How easy it is to cut tiles without a pile of dirt. Didn't even have to buy a tile cutter

The price of tile cutters on Yandex Market ranges from two to fifty thousand. A professional tool is needed by craftsmen who specialize in this. A good tool saves time and effort. A cheap manual tile cutter is suitable for those who started doing repairs on their own. And if a person is not a professional, and does not even make repairs in his apartment, but prefers to invite craftsmen, there is no point in spending money on a tool.

But if it happens that a couple of tiles in the corner fly out of their place, and you don’t want to invite the master, the simplest device that can replace a manual tile cutter will solve the problem. We will try to do it now.

We make a tile cutter

Ceramic tile has a relatively soft, in comparison with porcelain stoneware, structure. The hardest layer on it is the glaze, which gives the tile its appeal. When an incision is made, the glazed coating is destroyed along the cut line. And thanks to this, breaking off the tiles is even.

A manual tile cutter, which we will make with our own hands, will consist of a base, or tabletop, on which the tile is laid to cut the upper stop, which will serve as a ruler, and two sidewalls. For the base, a laminate floor, hardwood board or MDF, a size slightly larger than the size of the tile, is suitable. For the upper stop, you can use all the same materials, or a 15-20 mm profile pipe. You don't need more.

To provide a working hole between the base and the ruler where the tile will be inserted, you will have to take wooden slats or metal profiles, the thickness of which will not be much greater than the thickness tiles.

In this tile cutter design, the length of the rails slightly exceeds the longest side of the tile. The base must be sufficiently rigid, since it is on it that the master will rely to break the tile. After assembly, this design is obtained. All elements are fastened together with self-tapping screws.

The design turns out to be quite light, and when there is no need for it, it can be easily disassembled, and the material can be used for other purposes. And you can save and use as needed for its intended purpose.

The design has the right to exist. But it has a small flaw, in my opinion. In it, the base and emphasis are made on the same level. As a result, the cut piece hangs. There is a danger that it may break off and fall off at the incision stage. And it’s not very convenient to make an incision when there is no support below. Therefore, I would move the upper part, that is, the ruler, by 8-10 centimeters back. On the basis, I would draw a line with the tool with which I will cut off the facing material. Usually tiles are cut with a glass cutter or a drill bit. And, as you know, the glass cutter does not pass strictly under the ruler, but 2 - 2.5 mm further. This is the mark I would draw on the countertop, as is done in the photo.

And then, inserting the tile into the opening, I could easily align the lines of the tile with the marks on the base, which would allow me to cut it with maximum accuracy. By the way, this homemade tile cutter has a narrow tabletop, and therefore it is not very convenient to break off the tiles. In this regard, the first glass cutter is more thoughtful

And further. If you have to work with different tiles, then fastening is best done not on self-tapping screws, but on bolts. Thus, the ruler will be removable. And with the help of washers, you can adjust the height of the opening into which the tile is inserted.