is certainly not an essential tile cutting tools for most projects, but it does make those curved and detailed cuts much easier. But, since this tool is so useful for so many other things, I highly recommend you get one anyway. You can pick up a corded one for 30 and you’ll find dozens of uses for it down the road.
Tile Cutting Method #5 – Diamond Hole Saw
A hole saw with a diamond coating on the edge is great for cutting small holes in almost every type of tile and even granite or cement. Sometime you will have a pipe coming out of the wall right in the middle of where you want to put a tile. Without a hole saw like this those cuts can be very difficult.
These hole saws will cut through ceramic like butter in a matter of a few seconds. However, when cutting harder materials like porcelain or granite, then you’ll want put some water on it while you are cutting to keep the blade cool and to cut faster.
To use one of these, just hook it up to your power drill, put it down where you want to cut your hole and squeeze the trigger. It can be challenging to get the hole started, but once you do it is an easy tool to use.
Tile Cutting Tools By Project
Depending on the type of tile you are cutting, you will need different tools. So, here is a breakdown of the tools you want for each type of tile.
Cutting Ceramic Tile
When cutting ceramic tile you will want a wet table saw, a manual tile utter, a diamond hole saw, and an angle grinder.
You could technically get away with just a manual tile cutter and an angle grinder if you wanted to keep it minimalist. But, the wet table saw wills save you a lot of time and give you cleaner cuts.
Cutting Porcelain Tile
When cutting porcelain tile, use the same tools as you would when cutting ceramic tile except go for a heavier duty manual tile cutter. Depending on the job you are tackling, you may also want to consider a hand held wet table saw, especially if there are a lot of detail cuts.
Cutting Natural Stone Tile
Most natural stone will require a wet saw to cut well. While you can cut this with just an angle grinder, you’ll want to make the majority of your cuts with a wet saw of some kind. A wet table saw is essential here since you can’t score and snap natural stone. It just doesn’t break cleanly enough.
Cutting Glass Tile
Whether you are cutting glass mosaics or glass tile, you’ll always want to score it and snap it. Trying to cut glass with any type of saw will result in lots of chipping and a very rough edge.
Enjoy the video below which demonstrates all five cutting methods as well as provides a lot of extra tips not shared in this article.
Which Angle Grinder Disc For Tiles? | Things You Should Know
Ann Hutchinson is the heart of the team, senior editor and our Head of Product Reviews which means she sets the testing parameters of each group review ensuring that tests resemble everyday use.
How to Cut Tile With a Grinder Professionally
There are different types of angle grinder discs, such as diamond-tipped, serrated blades, etc., which can be used for tile cutting. However, choosing the right one for the purpose will mainly depend on the tile material.
Picture this: you need to resize a few tiles for your DIY kitchen or bathroom renovation, but buying a wet saw is too expensive an option. You ask a friend for help, who hands you an angle grinder. Sounds weird, right?
But angle grinders can help you with tile cutting, provided you have the right disc attachment for the tile material. And in the following sections, we will tell you all about how to choose it.
What Is An Angle Grinder After All?
- 1. Stone Cutting Disc
- 2. Steel Disc
- 3. Continuous Dry Cutting Discs
- 4. Diamond Tile Saw Blades
- 5. Serrated Blades
- 6. Carbide-Tipped Blades
- 7. Abrasive Wheels
- 1. Adust 4.5-Inch Diamond Tile Blade
- 2. Casaverde 4.5-Inch Super Thin Blade
- 3. Rok 4 ½-Inch Diamond Saw Blade Set
- 1. Size
- 2. Shape
- The Preparation
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
An angle grinder is a power tool that can be either corded or cordless (battery-powered), typically used for cutting, smoothing rough edges, grinding, and finishing metals. It’s equipped with a rotating abrasive disc, which performs all these tasks.
And as you may have already figured out, there are different types of discs, depending on the type of material you want to work with. We will talk about them in a later section.
Used for both residential and commercial purposes, angle grinders come in handy for different tasks, including:
- Sharpening gardening mower and shear blades
- Deburring steel frames
- Cutting protruding metal pieces
- Cutting ceramic, natural stone, and porcelain tiles
Which Angle Grinder Should You Use For Cutting Tiles?
