How to cut tiles with a grinder without additional costs for special devices. How to make a tile cutter yourself from a grinder Cooling a homemade tile cutter from a grinder

Ceramic tiles are one of the most picky coatings. She is not afraid of moisture and a sharp change in temperature, easy to care for and style. True, the installation work involves trimming the tiles. To make the slices look neat, you need to use special equipment called a tile cutter.

Types of tile cutters

To date, there are several machine options on the market that are designed to trim tiles. They can be conditionally divided into two groups: mechanical and electrical. The first ones are used if we are not talking about an industrial scale of work.

For example, to repair your apartment, it is enough to arm yourself with a mechanical tool. But if repair is a professional activity, then it is better to purchase a good electrical tool once.

When using a power tool, no power source is needed. All the work is carried out by a person, activating a simple mechanism. Such machines are not recommended for use if the tile thickness is more than 1.5 cm.There are models designed to work with ceramic tiles, the length of which does not exceed 40 cm.

As a rule, such a tool can handle wall tiles with an average width of 8 mm without any problems. But the cuts are far from perfect. There are multifunctional machines with which you can not only cut tiles into pieces, but also cut round holes.

Mechanical tile cutters, in turn, are divided into desktop and manual. Desktop machines are designed to make straight cuts. They can be fixed on the table and used as a stationary tool. The low weight of the equipment allows it to be used as a portable machine. With a manual tile cutter, you can make curly cutouts.

It is advisable to use electric machines if you need to work with thick tiles or work is not limited to cutting 10-20 tiles. Electric tile cutters are heavy enough to make them difficult to transport.

When choosing electrical equipment, you should pay attention to the presence of a water tank. If there is none, there will be a lot of dust when cutting ceramic tiles. The presence of a container with water partially solves this problem. Moreover, such a tool will last longer.

Tile cutters have different pricing policies. This is a tool not worth saving on. Cheap machines won't last. And the cut made on such machines does not look very aesthetically pleasing. If you don't want to give a tidy sum, then you can make a tile cutter with your own hands. Moreover, you can make both a mechanical machine and an electrical one.

We make a mechanical tile cutter with our own hands

The manual tile cutter is a safe tool and does not require an electrical connection. These two factors make this model popular. In addition, such a tool, due to its relatively low weight, is easy to transport and does not have to spend a lot of money on its manufacture.

The manual tile cutter consists of a platform on which the ceramic tile itself must be placed directly, guides, a cutting element and a handle with which the entire mechanism is activated. The main structural element is the cutting element.

As the latter, it is advisable to use the most common glass cutter. But, you must first remove the head from it, on which the cutting element is located directly.

In addition to the cutting element, it is necessary to prepare:

  • 2 bearings and a shaft for them;
  • a steel tube, the diameter of which is identical to the diameter of the shaft;
  • 2 steel corners measuring 40X40 cm and 4 corners measuring 20X20 cm (the length of each element should be on average 60 cm)
  • material for the manufacture of a work surface;
  • rubber and glue.

In addition to building materials, you need to arm yourself with a welding machine. Without it, making a mechanical tile cutter with your own hands will not work.

From 1 corner with dimensions 40X40 and 2 corners with dimensions 20X20, half of the necessary device is constructed. We take a larger corner and weld smaller corners to its ends from the outside. Similarly, you need to make the second part of the device.

The first and second parts of the tile cutter must be symmetrical with respect to each other. These elements are fixed to the platform. They must be fixed in such a way that the cutting part of the structure moves freely between them.

An ordinary board can act as a platform. But since the tree is not resistant to mechanical damage, it is necessary to install metal strips on the working part of the platform. A hinge element is used to install them. Since the cutting element will sink below the ceramic tile itself, there should be a depression in the middle of the platform. Otherwise, the first time you use it, the platform will be damaged.

The last stage is the creation of the cutting element of the structure. The handle must be welded to the steel tube on one side, and the holder for the cutting element on the other. By and large, the work is almost finished on this. When pressing the handle, the diamond disc should reach the ceramic tile.

