Do-it-yourself tile cutter from a grinder

How to make a homemade manual tile cutter

If you don't want or can't make an electric tile cutter, you can try making a hand tool. This mechanical design has undeniable advantages:

simple and safe to use;
light;
mobile;
compact;
relatively inexpensive.

It is suitable for cutting floor and porcelain tiles at home.

Manual tile cutter

Such a tile cutter is a platform on which the cable, HP and cutting element (RE) attached to the handle are fixed. When pressed against the ceramic, it draws a cut line. Next, the pressing platform presses on the tile, and it breaks into particles. The particles have smooth edges.

Manual tile cutters come in mechanical, roller and bearing types. You can create any kind of home. They differ from each other only in certain elements.

Step-by-step instruction

To make a tool, you need certain metal parts and a cutting element. For the latter, you can use a standard glass cutter. Before installation in the tile cutter, the glass cutter must be freed from the head. Also, creating a tool involves the use of bearing elements, so prepare them in advance.

First of all, we make the base of the tile cutter: a tabletop with a gutter and an HP in the middle. A good wide board is suitable for this purpose. Hinge the welded metal strips onto it. Make recesses in the center of the inner side and drive bushings into them - they will ensure the sliding of the handle with the cutter and limit its stroke.

The cutter should be positioned so that when you press the handle, it touches the tile and draws a line on it. While pressing, the tile is fixed on the board, then we pull the RE handle and that’s it - the tile is cut.

As you can see, the scheme for creating and operating such a tile cutter is really very simple.

Manual or electric tile cutter: which is better?

However, the breaking quality of manual ones is somewhat lower than that of electric ones (much depends on professional skills). It is also difficult to use a manual tile cutter to work with thick large tiles, such as floor tiles. If you need a device for home repairs or infrequent paid work, a manual tile cutter will be quite enough. Which manual tile cutter should you choose? We can recommend the MTX 87688, which can work with tiles up to 600 mm long.

If you plan to do cladding seriously, take a portable unit. Otherwise, for small one-time repairs, it is better to give preference to a manual device.

These units are more expensive than the previous two types. If you still decide to choose a stationary electric tile cutter for your garage, we recommend purchasing the Caliber PLE-200/1000 model - it is relatively inexpensive, but at the same time powerful and productive.

How do you tap walls for wiring?

Like any other construction and repair work, gating can be done manually or mechanized.

For manual work use:

chisel. A universal tool for working with any hard materials, from wood to stone. Used in conjunction with a hammer. For mechanized chipping, hammer drill chisels are used;
scarpel (feminine) or a hammer, a tool similar to a chisel and chisel for working with hard stone, concrete, brick, and so on. There is also a manual version and for power tools.

Since manual gating is convenient only in small areas and not too hard materials - otherwise the task becomes unnecessarily labor-intensive - universal and specialized power tools are most often used:

a hammer drill with a chisel or scarpel installed in it. Depending on the material of the building structure, the selected type of nozzle (including the width and material of the working part) and the impact power of the hammer drill, furrows of a larger or smaller cross-section can be made. However, they always turn out uneven, with broken edges. It is also possible that fragments of masonry/monolith/plaster may fall out during the process;
drill. Here the work is carried out in several stages - first, holes are drilled (in the normal operating mode of the tool) to the groove depth in increments of 1.5...2 mm. It is advisable to choose a drill with a diameter close to the required groove width. Next, using a spatula, “select” the material between the holes. The disadvantage of this method is the same as that of a puncher, a sloppy appearance and uneven edges of the furrow. In addition, changing the operating mode (lateral loads instead of axial loads when working with a blade) can lead to rapid tool failure;
grinder or angle grinder. In both cases, special discs are used for work, designed for working on concrete (brick, aerated concrete, and so on). They cut the edges of the groove at the desired distance, after which the material between the cut grooves is removed using any other hand or power tool. In this case, even when working with a hammer drill, the edges are quite smooth;
wall chaser This is a professional and quite expensive tool, rarely used by home craftsmen, but it is the one that allows you to perform gating as efficiently and quickly as possible. Almost always this device is equipped with an output to an industrial vacuum cleaner.

Homemade electric tile cutter

You can make a tile cutter yourself from a grinder. This is a complex process, but the result is a very practical tool.

The proposed version of the tool eliminates the above disadvantages. Even a person who does not have special skills and technical knowledge can make it.

Required:

Bulgarian. You must use a fully functional tool.
Metal plates. Their thickness should be 5mm, and the plate size should be about 150x60mm.
Metal ring. Its width should be 20mm, the internal diameter should coincide with the diameter of the flange on the angle grinder. It can be made by cutting off a part of the pipe with the required parameters.
Textolite sheet measuring 300x200mm and about 30mm thick. This will subsequently become the base of the device.
Four 10mm nuts, three 10mm bolts, self-tapping screws of the appropriate size.
Tools for processing metal elements.
Drill and set of metal drills.
Welding machine.

