New Big Clinker cracking tiles - Tile Advice

[Bathfix Bob]

Some of you may remember I was looking for a manual tile cutter and after much pondering I bought a big clinker, I used it for the first time today and was very happy with it but it did crack 2 or 3 tiles upon 'breaking'.

The tiles were nothing big just ceramic of roughly A4 size, they all cracked while cutting on the longer length and I was just scoring once and pulling down gently.

Does anyone know why this happend? I had loads of successful cuts though from it.

 

[DHTiling]

You are breaking to close to the tile edge.. pull it forwards to about 50mm in and try again..

 

[White Room]

So many different variables, if it was just a couple of tiles I would'nt be to concerned, if it was 50% then I would be concerned.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Thanks I'll try moving it up tomorrow, I wouldn't care but every crack was on the half I wanted!

It does save loads of time over the machine cutter though.

 

[aph257]

Welcome, as Dave says, your trying to break the tile too close to it's edge.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

I may be wrong but I don't think this machine allows you to break further down, the wheel gets in the way.

I've left it at the job so I cant check.

 

[DHTiling]

I may be wrong but I don't think this machine allows you to break further down, the wheel gets in the way.

I've left it at the job so I cant check.

Ahh right, then try not to apply to much pressure on the break.. just a light tap..

 

[Slowly Learning]

I had the exact same problem last week. Always cracked on the left hand side of the tile so just measured up so the piece I wanted was on the right hand side of the cutting line. Never done it before and hasnt done it since, may need a new cutting wheel to ensure good clean cut as they dont last as long as a rubi wheel. Dont rush out and buy a new cutter just keep an eye on it and see what occurs mate.

 

[tfs]

I tiled an adapted wetroom with cheap ceramics and many of the tiles broke so scored with big clinker and snapped over my knee or over edge or thin dowel. I never experienced this on any other tiles so put it down to the tile. A few weeks after this I was speaking with a tiler down at the tile shop who had the same experience with the tiles that I had fitted.

the wheel has three settings that allow you adjust the depth so hopefully shoudn't get it in the way unless the tiles are very thick e.g. 20mm

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Correct TFS!, I checked the instructions before I logged on and you're right I can adjust the wheel height to allow a mid break

You were right all along Dave!

 

[ryan83]

Hi everyone. Ive been having similar bother with tiles breaking. I use a TX700. Today I was laying 600x400 porcelain and found that when i pressed the breaker down the tile would split as normal till maybe about halfway down it would crack. This happened a couple of times until i ended up just having to use my wet cutter. Could this also be due to the breaker being in the wrong postion? Also, i tried using a bigger blade, and snapping the breaker down a bit quicker but tiles just kept on cracking. This happened when cutting long ways down the tile. Ive never had this problem when working with porcelain before. Any advice would be much appreciated. cheers.

 

[DHTiling]

Do you score just once or twice etc..? Some heavy glazed tiles need scoring more than once..

 

[ryan83]

Yeah I tried scoring a couple of times, I also stuck bigger blade on and went over alot heavier than i normally would. I ended up just trying different ways on the broken/cracked tiles and nothing seemed to work consisently.

 

[DHTiling]

Try scoring the back of the tile and break upside down.. that can worl sometimes as well...

Some hard fired glazed ones can be difficult to break..

 

[ryan83]

Thank you Dave. I'll give that a go if it happens again. I think thats about the only thing I didnt try today.

Cheers again.