Then, smoothly moving the movable part of the structure by the same handle, the diamond disc leaves an even cut on the tile. In order for the structure to move freely, the moving part must be equipped with bearings. For better fixation of the tile on the working surface of the equipment, you can glue rubber strips along its edges.

Making an electric tile cutter

Making an electric tile cutter with your own hands is much easier than it sounds. It is necessary to prepare metal and electric cutting tools. It is better to use a grinder as the latter. Work begins with the manufacture of a work surface. The latter can be the most ordinary table.

You can weld the table yourself. In this case, the table top is made from a sheet of metal. Since the circle from the used electrical device will act as a cutting element, there should be a depression in the center of the working surface. This will allow the cutting element to move without damaging the platform. Such a tool will turn out to be stationary.

The grinder is installed on the mounts that must first be installed on the platform. It is also useful to install a limiter. It will prevent ceramic tiles from sliding out during the trimming process. This is the simplest version of a self-made electric tile cutter. An alternative to the grinder can be an electric motor.

The resulting equipment will resemble a circular floor. The electric motor is installed under the tile cutter platform. An incision is made in the working platform. After installing the disc, which acts as a cutting element, it should be several centimeters higher than the platform. After the equipment is connected to the electrical network, the disc will begin to rotate, which makes an even cut on the surface of the ceramic tile.

It is quite easy to make a tool for cutting ceramic tiles yourself. At the same time, a minimum of funds will be spent on its creation. Buying factory equipment will cost a lot. And the equipment wears out quickly enough.

Working with ceramic tiles, tiles, marble and granite requires an appropriate approach. Use is relevant when performing small amounts of work. Electric water-cooled tile cutters are used especially for professional tile cutting. The use of a special apparatus allows you to perform work of any volume and with high accuracy. We planned to buy an electric apparatus, then we need to find out what it is.

What is this device

An electric tile cutter is a device in the form of a machine, which consists of an electric motor, a cutting part, guides and a separate system - cooling. The device belongs to the category of stationary units, consisting of a table 1 meter high, as well as the main working equipment. The table is needed not only for the placement of the main equipment, but also for the location of the processed materials, such as tiles, ceramics, tiles, granite.


The electric tile cutter differs from the manual one not only in facilitating the performance of physical labor, but also in the ability to cut durable materials of different thicknesses. The engine on the bed can be located in two types, depending on the model:

  • Above are the more popular and multifunctional models
  • Bottom - less popular, and resemble a circular saw

Cutting of tough materials is ensured by a diamond-coated blade drive. During the operation of the device, the disc heats up, therefore, when performing large volumes of work, the cutting element will quickly fail. To prevent this disadvantage, manufacturers have equipped the cutting machine with a water-type cooling system.

Water is supplied to the disk during its rotation, so metal overheating is completely excluded. Device manufacturers claim that water-cooled electric tile cutters can cut the following materials:

  • Ceramics and Granite
  • Ceramic tiles and tiles of different thickness
  • Glass
  • Concrete
  • Artificial and natural stone

Tile cutters belong to the category of expensive devices that are used mainly for professional purposes - when laying tiles, making monuments and memorial plates, as well as other manipulations.



Before buying the device in question, you need to know how it works. How water-cooled electric tile cutters work should be disassembled in detail to represent the features of using a stationary machine. The principle of operation consists in performing the following actions:

  1. Electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy through the use of an electric motor
  2. To the shaft of the electric motor is attached a circle or disc made of carbide materials with a diamond sputtering. Discs with victorious soldering are practically not used in such devices
  3. The rotation of the blade at a high frequency ensures cutting of durable materials. Moreover, a high rotational speed provides not only a high-quality cut without chips and damage, but also excludes the occurrence of damage to the cut part
  4. To cut a ceramic part with a tile cutter, you must go with a rotating disc along the entire marking line from start to finish
  5. The device allows you to cut durable materials not only at an angle of 90 degrees to the work surface, but also setting the required angle
  6. The device has a whole range of advantages, but the main disadvantage is the lack of the possibility of making curly shapes in materials

When the machine is turned on, not only the disc rotates, but also water is supplied to the place where contact with the material occurs. Water can be supplied in two ways - natural and artificial. An artificial method of supplying water involves the use of a pump that pumps water from the container to the working part.