Do-it-yourself wall chaser from a grinder

Let's look at how to make a device for cutting walls for wiring (or other work), using a grinder as a base.

This homemade product will be useful for those who independently make repairs in an apartment or house (in particular, carry out work on installing electrical wiring) and want to save money.

For example, for one-time work there is no point in purchasing an expensive factory tool, which will then lie idle.

To make a homemade wall chaser from a grinder

, the author will use a welding machine and a lathe.

What you will need

Of the basic materials for making homemade products, we will need:

thick steel washers (you can buy or turn them on a lathe with your own hands);
extended couplings;
long bolt (it is advisable to choose one with a high strength class);
housing bearing;
sheet metal;
discs
designed for working with concrete and stone.

Now let's start making a nozzle for the grinder for gating

Stages of work

The first step is to make three washers - using a crown, we cut out three blanks from a sheet of metal. Then the author turns them on a lathe.

Next we need two extended couplings. One of them needs to be shortened. Then the master processes the couplings on a lathe - on one side of each coupling it is necessary to machine a seat for the washer.

After this, in two prepared metal washers, using a step drill, we drill out the central hole to the desired diameter. We put washers on the elongated couplings and scald them.

We clean the weld seams with a grinder. We prepare two ordinary washers, a long bolt and a housing bearing.

All prepared parts will need to be assembled in the following order:

We put a regular metal washer on the long bolt.
Then install the housing bearing.
We put on another washer (regular).
We put a thick washer on the bolt with a groove for the disc (which we made earlier).
We install the saw blade on concrete.
We screw a cut-off elongated coupling with a welded washer onto the bolt.
We screw on the second extended coupling with a washer.
concrete
saw blade on the grinder .
After this, we screw the assembled structure onto the gearbox shaft of the angle
.

Making a protective casing

We cut out three parts from sheet metal about 3-4 mm thick: the side walls and the upper part of the protective casing.

We make a fastening clamp. Then we weld it to one of the side walls.

We weld the entire protective casing for the wall chaser - there should be enough space inside to install two disks

. It will additionally be necessary to weld a mount to it to install the handle.

At the last stage, all that remains is to assemble all the parts together: attach the protective casing to the angle grinder

, install the first disk, then install the shaft with the housing bearing, couplings and disk. Everything needs to be secured well.

Details on how to make a homemade wall chaser attachment for an angle grinder

, you can watch the video below. This idea was shared by YouTube channel creator Sean Beardon.

Recommendations for gating

Before ditching the wall, you will need to make a marking and cut along it - this is much more convenient, and the result will be of better quality.

Please note: it is best to cut a wall groove from top to bottom. The depth of the groove for one cable is at least 15 mm

If several cables will be laid in one groove, the depth of the groove must be increased. The main condition is that the cables fit freely into the groove and do not stick out of it

The depth of the groove for one cable is at least 15 mm. If several cables will be laid in one groove, the depth of the groove must be increased. The main condition is that the cables fit freely into the groove and do not stick out of it.

The width of the groove must be such that a hammer blade or chisel can fit into it.

When chipping walls, a lot of dust

, therefore it is advisable to provide the possibility of its removal. vacuum cleaner is used for this.

, the hose of which is connected to a pipe attached to the protective casing.

Recommendations for production and operation

The disadvantage of home-made and factory-made electric tile cutters is the formation of a large amount of dust during cutting. However, the manufacturer equips many tools intended for this work with connections for connecting to a vacuum cleaner. The grinder does not have such a knot. To do this, remove the original protective casing. Instead, a new element of a similar shape is welded from steel 1 mm thick, but with a pipe.

The first difficulty is making a tile cutter from a grinder with your own hands, but it is not the last. During the work, new problems will arise if you do not know some of the nuances of cutting. The second difficulty is the choice of diamond blade. There are two types:

The dry cutting disc has a working edge with a fine diamond coating. It generates a lot of dust during cutting. It is better to use it if there is a connection to a vacuum cleaner or for small volumes of work.
A wet cutting disc is used when you need to cut a lot of tiles. There is no dust, since the cut is constantly moistened with water. However, in a homemade device you need to come up with a way to supply liquid. The easiest way is to moisten the disc and workpiece with water before each cut.

The third difficulty may arise in the cutting method, and there are three of them:

In a straight line. The method is the simplest and most frequently used. The workpiece is cut into two parts of the required size. The tile is placed closer to you in front of the working disk so that the markings can be seen.
In a straight line with a chamfer. The cutting process is similar, only the grinder is installed so that the disk is inclined at an angle of 45°. Most often, the already cut workpiece is ground in this position, forming a chamfer on its edge.
Figure cutting. The most difficult thing is to cut out a circle in the tile for communications. However, this can be done, only its minimum diameter will be 100 mm. First, a circle is drawn on the blank. Crosswise lines divide into 4 segments. First, use a grinder to cut a circular marking by alternating short cuts. They make them non-through. The next step is to cut the cross lines. Here the cuts are already made through. The resulting segments are broken out of the tile. The edge of the circle is ground with a file.

