An angle grinder or "grinder" is one of the few universal tools with which you can do different things. In particular, cutting tiles with a grinder. Except when the tile is already glued, there is a tool with which to cut the tile or make a certain cut, the hole is easier and faster than a grinder. Consideration of the reasons for using the grinder and recommendations for using one or another cutting method are beyond the scope of the article. Here only the methods of cutting with a grinder are considered.
It is more convenient to divide cutting methods into several groups:
Different types of cuts: straight, figured, burr.
It is preferable to use a small grinder with the ability to adjust the speed. Light weight will allow more accurate operations. High cutting power is not required. For any operations with tiles, power up to 1 kW is enough.
But the rotation speed for some operations, it is desirable to be able to reduce. Reducing the rotation speed will reduce the likelihood of chipping, cracking tiles.
According to the seat, the grinder is optimal for discs with a size of 125 mm. In general, you can cut off a circle with any diameter. Reducing the rotation speed is critical in certain situations, which will be discussed below. The smaller the cutting wheel, the more jewelry operations can be carried out; on the other hand, it is inefficient to use a small cutting wheel for a large amount of work - the wheel will quickly grind off. From a powerful, heavy tool, muscle tension quickly appears and, as a result, accuracy and accuracy decrease.
In summary, a medium-sized tool with adjustable speed is better for tile work.
Generally speaking, you can cut off any circle. The question is different, how to cut with a given level of quality, minimal difficulties and costs. The first disk that comes to hand can leave too many chips, break tiles, or fail quickly. But in case of extreme need and without claims for quality, you can cut it like that.
Smaller thickness diamond discs are used in machine tools. When used with a hand tool, the likelihood of bumps and jerks increases, which leads to damage to the lining, destruction of the disc.
There are several types of diamond-coated discs:
Example of diamond cutting wheels: segmented, solid, combined.
To reduce chipping, it is desirable that the height of the diamond coating be greater than the thickness of the material being cut.
When working, it is important to monitor the condition of the disk. At the slightest damage, the disk is replaced. Otherwise, working with a defective disk will lead to chipping, destruction of the tile, or traumatic destruction of the disk itself. (As an option for minor defects, the appearance of sparks during cutting. There should be no sparks, sparks mean that the metal base is touched, which means that either diamond coating has been excavated or a metal burr, chips have formed. You can try to grind off the defect on stone, plaster, concrete. If sparking continues - it is recommended to change the disk).
There are a lot of disks of different quality and different purposes. In addition to the types, thickness and height of deposition, the deposition density and the size of the applied diamond particles are important. For cutting tiles with a grinder, such details may not have much effect, but when cutting thick floor tiles, dense ceramics, especially porcelain stoneware, the choice of disc can become critical. In these cases, it is recommended to try several discs on pieces of material and choose the best option.
Before any operations, careful measurements are taken and lines are applied to the material, along which it is necessary to cut off the excess. It is recommended to use markers of a different color from the tiles, as a simple pencil does not leave marks on the surface well. It is even better to carefully scratch the line (for example, with a glass cutter), since a lot of dust is formed and when shaking off, you can simply erase the drawn line.
This is the easiest cut. It can be produced by a grinder of any kind, regardless of the material: porcelain stoneware, ceramics, tiles. At the same time, making a perfectly straight cut with a hand-held electric tool presents a certain difficulty. So they resort to little tricks.
If the quality of the cut does not really matter (it will close with skirting boards, for example), then you can cut it by stepping on the tile with your foot or laying it on a rough surface (the tile's own weight is quite enough so that it does not move during the operation). In any other case, reliable fixation is required. For this, it is most convenient to use any clamps. With a clamp, a tile or a fragment is attached to the surface (table, piece of plywood, chipboard, etc.). For small cuts, you can use a workbench; for cutting along the entire length, the workbench is not very convenient.
Some methods that improve the quality of the cut:
Advice! It is not necessary to completely cut off a piece. It is enough to make a deep cut (2/3 of the thickness is enough even when cutting off at the very edge), and then break it off in any way (put on two drills and press, grab the edge with pliers and break off, etc.).
