How To Cut Porcelain?

Porcelain is a luxurious tile for home décor. It is mostly used for kitchens and bathrooms. The versatility makes it popular among designers. Porcelain is more durable than ceramic. This also makes it difficult to cut and shape. It is a beautiful material, but it requires high strength to be cut. In this article, we will give you guide on how to cut porcelain. We will describe each method in brief and list the things required for the project too.

Step By Step Guide On How To Cut Porcelain Tiles

There are many ways to cut porcelain tiles. In this article, we will elaborate on each method for you. The very first thing you need to know about porcelain is its fragility. Gather all the information you can about your porcelain. There are different subtypes of porcelain, so we understand that this can be a task. But at the same time, it is essential to know your material.

Porcelain can be too hard or too brittle, too glossy, or slightly matte. You have to know these basic things before you read ahead. The next thing to remember is the tools required. Your regular tools are not useful for porcelain. Porcelain is unique, so you need a different set of tools to cut it. If nothing pans out, you can use a jigsaw. We will address this in the following sections. 

The universal step: We are going to call this the ‘universal step’ because it is common for any method you use. Can you guess what it might be? Yes, we are talking about safety concerns. If you are a regular reader, you know that we take safety very seriously. Before diving into the steps, here are the hazards of working with porcelain. 

The kind of tools you will be working with are not the usual ones. The blades now are ten times sharper. This means there is a higher risk of being injured. You have to be alert and super careful at all times. Also, bear in mind that since you are using new tools, you got to familiarize yourself with them first. The type of appliances you will be using is called rotor tools. There are the monsters of the carpentry world. They tear into anything that comes in their way. Hence, monsters. Aside from that, the fast pace will cause a lot of dust and dirt in the air. Your vision can get affected by so much residue.

Therefore you need to wear high-quality safety goggles. You don’t want to recreate a scene from Final Destination. Thus, protect your eyes. The next thing you need to be careful about is heat. The tools will create immense pressure and friction while functioning. This radiates heat, a lot of heat. Therefore you will need very thick hand gloves. If you are using a wet saw, you can go easy on the safety measures. We said, ‘go easy’ and not ‘eliminate.’ You still have to be very careful.

The tools and materials here are quite expensive. Is this your first time working with porcelain? Here is a trick. Ask your supplier to give you a cheaper tile like porcelain. You can practice this first. This will help you acquire the skill needed. Now, we move on to the process of cutting porcelain tiles. There are three methods we will focus on. Use any way that is convenient for you. 

Method 1: Wet Saw

null!– wp:rank-math/howto-block null –> nulldiv class=”wp-block-rank-math-howto-block”> nulldiv class=”rank-math-howto-step”> nullh3 class=”rank-math-howto-title”>Step 1: nullstrong>Preparationnull/strong>null/h3> nulldiv class=”rank-math-howto-content”>At the start of this section, we already told you that you need to have maximum knowledge about the tile. This is part of your preparation. Once you are ready with that, we will move on to physically working on the tile. You have to mark the tile with a grease pencil. Common sense dictates that you cannot use the carpenters’ pencil here. nullbr />nullbr />Therefore you need a grease pencil. Your mark should be dark enough for you to see. Do not make it too dark, or it will stain that perfect porcelain. Although the target goes on the reverse side, we still have to be careful. Once the score is ready, keep the wet saw available. Position it in a way that the back of the saw is forcefully pushed against the edge of the tile. Trace the blade onto the mark you made. The blade has to be aligned with the score. null/div> null/div> nulldiv class=”rank-math-howto-step”> nullh3 class=”rank-math-howto-title”>Step 2: The Cutnull/h3> nulldiv class=”rank-math-howto-content”>Now you have to switch on your saw. Don’t cut with it immediately. Wait for the water to drip down the blade. Enjoy this sight; it is fascinating. Once the water is flowing smoothly, start moving the tile. It has to go through the edge slowly. You don’t want to rush this step. Hold the tile with both your hands. nullbr />nullbr />A trick to keep the tiles from chipping is to push the edges together as it gets cut. Suppose your markings are simple straight lines, good for you. Curvy lines require a lot of practice. There are only two steps to using a wet saw, but you have to be very careful with the saw. It is an unfamiliar tool, and controlling it might be difficult. Get a few spare tiles to practice on before you start.null/div> null/div> null/div> null!– /wp:rank-math/howto-block –>

Method 2: The Angle Grinder

This is another popular method to cut saws. It is quite versatile too. It is easier to control than a wet saw. Dewalt has the best angle grinder available. 