To cut a circle on a tile, make a series of short cuts along the markings.
With any method, the cut is always made from the front side of the tile. If you cut in the reverse order, chips will form on the decorative layer.

Manufacturing algorithm

If you have all the necessary materials at hand, then doing everything yourself will be quite simple. For fastening, it is better to use a workbench with a large working surface. If one is not available, then it can be welded from metal. Two metal sheets, between which there will be a gutter, are ideal as a base.

If you have not done such work before, it is better to draw up drawings in advance. This will allow you to get the job done quickly and with better quality.

The production of the tool occurs in the following sequence.

A special mount is fixed on the workbench, with which the tool will be held.
Metal plates are installed on the working surface using metal corners, leaving 1 centimeter between them.
A movable limiter is installed on the side of the working surface. With its help, you will move the tiles along the work surface, and it will also not allow them to move to the side when cutting.
Lastly, the angle grinder is installed, which is secured using a clamp and clamps.

To make it more convenient to work with the tool, the grinder can be mounted on a mobile bracket. But this will be very difficult to implement due to the overly complex design, especially if you have no experience in performing such work.

There is another manufacturing method, in which the grinder is attached under the table; it is simpler to implement, but the ease of use of the equipment is preserved. To make such a tool, you will need a table with a large working surface, in the middle of which a hole is cut. Its size should be enough for the disk to rotate freely. Next, the grinder is fastened with bolts. Two guides are fixed on the sides of it, along which the tile will move during the cutting process.

The following video clearly demonstrates the process of making a tool for cutting tiles at home with a bottom mount. Be sure to watch it and you will succeed:

Making your own tile cutter

When there is a large amount of work to be done with ceramic products, you can make a tile cutter from a grinder with your own hands. The most practical homemade device that can be made from an angle grinder is electric.

The tool itself should be mounted on the machine so that the working disk is located vertically or horizontally. You can choose any plane - the main thing is that it is convenient to work with the tiles. It is necessary to provide stops for the tiles so that they do not move when cutting.

A table is suitable for the role of a machine. You can use existing ones or make them from metal corners. For the working surface, a sheet of metal divided in the middle into two parts is suitable. A chute should be installed along the dividing line for the movement of the working circle. It is recommended to do it in such a way that it is possible to fill with water. This will help reduce the amount of dust and will cool the disk, thereby extending its service life.

Some craftsmen use an electric motor to mount a device for cutting tiles. But making a tile cutter from an angle grinder is much easier and more profitable, since this tool picks up speed on its own, and you will have to select a gearbox for the electric motor.

In order to cut tiles at home, it is not necessary to purchase a special device. All you need is a grinder, a head on your shoulders and some available materials.

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It is difficult to imagine laying ceramic tiles without a tile cutter, manual or electric. The choice of tool depends on the amount of work that the master has to perform. For tiling small areas at home, it is enough to have a hand tool; professional craftsmen prefer an electric tile cutter, which increases productivity and performs better tile cutting with a high-speed rotating disk equipped with water cooling.

Home craftsmen who know how to handle a manual tile cutter, having seen the results of using an electric machine by a professional finisher, in order to improve their skills, strive to acquire and master this tool, which is more advanced and productive. The optimal solution to this issue is to purchase a factory-made electric tile cutter. But a high-quality and durable tool is expensive, and a machine at an affordable price quickly wears out and fails.

Additional upgrade

The tool can be supplemented with a dust collector. To do this, a groove about 4 cm wide and 1 cm deep is made from the bottom side of the textolite base. It starts next to the edge of the cutting wheel and ends on the opposite side of the base, a few centimeters before the edge. A hole with a diameter of 3–4 cm is drilled in this place. A metal plate with a hole is attached to it using screws on top, to which an adapter 4–5 cm long, cut from a metal pipe, is welded. The diameter of the pipe is equal to the internal diameter of the vacuum cleaner air duct, which is put on the adapter. Now, when you turn on the vacuum cleaner, all dust will be sucked out from the work area.

You can make a simple guide device for a tile cutter, thanks to which the accuracy and quality of the resulting cut will increase significantly. For this, a metal plaster rule of the required length is used. It is secured to the tile using clamps (double-sided construction tape will also work) at the required distance to the cutting line. Resting against the smooth edge of the rule, the tile cutter moves along it and makes a perfectly straight cut.

Making a tile cutting table

In order for the ceramics to flow smoothly under the disc, you need to make a smooth tabletop. In addition, it must be strong enough to securely secure the cutting tool. Therefore, experts advise using a rigid steel frame made of corners to make the tabletop. All parts must be connected by electric welding. Then we adjust the tabletop to the finished frame. A sheet of steel 0.5-0.6 cm high is suitable for this. Make a slot on it for the saw blade with an excess of 0.2-0.3 cm.

Under the tabletop, in continuation of the gap or parallel to it, you need to weld a steel profile measuring 0.4 * 0.6 cm or a steel strip 0.4-0.5 cm thick. A grinder will be attached to them later.

