For most ceramic tile projects you need to learn how to cut tile three ways. That’s because different tools are made for different cuts. Really the cutting tools are the special tools that are potentially the most expensive tools you need for tile setting. This article describes the three different tools for cutting tile.

Most tile projects require cutting on border tiles. Whether for floors, walls, counter tops or showers, tiles along the edges must be cut to fit. For straight cuts across a tile, often a cutter board is the tool of choice. A cutter board is simple and cheap. Here’s how it works. A tile is put on the cutter and a cutter blade scores or scratches the tile. Then the tile can be easily broken along the scored mark. Now some cutters work better than others and it does take practice. But the cutter board is a quick way to make straight “cuts.” There’s another way to make straight cuts.

That’s the tile saw. Tile saws are wet saws. Water is used to keep the cut area wet. This improves the cutting action and keeps dust down too. Now you can pay all kinds of prices for tile wet saws. Professional machines are heavy duty and made to hold up under heavy abuse and use. That’s what a pro needs. But for occasional use, you can get a light weight waw for just a small price.

Tile saws have a movable bed to move the tile piece to the blade. So again you use a tile saw to make straight cuts. But a tile saw is also used in circular cuts too which we’ll explain later. The other way curved cuts are made is with the nippers.

Nippers are a special type of pliers. The nipper is used to grab pieces of tile and then break off the tile piece. That’s useful for any little trim that needs doing. But it’s also useful for curves. Here’s how.

To make a curve cut, mark the area to be removed. Then make straight saw cuts in the part to be removed. Make as many cuts up to the marked line as you want. Then simply break off the areas left using the nippers. That’s how you can get curve cuts with the straight cut from a saw and final trim with the nippers.

Tile cutting is one of the skills you need fro any tile project. The three basic tile cutters will make any cut. You’ll need a tile saw, but not necessarily an expensive one. It make help to watch some tile sawing done to help you see the tricks.