Since the appearance of tiles, their installation, in most cases, involves mandatory trimming. For for many years work with this material, many have been invented useful tools and clever ways to separate it neatly. One of the devices that can accurately process the fragile structure of tiles is a jigsaw. Moreover, both electric and manual analogues of this device can perform cutting. Next, we will tell you which saw blades to use for sawing tiles and what nuances about this process and the material you should know.

Saw blade selection

As is known, electric jigsaw has a very rich arsenal of files for various materials. Each blade has certain features, metal of manufacture and tooth size. Among such diversity, tile sawing is considered one of the most popular and widespread. You can find it in almost any store that sells components for construction tools.

In terms of its structure, the tile blade departs from the classical understanding of a file that is familiar to us. It does not have teeth, and the role of the cutting element is performed by a hard abrasive or diamond coating. The quality and speed of cutting with such an attachment depend on its grain size. The higher this indicator, the slower the cut, but the better the cut line. A low grit value, on the contrary, increases the sawing speed, but creates more chips on the material. Grit is measured in micrometers (µm) and is usually indicated on the blade packaging.

If we disassemble the manual analogue of the tool on the question: is it possible to cut with a jigsaw? ceramic tiles– the answer will definitely be positive. IN in this case, You will need a diamond-coated string or file. Is it worth clarifying that manual jigsaw, allows you to perform figured cuts very complex shape, but the process proceeds tens of times slower in comparison with the electric one. This device can be used only in the most critical areas that require the most precise and accurate cutting.

Please note. Only low-density wall tiles can be cut with a jigsaw. Floor tiles are many times stronger and the use of a similar cutting method will only lead to wear on the saw blade, without giving practical results.

Preparing the tiles

The hard and at the same time fragile structure of the tile, like glass, is susceptible to splitting and requires high precision and care when processing. Accelerating the stroke rate or increasing pressure can easily deform the product, ruining the material and negating the effort expended. To make cutting tiles with a jigsaw most convenient, you need to soak them for a couple of hours in ordinary water at room temperature.

Wet tiles are much easier to saw, wear out the blade less and practically do not generate dust. To maximize efficiency, when cutting, the file can be additionally moistened so that water gets into the groove, while simultaneously cooling and cleaning off the coating of the blade.

Features of sawing tiles with a jigsaw

Workplace should be stable with as smooth a surface as possible, and most of the tiles should be pressed tightly against it. Should be in weight smallest segment, even if it is exactly what is needed for installation. To reduce vibrations, it is better to fix the tiles with a couple of clamps with rubberized clamps. To avoid scratches, you can glue a piece of cardboard or plastic to the metal sole of the jigsaw using double-sided tape.

When the special saw blade is prepared and the tile is sufficiently moistened, you can safely begin processing it. Cutting tiles with a jigsaw has certain features and is somewhat different from the wood, metal, plastic and other elastic materials we are used to. First of all, you should not rush and try to speed up the slow cutting process by pressing on the jigsaw or increasing its speed, which should range from minimum to medium values. This approach will lead to the formation of serious chips, and strong pressing of a working tool can even crack the tile. It’s not pleasant to waste valuable material, time and saw blade resources.

Cutting tiles with a hand jigsaw

A fast jigsaw with relatively massive saw blades is not always able to perform particularly delicate work or cuts with an internal contour. When you need to make a neat, jewelry cut with a complex pattern, a reliable one comes to the rescue hand tool. Of course, for these purposes you can use jigsaw machine, which works with the same thin files, but this equipment is quite expensive and it is not practical to purchase it for a small amount of work.

As you might guess, ordinary wood and metal files for a hand jigsaw will not be able to cut tiles. To perform such an operation, you will need a special tungsten carbide string or a diamond-coated file.

The process of cutting the inflow with a manual jigsaw is completely identical to its electric counterpart, except that it takes many times more time and effort. The tile is soaked for a couple of hours, then fixed to flat surface clamps and during cutting, it is periodically moistened with water. We repeat once again that the speed self made very slow, and it will take a lot of time even for a small figure. Before starting work, you should understand this and be patient in advance. To understand how to cut tiles with a jigsaw and estimate the pace of work, we recommend watching the following video.