Water cooling not only improves the performance and life of the electric tile cutter, but also eliminates dust generation. If you cut a tile or granite with a grinder, then a dust fog is released, which is very harmful to the human body. This dust cannot be inhaled, as it settles in the respiratory organs, causing various complications. When sawing tiles with an electric water-cooled tile cutter, dust is not generated. That is why it is possible to cut durable materials with such a tool without using a respirator.

What are the advantages of using electric cutters

A machine for cutting tiles with water is necessary to purchase if you are processing durable materials at a professional level. The following advantages will help to make a positive decision about buying or renting a machine:

  1. Efficient cutting of materials of different thickness. Depending on the model of tile cutters, they allow you to cut parts of different thicknesses, which is very convenient, for example, when you need to get the appropriate size of the product. On machines, depending on the models, the maximum permissible thickness of materials that can be cut with a tile cutter is indicated
  2. The absence of dust formation is one of the significant advantages that is achieved due to the presence of a water cooling system
  3. High productivity - water during the cutting process lowers the temperature of the blade, eliminating overheating. The diamond-coated wheel does not heat up and does not melt, therefore it serves long enough and efficiently, eliminating engine overload
  4. You can cut all kinds of materials from tiles to glass
  5. Long service life not only of the machine, but also of the cutting disc. One disk can work for at least 2-3 years with daily appropriate manipulations.
  6. The ability to obtain not only a straight cut at an angle of 90 degrees to the main surface of the material, but also at different angles, pre-setting the position of the disc



The ability to cut materials of different sizes depends on the size of the table. That is why, before buying a machine, it is necessary to foresee what materials are planned to be cut - their thickness and dimensions. Electric tile cutters with the option of water cooling have a number of disadvantages. These disadvantages must be taken into account immediately before buying machines.

Is it worth buying an electric tile cutter or the disadvantages of the device

Water-cooled tile cutters are professional tools, so the price is correspondingly high. It is the price that is the main disadvantage of the devices under consideration, since if you compare them with hand tools, then the difference in cost is more than 10 times. The price, although the main one, is not the only drawback of electric tile cutters, so we find out all the disadvantages of these devices.

  1. High cost. To navigate the cost, the simplest models of electric tile cutters with motors located at the bottom of the bed is 4-5 thousand rubles. However, such simple models have limited functionality, and often do not have water cooling. Models with motors on top, as well as a built-in cooling system, cost from 10 thousand rubles. To buy a high-quality and effective tool with advanced functionality, you will need to pay at least 15-20 thousand rubles
  2. Control of the amount of liquid in the tank. This is rather not a disadvantage, but the need to constantly monitor the amount of water in the tank. If the water runs out, the process will either have to be interrupted, which is not recommended, or continue, but with overheating of the disc and the release of dust. It is not recommended to stop the cutting process, as a chip may form on the tile, thereby deteriorating the appearance. Continuing to work without water will heat up the disc, shortening its lifespan.
  3. Equipment maintenance - after work, it is necessary to drain the water from the tanks (supply and accumulation) to exclude the occurrence of corrosive processes. It is also recommended to fill the tanks not with ordinary water, but with special coolants. Their advantage is that they do not contribute to the formation of corrosive processes. However, although the use of special fluids extends the service life of the equipment, it also increases the cost of the work.
  4. Impossibility of transportation - as already mentioned, structurally electric tile cutters are devices that resemble stationary circulars. They have large dimensions and weights, so they can be used either in a permanent room, or in places of direct work. For the devices to work, an electrical network is required, which is also important to consider
  5. Noise during operation - compared to cutting tiles with a hand tool, the electric cutter is quite noisy, so work should only be done with headphones



Based on all these shortcomings, it can be concluded that it is rational to buy a professional tile cutter with cooling only if you perform work on sawing tiles, glass, granite and other materials in large volumes. For a home, an electric tile cutter is not the best option, since if you need to cover the floor or walls in the room, it is better to use a manual device.

