Cutting porcelain tiles?

Question

We are building a new home and are planning on laying porcelain tiles in the majority of the living areas. can anyone offer advice about cutting these tiles? we understand that they need to be cut using a wet saw however we had a play on the weekend and they tended to chip on the edges. is there a special blade for porcelain? any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. thanks.

Answer 1

You need to have a wet saw but it should be a quality wet saw. It the alignment between the fence/guide bars is off, even a little, from the blade you'll find that the tile on one side of the blade will chip at the back of the blade as it comes back up thru the tile. Try setting the blade so it barely cuts thru the tile or get the blade aligned with the guides.

Good luck

Answer 2

Porcelain Tile Cutter

Answer 3

I've installed a lot of tile in my time and I'm a bit confused with some details in your Q.

You state you understand the tiles NEED to be cut with a wet saw, which by the way isn't the only tool that works,,, and yet in the same sentence you state you "HAD A PLAY"??? and tiles chipped? I'll assume that maybe that's a coloquialism? Keep in mind that while porcelain is slightly different in the way the tiles are produced, it's still fired/glazed clay...Essentially Glass.

Porcelain often has the tile color and grain running all the way through the tile. The design aids in chips being less visible.

In tiling any area all cuts should be at the perimeters, or in areas where a column must be cut around, etc. The pieces of tile should have been crafted with the edges slightly depressed from the rest of the face of the tile, allowing for grouting.

One answer has a good suggestion, in the mechanics of a wet saw. Whether or not you rented/borrowed/or bought one, the blade should be new, or nearly new, for every new job. The water dispersal should be even and constant during operation. Any guides should be secure to allow a square/non binding cut.

I have various tools I use, always save the cuts for the last, and actually use a Di-Grinder with a Diamond blade, as often as I use the wet saw.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

I cut everything with a cheap $14 handheld tile cutter at HP or Rona. Score a line and snap. I cut tiles in shapes like rocks for my fireplace. The tiles are cheaper and lighter. Just gentle snap and then hard snap. Straight live curve line. You should be OK after practicing with three tiles. Use the tip of hammer or regular pliers to round the corner, 1/4" at a time. Use a tile filer to smooth the edges.

Answer 5

You can cut them with a makita with a 4 inch dry blade from home depot.Base boards allow 5/8 of an inch coverage that should be more than enough to cover anychips.I would also recomend checking pawn shops for a good cutting board such as a ruby but you can get by with a superior or in ishi.Also one side of the blade always seems to cut smoother than the other in my experience it's usually the inside.Another trick is to sprinkle water in the cut line if it is chipping badly.

Answer 6

You can use a manual tile cutter which scores the tile and snaps it at the score line, if you rented a wet saw the blade may have been dull, it should not chip out the tile...a diamond tipped blade is excellent for cutting tile....check with Lowes or the place that rents the wet saw..

Answer 7

wet saw should work fine, if the blade is in good condition and the water is hitting both sides of the blade. On larger tile saws the water is pumped through two tubes one pointed at either side of the blade, make sure the tubes are putting water on both sides of the blade and that the pump is sufficiently submerged. If you are using a smaller box type saw where the blade is actually submerged in the water make sure that the water reservoir has adequate water. If the water is not the problem the blade may need replacing.

Answer 8

Go to your tile center or hardware store. You can either hire a tile cutter,or you can buy them Not cheap here in NZ,but if youv'e got a lot to do they are great. Very easy to use. We also use a Tile Hammer and chisel for thicker tiles. You score the place where you want to cut, Put tile on top of a brick or piece of wood, tap tile on the scored edge,and usually it breaks clean.Don't like tiles in all areas personally. Very cold,
slippery,and get dirty quickly. But Good luck.

Answer 9

Buy or rent a GOOD wet saw with a fresh blade.

Answer 10

I use glass cuter and a wire cuter for chipping exter off