Cutting tile with hacksaw

It depends on what kind of tile.

Glass cutter to score on the glaze side and then a couple of match sticks on the other side along the score line and snap it.

If it's a thick quarry tile - still score it on the top side and on the other side repeatedly hit it along the score line fairly gently with a light weight pin hammer. You will hear the tone of the ringing change when it's about to snap.

Angle grinder for some of the tough tiles

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You can get diamond coated blades which will cut tiles.

I’ve mounted a tile cutting disk in a circular saw and mounted the saw to make a crude tile cutting table before. If you cut a lot, the dust can get into the saw etc and possible damage the bearings but for a few…

Score and break is the traditional way but with thick tiles, it can be difficult.

Thanks for the reply.

I don't have a glass cutter. I was hoping scoring with a hacksaw would achieve the same effect. It's a normal glazed tile, not very thick and I've got plenty to practise on.

Ironically, a garage clearout earlier this year removed proper tile cutter, glass cutter and everything I'll shortly need.

Another Dave

Try scoring with a nail. For a one off cut it may be sharp enough.

An angle grinder with a stone grit wheel, or diamond disc is pretty useful for those small modifications.

You can safely throw away half of what is in most garages (which should not, of course, ever be used for cars).

What you don't know, of course, is *which* half.

You can get grit edged blades for a hacksaw that will cut tile. However a carbide or tungsten point or wheel used to score and snap would probably be easier. It is unlikely that a hacksaw blade will scratch the tile glaze unless it is very soft.

You can also get carbide edged blades for jig saws and multi tools. I have successfully used the jig saw type to make awkward cuts.

Success!

I used a sharp corner of a carborundum whetstone to score the glazed side of the tile. I then hacksawed a line on the opposite side. The tile then snapped cleanly.

Not a method for large scale jobs, but OK for a one-off.

Another Dave