If there are no features (something interferes, the line is not visible, etc.), then they always cut from themselves. If you do not have much experience with a grinder, then it is recommended to cut in several passes: the first shallow cut (1 - 5 mm) and subsequent ones with approximately the same immersion.
Usually allocate cutting of round holes. But the technique of cutting round holes with a grinder and any curly cuts is no different. The use of a grinder is justified for cutting large holes (over 50 - 100 mm). Smaller holes are drilled. A medium-sized grinder (discs under 125 mm) is unlikely to be able to cut a hole less than 100 mm.
Shape cutting technology:
For a figured cut, a tool with a decrease in rotational speed is required.
Most often, the seam is done at 45º to join tiles at 90º corners. But there may also be other degrees (bay design, flights of stairs, etc.).
Pay attention! It is very difficult to make a grinder with a grinder. Without proper experience, you are unlikely to be able to do it well. The fact is that these types of compounds are used exclusively in prominent places. If the place is not in sight, then the meaning of such a connection disappears. You can just connect the butt to the tile and that's it. And in a conspicuous place there are stringent quality requirements. Therefore, various recommendations for sawing immediately in size do not stand up to criticism. There is only one method - a rough cut and manual finishing.
Corner cutting followed by grinding.
Angle grinder is a tool of increased injury risk! In combination with the work on the tile, a large amount of dust and fragments are added flying from under the tool disk.
Mandatory use of special equipment:
It is not allowed to work with a faulty tool (backlash, damage to the body, electrical wires, etc.). It is strongly not recommended to use an angle grinder without a protective cover (only in very extreme cases, taking additional protection measures against possible destruction of the cutting wheel).
Carry out operations with cutting wheels only after physically disconnecting the electrical cord from the mains! And vice versa, connect the tool to the electrical network only after you have made sure that the disk is installed, securely fixed, and the key is removed.
Do not use defective discs. Before each use, you must make sure that there are no defects on the disc and only then start working.
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Every owner who has undertaken an independent repair of his home, at least once faced with the question of how to cut a tile with a grinder and, in general, is it possible to cut a tile with a grinder? The answer is obvious, yes and yes again! Any experienced craftsman will say with confidence that even with a tile cutter, not a single tiler can do without a grinder. This is due to the ability to cut any shape with an angle grinder, compactness and versatility.
Not an easy question for a beginner - how to cut tiles with a grinder safely and accurately? The following information will allow you to fully understand and make a beautiful, and most importantly safe cut of tiles.
You should start cutting tiles with the choice of an angle grinder and a cutting disc:
Even an experienced master, even a beginner - anyone should carefully approach the issue of security:
We offer you to get acquainted with the tips and nuances of experienced stackers. These recommendations will allow you to cut the tiles neatly, beautifully and without damage to the material. So how should a grinder cut tiles correctly?
Know that any master of laying and cutting tiles began with practice. When working with a grinder and such material as a tile, it is simply necessary to observe safety precautions, in no case be in a hurry, and in case of doubt, test your plan on an unnecessary piece.
When, the question always arises, is it possible to cut a tile with a grinder? So, for starters - yes, you can, but how exactly - now we'll tell you.
For such work as using a grinder for cutting, it is imperative to adhere to a number of rules, and then your actions will not end in injury.
Here is a list of highlights:
Important! The grinder needs to be led away from you, you can’t work the tool at an angle so that sparks fall in your direction. When cutting sideways, the angle grinder is held in such a way that the tool is directed towards you by the protective “cover” of the disk, and the visible cutting part is away from you.
They work with the tool away from themselves so that if the disk is clamped, the latter will fly out in the opposite direction from you, and not at you.
And yet - you need to work with a grinder at a distance of no more than half a meter (ideal for tiles, right?), otherwise the wire is pulled, you can reflexively raise your hand with a working tool and seriously injure yourself and others.
In addition, the principle of cutting with this tool is not to put pressure on the grinder during operation, the tool itself must make a cut.
