Mosaic Tiles

[John]

What's the best method of cutting these, the sort with a lot of 1" tiles on a webbing mat. I presume the snapping tool like pliers with a 'V' on one arm. This is the only tiling tool I do not own as I have never needed one. It is only for about 6 cuts (full sheets) for a friend of my Mum's, so any other methods would be appreciated. I do't fancy it on the electric tile saw and my score and snap is for 'normal' size tiles. If I score with my hand held scorer and straight edge will they then snap with pliers (two pairs)?

Cheers

John

[mrcheerful]

If I was faced with this I would try scoring, then clamping either side along the break line and snapping off in one. I haven't actually tried this on mosaic tiles though, but it did work when I needed some very thin bits of tile and didn't have a power tile cutter.

mrcheerful

[Al Reynolds]

I used a scorer and nibblers, but about 1 in 3 shattered when trying to cut. There ought to be a better way, but I can't think of it...

Al

[Christian McArdle]

I've never done it, but that would probably be my first port of call. I'd probably Stanley knife the backing mat first, though.

Christian.

[Rob Morley]

I think you'd find that the tiles would fly off the backing.

[Clive Summerfield]

I'd cut back the webbing to the last complete row of mosaic tiles. Then use the electric tile saw to cut the final row, tile by tile.

Cheers Clive

[Christian McArdle]

Why would that happen? I wouldn't be holding the tile in place using the backing, but with some tool on the individual tile.

Christian.

[Fitz]

I transferred the basic method of cutting big tiles down in size. Scored all the tiles to be cut using a manual tile cutter in one pass with quite a heavy score. Then snapped each one over the end of a small nail. I cut about 40 in total and probably had two or three fail to snap straight. Of the ones the didn't snap cleanly nibblers tidied them up.

-- Steve F

[Rob Morley]

That's okay if you can clamp them securely, but you'd be counting on the tiles and backing being of uniform thickness so they were all clamped at the right pressure. Also if any of the tiles was going to be mostly cut off I think you'd have problems with the area available for clamping.

[Christian McArdle]

I was thinking of a couple of screwdrivers or pliers on the individual tilelet being cut, rather than clamps.

I've managed some quite fantastically complicated shapes, including 45 degree mitres on internal edges with my electric tile saw. I just can't see what the problem would be.

Christian.

[The Natural Philosopher]

They don't, but you need to guide each mosaic in semi individually.

Watch yer fingers. Fortuneatly toies swas will not unless you are a complete dimbo, take them off, just inflict a nasty cut.

(yes, I haver successfully cut mosaic on a tile saw, no I didn't cut myself, yes, its slower than a big tile, but not unduly slow, and no, the tiles did not fall off the matrix).

[The Natural Philosopher]

Don't do it that way. Just cut the whole sheet. You have a better chance of a straight cut pushing on either side. You will need to be careful to get it straight - stretch the mat and then lock the row you are cutting together, and push it through carefully with as little pressure as will make a sensible cut rate. Don't rush. The last tile will require a finger each side of the blade to get it through. Its easier than it sounds.

I note I seem to be the only person who actually HAS cut mosaic on a cheap tiles saw. Frankly its a piece of piss.

Mark the sheet, and cut it. It will become obvious as to what you need to do to get it accurate and safe, when you try.

[The Natural Philosopher]

There isn;t one, apart from the poblem of manipulating small bits of tile only loosely connected to other bits. However fingers are not large...either.