On the fixture table, install the moving bar parallel to the grinder to directly feed the tiles under the disc. To do this, to the left of the grinder, perpendicular to it, make 2 parallel slits at a distance of the length of the bar between each other. HP will move along them. Its ends will be secured with bolt nuts through the slot.

Installing an angle grinder

You can attach the grinder to the bottom of the tabletop in different ways. Make sure the fastening is rigid and strong.

This is important because otherwise, when cutting tiles, the grinder may jam in the slots of the countertop. Also, when installing the saw, consider the possibility of:

operate the on/off buttons;
adjust the grinder rotation speed;
change disk.

To prevent the bolt from turning out, a Grover spring washer is placed under its head.

Grover's washer

Also, to this connection, the tile cutter is attached to the tabletop with clamps made of strip steel, made according to the table drawing. To lay between the “body” of the file and the table, wooden blocks are used. Grooves should be made in them according to the shape of the grinder.

How to cool a homemade tile cutter

Factory electric tile cutters have a water cooling system. Its design is influenced by the location of the grinder, that is, it can be above or below the table. Making an electric water-cooled tile cutter of this type at home is extremely difficult and pointless. To cool a diamond blade, a simple air blow is enough.

It is also important to remember that you cannot use an angle grinder if the humidity level is more than 85 percent. Based on this, it can be assumed that the file cannot be wetted

What is needed to make a homemade tool?

An electrical device is much more expensive to manufacture than a mechanical one, but it is more convenient to work with, and the quality of cutting tiles will be much higher. To make it you will need the following:

table or workbench
grinder with diamond blade;
metal platform;
two steel pipes;
fasteners;
clamps.

You can save on equipment if you buy a cheap cutting element, but this is not recommended, since the quality of the cut and productivity of work depend on it.

Choosing an electric motor for a tile cutter

To make a tile cutter with your own hands using an independent electric motor, you need to select and install a gearbox to be able to manually set the required disk rotation speed. Technically, this is not easy to do, so another solution is common - using a small grinder (a grinder for discs with a diameter of 115-125 mm) with the option of manually adjusting the rotation speed.

Electric motor for tile cutter

Varieties of facing material and features of its various types

The cutting method depends on the type of facing material. The most important thing in this matter is not only the material, but also the role that is assigned to each tile in the composition. Tiles are usually produced in collections - these are sets that are thought out in terms of color and pattern. Most collections consist of several required elements.

Background tiles usually do not have designs. Collections may contain several tiles of different colors. It is better to cut tiles in places where the background is uniform, so the cut tiles will not be so noticeable.
Borders are small elements that separate large color arrays of tiles, often they have a rectangular format. If possible, cutting curbs can be avoided if these elements do not fit the walls.
Decorated tiles are a type of tile with a pattern or relief image. It is better to immediately avoid cutting tiles with decor. To do this, at the laying stage, the tiles with decor must be taken to the central places of the room. Also, it is not recommended to place tiles with decor under the ceiling or near the floor.

Laying tiles without preliminary layout increases the number of cut elements. If you plan the location on paper, you can avoid a large number of scraps and scraps. Read more about mistakes when laying tiles in the article ""

Floor tiles are usually thicker than wall tiles, making them more difficult to cut. In addition, large-format tiles are more often used on the floor; unevenness when cutting is also noticeable.

Floor tiles have to be cut more often if the corners in the room deviate from 90 degrees. For this reason, to lay tile coverings on the floor, the walls in the room must be level. Read about leveling walls with plaster in the article “”

Tile material

The thickness and strength of the material often depends on the material from which the tile is made. Some materials have a high density, so not every tool is capable of cutting them. Some materials require a delicate approach and can only be cut with specialized tools.

Ceramic tiles are the most common type; they are covered with a decorative glazed coating on top. Ceramic tiles are divided into wall and floor tiles, the latter is usually thicker, which makes it more difficult to cut.

Porcelain stoneware has a high density, which determines its low water absorption. Because of this, these tiles are often used for floors, wet areas and streets. It will be difficult to cut porcelain stoneware using improvised means; cutting is best done with an electric or manual tile cutter.
Clinker tiles are a type of high-density cladding; they are used for exterior work (cladding, paving areas, etc.). For thick clinker, you will need a grinder or a water saw (electric tile cutter).

We make the tile cutter ourselves

As you already understand, the most popular solution will be a manual tile cutter. It is its design that we have covered in more detail than the others, and it is this that we will try to assemble with our own hands. In this case, the master will make a tile cutter that is capable of cutting 120 cm tiles. You can make a more compact version.

Table. Step-by-step instructions for making a manual tile cutter.

