There is a certain art to cutting tile. The process is tedious and can take several hours to complete. If you don’t know what you’re doing, your tile floor can end up looking like Swiss cheese.
Knowing how to cut tile properly can save you time, money and a lot of frustration.
Now, when it comes to cutting tile, there are a few different methods you can use. Each of these methods offers its own advantages, so it’s important that you know how to utilize each one.
Tiling your home’s floors or walls is an excellent way to make your house more beautiful. Tiles come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and they’re available at any home improvement store.
This guide contains all the steps you need to follow when cutting tiles using this powerful tool.
What you Need to Cut Tile with an Oscillating Tool
Before you start, make sure that you’ve got all of the necessary materials. This includes:
- Tile cutter
- Oscillating tool
- A straight edge (some people use a metal rule, others prefer to use their hands as an edge guide).
- Pencils or markers
- Tile spacers (optional)
Cut Tile With An Oscillating Tool – Step By Step Guide
Step 1: Preparation
The first thing you need to do is make sure you’re working in a safe environment. Wear safety goggles or safety glasses and ensure that there are no bystanders nearby when you start cutting tile.
You don’t want someone getting hurt by the flying debris while you’re cutting the tile into smaller pieces.
Step 2: Marking
The next step has to do with figuring out where you will be cutting the tile. Use a pencil or marker to trace around the tile where you will be making your cuts.
You can always cut it as a straight line or in a pattern, depending on what look you are going for. Using a straight line will make it easier to make sure all of your cuts are even.
Once you have traced around the tile, remove the tile and make your lines permanent with a straight edge and a pencil.
It’s best to use a straight edge that is longer than the actual line that you need to cut, because this will give you extra room to make sure you stay within your lines.
Make sure that you mark every single side of each individual tile that you want to cut because if you don’t, it’s very easy to forget one and end up with an uneven cut.
Step 3: Set up your work area
Put a drop cloth on your floor or work surface. This will protect your floors from drops of water that accumulate when you’re cutting tile.
Place another drop cloth on top of it so that you can lay tiles to the side when you’ve finished cutting them.
Place the first piece of tile flat on the table with space around it so that you can move it around without bumping into other pieces of tile.
Step 4: Choose a Blade
Select a tile cutting blade appropriate for the type of tile you’re dealing with. Different blades are available for different types of ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles.
The blades you’ll need depends on the thickness of the tile you plan to cut. For example, using a blade designed to cut ceramic tile will not work on glass or porcelain.
Step 5: Secure the Tile
Next, you want to secure your tile to a table or countertop using masking tape. Tear off strips of tape about 4 inches long, stick one end on the table about 1/4 inch from the edge of the tile and then run it at a 45-degree angle over the tile, pressing firmly so that it “sticks” to the tile.
Do this all around the perimeter of your tile, leaving enough space between strips so that when you run out of tape or reach the end, you have enough space for your tool base.
Insert the blade attachment into the oscillating tool. You may need to loosen or tighten the screw at the bottom of the blade to make sure it fits snugly in place.
Step 6: Cut
At this point, you can turn on your oscillating tool and allow it to warm up for five minutes before you use it.
Lift the blade off of your oscillating tool, holding it at a 45-degree angle above the tile surface.Slowly move the blade toward your starting point while keeping it in contact with the tile’s surface, allowing you to cut through it cleanly and easily.
Continue moving back and forth until you have finished cutting out your shape or design on the tile’s surface.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about tiling your home but aren’t quite sure where to start, consider using an oscillating tool. This tool is often used by contractors for drywall or plastering jobs and is known for being easy-to-use and powerful.
Tile cutting can be a daunting task especially when you don’t know the right tools and techniques to follow. Try following these simple steps on how to cut tile using an oscillating tool and you will have the job done in no time.