When undertaking a DIY project that involves installing tiles, many will turn to Montolit for the tile cutter they need. Although professionals typically use power wet saws, this type of tool isn’t required for most DIY jobs and a manual tile cutter will be suitable. There are several Montolit tile cutters available, from the lightweight Montolit Masterpiuma P3 Tile Cutter to the multi-functional Montolit Masterpiuma Power 5 Tile Cutter, and you can rely on all Montolit products to help you achieve a seamless finish with your tiles.

Montolit tile cutters are engineered to easily cut any type of ceramic, porcelain or glass tiles, but it can sometimes take a bit of practice to get a neat cut with a manual tile cutter. So, to assist you with DIY tile cutting, below we have put together some tips to help you prepare your tiles for installation with a manual tile cutter.

Practice on Old Tiles

Before you attempt to cut the tiles you’ve purchased for your project, we would recommend that you practice using your new Montolit tile cutter. If you don’t have much experience cutting tiles, there is a high chance that you will damage a few tiles before you get the neat cut that you need. Practice using the tile cutter on a few scrap tiles from previous projects or buy some inexpensive tiles that can be used for practice cuts.

Should you need to do any angled cuts during your tiling project, make sure you’re practising these too. Sometimes, it can be more difficult to get a professional cut when you’re working on an angle and it’s so important to get the angle right to achieve a flawless installation.

Mark the Tile Before Cutting

This may seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked in DIY projects. Make sure you’re carefully measuring your tile before you put it on the cutter. We would also advise that you mark the top and bottom edges of the tile too, so you know exactly where you need to cut.

When you put your tile on the Montolit tile cutter, make sure you’re aligning it with the marks you’ve made. Take your time when doing this, it’s key to get the cutter in the right place before you start scoring otherwise you risk the cut being in wrong.

Apply Even Pressure When Scoring

Scoring is the process of carving an incision into the tile which will become a weak point that is targeted when snapping the tile. It’s often much easier to score a tile when you’re using a professional tile cutter rather than a handheld scorer, however, you still need to be careful and apply the right amount of pressure to achieve a neat cut.

Before you start pushing the handle forwards, apply an even amount of pressure on the handle. This will help to ensure the scoring wheel is carving into the tile as required to make the snapping process easier. Excessive pressure can damage the tile and you may find you don’t need to press down as hard as you think when using a Montolit tile cutter. Pressure is something you should play around with on practice tiles.

Smooth Rough Edges Before Installation

No matter how precise your cut is, you will probably need to smooth the edges of your tile after you’ve snapped it. It’s important to smooth any rough edges before you install the tiles to make grouting easier and to improve the overall finished look.

It’s easy to remove any jagged and sharp edges, all you need is some sandpaper or a tile file. We would suggest that you wipe the tile to remove any debris and dust before the installation too, this can help to avoid a messy-looking finish.

Purchasing a Montolit Tile Cutter Online

Hopefully, the information above will be useful if you’re preparing to use a manual tile cutter for the first time. If you’re searching for somewhere to purchase a Montolit tile cutter for your next project, be sure to visit the Apex Grange website. We supply a vast range of tiling supplies and we can provide you with a selection of Montolit products at very competitive prices.

When you’re new to DIY tiling and you’re looking for some advice about which tools you should use to improve the final look of your project, our team will be happy to help you. We invite you to visit one of our stores where a member of our experienced team can answer any questions you may have. We can help you to find the most suitable products for your specific needs and prevent you from wasting your money on tools you won’t actually use.