Although angle grinders may not be the perfect tool for cutting tiles, the good news is they do the job pretty well. over, there are different discs available for the job, which we’ve listed below.
Stone Cutting Disc
Stone discs or blades are the most affordable choice, suitable for users who don’t really need a lot of precision while cutting tiles. These discs make thick cuts and generate a lot of dust, so you should always use them outdoors and wear proper protective gear to protect your eyes and nose.
Another thing to note is that a stone grinding disc isn’t very durable either, so you need to constantly keep an eye on it. The moment you notice the blade chipping, replace it with a new one.
Steel Disc
A steel disc is undoubtedly one of the most reliable options to achieve satisfactorily clean cuts, thanks to the diamond coating on it. In other words, a steel blade is essentially a diamond-tipped blade that can take on heavy-duty tile cutting.
These discs make it easier to make both curved and straight cuts on tiles without straining your nerves too much. Although they are more durable than their stone counterparts, their lifespan will ultimately depend on the intensity and frequency of the cutting.
Continuous Dry Cutting Discs
Another option in the diamond-tipped category is the continuous dry-cutting disc, which is a solid disc best suited for edging the tiles with straight cutting. A pro tip- wet the tile with a spray gun from time to time to help the blade cool down and prevent it from overworking.
Diamond Tile Saw Blades
As the name may have already suggested, diamond saw blades can cut through tiles made from glass, ceramic, natural stone, porcelain, granite, etc. In fact, the best diamond tile saw blades are extremely sharp to provide the smoothest of cuts without chipping.
Many users who use angle grinders for cutting ceramic tiles (or any other type, for that matter) consider these blades to be the best, as they can cut even the toughest tile. But these high-power blades tend to be more expensive than the other types.
Furthermore, diamond saw blades can be categorized into dry and wet blades. While the former can work on dry surfaces, the latter will require the surface to be sprayed down with water at regular intervals. This helps to cool their core, making them perform longer without any significant issues when used properly.
Serrated Blades
If you aren’t particularly looking for a smooth cut on your tiles, then a serrated blade is a good option to go for. But that’s not the only advantage it provides, as serrated blades are extremely helpful when it comes to cutting concrete tiles.
Likewise, they are a preferred choice for cutting tiles made of materials like natural stone, which are harder than their ceramic counterparts.
Carbide-Tipped Blades
These blades offer you a decent mix of price and performance, as they generate satisfactory cutting power without burning a hole in your
Abrasive Wheels
Abrasive wheels are perhaps the cheapest option out there; however, the low price comes at the cost of low durability. But one benefit of these blades is they are compatible with most materials.
Best Angle Grinder Discs On The Market Right Now
Now that you have a fair idea about the different types of angle grinder discs, let us quickly take you through some of the best models on the market. You will see that all of them come under the diamond blade category, as most professionals recommend this type for cutting ceramic tile with the best results.
Adust 4.5-Inch Diamond Tile Blade
First up is the Adust 4.5-inch diamond tile blade, which is a preferred choice for cutting porcelain tiles. However, it also works well for ceramic, slate, marble, and other types of natural stone tiles. With a super thin turbo mesh rim and X-tooth design, it can provide faster and cleaner cuts with minimal chipping for your bathroom or kitchen tiles.
over, it weighs a little more than 12 ounces, so you can rest assured that it won’t add much to the overall weight of your angle grinder. It’s also one of the most durable options on the market today for both professionals and DIYers.
Casaverde 4.5-Inch Super Thin Blade
Yet another angle grinder blade that’s worth considering is this unit from Casaverde, which offers chip-free cuts even on the toughest tiles. It facilitates dry and wet cutting alike, and a special heat-treat function keeps the temperature down when dry cutting for longer periods.
Users have liked how this unit is compatible with different materials like reinforced concrete and metals without compromising on a smooth finish. And if you’re wondering what angle grinder disc for wood will work best, then this unit can be a suitable answer to that, too.