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It largely determines the accuracy and productivity of cutting material. Discussed in the article technical specifications files and the key differences between them will help you choose the right blade for various types works

A file for a particular job is selected in two ways: firstly, they are guided by the inscriptions, and secondly, they look at the size, teeth and setting.

Reading the markings

There is no single standard for alphanumeric marking of blades for jigsaws, but most manufacturers adhere to the European classification from Bosch or indicate it in addition to their own designations.

Explanation of markings

Files are made from various grades of steel, which influence the purpose of the blades and are indicated by logos:

1. CV (HCS) is an elastic alloy alloy for cutting wood, synthetic and wood-composite products.
2. HSS - durable high speed steel for hard materials.
3. BM (Bi-Metal) is a compound of the first two grades of steel that can withstand significant loads and is suitable for many operations.
4. HM is a carbide for cutting tiles and building blocks.

The purpose of the canvas is also indicated by the following marks:

1. Wood - soft lumber, fiber boards.
2. Hardwood - solid wood, laminated panels.
3. Inox - stainless steel.
4. Alu - aluminum.
5. Metal - tin, profiles and pipes.
6. Plaster, fiber - fiberglass.
7. Soft-material - rubber, polystyrene, carpets.
8. Acrylic - plexiglass, polycarbonate.

Sometimes there is an inscription on the file that specifies the type of work:

• basic - standard blade for high-quality cutting;
• speed - saw with set teeth for quick cutting;
• clean - blade without markings for a clean cut;
• progressor - saw with different teeth for cutting various materials;
• flexible - flexible blade for cutting metal;
• special - for cutting ceramics, plastic and other special work.

We cut wood materials

Cutting wood and everything made from it is the main purpose of a jigsaw. Therefore, a larger assortment saw blades is produced specifically for wood and is divided by type of work.

Fast cut

Certain construction work with wood do not require special care, for example, sawing bars for sheathing or dismantling the old window frame. What is more important here is the speed provided by fast cutting blades with characteristic features:

1. Large teeth - up to 6 mm.
2. A fair amount of separation - about 1 mm.
3. Long blade - from 60 mm.
4. Width - up to 10 mm.

For thick workpieces, similar blades with large cutters are used, but without routing - they deviate less from the vertical. In principle, the thicker the file, the better it maintains perpendicularity.

Advice. A blade with an oblique tooth is better suited for cutting along the grain, and a blade with a straight tooth is better suited for a cross cut.

Clean cut

An operation such as pruning furniture board or parquet board, requires a smooth and precise cut. Such tasks are performed with less productivity, but with better quality, using blades for clean cutting that have:

1. Teeth less than 3 mm.
2. Minor divorce.

Most saw blades cut by retraction, so the material is placed reverse side. To mark and cut from the face, you need a blade with a reverse tooth. They are not very convenient to work with - in addition to maintaining the direction of the cut, they have to overcome the force of pushing out the tool.

Advice. A specialized saw with two rows of teeth allows you to cut panels laminated on both sides almost without chipping.

Curly cut

It is problematic to cut out small radii with a wide blade. Files for figured cutting have a beveled back side, making it easier to turn, they can be rounded without chipping and differ in appearance:

1. Small (up to 2 mm) tooth.
2. Narrow working part - up to 4 mm.
3. Small length - up to 40 mm.

We cut polymer materials

PVC pipes and window sills are sawn using blades on wood or metal with a large tooth. Fine-toothed saws are also suitable, but you will have to cut at a minimum speed, otherwise the sawdust will soften and clog the blade - it will no longer be sawing, but cutting with heated metal.

For thin plastics and plexiglass, a metal file with small teeth is suitable. For thick ones, you can take a wood blade, turn off pendulum mechanism and cut at low speed. Shaped sawing of polymer sheets is carried out with a narrow file on wood.

We work with metal

For cutting galvanized profiles and sheet metal products, wave saw blades are used, similar in profile to blades for hand hacksaw. They are distinguished by small (up to 1 mm) teeth, deflected not through one, but in groups of 3-5 pieces.