Photos, stepsDescription

Step 1. Preparation of materials For work we will need 4 rectangular pipes with a cross section of 50*30 cm, metal plates, steel angles, a pin, bolts, bearings, etc. Step 2. Blanks for the guide The rail guide will consist of two pipes 130 cm long. We cut them using a grinder, having previously marked the rectangular pipes on four sides with a pencil and a square. Cutting is also done on each side separately to ensure everything is as straight as possible. Step 3. Grinding the rails Select the side of the pipe with the least rounding and grind it so that nothing interferes, with the same grinder or drill, installing the appropriate attachment. This will be the inner part of the guide in which the carriage will move. Advice! We recommend processing the pipe from all sides at once so that your work is beautiful from an aesthetic point of view.

Step 4. Making the bed For the bed you will also need two pipes, which we cut to the same size and grind. We install a metal strip between them, which will serve as a break, and weld it all together. First, we grab the parts from the ends, after which we turn the element over and go point by point along the entire length. Step 5. Connecting the frame with the slide The next stage includes several points at once. 1. A stud is welded to the frame at the ends. 2. A slide is made - two pipes are connected so that there is a gap of 4.5 mm between them. 3. Nuts are welded to the guide at the top and bottom, in which the threads are drilled. You can replace them with plates with holes. 4. The structure is assembled in such a way that another, independent one is placed between the nuts, with the help of which the height of the slide will be adjusted. 5. A lock nut is installed to clearly fix the guide in one position. Step 6. Making bushings for the bearings The carriage will be made of a 4 mm stainless steel sheet, to which the cutting wheel will be attached. The carriage will run due to bearings, the axis of which will be the bolts. The bolts in the bearings are loose, so we make an intermediate sleeve from ordinary nuts, grinding off all the edges with a grinder. For this we use a fixed drill and a bolt clamped in its chuck. Everything is very simple and done quickly. Step 7. Assembling the guide Pre-assemble the moving element. It is assembled in the following sequence: bolt; sleeve; bearing; two adapter nuts, between which the carriage will then be clamped; sleeve; bearing; screw. Step 8. All parts for assembling the carriage The base of the carriage in the photo is on the left. A part is cut out of a piece of stainless steel, to which a nut is welded on top, and holes for moving parts are drilled at the bottom. Step 9. Beginning to assemble the carriage The cutting wheel on the bearing is attached between two brackets, after which everything is bolted together. Step 10. Connecting the elements into one system Install the cutting wheel on the carriage. The far mount (large bolt) is the mechanical part that we pre-assembled before

Interesting! Please note that the wheel can be installed in two positions.

Step 11. Fixing the separator We fasten the last structural element - the separator

Let us remind you that we use it to break the tile when pressed. Advice! Photos show detailed assembly for better visibility. You will have to do it right away on the machine itself, otherwise you won’t be able to push the carriage inside.

Step 12. Finished tile cutter We add the finishing touches to our design: · attach a handle - in the example the master used a piece of polypropylene pipe; · glue pieces of foamed heat insulator as a soft base of the frame; · install a clamp on the carriage above the rails so that it does not slip. By the way, bearings could also be placed on top for better sliding.

Making a mechanical tile cutter with your own hands

A manual tile cutter is a safe tool and does not require connection to an electrical outlet. These two factors ensure the popularity of this model. In addition, due to its relatively light weight, such a tool is easy to transport and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on its production.

Practical recommendations

First of all, a metal sheet is attached to the work surface. But before that, you need to cut a slot in it into which the tile cutter disc will fit. The size of the sheet, more precisely, its width, should be chosen so that even the largest tile can fit under the disk. The entire cutting process is controlled by hand, that is, the tile is moved forward along the table under the cutting element itself.

The grinder is attached to the table (in both the first and second cases) using clamps using nuts and locknuts. To ensure that the body of the angle grinder remains undamaged, it is recommended to place the clamps in rubber or PVC tubes. In advance, the clamps are adjusted to the shape of the diameter of the future tile cutter.

Diagram of correct tile cutting.

It should be remembered that when installed vertically, the angle grinder is left without a protective cover, since it cannot be put on, which means that working with such a device is extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is better for the operator to be on the right or left side during the entire process, and in addition use protective equipment - goggles, a respirator and gloves.

If your home workshop will be located in one of the rooms of the apartment, then it is recommended to connect such a tile cutter to a vacuum cleaner. To do this, the socket of the intake hose is fixed under the place where the cutting disc is located. And then during cutting, the grinder and vacuum cleaner turn on simultaneously, which will help get rid of waste materials from the entire process.

A grinder for the base of a tile cutter is quite appropriate, since it uses a minimum of additional components. In addition, thanks to this tool it is possible to achieve the required number of revolutions of the cutting edge in one minute. Otherwise, you will need to look for an additional gearbox that can give an indicator of 4000-5500 rpm.

To make the cut more ideal, a metal corner is installed on the table surface, keeping it parallel to the disk. Thus, by adhering to it, you can achieve high evenness of the cut.

Diagram of the grinder device.

Why do you need a grinder? Using a grinder, an automated tile cutter is made. Hand models, including glass cutters and jigsaws, can form microcracks. This often causes the tiles to crack during tapping. While using a tile cutter based on a grinder helps to avoid such defects.

