Home Improvement
By
Kamron Sanders
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/d-12-2-8db06fa7c0fb4d4382b29b8222aa43d2.jpg "The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for Cutting Glass Tile Like a Home Reno Pro (1)")
Kamron Sanders
Kamron Sanders is a home improvement expert and writer with over 15 years of hands-on construction, remodeling, woodworking, home repair, and landscaping experience.He has also written for HGTV. Kamron's expertise ranges from troubleshooting saws and lawnmowers to painting kitchen cabinets.
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Published on 02/25/25
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-how-to-cut-porcelain-tile-7566131-Part02-Step-05-74bdb28d2e7847bd93a5313af04adba8.jpg "The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for Cutting Glass Tile Like a Home Reno Pro (2)")
Like many other hard tile materials, glass tile is extremely durable, but only after it's installed. Prior to installation, glass tile can easily chip and break. This can pose a challenge when learning how to cut glass tile, as doing so without chipping or cracking the tile takes special glass-cutting tools and some practice.
If you've cut other types of tile like porcelain and ceramic tile, you're in luck. There's a good chance you can utilize some of the information and tools you already have.
Below, we've provided steps for five different ways to cut glass tile without chipping or cracking it. After some practice, you'll be cutting glass tile like the pros.
Warning
When cutting glass tile, it's important to wear safety glasses, as the tiny shards of glass can be shot toward your eyes during the cutting process. Thick gloves are great for protecting hands from potentially sharp glass tile edges, but they can be cumbersome when trying to place tiles. When not wearing gloves, keep your fingers away from any cut tile edges.
How to Cut Glass Tile With a Wet Saw
- Install the appropriate diamond blade rated for cutting glass tile on the wet saw.
- Mark your cut line using a washable marker.
- Turn on the saw and allow the blade to come fully up to speed. Ensure the water is pumping and the blade is consistently wet.
- Position the tile on the sled with the marked cut line in the center, aligned with the blade.
- Hold the tile down on each side and slowly move the sled forward toward the blade. Allow the blade to slowly cut through the tile without forcing it.
- Smooth the rough cut edge of the tile using a tile rubbing stone.
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How to Cut Glass Tile With a Scoring Wheel
Manual glass scoring wheels give you total control over your cut line, allowing you to make curved cuts or straight cuts with an inexpensive, handheld tool.
- Mark your cut line using a washable marker.
- Place a straightedge directly beside the cut line, spaced according to the thickness of your scoring wheel to allow the wheel to fall exactly on the cut line.
- Firmly press the scoring tool into the glass and move it along the marked cut line. If the tool is scoring the glass, you'll hear a cracking sound and see a visible scored line on the surface.
- Use a pair of running pliers to snap the glass tile. These pliers are designed to apply even pressure on each side of the scored line. If the glass has been scored thoroughly, it will evenly and cleanly break along the entire score line.
- Clean up the rough cut edge with a rubbing stone.
Tip
The rough edges of cut tiles may not seem like a big deal, but failure to smooth them can result in highly visible imperfections once grout is installed.
How to Cut Glass Tile With Wheeled Tile Nippers
Wheeled tile nippers are great for making small detail cuts and curved cuts in glass tiles.
- Mark your cut line using a washable marker.
- Line the wheels of the tile nippers up with the cut line and cut the tile in the same way you would cut something with scissors.
- Smooth the rough cut edge of the tile using a tile rubbing stone.
How to Cut Glass Tile With a Pliers
Tile pliers are ideal for making quick cuts in glass tile with a handheld tool you can keep in your tool belt.
- Mark your cut line using a washable marker.
- Place a straightedge directly beside the cut line, spaced according to the thickness of your scoring wheel to allow the wheel to fall exactly on the cut line.
- Flip the tile pliers over so the scoring wheel is facing the tile and score along the marked line using enough force to produce a cracking sound.
- Place the pliers over the scored line with the snapping bar positioned so that it evenly straddles the scored line. Squeeze the pliers to break the tile.
- Smooth the rough cut edge of the tile using a tile rubbing stone.
Tips for Cutting Glass Tile
- When cutting glass mosaic tiles, score the entire sheet, then break each tile individually.
- Cut each of the ends before the middle. When using a wet saw, this can help prevent breaking the tile.
- When using a new tile-cutting tool, practice on scrap tile before making important cuts.
- Tile nippers can be used without scoring, but scoring ahead of them can make for cleaner cuts.
FAQ
What is the best tool to cut glass tile with?
The best tool for cutting glass is a wet tile saw, though handheld tools like manual scoring wheels and tile nippers can work for smaller cuts and detailed curved cuts.
How do you cut glass tile easily?
A wet saw is one of the easiest ways to cleanly cut glass tiles, as the water keeps the blade cool and lubricated, allowing it to cut the glass with minimal chipping.
How do you cut glass tile without chipping the back?
To cut back-painted glass tile on a wet saw without chipping the paint, turn the tile upside down before cutting. This ensures the blade enters on the painted side, minimizing the chipping that would occur if it were on the bottom.
