The best tile cutter: for home, for price, quality, ease of use, rating, TOP 10 good tools

Even 20 years ago, tiles were cut with ordinary pliers and a carbide roller. This was all done by hand, often by weight or on the floor. The material was cheap and the method justified itself.

For expensive ceramics, it is better to use a tile cutter. In this way, you can cut as accurately and quickly as possible. Sometimes, especially for thick, wide-format material, this is the only way to correctly cut the edge, as they say, to size.

What to look for when choosing

There are many models of specialized tools for cutting ceramics. Therefore, in order to decide which tile cutter is better to buy, you have to compare tools from different manufacturers. It makes no sense to buy the first rig that comes across or the top model you like from the advertisement, as many buyers do. The best tile cutters just rarely get into advertising, the demand for them remains constant even without marketing techniques.

What is the fundamental difference between models of tile cutters:

1. frame design and weight.
2. Type of drive, manual or electric.
3. Cutting method and design of the cutting part.

Each model has its own little secrets that improve the work with tiles. For example, the method of fixing and marking the material, the use of a threshold for breaking off.

Tile cutters are divided into manual and electric. In addition, you can also find a conditional division into portable and desktop models. Desktop devices in theory can be carried, but in reality they are heavier and more powerful structures, designed to work with a team of several people. In order not to get confused, it should be noted for yourself that the desktop device is almost always equipped with an electric drive.

Features of the desktop tile cutter

The best electric tile cutters use a cutting disc mounted on a movable support as a working tool. The tile is cut either completely to the entire depth of the cut, or a cut is made to a shallow depth along the entire length of the marking. It all depends on the power of the model. Typically, portable tile cutters use partial cut or half cut technology, while full tile cutting is used in desktop models and stone cutting machines.

For cutting large thickness tiles made of porcelain stoneware or natural stone, use discs with diamond powder, as well as standard vulcanite. Often complete with a water-cooled cutting edge.

The use of water is not a significant advantage - such structures often fail due to cooling problems, they are difficult to maintain. But water makes it possible to reduce disc wear, increase cutting speed, and most importantly, the formation of cracks due to overheating is excluded. Therefore, it makes sense to purchase a water-cooled tile cutter for large volumes or for sawing heavy facade tiles.

What are portable tile cutters

This category includes all models, the design of which allows you to carry and store the tool using special cases, bags or boxes. This review also includes battery models. In such devices, a disk diamond tool is usually used, it can only make a small cut, after which the tile can be broken according to the markup.

All other portable type tile cutters are manual. To cut tiles, you need to manually actuate the lever with the cutting head. Typically, the cutting tool is a carbide roller mounted on a bearing or bushing. There is not much difference, but it is generally accepted that a bearing tile cutter provides higher accuracy and depth of cut.

The second important point is the design and material of the frame with a guide traverse (monorrail), on which the head rests when the roller passes over the surface of the ceramic tile. It is best if it is cast iron or steel, but you can find good tile cutters with an aluminum or stamped base.

A good tile cutter must meet the following requirements:

1. The base (plate) is as rigid as possible. Not necessarily cast iron, but there should be no deformation when cutting tiles of maximum thickness.
2. The roller should not slip or deviate from the markup when the lever is pressed. If a sleeve fit is used instead of a bearing, then all parts of the rotation support must be metal (bronze, brass or steel).
3. The correct length of the lever and transmission link. The higher the force on the tile cutter lever, the worse the quality of the cut.

Often, due to the “heavy” lever, the portable tile cutter has to be installed on the floor so that you can cut while leaning on the drive with your whole body. It is clear that the quality is reduced, and if you need to cut a tile with an embossed pattern, then you may end up with a marriage.

It is also desirable to have a special supporting edge, on which the tile is chipped off with a sharp but gentle blow to the surface. As well as a square frame and a special rubberized coating on the base plate.

Rating of the best portable tile cutters

Most of the models are made in the form factor of a slab with a single monorail or double traverse on top. At the same time, you have to cut with a lever with small “stitches”, after leaning your other hand on the tile.

When buying a manual tile cutter, you need to pay attention to:

1. base plane. You can not check the level, but you need to attach a standard locksmith ruler to the surface. If there are remarks to the plane (waves or deflection), then the tile will crack at the first attempt to cut it.
2. Supports for a monorail or twin traverses should only be cast, metal or plastic, it does not matter.
3. The monorail should preferably be chrome-plated, solid aluminum or steel. In the process of cutting tiles, it accounts for up to 60% of the entire load.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the quality of fastening of the cutting roller. Usually, a groove runs under the cut line. So the roller and the groove must be in the same strictly vertical plane.

Fifth place - ZUBR "EXPERT" 33193-50

The tool is made in China, but in terms of the quality of material processing for the bed and monorail, we can say that the tile cutter is made using full-fledged machine-building equipment, casting and grinding machine tools. This means that the design is designed for continuous operation, heavy loads and significant cutting forces.

Distinctive features of ZUBR:

1. Massive bed - tool weight 5.8 kg.
2. The cutting element is a carbide roller.
3. Use of bearings in the cutting head.
4. Dimensions 500x150x150mm.
5. The maximum tile thickness is 16 mm.