Step 1: Preparation

This is the same step as the preparation for a wet saw. You have to mark the areas you wish to cut. For an angle grinder, you need a cloth that acts as a base. Keep the tile on a soft cloth. This will avoid damage to the tile. 

Step 2: Scoring

This is different than the scoring you regularly do. This is like a pilot cut that you make. For this step, you need to trace the mark you made gently. Use a light hand and do this with the blade. Do not cut too deep. Take an estimate according to the breadth of the tile. Approximately it can be between 3 to 8 inches.

Step 3: The Cut

The previous step will make cutting easier. You have to position your grinder blade inside the pilot or the score cut. Now, tilt your blade slightly. This can be about 30 to 45 degrees. Once you start cutting, keep moving the tile along the mark you made. Hold the tile firmly. 

Step 4: The Finishing Touch

Any newly cut material will have rough edges. Porcelain is no different. Usually, we use sandpaper to smoothen sharp edges. Unfortunately, we cannot apply our favorite smoothing technique here. You can use the edge of the grinder itself. Rub the edge of the grinder on the rough edges. Do this till you feel the transition from rough to smooth edges. 

A wet saw and angle grinder are the best-rated ways to cut tiles. But, they can be inconvenient for small projects. If your project is relatively simple, you can use a tile cutter. This is cheaper than the previous two methods. The only drawback is that it is manual.

Method 3: Tile Cutter

Step 1: Preparation

Just like the previous methods, you have to mark your porcelain tile. Keep the tile on a cloth (preferably a soft, cotton cloth). This will be a barrier against chipping and other damages. Since the project is simple, the markings will be straightforward too. Tile cutters are best only for straight lines.

Step 2: The Cut

Place the tile under the tile cutter blade. The blade has to be precisely above the mark. Push the handle of the tile cutter slowly. This is not your main cut. You are scoring the tile. Use the same approximate measures, as stated above. Scoring helps you gain accuracy. Do this to all your tile pieces first. Now, apply an adequate amount of pressure on the tile. Don’t cut too hard or fast. Porcelain is very delicate. The most important thing is the amount of force you apply. Just like the wet saw, it will help if you practice this first. 

Step 3: The Finishing Touch

To smoothen the rough edges, you can now use sandpaper. Only sandpaper will not be enough, so you will have to coil it around a block of wood. This is not convenient for massive tile projects. Keep rubbing the sandpaper till the edges have smoothened. 

Method 4: Tile Nipper

Keep in mind that tile nippers are highly manual. They can only be used for small projects and low-quality porcelain. The steps remain the same as a tile cutter.

Regardless of what method you use, your number one step has to be the safety measure. We didn’t want to be repetitive, so we put that as the universal step. Follow it for any method, without fail. 

Things You Will Need

There are quite a few things you need depending on the method you adopt. We will list the general items you require:

• The Porcelain tile: Depending on your project, buy tiles that are compatible with your venture. You can cut marble too similarly.
• The tools: You can pick from a wet saw, an angle grinder, or a tile cutter. 
• A grease pencil: Since you cannot use a carpenter’s pencil on tiles, you need to upgrade your pencil.
• A ruler or measuring tape: The first step of all the methods is to mark and measure. For this, you need a ruler or a measuring tape.
• A long cotton cloth
• A mask or a respirator mask: If you are too conscious about inhaling the dust, use a high-end respiratory mask.
• Safety goggles
• Sturdy Gloves
• The last three are the safety precautions for this project. Do not neglect any of these.

FAQs

Final Thought

If you are doing this out of a hobby, you have something great to boast about once you finish. Initially, cutting porcelain might seem daunting because of its properties. However, if you see the steps, they are pretty straightforward. All you need is the right tool. Do not forget to wear your safety gear. We hope this article helps you excel in your project.