To protect yourself, you can draw the future cutting line in advance with a pencil. Next, a shallow cut is made along it with a glass cutter, and only then a full cut is made.

Necessary materials

If you don’t know how to make a tile cutter from a grinder with your own hands, then you can use a vertical tool mount. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the surface of the table and the upper part of the gearbox are located on the same plane. There may be deviations of several millimeters. The cutting element of the grinder in relation to the table surface should be located at an angle of 90 degrees.

In order to make an electric water-cooled tile cutter with your own hands, you need to use the appropriate tools.

Most often this procedure is performed using:

Metal sheet;
Bulgarians;
Clamps, the diameter of which is from 0.8 to 1 centimeter;
Nuts and locknuts.

You can make a tile cutter with your own hands if you have a grinder at hand. With this tool it will be quite easy to make cuts.

Additional upgrade

Manufacturing a mechanical tile cutter

The process itself does not take much time and does not require many parts.

Materials

A handle from an old drill or hammer drill;
Corner 30x30mm made of metal with holes ø 8mm;
Two 8mm nuts;
One 6mm nut with nylon locking ring;
Washer 6mm;
One bolt each of 6 and 8 mm, length 30 and 60 mm respectively;
Set of wrenches;
Cutting element for tile cutter.

Assembly (step by step)

Insert a bolt (8mm) into the hole in the corner from the inside.
Firmly screw the nut onto it from the outside.
Screw the nut onto the other bolt so that it remains approximately 3cm from the edge.
Screw the bolt into the drill handle to this level and tighten.
Insert a bolt (6mm) into the hole outside the corner.
Place a cutting element on the inside of the bolt, place a washer and tighten it with a nut with a nylon locking ring.
Check the rotation of the cutting element for any play.

A hand-made tool capable of cutting tiles up to 10mm thick. Due to the comfortable handle, you can apply great force when working, which ensures the quality of the cut.

The small dimensions of the tile cutter allow you to work in places with limited space. When working, you must follow safety rules and also use protective equipment (goggles and gloves).

Advantages of a tile cutter

An electric tile cutter is quite an expensive device, and if you are not a professional tiler and are doing simple repairs, then buying it is not justified

If we make a tile cutter with our own hands, then we need to use an appropriate disk. In order to prevent the appearance of dust during tile cutting work, it is necessary to equip the tool with a special container of water. In most cases, it is attached under the disc. During the work period, the disk from the bottom side is dipped into water and washes away dirt and dust. This ensures the most accurate tile cutting work.

The advantages of an electric tile cutter made from an angle grinder include:

Possibility of sawing durable porcelain stoneware and stone;
The fastest possible processing of large volumes of material;
Ensuring the possibility of the most even cut;
Reduced wear rate when compared to hand tools.

Due to the presence of a large number of advantages, the grinder is widely used as a tile cutter among many builders. How to make a tile cutter from a grinder can be seen in the video.

Installation Rules

In order to make a tile cutter with your own hands, you need to build a working surface. A metal sheet is attached to the top. Before carrying out this procedure, it is necessary to make a hole in the table and sheet through which the disk will pass. When choosing the sheet size, you need to take into account the size of the tile. Even the largest material must be placed on a metal sheet during the cut.

Next, the grinder is attached to the table. For this purpose, it is necessary to use nuts, locknuts and clamps. To ensure the integrity of the grinder during tile cutting work, it is necessary to place the clamps in protective casings. For this purpose, polyvinyl chloride or rubber tubes can be used. Before installation, it is necessary to adjust the clamp to the shape of the cross-section.

The simplest option is to statically secure the tool and move the tile under the cutting wheel

When installing the angle grinder vertically, install a protective cover on it. This indicates danger during work. This is why the operator must be on the right or left side of the tool. The operator must wear a respirator, gloves and goggles.

If you are constructing a tile cutter with your own hands, a video of which can be seen on the Internet, in a residential area, then you need to connect it to a vacuum cleaner. For this purpose, it is necessary to secure the socket of the intake hose under the location of the cutting disk of the tool.

This photo shows a full-fledged tile cutter with dust collection and water supply

When working with tiles, you must turn on the vacuum cleaner.

This will get rid of waste.

Instead of a vacuum cleaner, you can use a container of water.

The grinder at the base of the tile cutter is the best option. This is explained by the fact that its connection requires a minimum number of components. Also, this tool can operate at high speeds, which ensures high speed of work. When using other available means, the use of an additional gearbox is required.

Types of tile cutters

This tool can be of two types:

Mechanical - consists of two pipes located parallel to each other, along which the cutting part “walks”. It can be in the form of a hard alloy roller or a diamond-coated disk (there are other options for “cutters”). Moving with a certain pressure on the surface, the “cutter” cuts the tile along its entire length, after which the laying material easily breaks. This type of tile cutter is difficult to cut through tiles with granite and marble particles.
Electric - they cut tiles with special discs. Devices of this type make it possible to obtain smooth edges on tiles made of almost any material.