Main characteristics or how to choose

Having found out that the tile cutter is still needed, you should understand the criteria for its selection. For this, the following main technical parameters must be taken into account:

  1. Power - affects the ability to perform work not only in large volumes, but also on cutting materials of different thicknesses. Power affects performance, therefore it is recommended to choose units with an engine power of at least 1 kW
  2. Disk rotation speed - when working with tiles and other durable materials, a high rotation frequency is not required, therefore all models often have a range of operation from 3000 to 4500 rpm. Multifunctional models have a speed controller that allows you to set the appropriate frequency depending on the type of material being cut
  3. Disc diameter - affects the depth of cut, or rather the thickness of the parts that can be cut. When cutting a cable, this parameter is not as important as when processing porcelain stoneware and other durable and thick materials. Depending on the model, the diameters of the disc have different sizes, but on average, the devices provide cutting of workpieces with a thickness of 2 cm to 11 cm. When processing workpieces at an angle, the thickness decreases accordingly. When working only with tiles and tiles, there is no need to buy a machine with a large disk diameter, and vice versa, if you plan to process granite and marble, as well as concrete, you will need to buy a device with the appropriate cutting wheel size
  4. Availability of auxiliary options and additional protective devices. Their presence makes the equipment even more expensive, but at the same time multifunctional and durable. Among the main options, it should be noted - overload protection, speed controller, disc angle setting function, motor overload indicator, protection against accidental start, motor shutdown when the water in the tank runs out, indication of a small amount of water in the tank, backlight, etc.



When choosing, it is important to take into account manufacturers' firms, since devices are produced by far from many modern construction companies. Those who make water-cooled electric tile cutters include:

  • Fubag from Germany
  • Caliber - China and Russia
  • Ryobi from Japan
  • Makita from Japan
  • Practice - Russia
  • Assault - China

The choice of a professional tool requires a competent approach, which will increase the speed and improve the quality of preparing the material for work. There are different types of water cooling on the equipment in question, so it is worth learning about this in more detail.

Types of water cooling on tile cutters

The water supply is realized on the tile cutters due to the auxiliary system, consisting of a supply hose, which is supplied to a container or reservoir with water. The design also uses a pump that is responsible for pumping water from the reservoir to the working area.

The water supplied to the cutting zone flows into another reservoir, which is located at the bottom of the table (under the table top). This reservoir fills up during operation, therefore it must be cleaned. Electric tile cutters use two types of water cooling systems:

  1. Conventional - when clean water from one reservoir is supplied to the working part, and then accumulates in another container. After filling the container, this water must be disposed of. The disadvantage of the system is that it is necessary to constantly add water to the first container.
  2. Circulating in a circle - this option is more perfect, but it has its drawbacks. Water from one container is supplied to the working part, and then enters another container, from where it is pumped back to the first. The disadvantage of the system is that the water is re-supplied with dust and small particles, which negatively affect the pumping equipment

The manual tile cutter is made with a monorail guide for straight and diagonal cutting of porcelain stoneware, tiles, clinker.

All their i called tile cutters Yegorych (although immodest), they differ in functionality and design.

Making a tile cutter with your own hands

In this article I want to tell you how make a tile cutter for porcelain stoneware yourself.

The manual tile cutter made of a shaped tube and equipped with a swivel 600 mm. a ruler made of textolite edged with an aluminum profile with adjustable two stops.

Despite the seeming simplicity of the manual tile cutter, the solutions to some technical issues caused certain difficulties.

In the course of the tests, structurally weak units were identified, which were modified and corrected. At the moment, my manual tile cutter in terms of its functionality is not inferior to similar models of tile cutters of famous brands - it freely cuts Italian porcelain stoneware 30 * 60, 60 * 60 11.3 mm thick, Chinese porcelain stoneware 60 * 60 10 mm thick, clinker tiles 325 * 325 * sixteen

Technical characteristics of the 66th tile cutter.

  • Cutting length 660 mm.
  • Diagonal cutting length 460x460 mm.
  • Tile cutter dimensions 850x230x190 mm. (In stowed form)
  • Tile cutter weight 10.2 kg.


Description of the tile cutter.