In principle, there is nothing complicated, and with a proper attitude to work, you will succeed.
Here we attach a video where cutting is carried out as competently as possible, pay attention, the master does not put pressure on the tool, he just leads. Yes, and the cutting base is directed away from the master, and towards him it is turned by a protective case.
So, for direct cutting you need:
So, double-check your measurements again, they must be correct, as they say, try on seven times, cut off once, and now a direct answer to the question of whether it is possible with a grinder.
Great cutting option
So, here is the algorithm of your actions:
Important! The movement should be smooth, single, you can not move the disk back and forth.
If you cut, then you need to do it on a plane from which one edge of the tile will hang, because the cut should be full width.
But for an ordinary tile, it is enough not to cut through to the end, but just to go half the thickness of the tile. Next, you will do the following:
Lay the tile on the edge of the table so that the notch line coincides with this edge, now hold one edge of the tile with your left hand, and make a slight effort with your right hand, pressing. The tile will break exactly along the cut line.
So, here is the answer to the question of whether it is possible to cut tiles with a grinder.
And here is a high-quality video that clearly shows everything:
We hope that the answer to the question, is it possible for a grinder, for you now only positive, as well as the result!
Often, not everyone has a special device for cutting ceramic tiles (tile cutter), but there is an alternative - an angle grinder (angle grinder, grinder) can easily handle this task. A wide price range makes them affordable not only for professionals, but also for home craftsmen. In addition, such a tool has wide functionality.
It must be remembered that the angle grinder is dangerous, so when working with it, do not forget about the safety rules. In home use, a tool with a cutting circle diameter of 125 to 150 mm is used, professionals use circles that reach a diameter of more than 280 mm. It is more convenient if the tool is equipped with a speed control.
To minimize the risk of injury, you must adhere to the following rules:
There are three main ways to cut tiles with a grinder:
In order for the wall or floor covering to look neat and without chips after cutting the desired size, you need to responsibly approach the process of cutting and cutting. To ensure the most even edge, be sure to follow these guidelines:
For cutting ceramic or granite tiles, stone discs or steel circles with a diamond-coated edge (Dry Cutters) are used. As practice has shown, it was diamond wheels that had the best performance when cutting off the edge of porcelain stoneware or just ceramics. Further, about each of the disks in more detail.
Such circles are the cheapest of those intended for stone, their resource is short, and they are subject to frequent replacement. In addition, they are thicker than their diamond competitors, respectively, and the cut line with these wheels is thicker, and dust generation during operation is also greater. In such circles, there is a high risk of chipping on the cutting edge, and the disc seems to remain intact, but for safety reasons it must be replaced, because further destruction of the edge can cause injury to the worker.
Dry cutters are able to carry high loads without overheating and destruction. The only condition is that direct contact with the cutting surface should not exceed 90 seconds, then the disc must be cooled at idle, after which you can return to work. When buying a cutting tool, craftsmen often prefer solid diamond coating.
If during the cut you notice a luminous strip along the entire edge of the circle, then immediately stop the process, otherwise the tile will be overheated and damaged. But do not be upset, the disk is still working, but it has undergone overheating. It is worth making a couple of cuts on any abrasive surface (rubble stone, granite, sandstone), and the circle will again be like new. Dry cutters are of two types: segmented, solid.
To minimize the number of chips, try to adhere to the following rules when working with the tool:
If desired, a hole of any diameter and shape can be cut in the body of the tile, especially in the modern construction world there are all kinds of attachments and devices for angle grinders. The only thing that should never be forgotten is the observance of the necessary safety measures when working with an angle grinder!
When laying tiles, it is impossible to do without trimming them.
For this, various tools are used, including an angle grinder (grinder).
How to cut tiles with a grinder - read more about this below.
Consider the technology of cutting tiles in more detail.
there is a special tool - a tile cutter. But even its manual version, not to mention the mechanized one, is relatively expensive, so it is not advisable to purchase a tile cutter for one-time work.
