Need some help cutting porcelain tiles

RSWANNABE

RSWANNABE

Forum Member
So I'm wrapping up the backsplash in my kitchen and I am struggling to cut the tiles for wall outlets. I break every one of them I try, no matter how many different videos and advice I follow.

Can any of you do this for me? or can you recommend a place or someone that can?

The tiles are porcelain, 8" x 8" and 1/2 inch thick.

Thanks in advance,
Jon
 
I bought one of those stupid tile cutting devices with the little wheel on it that scores the top. I bent the hell out of the handle getting it to work right....
 
Joe, I bought a 4" diameter diamond blade for a cutoff tool. Tried plunging from the front and finishing on the back as YouTube shows.

Geoff, I Can't really score a rectangle in the middle of a tile and snap it out.

Yeah Denny, for the length I have a wet saw and it's cake. the score and snap tool I bought is crap.
 
WhiteHawk said:
I have a hand held tile cutter from harbour freight you can try. I used it for tear out in my bathroom.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-handheld-dry-cut-tile-saw-62296.html

Not sure how it would work for cutting a hole in the middle of a tile - I almost think the problem is more related to how to support the tile than what to cut it with.

-Geoff
Click to expand...
Thanks much! but I bought that exact saw.

Essentially doing it this way, but it's porcelain...
I watched a different video of porcelain, i just didn't find it quickly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=esBwev6HyYE
 
make sure the tile is held securely in place. Using a continuous edged diamond blade with a warm wet feed, start your plunge cut from the face side & do all four sides as close to the corners for each cut.
Flip the tile over & repeat the above to finish off the corners requiring cutting.
Do not wobble the tool. Try to keep it as steady as possible.


Sometimes it may be needed to predrill a divot or, if possible, a thru-hole at each corner before starting the cutting.

Last ditch effort, mark your tiles & take it over to a tile/stone shop that specializes in porcelain.
https://stclairstone.com/ 586-666-4382
https://www.bellacasatile.com 586-415-9200
 
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It sounds like you are getting too much vibration in the tile when you are cutting it. Like mentioned before support it better or clamp to a surface and try it out. You could also try scoring the lines and then making your cut on that score.
 
I did a lot of finish work with the tile nibbler plier looking things. I did some corner work with those and filled in the imperfections with grout! Basement..... Good luck! I hope you have extra tiles!
 
Just went through this....the way some tiles are manufactured you cannot cut a square area within the tile without it breaking. You have to plan laying out the tiles so you cut three sides of square and have last at the edge/grout line. I cracked 2-3 trying cut a square in middle then googled it and found out you cant.
 
I just dropped my tiles off at Bella Casa Tile. They said they would get them cut the next time they had one of their contractors come in. Said probably the beginning of next week. So I'll let you guys know the out come and cost.

Thanks Beigg for that idea.
 
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