  • Monorail track for straight and diagonal cutting porcelain stoneware, tile.
  • Carriage with four ball bearings.
  • Spring-loaded work table.

Technical characteristics of the 90th tile cutter.

  • Cutting length 900 mm.
  • Diagonal cutting length 620x620 mm.
  • Cutting height from 5 to 20mm. (with additional option from 3 to 23 mm)
  • The dimensions of the tile cutter are 1075x270x210 mm. (When stowed)
  • Tile cutter weight 16.7 kg.

Description of the tile cutter.

  • Monorail guide for straight and diagonal cutting of porcelain stoneware, clinker, tiles.
  • Carriage with three ball bearings.
  • Powerful, reinforced divider.
  • Swivel, centered 600 mm. ruler with digital scale.
  • Cutting roller bearing 22mm diameter. titanium coated.
  • Spring-loaded work table.
  • Additional supporting base for large tile formats.

For those craftsmen who are interested in my manual tile cutter, I i can make similar tile cutters to order 66, 90, 112 or provide technical documentation (sketch drawings) for a fee for self-production of a tile cutter (without the right to transfer drawings to third parties).

The current realities are such that the porcelain stoneware on the market most often has a size of 60x60 cm. Most factories simply no longer produce porcelain stoneware 30x30 cm - this is a response to the consumer's request with his interest in larger forms. As a result, in the new catalogs of modern factories, more and more porcelain stoneware with dimensions of 75x75 cm is presented, and even collections with 120 cm or more on one side. The most current collections of wall tiles are 40x80 and 30x90 cm.

And since the manufacturers of ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware follow the path of increasing the size of their products, then we need to cut them.
Warning.
People appeared on the network offering to buy my tile cutters from them - Egorych or drawings.
Real, accurate Egorych tile cutters and drawings can only be purchased from me through the website.

Working with tiles always requires a certain tool. If there is no professional equipment at hand, then this issue can be solved with the help of your ingenuity. For example, making a tile cutter from a grinder with your own hands is quite simple.

But first you need to understand what kind of tool it is. As the name implies, such a device is designed for cutting all types of tiles. It helps make high quality cuts, with more advanced models being able to cut up to 45 °.

The standard tile cutter has a cutting element, protractor, guide and floating base. It is quite possible to replace such a design with a grinder, adding a little to it. This tool is capable of working with both ceramics and flooring.

Creating a tile cutter from a grinder

The need for such a technique arises when cladding work is to be performed. For this purpose, you can use a grinder, having previously taken care of a corundum or diamond cutting disc. But the main problem will be a secure fit.

You can create a tile cutter using a special fixing grinder. It fits on a table or workbench. So the work is much more convenient, because there is no need to guide the grinder. In addition, it is much more comfortable to hold the tile than the tool. This design will contribute to a more even cut line, and the probability of breaking the tile is much lower.

The grinder can be attached to the surface by the horizontal or vertical method, but taking into account the fact that the cutting part rotates on the tile.

  1. Horizontal mount. In this case, the grinder is installed in such a way that the working disc is located strictly vertically. During cutting, it is necessary to control that the working plate is perpendicular to the plane of the grinder's cutting disc. At the same time, the cutting element must not catch on the table surface. If you install a tile cutter-grinder in this position, then you immediately need to be prepared for the whole process to take place with outstretched arms, that is, you will constantly have to keep the cut elements on weight, which is extremely difficult physically. Especially if you have to perform large cutting volumes.
  2. Vertical mount. To use this method, two points must be observed:

The cutting disc of the grinder should be located strictly perpendicular to the surface of the table.

  • the upper part of the grinder reducer must necessarily be located on a level with the table surface or lower by a maximum of 1-2 mm;
  • the location of the cutting element (disc) and the surface of the table together should be equal to 90 °.

In order to create, you should choose the right tools and components:

  • grinder;
  • metal sheet 0.4-5 cm;
  • clamps with a diameter of 0.8-1 cm;
  • nuts and locknuts.

