How to Cut Ceramic Tile With a Miter Saw
Miter saws have traditionally been used only to work with wood and sometimes with metal. But as technology advances, the innovations of the modern era have allowed for the creation of more blades that can be used to cut a variety of materials. Most tile installations rely upon the use of a tile wet saw. However, if you don't have the money to rent or buy one but you have a miter saw handy, you can purchase a diamond or carbide blade for your miter saw to cut the tiles for your project.
1. Mark the face of tile according to the area you need to cut, using a tape measure. For example, this can be a straight cut, angle cut, square-hole cutout, square U-shaped cut or anything other than circular cuts.
2. Place the piece of tile onto the tray of the miter saw. Prepare to make a straight cut, using the fence (the back) of the tray to hold your piece of tile squarely with the blade. Hold the tile firmly in place, using your hand. Squeeze the trigger on the saw and gently pull the blade downward into the piece of tile. Repeat this process for any type of straight cuts.
3. Cut an angle on a tile, using the miter feature on the miter saw. Loosen the adjustment bolts on the miter saw to angle the blade one way or the other. Use the gauge on the saw to set the angle of the blade at the percent of angle you want. Alternatively, use the marks on your tile as a guide. Angle the blade left or right for angle cuts on the face; angle the blade up or down to the left for edge miters.
4. Create square cutouts using the "drop" feature of the blade. Mark the cutout on the back of the piece of tile and place it face down on the tray. Hold it in place with your hand. Pull the blade downward into the tile on top of your marks. Turn the tile accordingly to cut all edges of the cutout.
5. Cut slightly beyond your marks for backside cutouts as the blade is rounded and thus angles up slightly within the notches of the cut. Push the blade downward into the piece of tile at least 1/8 inch beyond the marks for backside cuts. Remove the piece of tile. Tap the cutout lightly with your knuckle and it will fall out.
Things You Will Need
• Safety glasses
• Ear plugs
• Tape measure
• Miter saw blade, diamond or carbide
• Miter saw
Tip
Angle cuts are necessary in a mitered corner or for wrapping around an outside corner. For example, use angled cuts where you need a 45-degree angle on each outside edge of two pieces to wrap a 90-degree corner, or for making a similar 45-degree cut across the face to match two pieces on a 90-degree picture-frame wrap.
Miter saws have numerous adjustable sections, clearly defined by bolts or knobs and a guide that shows the angle of the blade. For example, you can set it at a 45-degree angle for side cuts or plunge cuts, or at 22 degrees or 74 degrees or any angle you need. Different miter saws have different locations for the adjustable knobs, but they should be clearly visible.
Warning
Wear safety gear when cutting ceramic tile or natural stone tile.
Keep your fingers clear of the blade when holding the piece of tile in place.
Do not attempt to make a cut if your fingers are going to be within a couple of inches of the blade; instead, use a tile wet saw. A wet saw tile diamond blade will not cut your fingers, while a dry-use, diamond-tipped miter saw blade will.
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