How to cut a glass tile
2/13/2014 at 1:37:38 PM
I did a backsplash installation with glass tiles, 2' x 6'. Unfortunately some needed to be cut to a 1/4 of inch thick to fill in a space. No matter what I did the piece (1/4') would always crack. I was using a wet tile cutter with a brand new "glass" blade. To some suggestions I even try taping the tile, using hot water in the machine.
I believe it has something to do with the quality of the tile, because I tiled the washroom in the same house, also with glass tile. This time 2' x 2' tile, and I had no problem cutting that tile to a 1/4 inch.
Any suggestions anyone?
Thanks
2/13/2014 at 2:20:35 PM
Hey Leo - quality of tile can certainly be a factor here. However, using a manual cutter "with a good blade" helps when cutting thin slices of glass tile. Less stress on the tile as you cut.
2/14/2014 at 1:48:20 PM
I would try laying down a sacrificial scrap piece of ceramic tile on the wet saw table, and then lay the glass tile that you're cutting on top of this. If you set your blade depth so that it will cut through the glass fully, but only score the ceramic tile (do not cut through it!), then the small glass tile cutoff will be fully supported throughout the entire cut. This usually works for cutting smaller pieces, when it would otherwise just fall or break off when you're 90% through your cut.
Hope that helps.
Eric
2/17/2014 at 10:49:33 PM
We regularly cut glass tile, we use a standard diamond tile saw. We have cut as small as 1/4" successfully, slow and very steady is the trick.
Good luck.
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