Back to the table of contents

First of all, a metal sheet is attached to the working surface. But before that, it is necessary to cut a gap in it, into which the tile cutter disk will enter. The size of the sheet, more precisely, its width, should be chosen so that even the largest tile can fit under the disc. The whole cutting process is controlled by hands, that is, the tile is moved along the table forward under the cutting element itself.

The Bulgarian is attached to the table (in both the first and second cases) with the help of clamps due to nuts and locknuts. To keep the grinder body undamaged, it is recommended to place the clamps in rubber or PVC tubes. In advance, the clamps are adjusted to the shape of the diameter of the future tile cutter.

It should be remembered that when installed vertically, the grinder remains without a protective casing, since it cannot be put on, which means that working with such a device is extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is better for the operator to be on the right or left side during the entire process, and in addition to use protective equipment - glasses, a respirator and gloves.

If the home workshop will be located in one of the rooms of the apartment, then it is recommended to connect such a tile cutter to a vacuum cleaner. To do this, the bell of the intake hose is fixed under the place where the cutting disc is located. And then during cutting, the grinder and the vacuum cleaner turn on simultaneously, which will help get rid of the waste materials of the whole process.

A grinder for the base of a tile cutter is quite appropriate, since a minimum of additional components are used for this. In addition, thanks to this tool, it is possible to achieve the required number of revolutions of the cutting edge in one minute. In the opposite case, you will need to look for an additional gearbox, which can give an indicator of 4000-5500 rpm.

In order for the cut to have a more ideal indicator, a metal corner is installed on the table surface, keeping parallel to the disk. Thus, by adhering to it, a high evenness of the cut can be achieved.

Why is a grinder needed? With the help of a grinder, an automated tile cutter is made. Hand models, including glass cutters with jigsaws, can form micro-cracks. This often causes the tiles to crack during tapping. While using a grinder-based tile cutter helps to avoid such defects.

To insure yourself, you can draw a future cut line in advance with a pencil. Further, a shallow cut is made along it with a glass cutter, and only then full cutting is performed.

Back to the table of contents

Correct selection of the working surface

An important point is the selection of the right table. The size of the tiles with which it will be possible to work depends on its size.

If necessary, the working surface can be increased by using folding tables, retractable supports, etc.

If possible, you can purchase such a desktop in a specialized store. But in this case, you should pay attention to several points:

  1. Depending on the purpose, each table model can have its own indicator of functional load. Manufacturers indicate this value in the documents for their products. If the table cannot withstand heavy loads, this will significantly affect functionality and performance.
  2. It is very important to pay attention to the strength of the structure. If the support is not stable, the cutting process can be unsafe. Also on the working surface there are marking and fastening tools. It is best if the table is made of stainless steel or aluminum alloys.
  3. There are additional elastic nozzles that come with tables. They prevent the tool from slipping.
  4. Not the least in terms of convenience is the ease of cleaning the table. This parameter is affected by perforation of the material and features of the outer base.

Of course, in most cases, you should choose a work surface for individual requirements, since the quality of the result obtained largely depends on the convenience of the operator and his environment.

9337 0

It is difficult to imagine laying ceramic tiles without a tile cutter, manual or electric. The choice of tool depends on the amount of work that the master has to perform. For cladding small areas at home, it is enough to have a hand tool, professional craftsmen prefer an electric tile cutter that increases productivity and performs better cutting of tiles with a high-speed rotating disk equipped with water cooling.


Craftsmen who know how to handle a manual tile cutter, having seen the results of using an electric machine by a professional finisher, in order to improve their skills, strive to acquire, master also this tool, which is more perfect and productive. The best solution to this issue is to purchase a factory-made electric tile cutter. But a high-quality and durable tool is expensive, and a machine at an affordable price quickly wears out and breaks down.

Assessment of the degree of need for making a homemade electric tile cutter

If there is a need for an electric tool for the high-quality performance of a small amount of tile laying work, then, having read the recommendations below, you can make such a tile cutter with your own hands.

Before proceeding with the manufacture of a home-made electric cutter, you should critically evaluate your design and installation capabilities and capabilities, since even minor errors in the manufacture of such a device can lead to injuries.

If you are not confident in your abilities, then the assembly of this tool should at least be entrusted to an experienced performer, ideally, you should rent a factory-made electric cutter.