At permanent job take three blades: for steel, aluminum and for non-ferrous alloys. If you have to cut metal infrequently, then one steel file will be enough, which is also suitable for ebonite and textolite.

In general, a jigsaw is not suitable for sawing metal: the tool is heavily loaded, and the process is slow. Rather, this is an extreme method, justified only occasionally, for example, when cutting sandwich panels with bimetallic saws with small cutters at the edges and large ones in the middle.

Blades for specific tasks

Drywall and cement-containing materials quickly set any file, with the exception of specially designed blades with carbide tipped, which also cut thermal insulation well.

The hole in the tile is cut using a ceramic file without teeth coated with carbide. It is also suitable for working with glass fiber reinforced polymers.

Cutting part of blades for cardboard, rubber and others soft materials made not with teeth, but with polished waves or simply looks like a knife.

Designed for sawing combined materials special files, one half of the blade of which is equipped with small teeth, and the other with large ones.

Advice. The length of the file is chosen based on the thickness of the material. To prevent the blade from tearing out or breaking, its end must extend out of the cutting line in any position of the jigsaw pendulum.

For household needs, a set of 5-10 files for various purposes is enough. Just starting to use a jigsaw, they acquire inexpensive kit, master the intricacies of working with different types of blades and, based on their own experience, select the necessary files. Still, there are no strict recommendations; often one canvas copes well with tasks that are atypical for it. Here you can experiment, but think first.

Then, when you do it once, you, of course, don’t want to buy a tile cutter, because it will then stand idle. What then can help? It's easy - you just need to learn how to cut tiles with a jigsaw!

Choosing a file

Working with a jigsaw

The usual version of the file will undoubtedly not work. You need a special blade, which is popularly called a “rope” - this is a small cable coated with tungsten carbide (if you decide to cut the tiles with just a jigsaw), and also - for power tools - it is better to immediately purchase inexpensive saws specifically for tiles.

These abrasive files are convenient because they make cutting ceramic tiles with a jigsaw much easier; in addition, it will be much easier for you to make shaped cuts without special effort.

Preparing the tiles

Let’s clarify right away - you can only prepare wall tiles, but you won’t be able to cut floor tiles with a jigsaw. The above files are simply not suitable for this, since floor tiles are a fairly durable finishing material. Cut floor tiles better with a tile cutter or .

So, before starting work, it will be advisable for you to soak the tile itself for at least three hours. In this case, the cut will be of better quality, dust will not fly in all directions, and the file itself will not suffer as much wear as when cutting dry tiles with a jigsaw.

Jigsaw

Some craftsmen wet the cut line from time to time, however, in order not to stop, we still advise you to soak the tile itself.

Features of work

Cutting ceramic tiles with a jigsaw is not difficult. This power tool is very convenient, you can learn how to use it in a matter of minutes.

It is important that you wear safety glasses, so that if the edge does come off the tile, it certainly won’t cause you any harm.

So, let's start figuring out the issue with a jigsaw. The operating principle is as follows:

• Secure the selected file into the groove;
• Draw a cut line on the tile with a marker;
• Place the tiles on a stable surface so that the file does not damage the surface itself;
• Turn on the tool at medium speed;
• Make a through cut along the contour.

Cutting tiles with a hand jigsaw is also not difficult. Here's how it works:

• The above-mentioned file – “rope” – is inserted into the jigsaw mounts;
• Along the marked line, you begin to progressively move the saw, cutting the tile along the contour.

Nothing complicated, however, it should be noted that it is quite difficult to “saw” for so long.

That's it, finished with a jigsaw and a regular hand jigsaw! Good luck with your results and correct calculations!

When tiling walls or floors with ceramic tiles, you often have to cut them. Cutting tiles can be done with a tile jigsaw. When carrying out renovations in the bathroom and kitchen, tiles are an irreplaceable material. With its help you can decorate walls or floors, as there is a wide range of design solutions allows you to achieve an attractive appearance of the premises in this way.