Rok 4 ½-Inch Diamond Saw Blade Set
For people who may want to get their hands on a cost-effective blade set, Rok has got the perfect solution. According to the brand, this pack of 3 blades is suitable for making straight as well as angle cuts on varied materials, including granite, marble, ceramics, and concrete.
Each unit is equipped with a 1-inch turbo cutting rim that takes care of speed and precision, no matter if it’s a wet or dry cutting job. However, some users complain that the blades may not be very effective for longer cutting tasks.
Some Other Tips To Choose The Right Tile Cutting Blade
Size
Aside from the type of blade, you should consider the size (diameter) of the blade, as a bigger blade will easily cut more surface in one go.
Shape
Grinder blades come in different shapes, with square, rectangle, and segmented variants being the most commonly used ones. And each one brings different benefits and some drawbacks. For instance, squared-shaped tiles make it easier to perform straight cuts, but they may not be very useful for making curved cuts.
Rectangular blades, on the other hand, can be the perfect bet to make long, uninterrupted cuts, thanks to their larger surface area. However, they don’t score very high in terms of precision.
How To Use An Angle Grinder For Cutting Tiles?
The Preparation
Before starting with the job, ensure that you have the right tool and blade for the purpose.
For the unversed, angle grinders come in different variations, but the electric-powered ones are more popular, especially for standard DIY tile cutting and similar tasks. This is mainly because they can cover a larger area without requiring too much effort from the user.
Electric angle grinders are further divided into corded and cordless models, and you can choose one according to your needs and budget.
As for the tile cutter blade, it should be picked according to the material you will be working with. While a diamond-tipped blade with a smooth edge is considered most suitable to cut ceramic tiles, you can achieve cleaner cuts with notched blades for porcelain tiles.
After this is done, the next important thing is to wear adequate safety gear like work gloves, safety goggles, and a dust mask. Otherwise, you will expose yourself to injuries from the moving blade and flying debris from the tiles.
You can also use a pair of earplugs, as tile cutting generally produces a lot of noise, irrespective of the material. And now that the preparation is over, it’s time to get down to business!
Step 1
Start by securing the ceramic or porcelain tile to the work surface using clamps so that it doesn’t move through the cutting process. Dedicate adequate time to this step; otherwise, you will invariably risk injuring yourself, damaging the workspace, and messing up the cut itself.
Step 2
Once you’re sure that the tile is properly secured on the work surface, draw an outline of the cut on the tile. And if you haven’t measured the area where the tile is to be set, this is the time to do it, as you need to cut the tile according to that measurement.
Depending on your needs, the cut outline can be of any shape, but always ensure that its perimeter is protected with mask tape to prevent chipping from the edges.
Step 3
Begin cutting the tile by holding the grinder at an angle most suitable for the cut. Straight cuts are better achieved by keeping the blade straight while making curves will require you to hold the tool at an angle. In fact, an angle grinder can perform better than a wet saw when it comes to angled cuts.
Keeping the blade vertically along the marked area will help you cut directly into the surface of the tile. On the other hand, a horizontal blade movement that’s kept flush with the outline facilitates making rounded cuts with better precision. In hindsight, you shape the tile by cutting away smaller bits at one go rather than cutting into the surface directly.
Similarly, the pressure applied for the cut will largely depend on the thickness of the material. Thicker materials will obviously need more pressure, which is not the case with thinner materials.
We’d suggest starting with moderate pressure, as you can increase it gradually. Too much force from the get-go can mess up the cut, and you won’t get the chance to rectify it.
Continue cutting until the tile has the desired shape and size.
Angle Grinder Disc For Tiles Conclusion
So, which is the best angle grinder blade for cutting tiles?
Well, the answer to that will depend on the type of tile you’re working with. And if you’re still unsure, refer to the instructions of the manufacturer of the blades.
With that, it’s time for us to say goodbye, but not without a final pro tip: some tiles are prone to chipping and breakage from the vibration of the blade. So, use the angle grinder tools to tighten the blade properly, thereby minimizing the vibration.
If you want to know more about angle grinders, refer to our other read on ” See you again!