Choosing an electric motor for a tile cutter

To make a tile cutter with your own hands using an independent electric motor, it is necessary to select and install a gearbox for the possibility of manual installation of the required disk rotation speed. Technically, this is not easy to do, so another solution is common - the use of a small grinder (grinder for discs with a diameter of 115-125 mm) with the option of manual adjustment of the rotation speed.

Designing a Electric Tile Cutter

First of all, you need to decide what will be the location of the grinder when cutting tiles:

1. Ceramics along the guide bar is fed under the grinder motionlessly fixed from the bottom of the table.

Advantages:

  • the relative simplicity of the technical solution, which consists in securely fixing the grinder on the underside of the table and installing the guide bar on top with the possibility of its adjustment;
  • possibility of installing a container with water under the table to partially trap dust and cool the disc.

Disadvantages:

  • strong dust formation due to the need to cut the entire thickness of the tile, without the ability to perform only an incision;
  • the inconvenience of turning on / off the grinder due to its location under the table;

2. On the tile fixed with the help of a manual clamp, a cut is made with a grinder, fixed on top of the table on rectilinear slide rails.

Advantages:

  • Less dust generation due to the ability to cut tiles without cutting through;
  • Availability of service grinder;

Disadvantages:

  • the technical complexity of the rigid mounting of the grinder on a movable slide and water cooling;
  • the need for additional manual processing of ceramic fracture surfaces along the cut.

Obviously, a do-it-yourself tile cutter from a grinder, made according to the first design option, is simpler and more functional, so in the future we will consider this type of homemade device.

Making a tile cutter table

To smoothly feed the tiles under the rotating grinder disc, the surface of the table should be flat and smooth. In addition, for reliable fastening of the grinder, the material of the countertop must be durable. Therefore, the best solution would be to manufacture a rigid steel table frame from corners or rectangular profiles on electrically welded joints. Then, according to the size of the frame, you need to make and mount the table cover from sheet steel with a thickness of 5-6 mm with a cut made by a milling cutter under the thickness of the Bulgarian disc with a margin of 2-3 mm.

For safety reasons, the grinder disc should not protrude from the slot above the table surface by more than half its radius.

Pieces of a steel profile of a rectangular cross-section measuring 40 x 60 mm or a steel strip 4-5 mm thick are welded onto the table top in the course of the slot or parallel to it, to which the grinder will be attached in the future.

DIY make-up table

On the tile cutter table, you should install the movable bar parallel to the cutting disc for strictly rectilinear feeding of the tile under the cutting edge. To do this, to the left of the disc (when looking at the cutting edge), perpendicular to it, you need to make two parallel slots at a distance of the length of the bar between each other, along which the ends of the guide bar will move, fastened in the desired position with a bolt-nut through the slot.

Installing the grinder

The methods of attaching the grinder to the underside of the table may vary. The rigidity and reliability of the installation is important in order to make impossible any displacement of the grinder from the design position in the device, fraught with jamming of the disk in the slot of the table. You should also take into account the need for the availability of the on / off button of the tool, the speed controller and the possibility of changing the grinder disc.

For rigid attachment to the table, use a threaded hole for the handle in the grinder body, which can be used to screw the grinder into a bolt with a bracket welded to the table.

To prevent the bolt from everting out, a Grover spring washer is placed under its head.

In addition to this connection, the tool is secured to the table using clamping clamps made of strip steel, made in accordance with the design of the table. As gaskets between the plastic body of the grinder and the steel of the table, wooden blocks are used, in which you need to make grooves in the shape of the body.

Grinding a homemade grinder tile cutter

Prefabricated electric tile cutters are equipped with a water cooling system, the design of which depends on the position of the cutting blade - above or below the table. It is unrealistic to design this option on a homemade tile cutter made at home, and there is no need - in everyday life, the intensity of cutting ceramic tiles is low, and an idle air blast is enough to cool the diamond disc.

In addition, one should not forget that the grinder is prohibited to use when the ambient humidity is above 85%, which means that the tool is not designed for contact with pure water during operation.