How do Cut Ceramic Tile Without a Wet Saw? 

Adding or updating tile is an excellent way to add beauty and value to your home. However, it can be expensive to rent a wet saw when you’re only cutting a few tiles at a time. Thankfully, there are several ways to cut ceramic tile without a wet saw. This guide will show you how to do it, including using a manual tile cutter, a rotary tool, and a table saw. 

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Manual Snap Cutter

A manual snap cutter is a great tool for making straight cuts on large, flat pieces of tile. These tools use scoring and pressure to snap the tile at the correct size, which can save you a lot of work. The cutter has a base to hold the tile, a handle rod on two metal tracks that score the tile, and a pressure plate that snaps the tile into two pieces. 

This type of cutter is perfect for smaller, straight-edge cuts on ceramic and porcelain tile. A moderate-quality manual cutter will cost around $25, while a better-quality one can cost $125. 

Wet Saw

If you’re cutting a single piece of tile, a wet saw is the best tool to use. The blade of the wet saw is insulated to keep it from overheating and cracking, but you should use it with caution. Make sure you wear safety goggles and gloves, don’t let loose clothing or jewelry in the way, and avoid looking at the blade while it’s in operation. 

To start, set up the saw on a table where water won’t get in the way. Fill the water reservoir or tray and mark a guideline on the tile where you want to make your cuts. 

Place the tile glazed side up on the table, aligning the guideline with the blade and placing the widest part of the tile between the blade and the fence. Once you’ve got it lined up, turn on the saw and give it about 20 seconds to warm up. Once the blade has warmed up, guide the tile into the blade and push it through until it clears the fence. 

Repeat the process until the entire tile is cut. After you’re done, use a file or sandpaper to smooth the edges. 

Alternatively, you can use a rotary tool with a diamond-tipped blade to cut through the tile. It’s a bit unconventional and will not be as clean as a wet saw, but it’s an easy way to make angled cuts on tiles. 

A Dremel rotary tool can be used to make curved cuts in ceramic and porcelain tiles. To use a rotary tool, first mark the face of the tile at the top and bottom edges to indicate where you want to cut it. Once you’ve done that, place the tile glazed side up on the tool. Then, place the edge of the tile against the end stop on the tool. Once it’s in place, move the cutting wheel along the rails until it rests against the near edge of the tile.