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Cutting Mosaic Tile

Mosaic tile is cut with different cutting tools depending on the type of tile.  Click here to shop for mosaic tile and other supplies.  

If your tile has ridges on one side, that is the back side.  The ridges help glue bond more securely to the tile.

Safety glasses with side shields should be worn when cutting mosaic tile.

Glass Mosaic Tile

Glass mosaic tile is cut with a mosaic glass cutter.  This tool is basically a compression tool like a tile nipper, but the blades are wheel-shaped and replaceable.  A mosaic glass cutter shouldn't be used on other types of materials such as ceramics or stone because the wheel blades can shatter and break.  

mosaic glass tile cutter

mosaic cutter wheels
The mosaic glass cutter works like a tile nipper, but the cuts are cleaner and more predictable. The wheel blades are replaceable.  Use an allen wrench to change the blades.

 

Ceramic Mosaic Tile

For cutting large quantities of ceramic tile for architectural applications, a powered tile saw or wet saw might be justified.  For smaller backsplashes and mosaic art projects, a tile nipper works just fine.  We use tile nippers on china and other types of ceramic dinnerware.  Some dinnerware is made from very hard materials that were designed to be unbreakable.  We use the Porcelain Nippers for cutting these extra hard plates.

mosaic tile nipper

porcelain tile nipper
The tile nipper is used to cut ceramic mosaic tile. The porcelain tile nipper is used to cut the harder varieties of ceramic dinnerware.

 

Stone Marble Mosaic Tile

For a rough-hewn look, stone can be cleaved with a hammer and hardie as it was done traditionally.  A hardie is a small anvil shaped like a blunt chisel.  Keep in mind that cutting stone that already has a polished or tumbled finish is a big problem because cutting the stone will usually scratch or mar the finish.  The secret of using polished or tumbled stone tiles is to buy tiles that are small enough so that cutting is kept to a minimum.  A tile nipper can be used to cut stone tile, but the force required can be large, especially for the harder varieties of stone.

 

 

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