CUTTING CERAMICS

[Belboz]

I appreciate that there is a small section on this in the WIKI and I appreciate that several posts have been made surrounding this subject but....

What is the best method of cutting larger [thin] ceramic wall tiles?

I have a number of tiling tools [nippers, hand saws, scribes etc.] and have tried a few of the 'sliding' cutters. However, they always appear to break up the ceramic face at the cut edge whether cut back or front ways and whether scribed or not [maybe I am not scribing deeply enough?] Not a problem where the tile edge is hidden but there are some places where the tile edge will be seen.

I have a large water-cooled cutter for quarry and floor tiles but I assume this would be too much for cutting thin ceramics and would cause the same 'chipping' of the ceramic face at the edge.

Any definitive ideas e.g. do I need to buy a smaller electric cutter??

Many Thanks - especially to all the regular experts who post - your help is invaluable!!

 

[NickStone]

I'm not one of the regular experts. I'm not an expert at all, but I have just finished tiling a kitchen and I'm wondering why you have raw tile edges showing? No matter how neatly you cut this edge, it probably always will look like a cut edge. To look finished, I'd suggest you hide the cut edge under tile trim. You can get some very discreet types now, like this:
http://www.tilerite.co.uk/ItemPageStyle2.asp?CategoryCode=86&SubCatCode=198

It comes in different depths so one should fit your tiles. All you see when fixed is the flat edge.

 

[Belboz]

Thanks for the reply.

Problem is mainly the window.

The window reveal is only a narrow one. Therefore, either cut the tile so the cut edge is meeting the window [cut edge visible] or place the engineered edge towards the window and join the cut edge to the 90 degree face of the wall in front of the reveal.

Method 1 is better but, no matter which is used, cut edges are still visible.

Thanks

 

[jefoss]

straight cuts a dry "hand" cutter would be best.

the edges should never be seen, if you are putting into a window you could use a plastic trim, tile right up to it and then you get a good finish.

 

[NickStone]

Thanks for the reply.

Problem is mainly the window.

Thanks

Ah, yes, windows! Trim is ideal for these. If the tiles are white, you could use plastic but if - like me - you don't like the curved profile, aluminium/stainless steel finish looks better and more discreet if you use the flat type.

 

[Belboz]

Thanks all.

Much obliged.