Bulgarian, on the contrary, is a universal tool used to solve many problems, because it is available in almost every household.
And if the tiling is done by the homeowner himself, it is more logical to use this particular tool.
In addition, a grinder, unlike a tile cutter, can make round holes if there is no appropriate equipment for a drill - a cylindrical drill (crown) or a ballerina.
Different discs for the grinder are focused on working with one or another material. Several types can also be used for cutting tiles. Let's consider them in detail.
This variety has the lowest cost, but it has two drawbacks: the discs wear out quickly and have a significant thickness, as a result of which the cut is wide.
For this reason, the use of stone discs is relatively rare.
Cutting discs made of steel are thinner and more durable. The most expensive varieties are diamond-coated. Such disks cut the most durable type of tile - porcelain stoneware.
Three methods of applying diamond grit are used:
Steel discs are divided into three types: dry cutters, solid (for wet cutting) and combined.
Segmented discs are commonly called "dry cutters", for the ability to cut the material dry, that is, without cooling with water. The circle is divided into segments by radial cutouts, which provide efficient heat removal and free expansion of the metal when heated. Due to this, the time of continuous operation reaches 1 minute, after which they pause for 20 - 30 seconds. The grinder is not turned off for this time - the disk rotates at idle for the purpose of cooling.
Diamond dry cutter
The disadvantage is the low quality of the cut, a large number of chips. If the cut edge of the tile remains visible, cutting is carried out with a margin of 3 - 5 mm and then the edge is trimmed with a grinding wheel.
A wet or solid cutting blade has no thermal relief slots and therefore requires water supply to the working area for cooling. Without this, the continuous operation time is only 10 - 15 seconds, after which the disk is left to rotate for 20 - 30 seconds. at idle. Otherwise, the silver solder will weaken and the diamond coating will be erased. Also, overheating leads to deformation of the disk.
When water is supplied, tiles can be cut continuously.
A solid disc cuts tiles better than a segmented one.
Water is supplied to the cutting zone in three ways:
It is not allowed to get water on the body of the angle grinder - this is fraught with electric shock.
Combination discs allow both dry and wet cutting.
This is the average:
Combined discs are easier to clog with dust than others. And if it is enough to rotate the segmented and solid disks for cleaning by 180 degrees, then this is not allowed with the combined one. For cleaning, they cut concrete or silicate brick.
When cutting dry, the disc cannot be cooled by lowering it into water: this will lead to an uneven distribution of temperatures with the subsequent formation of cracks, the circle will immediately fly apart. This applies to segmented, solid, and combined discs.
In order to reduce the number of chips, the following rules are followed:
Tile cutter from grinder
The amount of dust is minimized as follows:
The easiest way is to cut in a straight line. Operating procedure:
The speed of rotation of the angle grinder should not exceed the value indicated on the disk.
Straight cutting
The tile is cut easier if it is pre-soaked for 40 - 50 minutes. Porcelain stoneware is not subjected to soaking.
Helpful Hints:
It is necessary to wear safety glasses: fragments of a tile or disk can get into your eyes when it is split.
When cutting tiles along a curved path, for example, a semicircular one for a pipe, a grinder makes a series of short cuts along the drawn line with an allowance for trimming. Next, remove excess material with wire cutters, a grinding nozzle or sandpaper on a bar.
Rectangular openings are recommended to be cut like this:
After cutting the opening, trim its edges with a cylindrical grinding nozzle.
A tile cutter cuts tiles more evenly and better than a grinder, especially a mechanized one. Such a tool is equipped with a wet cutting disc, which was discussed above. After some training with a mechanized tile cutter, you can perform curved cuts. Such an operation is not available to a manual analogue.
The only drawback of the tile cutter is its narrow specialization, which, coupled with the high cost, makes it impractical to purchase this tool for one-time work.
A grinder is the most suitable tool for cutting tiles, from the point of view of a home craftsman. The reason is its versatility: unlike a tile cutter, it can be used to cut and grind many other materials. The main thing is, based on the above recommendations, to choose the right equipment and perform cutting.
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