One of the stopping factors for doing tile work on your own is the lack of a tile cutter. This is a fairly expensive tool, the purchase of which for one-time cladding is impractical. You can get out of this situation by making a simple and cheap analogue.
Materials:
- ballpoint pen body;
- spent spark plug;
- knitting wire;
- hot glue stick.
Assembling the tile cutter
A fragment of a ceramic spark plug insulator will be used as a cutting element for the tile cutter. It is designed for high temperatures, so it undergoes strong hardening, which makes it harder than the tiles. To get fragments, you just need to break the insulator with a hammer.
Next, remove the tip and cap from the body of the ballpoint pen. All he needs is a pipe. A fragment is glued into its ends with hot glue. They need to be positioned so that they are turned with the tip.
If the fragment does not fit inside the tube, then it should be cut lengthwise.
The protruding ceramic part must be additionally secured, first with hot glue and then with wire.
The fragments are placed on both sides of the tube. When one is erased, you can continue cutting with the other.
How to use a tile cutter
A metal ruler, rule or other flat steel object is applied to the tile cutting line. You can even get by with a hacksaw blade. The ruler is fixed with your left hand, and with your right hand you need to run the tip of the tile cutter along its longitudinal edge. You should move from the farthest point towards yourself, while pressing firmly on the instrument. The tile cutter will leave a shallow, continuous scratch.
Next, the tile is broken along the scratch line. To do this, you need to hit it with a hammer wrapped in a rag placed underneath. You need to hit with force, holding the tile with your hands on both sides of the cut. The impact will cause it to split along the drawn line. The blow should be directed towards the middle of the scratch, but from the back side of the tile.
The tool works perfectly on regular tiles, but is powerless for cutting porcelain tiles. Even many factory-made tile cutters, not to mention handicraft tools, cannot cope with the latter. It will also not work well on relief decor, since often the tile ends up being burnt to fix the glaze on it. It does not break due to a scratch, but is only cut with a grinder with a diamond blade.
When cutting wall tiles, just swipe the tip once. Floor tiles are thicker, so it is better to circle the scratch 2-3 times before breaking.
In terms of quality, cutting tiles with a handicraft tool is in no way inferior to cutting with the roller of a real factory tile cutter. As you work, the fragments will wear off, so they will need to be replaced.