The movement of the head with the roller on the tile is provided by a monorail. Rigid enough to keep the cutting edge from slipping on tiles with a prominent embossed pattern.

In general, the tile cutter is a reliable, moderately convenient tool. Even if you cut tiles on it every day for several dozen blanks. BISON is often referred to as professional equipment for cutting facing ceramics, but this is not entirely true.

According to reviews, BISON often gets on the counter in a “raw” form - the nuts are not fully tightened, the carriage stroke is poorly adjusted. The device has no structural defects, but the build quality may be poor. Therefore, when purchasing a tile cutter, you need to be prepared for the fact that some parts and parts of the tool will need to be disassembled and reassembled. This is not a defect, you just need to spend a little time setting up and calibrating the cutting head, and the machine will cut tiles with little to no comment.

The price of the device is 6500 rubles.

Fourth place - BOSCH PTC 640

It features an unusual design with a wide bed and a double monorail. The design uses a cutting roller with a diameter of 20 mm made of titanium carbide. Such a tool is able to cut like butter, any tile up to 12 mm thick. All components and parts of the tile cutter run perfectly, without play.

The length of the cutting edge travel along the bed is 640 mm. You can note the design thought out to the smallest detail, the location of the mounting of the base plate and the tile cutter lever. Confused only too much weight of the device - 9.1 kg. Usually manual models weigh a maximum of 7-8 kg. The maximum thickness of the cut ceramic is too small for a professional tool.

It is rather a tool for an amateur tiler, but of good quality. The force on the lever is moderate, so after making several dozen cuts, there is still time and energy left to lay the tiles on the walls.

In addition, BOSCH PTC 640 is a convenient device for breaking off tiles along the cut line.

The cost of the tool is from 18 thousand rubles. rub.

Third place - RUBI SPEED 62 N

A rather heavy tool due to the reinforced base and the drive of the cutting head. The total weight is 7.5 kg, which is about the average for a good quality tool. Dimensions - 785x220x270 mm.

It is produced in limited quantities in Spain, the main part under license in China.

Main characteristics:

1. The cutting element is a roller 20x1.5 mm made of tungsten carbide.
2. The maximum tile thickness is 15 mm.
3. The length of the cutting line is 630 mm.

For a diagonal cut, you can use tiles no larger than 440x440 mm.

The base of the tile cutter is made of aluminum alloy with an insert. Two steel thin-walled pipes with chrome coating are used as a guide. The high quality of the mechanical drive and carbide roller can be noted.

The tile cutter does not belong to the class of a professional tool, but in terms of resource and cut quality it is not inferior to the best pro-class models.

Of the shortcomings, only the high cost of the tile cutter can be noted - 32,000 rubles.

Second place - STAYER PROFI 3318-60

The design was developed in Germany, but the production is carried out at production facilities in China. Therefore, the tile cutter turned out to be convenient, but the build quality can be different even within the same batch.

Designed for manual cutting of tiles up to 16 mm thick with a cut line of no more than 600 mm. The lever and the cutting head are mounted on sleeve bearings, so that the tool life is quite large. The force on the lever is not more than 10 kg, but as the roller wears, the load has to be increased.

The price does not exceed 5000 rubles.

First place - Intertool HT0365

Inexpensive, but high-quality tool for cutting glazed ceramic tiles, up to 12 mm thick. Most of the structure is made of metal, both stamped and cast. In terms of quality - price, this is one of the best models for home use.

A distinctive feature of the tool is the use of reinforced bearings, more powerful supports for dual traverses and a specially configured head drive handle. According to the manufacturer, this design ensures that the tile is evenly pressed against the rubberized base, which prevents it from being accidentally chipped.

The tool is quite light - 6.8 kg, provides cutting of material up to 500 mm wide. The price of a tile cutter is 4000-4500 rubles.

Rating of the best desktop tile cutters

When choosing, we pay attention to 2 main components - the quality of the electric motor and the spindle on which the cutting disc is mounted. It is best if the engine is made in Germany, South Korea or Vietnam. Chinese motors of unknown origin burn out quickly and are not covered by the replacement warranty.

The spindle can be made in any country. The main thing is that it should not have any play, it should be easy to rotate on thrust bearings. The seating of the cutting disc with the spindle must be carried out on a separate axis of rotation with bearings, but not on the motor shaft.

Fifth place - electric tile cutter Einhell TC-TC-800

The desktop version is made on a heavy cast bed with a small stamped table and a lower cutting disc. The 800 W motor is hidden under the table. The tile cutter uses a 180 mm cutting disc. The device does not belong to the class of a professional tool, so the time of continuous operation is limited to 20 minutes.

The length of the working plane is 400 mm, the weight of the device is 9.2 kg. A simple and relatively compact tile cutter in the form factor of a desktop machine. The price of the device is 10 thousand rubles. rub.

Fourth place - Zubr Master EP200-1000N

The device can be advised to those who are constantly engaged in laying tiled cladding, but at an amateur level. Bison "Master" is not yet a professional instrument, but close to it. Very heavy, angular, at first glance you may not like it because of the too simple "machine" design. But the ZUBR is a real "hard worker", inexpensive, with its own temper, but reliable and unpretentious in work.

