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Originally contributed by Jeff Butler
Jeff's experience designing content solutions lead him to be one of our first contributors. He helped draft Makey's blueprint and is one of the best explainers of technical details we know.
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In a perfect DIY world, tile renovation projects would go a lot smoother if all the tiles were cut to the right sizes. However, in many cases, you may need to cut your tiles to fit properly. Luckily, there is a fairly cheap and easy solution that should work for most tiling jobs - the snap tile cutter.
Definition
A tile cutter (sometimes referred to as a tile snap cutter) is a tool used for cutting tiles to the proper size. The cutter consists of a carbide wheel that moves along the surface of the tile, scoring it and creating a groove in a straight line. The tile is then snapped off at the groove, either by hand or with a tool.
When And When Not To Use A Tile Cutter
A tile cutter is a great tool for the right job. But they do have their limitations, which you should consider before starting your next project:
- A tile cutter is ideal when working on smaller projects, such as kitchens or bathrooms. But larger projects may require the use of a wet saw to improve accuracy and reduce excessive labor.
- A tile cutter can only produce straight cuts, which makes it ineffective for cutting other shapes. As well, a snap cutter can leave the tile’s edges uneven, so the cut tiles should be placed along the bottom edge of the wall where they can be hidden by baseboards.