A guide to cutting tiles

When a regular handsaw just won’t cut it (literally) you can count on our hire service here for all your tiling project needs. Whether you’re working with ceramic or natural stone tiles, we’ve got a variety of equipment for you to choose from to make sure your project stays on the cutting edge whether you’re a professional or a DIY enthusiast!

At Smiths Hire, we offer a variety of tile cutter hire options to suit every project, from DIY jobs to professional tiling. Our machines are designed for safety, ease of use, and durability, ensuring you get the job done efficiently. Here’s a quick breakdown of the tools available and a couple of handy tips for cutting different types of tiles.

Choosing the right tile cutter

The tile cutter you need depends on a few factors, such as the job at hand, what material you’re cutting, and how much of it you need to do. A hand cutter isn’t going to be great for cutting thick stone, nor is it ideal if you have a huge space to tile; however, if you’re cutting a few small floors and wall tiles, it’s perfect. It all depends on the nature of your project. With that in mind, here’s what each of our tile cutters is best suited to.

Hand tile cutters

Our hand tile cutter is built for speed and precision; it includes a useful breaker that helps you work more efficiently and a double guide to ensure better visibility of your scoring and cutting line! What’s more, for added comfort and stability, the cutter comes with an oversized base for easier handling.

For smaller projects or softer materials like ceramic, a hand tile cutter like this may be all you need. Lightweight and easy to use, they allow for precision cutting, ideal for cutting wall and floor tiles for small bathrooms or kitchens. Simply mark the tile, apply pressure with the cutter, and snap!

Wet tile saws

For tougher materials like porcelain, granite, or marble, a wet tile saw will be your best bet. Wet saws, as the name suggests, use a water-cooling system to keep the blade from overheating so you can cut through even the hardest materials smoothly and efficiently. Wet saws are perfect if you’re doing more complex cuts or cutting larger tiles, ensuring accuracy while producing minimal dust.

Our 350mm Tile Bridge Wet Saw from Golz is a 110V machine designed for the wet cutting of materials like porcelain, ceramic, and even marble. With a robust aluminium frame, it includes a 500mm x 600mm mild steel side table, two T-lock clamps, and a 1-metre tile support for accurate, long cuts. It also has an adjustable cutting head for mitres, a powerful 2.2kw motor, and a removable water tray for easy maintenance.

Masonry bridge saws

For professional-level projects involving large or thick tiles, a masonry bridge saw is the go-to option. With adjustable cutting heads and a capacity to handle tiles up to 1500mm, these machines are perfect for cutting through granite, stone, and other heavy-duty materials. Their design allows for mitre cuts up to 45 degrees, making them a versatile choice capable of intricate cuts.

Our 350mm 110V Masonry Bridge Saw is a robust and versatile tool, ideal for a variety of cutting tasks. With a generous 1000mm cut length, it’s designed to handle large floor and wall tiles, roof tiles, natural stone, masonry, and concrete products with little resistance. This powerful saw is perfect for professional projects, ensuring precise and reliable cuts across a wide range of robust materials.

Diamond tile saws

Where precision is of the utmost importance, the Diamond Tile Table Saw is the perfect blend of power and control. With a cutting length of up to 620mm, this professional machine is ideal for both experts and novices, ensuring clean, smooth cuts every time.

The Diamond Tile Table Saw – 110V is a versatile and user-friendly tool with a straightforward tabletop design and a maximum cut length of 620mm. Its powerful motor caters to both experienced users and beginners.

Tile cutting tips

Achieving perfect cuts requires precision and the right techniques which come with time and practice. So to help you on your way, we’ve pulled together some top few top tips when cutting your tiles for your projects to ensure you get smooth clean cuts every single time and get the job done!

1. Safety first: Always wear the relevant PPE before starting on any DIY tasks, especially where saws are involved. Safety goggles and gloves are a necessity when cutting tiles as fragments can fly off during the cutting process and dust created by the tiles can be inhaled. If the machine you’re using is on the larger side, use ear protection as well.
2. Measure twice, cut once: This is true for any DIY project. If you’re working with limited material you don’t want to waste any by Always double-check your measurements before cutting to avoid costly mistakes that can delay your project. Mark your tiles clearly with a pencil for guidance too so you know exactly where you’re cutting.
3. Use water for dust control: When using wet saws, make sure the water flow is consistent. This keeps the blade cool and also reduces dust and debris, making the process safer for you (and easier to clean up after!).
4. Mitre cuts: If you need angled cuts for corners or edges, our tile cutters’ adjustable heads can rotate up to 45 degrees for perfect mitre cuts.

At Smiths Hire, we’ve been providing quality equipment and tool hire services to the DIY and trade sectors for more than 50 years, operating from 17 tool hire depots across the North West and Yorkshire, including several in major hubs like Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. If you’re not sure what machine you need for your tiling project or you have any questions, feel free give our team a call on 0333 323 2100, we’re always happy to help!