Cutting curves in t...
 

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[Closed] Cutting curves in tiles - what to use?

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Need to cut some tiles around a curve in a fire place, any ideas how to go about it, reckon it'll just crack the tiles if I try and use my electric tile cutter.

Needs to go around a curve a bit like in this link:

[url= http://www.fireworld.co.uk/wooden-surrounds/europa-washington-wooden-fireplace-surround ]example[/url]

Cheers


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 4:57 pm
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I just cut a series of straight cuts very close together with the tile cutter (so the bit to come off looks like a comb) and then just snap each bit off in turn.

If you get a tile nibbler you can neaten the ends up.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 5:00 pm
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Nibble it with your cutter or buy a tile blade for your jigsaw.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 5:03 pm
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Cheers, sounds like a plan, just need to get a profile of the curve and copy it on the 4 or so tiles it'll run across, sounds like patience is the name of the game to get it looking neat


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 5:05 pm
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ohh, didn't realise you could get a jigsaw blade, that might work well...


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 5:05 pm
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waswas has the correct answer. The Jigsaw or hacksaw blade ides sometimes works but more often than not results in a broken tile


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 5:30 pm
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depends on the tiles and cutter you have . In an ideal world remove as much as you can by running straight cuts into the tile with a blade and then cutting in at an angle to reach the cut you have made . then finish the curve with a nibbler . score the tile as deeply as you can with a scribe along the curve first to reduce the chance of splintering into the bit you aim to keep. practice with the nibbler on a broken tile first. I have tiled to a very bad standard only once in my life but by the time i finished i had got quite good at cutting odd shapes. Have plenty of spare tiles and expect to fail a lot with the first few.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 5:42 pm
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A great big frikkin lazer.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 6:52 pm
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waswas has the correct answer. The Jigsaw or hacksaw blade ides sometimes works but more often than not results in a broken tile

Really? My first ham-fisted attempt at tiling saw me trying this on 8 tiles and I managed to do all of them without a problem or cracking. Far harder to do 90 degree cuts IME, as they create sharp points for cracks to start from.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 6:55 pm
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Use a dremel or similair flex drive on a drill, with a bur it will cut through the tile.

I am an antique restorer and use 1 every day and you cant go wrong.

I have also used it to cut kitchen floor tiles perfectly to any shape.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 7:26 pm
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I had no probs using a small tile drill and a tile saw. Drill the holes, join the dots and finish-off with a tile file.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 7:34 pm
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perfect excuse to buy an angle grinder which will do the job perfectly


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 7:40 pm
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[i]Needs to go around a curve a bit like in this link[/i]

What curve are you referring to exactly...?


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 7:53 pm
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A great big frikkin lazer.

Although I to make many spelling mistake I can't let this one go.

Laser, its an acronym.
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 7:56 pm
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Back home now, here's the actual fireplace I'll be tiling!

[img] [/img]

Think I'll have a go at the jigsaw blade and see how I get on.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 8:57 pm
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The curves not that great and i imagine on that fireplace you ll be using 4 inch tiles. Use a round bladed tile saw will be safer than a grinder which often chip the edge. The jigsaw blades in my experience either dont cut quality tiles or break cheap rubbish ones. Hand powered is the way forward


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 9:15 pm
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waswas has the correct answer. The Jigsaw or hacksaw blade ides sometimes works but more often than not results in a broken tile

Really? My first ham-fisted attempt at tiling saw me trying this on 8 tiles and I managed to do all of them without a problem or cracking. Far harder to do 90 degree cuts IME, as they create sharp points for cracks to start from.

Really, er yes! But what do I know, I only tile for a living....


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 9:15 pm
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OH top tip make a cardboard template of your curve and use it as a marker its the best way to make the curve run smooth across your tiles


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 9:18 pm
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Yeah was thinking of making a carboard template to copy across on to the tiles. Have to admit I'm a tad confussed as to what to do now! Hand saw/ jigsaw/ angle grinder/ cut in to it and nibble it clean!


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 9:40 pm
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Thats how I would do it but what do I know


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 10:23 pm
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Really, er yes! But what do I know, I only tile for a living....

Well blow me, I must be ace then as I'm not even a professional tiler and managed to do it faultlessly 😉 I presume different tiles are harder or easier to cut this way. I must have picked easy ones.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 11:00 pm
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I think Zulu had it if only we could spare the sharks.
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 11:15 pm
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Scroll cutter?


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 11:15 pm
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Another vote for a dremel type tool and the tile cutting bit. Used one to great effect when tiling the bathroom.


 
Posted : 10/01/2012 11:16 pm

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