Additional upgrade

The tool can be used to complement dust collectors. To do this, a groove is made from the bottom side of the textolite base, about 4 cm wide and 1 cm deep. It starts next to the edge of the cutting wheel, ends on the opposite side of the base, a few centimeters at the edges. A hole with a diameter of 3-4 cm is drilled in this place. A metal plate with a hole is attached to it using screws on top, to which an adapter 4-5 cm long, cut from a metal pipe, is welded. The diameter of the pipe is equal to the internal diameter of the vacuum cleaner air duct, which is put on the adapter. Now, when you turn on the vacuum cleaner, all dust will be sucked out from the work area.

You can make a simple guide device for a tile cutter, thanks to which the accuracy and quality of the resulting cut will increase significantly. For this purpose, a metal plaster board of the required length is used. It is secured with clamps on the tile (double-sided construction tape will also work) at the required distance to the cutting line. Resting against the smooth edge of the rule, the tile cutter moves along it and makes a perfectly straight cut.

Required tools and materials

When starting to manufacture a cutting machine, you should understand that the accuracy of its operation is directly related to the stability of the structure. Therefore, the choice of a material of a certain thickness is dictated not so much by the requirements for the strength of the body, but by the need for its rigidity.

Before you start working, you need to prepare:

square profile pipe (25x25x2.5 mm);
profile pipe “rectangle” (40x20x2.5 mm);
metal sheet 4–5 mm thick;
ball bearings No. 202, 203 or 204 – 2 pcs.;
calibrated rod with a thickness equal to the diameter of the hole in the inner race of the bearing (up to 100 mm);
rod with a diameter of 8–10 mm;
metal tire (20x4 mm);
bolts and nuts with M8 or M thread.

Tools you will need:

Angle Grinder;
drill or drilling machine, set of drills;
a set of dies for cutting metric threads;
open-end wrenches;
welding machine.

To make a machine, it is better to choose an angle grinder from a well-known manufacturer.

The main component of the cutting machine is the angle grinder. It is not recommended to use a “small” grinder designed for cutting discs with a diameter of up to 125 mm and a power of up to 500–600 W. Remember that the larger the diameter of the cutting wheel, the more versatile and reliable the machine will be.

The careful selection of power tools is also due to the wide variety of angle grinder designs available on the market. Since such equipment is not unified, the cutting machine is built for a specific model and size of angle grinder. If the equipment is unreliable, then if it fails, it will be difficult to install another angle grinder in its place without the need to rework the mounts and pendulum. That is why it is better to choose products from trusted manufacturers - Makita, Bosch and so on.

How to cut tiles with a grinder

High-quality and simple cutting of tiles with a grinder should be done as professionally as possible, that is, in the end you should get an even, smooth cut and a minimum amount of dust in the process. There are three main directions of the incision, which would not hurt to understand in more detail.

Straight cut

Of all the options for cutting tiles with a grinder, this is the simplest. It involves making a straight cut into the material at a ninety-degree angle. First, you need to securely fix the tile itself on a flat surface so that its edge protrudes above the edge just enough to cut it

It doesn’t matter at all whether the cut needs to be made perpendicular or diagonal, relative to the plane and shape of the tile

You need to hold the grinder in such a way that the entire cutting line is clearly visible to you. That is, the disk should move towards itself, and not away from itself, blocking your entire view. Before you figure out how to cut tiles with a grinder, and even more so, start the work itself, be sure to put on gloves and goggles, and it won’t hurt to follow other safety rules.

Angle 45 degrees.

The usual right angle of cut on a tile is not always suitable, for example, when it is necessary to join it beautifully, and when making shaped elements finished with ceramics, it may be necessary to cut it at an angle of forty-five degrees, which will be much more difficult to accomplish in practice. But everything is possible with some effort, so let's look at how to act.

First, carefully cut the tiles at a regular right angle, taking into account the size of the tiles you need. Rotate the grinder so that its disk is located at the desired angle and carefully remove excess from the cut edge, being careful not to touch the front surface. If you still can’t make a perfect oblique cut, you can bring it to perfection with regular sandpaper or a grinding wheel.

Hole in tile

The most difficult process to carry out is cutting out round holes in the tiles, which may be required for sockets, switches, lighting fixtures, as well as for various decorative elements when tiling. You won't be able to cut tiny holes, so we'll tell you how to make large round holes. Carefully measure and mark what needs to be cut on the face of the tile. This can be done using a regular marker or felt-tip pen. You will have to mark not only the circle, but also its center, so for maximum simplification it will not hurt to use a construction compass or any compass and ruler if you have them at hand.

For cutting tiles with a grinder, it is advisable to take a new one so that it cuts efficiently and does not “chew” the edges of the tiles. Start cutting along the inner contour of the circle, carefully turning the tool and gradually going deeper. After you have cut some distance, it makes sense to make perpendicular cuts inside the constructed circle, and then take out four sectors, cutting them in the right places.

