What Hand Tool Will Cut Tile?

Cutting tile to custom sizes and shapes is an important part of many tile installation and repair projects. While tiles can be professionally cut for you, learning to cut them yourself gives you more flexibility, customization options, and potential cost savings on your project. There are several effective tools available for cutting ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles.

The most common tile cutting tools are wet saws, angle grinders, glass cutters, nippers, and manual tile cutters. Each has advantages and disadvantages that make them more or less suitable for different types of cuts and tiles. Selecting the right tool for your needs and using proper cutting techniques helps ensure clean, accurate cuts without damaging the tiles.

This article provides an overview of popular tile cutting tools, their capabilities, and guidelines for choosing the right option for your project and tiles.

Tile Cutters

Tile cutters are manual hand tools used to cut ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles to size. They typically consist of a base plate, a cutting wheel, and a handle or lever used to apply pressure and score the tile. The main types of tile cutters include:

• Snap tile cutters – These have a wheel that scores the glaze on the tile and a lever that snaps the tile along the scored line. They are best for straight cuts on soft tiles like ceramic.
• Wheel tile cutters – These use a diamond-tipped cutting wheel attached to a carriage that the tile is fed through to make the cut. They can cut a variety of shapes and angles.



• Grip cutters – Cuts are made using shearing pressure from tightening a screw-down gripper bar on the tile as it rests on the cutting wheel.

Tile cutters are a very cost-effective and portable option compared to power tools like wet saws (URL1). They can make straight or diagonal cuts without the need for electricity. Tile cutters are simple to operate with some practice and require little setup time. Most can cut tiles up to 20 inches long.

The main limitations are that tile cutters can only make straight cuts, require physical effort to operate, and may chip or crack very hard porcelain or stone tiles. They also cannot make intricate curved cuts. Tile cutters work best for small jobs using softer tile materials (URL2).

Wet Saws

Wet saws, also known as tile saws, are power tools designed specifically for cutting tile and stone. They use a circular diamond blade to cut through hard materials while continuously spraying water on the blade to cool it and minimize dust. The water prevents the blade from overheating while cutting, which can cause cracks, chips, and brittle edges.

Wet saws come with different diamond blade sizes, typically 4-10 inches in diameter. The larger the blade, the deeper the cut capacity. Common blades include continuous rim blades for curved cuts and turbo blades with segmented rims for fast, straight cuts. The number and size of diamond segments affects cutting speed – more large diamonds cut aggressively while smaller segments provide a smoother finish.

Benefits of wet saws include making precise straight and angled cuts, cutting large format tiles, and efficiently cutting multiple tiles thanks to the sliding table. The water containment also minimizes dangerous silica dust. Downsides are the electric power requirements, larger size and weight, and the mess created from the water spray. Overall, wet saws are indispensable for major tile projects.

Angle Grinders

An angle grinder is a handheld power tool that can be used for cutting, grinding and polishing. Many tile professionals use angle grinders to make straight or curved cuts in tile, especially for tricky areas like door jambs or outlets. To cut tile with an angle grinder, a diamond blade designed for masonry is attached to the grinder.

When using an angle grinder to cut tile, safety should always be the top priority. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from debris and gloves to protect your hands. A respirator mask is also recommended to avoid inhaling dust particles. Work slowly and carefully, holding the grinder firmly with both hands. Make sure the area is clear of any trip hazards before beginning.

Angle grinders allow for straight or curved cuts, unlike manual tile cutters which are typically limited to straight cuts. An advantage is that angle grinders can cut through very hard materials like porcelain or natural stone. However, controlling the cut precisely takes skill and the process generates a lot of dust. Angle grinders also tend to be noisy and require an electrical outlet, so they aren’t as convenient for some situations.

Glass Cutters

A standard glass cutter can be an effective tool for cutting certain types of tile. To cut tile with a glass cutter, you first score the tile by lightly dragging the cutter along the line you want to cut. Use a straightedge as a guide to ensure your line is straight. Only apply light pressure when scoring to avoid scratching too deep. Once scored, the tile can be snapped cleanly along the scored line by using pliers or bending the tile with your hands. This snap method works best on thinner tile materials like wall tile and mosaic sheets.

Glass cutters are quick and inexpensive. However, they may chip tile if too much pressure is applied. They also struggle to make precise cuts on thicker floor tile. Overall, glass cutters are best suited for basic straight cuts in thin wall or mosaic tile when you need a fast, simple solution.

