Cutting porcelain tile with hand held grinder?

March 18, 2019, 06:17 AM

I have a friend/employee who does it all the time with a 4" blade on a grinder, he keeps water flowing on it with a large sponge.

Of course he's a tile guy and did it daily for many many years. So it can be done, but how well a novice might do is another issue.

March 18, 2019, 06:42 AM

Elk Hunter

quote:
Originally posted by arcwelder76:
If you can bury the cuts under baseboard or some other overlap, a hand held grinder with a diamond wheel will be fine. It does take some hand strength though.

You can use some clamps and some wood to make a rail for you to run the grinder along and make very straight cuts.

I/we have done a LOT of tile work. Kitchen floors, counters, bathroom floors, etc.

For that kind of work you really need a real tile saw. Since what I understand your project to be, on of those blades in an angle grinder would do it, just fine. Clamp a piece of wood to use as a guide for the blade, go slow and it should work out well. And be careful with that angle grinder!

It can be done.

Elk

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March 18, 2019, 09:11 AM

Bassamatic

We recently replaced our backsplash tile (not a real big job) and the tile guy used a hand held grinder for his cuts. He was quick and accurate with it and we are very pleased.

March 18, 2019, 06:58 PM

eltonr

2 concerns

the grinder will have a lot of torque when turned on, be aware of the angle of the blade starting the cut. think about a gyroscope while trying to align the blade to the cut.

and

OSHA prohibits cutting ceramic tile without means to control the silica dust. not that you will be in front of a compliance officer while you work in your house, but there will be a lot of fine dust from the cuts. keep the cutting outside to prevent cleanup issues inside.

ymmv
john

March 18, 2019, 07:10 PM

wrightd

if you use a grinder instead of wet saw is there risk of breathing bad stuff related to silicosis ?

http://elcosh.org/document/193...-risky-business.html

at least wear an approved sealing particulate mask, not one of those rubber band masks.

March 18, 2019, 10:15 PM

armedprof

I did my bathroom floor. Started with the grinder, went and bought a tile cutter. They are not that expensive but work a lot better than the grinder. That said, the grinder works but makes a mess.

March 19, 2019, 12:41 PM

DJ_Boston

have seen someone put a diamond blade on a skillsaw- that may be a way for you to get straighter lines. I just did 1200 sf of tile, and used a small wet saw for most of the cross cuts, rented a big saw for the rips- 44" tiles are hard to rip, and the angle grinder with the diamond blade had its use too- especially cutting the tiles to go around the toilet flange, and some doorways where I could not slide tile under the trim.

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March 21, 2019, 02:35 AM

mjlennon

Agree, tile saw way to go. HF has on starting at $67. Wet saw

Be sure to post some pics of the project.

March 21, 2019, 12:25 PM

old rugged cross

I just cannot imagine something like that lasting much past the first cut on a super hard porcelain tile. If that.