Helpful advice

If you really want to figure out how to cut tiles with a grinder without chipping, then this video located just below will help. It is worth remembering that you should always work exclusively on the front side of the tile, regardless of whether there is glaze on it or not. This way the risk of damaging the surface is much lower. It also doesn’t hurt to have sandpaper on hand, packed onto a wooden block, to bring the cuts to perfection. That’s why you always need to cut off a little more than necessary.

The video posted in our article will best tell you how to cut tiles with a grinder at right angles or diagonally, which will be useful to watch even for experienced craftsmen, and not just for beginners in construction and cladding.

How to cut tiles with a water-cooled tile cutter?

Cutting tiles is a serious process, so before starting work, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with some of the nuances. All electronic units that include a water circuit have a certain sequence for cutting facing materials.

The functional part of water tile cutters is represented by a diamond wheel. The use of such a cutting element allows you to quickly and accurately perform fairly large volumes of work. When cutting, you must remember that the facing product must be moved towards the disc.

In order to avoid jamming of the cutting disc and minimize the percentage of vibration, it must be fixed on the table. The water that accumulates in the tank during operation gradually becomes contaminated, so it is necessary to change it on time.

It is best to apply pressure on the workpiece from both sides. This will eliminate the possibility of warping and chipping. In some cases, the diamond wheel may jam. Moreover, this does not depend on the cost of the unit and its quality.

During the cutting process, you need to press on the tile with a certain force, it will depend on its composition, thickness and density

And, of course, do not forget about basic precautions when working with such a tool. Safety precautions include the use of special glasses to protect the eyes, as well as headphones from noise

Bottom line

A tile cutter is a very necessary thing for arranging home comfort. If you doubt that you can do it yourself, it is better to rent the device or use the services of a specialist.

Sources

https://DoctorPol.ru/nap-pokrytiya/plitochka/stanok-rezki-dlya-plitki.html
https://tehnika.expert/dlya-remonta/bolgarka/kak-sdelat-plitkorez-svoimi-rukami.html
https://yaplitka.ru/plitkorez-svoimi-rukami.html
https://kitchenremont.ru/remont/plitkorez-svoimi-rukami
https://laminatepol.ru/28443-plitkoreza-svoimi-rukami.html
https://IzPlitki.com/instrumenty/camodelnyj-plitkorez.html
https://TehnoPanorama.ru/instrumenty/plitkorez-svoimi-rukami.html

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Option 1 - a simple way to make a cutting machine from an angle grinder

A simple way to make a homemade product involves making a base on which fixed connectors for a movable plate are attached. So, in more detail about how to make a machine from an angle grinder:

Take a steel plate measuring 15x15 cm and at least 2 mm thick. Such a large size is needed in order to secure it to the workbench with bolted connectors. If the workbench (table) is iron, then the base can be welded to it, so in this case you can use a shorter plate 10x10 cm
Weld two rectangular plates perpendicularly to the base, located at a distance of 5-8 cm from each other. The thickness of the plates should also be at least 2 mm. Their length depends on the size of the power tool, but usually small or medium grinders are used for stationary machines, so the length of the plates is 8-10 cm
At the base of the plates, make a straight hole into which the connecting bolt is installed. The hole diameter is 6-8 mm, which is not so important
At the next stage, you will need to make a movable base to which the grinder will be attached. To do this, you will need to take a steel plate at least 20-30 cm long, which depends on the size of the power tool. The width of this frame should be slightly less than the distance between the protrusions of the rectangular plates welded to the base
On the back side of the movable plate, you need to weld a round oblong sleeve into which the connecting bolt will be placed
It is necessary to secure the tool to the resulting movable plate using clamps, ties and other methods. The number of fasteners should be more than 2, and preferably at least three for greater safety
Having secured the resulting structure to the workbench, you can test its operation

For ease of operation, you can weld a handle to the movable bar, and also install an auto-return spring, which will return the tool to its original position, that is, move it up. The photo below shows a ready-made installation for cutting from an angle grinder. As you can see from the example, its manufacture will require a minimum of effort and materials, and the result is a stationary device for cutting various materials.

This is interesting! Finally, you will need to cut a strip of the appropriate size in the workbench, into which the rotating circle in the tool chuck will “go” when cutting materials.

When constructing the device, do not forget that safe operation depends on how to secure the angle grinder. It should be securely fixed in 2-3 points, which will prevent it from moving during work, as well as “flying off” from the movable frame. When installing the tool on a movable bed, it is necessary that the position of the grinder be strictly at a right angle, that is, the circle must be located strictly in a vertical position.

The resulting device is suitable for processing various materials from wood to durable stone. When working with a tool, do not forget to use safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing. Instead of a workbench, you can use a wooden or steel frame on which to realize your idea.

This is interesting! Similar simple frames for grinders are manufactured in the factory, so if you have an extra 2-3 thousand rubles, you can purchase a ready-made base and use it right today. However, there are no difficulties in making it yourself, so you need to decide on your own in each individual case which is better.