Nippers

Tile nippers are plier-like tools designed to nibble away at tile edges. They have small jaws usually made of tungsten carbide that can chip off small pieces of tile. Nippers are best for making detailed cuts, shaving off bumps or ridges, or removing protruding edges.

Nippers come in handy when you need to trim tiles to fit against walls or around outlets and fixtures. They allow for intricate nibbling and shaping in tight spaces. Unlike other tile cutting tools, nippers don’t require water or electricity. Their compact size makes them highly portable and convenient for minor tile adjustments.

The main limitation with nippers is that they can only remove small chips of tile at a time. Trying to cut an entire tile in half would be tedious and time-consuming. Nippers are also not suitable for making straight cuts over longer distances. Their shaping capabilities are best reserved for detailed edgework and fitting tiles into awkward spots.

Manual Tile Saws

Manual tile saws, sometimes called handheld tile cutters, are compact and portable tools designed specifically for cutting ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles. They provide a cost-effective option for basic straight cuts without the need for electricity or water.

These manual saws have diamond-coated steel blades that are strong enough to cut through tough tiles. The most common types of blades are continuous rim and turbo rim. Continuous rim blades have diamond-cutting segments around the entire edge, making them suitable for curved cuts. Turbo rim blades have segmented diamond edges in a circular pattern, optimized for fast straight cuts.

Benefits of manual tile saws include their affordability, ease of use, and convenient size for maneuvering. They can make quick straight or curved cuts through tiles up to 1⁄4” thick. Their compact size allows cutting tiles even when set in place, like around electrical outlets or next to cabinets. Drawbacks are that they cannot make mitered cuts, work slower than powered wet saws, and generate more dust.

Overall, manual tile saws provide a simple, low-cost cutting solution for small indoor tile projects. They excel at straight cuts and controlled curved cuts in thinner tiles. For frequent tile cutting or complex jobs, a wet saw is recommended. But for basic indoor tile needs, a handheld manual tile saw can be an ideal choice.

Which Tool is Best?

When choosing the right tile cutting tool, there are several factors to consider:

Wet Saws

Wet saws are best for cutting large quantities of tile. The water prevents dust and cooling the blade allows precise cuts. Wet saws can cut thick tile and various materials. But they require setup, can be messy, and are less portable.

Angle Grinders

Angle grinders with a diamond blade allow straight or angled cuts. They work for most tile including thick, natural stone. Angle grinders are portable and good for small jobs. But they generate more dust and require a steady hand.

Glass Cutters

Glass cutters are only for thin tile like mosaic sheets. They provide clean, quick cuts without setup. However, they can only do straight cuts and are not suitable for heavy use.

Manual Tile Cutters

Manual tile cutters are inexpensive, portable and good for small, straight cuts. But they can only handle thin tile and have limited cutting length. They are best for light duty home use.

For most DIY tile jobs, a good choice is a basic wet saw or angle grinder with diamond blade. Consider your tile type, project size, needed cut types, and budget. And always use proper eye and ear protection.

Cutting Techniques

Before cutting tiles, proper measuring and marking is crucial. Use a tape measure to determine the size needed and mark the cut lines with a pencil. Make sure to account for the spacers between tiles. Scoring the tile surface with a glass cutter or carbide-tipped pencil along the cut line helps guide the break.According to Rubi, score the tile’s surface without cutting all the way through, then snap the tile upwards to get a clean break along the score line. Apply firm, even pressure when scoring for the best results.

For straight cuts, align a guide or straightedge like a speed square along the cut line. For holes, mark the center point and use a carbide hole cutter by drilling pilot holes and working outward. Adjustable tile edge guides can help align repeat cuts. For tricky layouts, make a plywood or plastic jig to guide the cutting. Take safety precautions like glasses and gloves when cutting. Work slowly and carefully for the most precise cuts.

Conclusion

When cutting tile by hand, most DIYers will find the best results using a manual tile saw. Wet saws, while very effective, tend to be expensive and require more setup. Angle grinders get the job done but create a lot of dust and debris. Glass cutters, nippers, and tile pliers can handle small jobs but aren’t ideal for cutting multiple tiles or large formats. The manual tile saw provides a good balance of affordability, portability, water cooling to reduce dust, and the ability to make accurate straight or angled cuts. While patience and practice are needed to master manual tile cutting, it is a skill worth developing for any home tile project.