The design of the tile cutter provides for all the basic functions that professional-level devices have. Weight - 11.7 kg, steel frame, desktop - 400x500 mm. The only disappointment is the relatively small power of the electric motor - 1000 W, which limits the use for continuous cutting.

Main functions:

1. You can cut tiles, ceramics and porcelain tiles without restrictions.
2. There is a built-in wet cutting system.
3. The tile can be cut at an angle, make an oblique cut of the edge at 45O.
4. Cutting depth - 40 mm.

There are additional scales for the correct orientation of the material on the desktop. The cost is 13 thousand rubles. rub., warranty for tile cutter - 2 years. If you register a purchase on the site, then the warranty period can be extended by another 3 years.

Third place - FUBAG FB 350

An unusual design of a tile cutter, made according to the scheme of a pendulum saw with a top drive. It is always present in all ratings of the best instruments. Like most professional-grade machines, the tile cutter can be used as a desktop version or installed on additional support legs.

The pendulum drive scheme was chosen in order to facilitate cutting curly edges. The Fubag 350 excels at cutting mosaic tiles, cutting granite and porcelain stoneware panels and even thick paving slabs.

A distinctive feature of the device is the low noise level.

Characteristics:

1. Motor power - 2200 watts.
2. Disc - 300 mm.
3. Table length - 1240 mm.
4. The depth of the cut is 105 mm.
5. The maximum cut length is 800 mm.
6. The weight of the apparatus is 75 kg.

The bed can be partially dismantled, with the dismantling of the pendulum. Therefore, the machine can be transported even in a car. The option is quite mobile, but most craftsmen prefer to abandon the use of racks (legs) in the field in favor of a conventional pallet reinforced with a pair of oak planks.

The cost of the device is 92 thousand rubles. rub. In general, inexpensive, given that most European "classmates" Fubag 350 are 20-25% more expensive. True, Fubag is repaired much worse, the resource of individual parts (for example, pendulum saw supports) is lower than that of the "Europeans".

The Fubag 350 is often criticized for its high center of gravity. Of all the options for electric tile cutters, this one is the most whimsical to maintain and properly install.

Despite the fact that the manufacturer recommends the use of outriggers, working on removable racks is extremely inconvenient. You need a solid and even base; you cannot put a tile cutter on the ground, sand or gravel.

Therefore, the apparatus is installed either on a pallet or on Workbench. But even in this case, it is necessary to control the vertical movement of the pendulum in order to avoid collapse of the cut plane.

Today, the Fubag 350 system, based on the price-quality ratio, can be considered the best solution for professional tile preparation.

Second place - DeWALT 1600 D36000

Professional grade tool. One of the best electric tile cutters. Sufficiently massive, weight 45 kg, the bed is made of cast iron, the rest of the structural parts are made of steel and aluminum. Designed for exceptionally dry cutting of ceramics.

Main characteristics:

1. Power - 1600 W at a spindle speed of 1200 rpm.
2. Disc diameter 250 mm with bore 45 mm.
3. The maximum cutting length is 920 mm.
4. You can change the angle of the disc.

The tile cutter can cut any type of tile, for porcelain stoneware and tiles. It is mainly used for cutting blanks for facing facades and basement surfaces. The disadvantage is the high cost of the device, the average price is 120 thousand rubles. rub.

First place - Brooklyn F1-131

The device is manufactured by the Italian company Monolit, which occupies a leading position in the manufacture of stone-cutting equipment and tile processing. This is a professional-grade tile cutter that can be used both in a desktop version and on a special bed.

Designed for cutting ceramic, tile or granite tiles using water cooling. The quality and accuracy of the cut is an order of magnitude higher than that of any model of an amateur or semi-professional class. For cutting, discs with DNA class diamond powder are used.

Characteristics of the tile cutter:

1. Engine power - 2200 W, at 3000 rpm.
2. Disc size 250 mm, bore 25.4 mm.
3. The maximum thickness of a tile is 50 mm.
4. The maximum cut length is 1300 mm.

The model uses a movable carriage-caliper with an installed engine; during operation, the cutting zone is closed by a casing, which makes it possible to avoid water emissions or material chips.

According to the reviews of the masters, the Monolith machines keep the initial setting well. Despite the fact that the tile cutter does not have a heavy cast-iron bed, the device cuts after several dozen tiles just as accurately as during the first pass.

Of all the options for machine-type tile cutters Brooklyn F1 is considered one of the most accessible for independent development and operation. Mass use is stopped only by the high price of the device - 220 thousand rubles. rub. The purchase of a tile cutter will require significant investment, although with a constant load, the machine pays for itself in 8 months of operation.

The choice of a tile cutter of a particular model is usually associated with the amount of work to be done. Moreover, it is not necessary to buy a car, you can rent a car. In any case, a good tool will not only speed up the work of laying the cladding, it is also a good way to cut tiles without manufacturing defects.

Tell us about your choice of tool - what parameters and details should you pay attention to?