This material is durable, its shine remains for many years. Its laying can be done by the apartment owners themselves; even a novice master can handle this work. When laying outer elements or laying tiles in the form of a mosaic, you will definitely need to cut them. To do this, you can use various tools:

• cutter;
• grinder;
• tile cutter;
• jigsaw

A jigsaw is convenient for those craftsmen who do not lay tiles professionally, and therefore do not purchase professional tools for processing them. In this case, you only need to purchase special files that are suitable for this purpose. The peculiarity and main advantage of a jigsaw is that it can be used to cut almost any material if you choose the right files.

Cutting ceramic tiles using devices for straight cutting to size (a) and for cutting at an angle (b): 1 - cut tiles, 2 - ruler, 3 - cutter, 4 - square.

To process ceramic tiles, you must use files designed specifically for tiles. With their help, you can easily perform even or figured cut. When cutting tiles with a jigsaw, you need to wet the edges. This will help avoid chipping and the formation of excessive dust. It is especially important to take this into account when processing glazed material.

Ceramic tiles are cut using abrasive saws. With their help, you can not only cut off the required size piece from the tile, but also perform in it required holes, for example, to output a socket. Other tools do not provide this option.

Do not use a jigsaw to cut tiles intended for laying on the floor. Floor tiles are much thicker. Cutting it with a jigsaw will quickly dull the file and render it unusable. Flooring this kind of thing is best cut with a grinder with diamond blade or a tile cutter.

If a curved cut is required in any area, it is recommended to use a manual jigsaw.

An electric tool will not provide sufficient maneuverability. For this purpose, you will need to insert a diamond wire into a hand jigsaw. In this case, the cutting process will be longer.

Thus, we know how to cut tiles using a jigsaw. When working, it is very important to perform all actions carefully. The cut line needs to be slightly moistened. It is recommended to use the products personal protection throughout the entire process. To obtain a quality result, the most important thing is to choose the right file.

For those who have in their household jigsaw, from time to time you should buy files for it. There are quite a lot of varieties and manufacturers. The most common types of saws are, of course, for wood, besides them there are blades for metal, tiles. In order not to get too confused in the choice, let’s look at the most popular files in everyday life, from Bosch. In terms of price/quality ratio – good choice. The letter “T” in the marking indicates the type of shank - T-shaped. The most common type of files.

Wood files. There are several types, it all depends on the nature of the work being carried out.

For example, if you need to quickly saw a bunch of boards, then a saw with a large tooth is best. The larger the tooth, the faster the cut will be, but the less accurate, the cut is not very smooth, but if you are making a fence or building a shed, then in principle, accuracy is not needed.
For these purposes, you can take a file marked T101D. It is suitable for boards up to 75mm thick.
If the board or block is up to 100mm, you will need a 244D file.
For boards up to 200mm - long file 344D.
It's obvious what higher figure in the marking, the thicker the board the saw is intended for.
It is necessary to take into account that for a thick board you will need.

For a clean cut, you will need a file, for example, T101B.

File for clean cutting T101B

Her tooth is noticeably smaller, which means the cut is smoother. This is suitable for assembling furniture, where you need an accurate and even cut, without chips.
It is often used for cutting fiberboard, plywood, and chipboard.
It can also cut thick boards, of course (up to 75mm), but it will take longer than saws with large teeth.

Laminate file.
It has a reverse tooth, directed in the opposite direction compared to other files. This is done to prevent chipping from front side laminate, do not spoil appearance. Fine tooth – for a clean cut. It is marked T101BR.

The letter “R” means reverse (reverse). And this is no different from the simple T101B made of wood.

Shape cutting files.

Their teeth are always small, they are used for cutting out radii, circles, and are used in furniture production. They are noticeably narrower in shape than all the others, this is done so that the file does not get pinched when turning the jigsaw.
From personal experience I can say that I cut a circle in a fiberboard slab for a sink, and the cut turned out to be very accurate and even.
The marking for such files with the letter “O” in the name is T119BO.

They always have small teeth, to make them easier to recognize, they have a shank blue. If you are sawing metal up to 3mm, a T118A file is suitable; it can also cut plastic; for metal up to 6mm - T123X; for aluminum - T227D, it has a larger tooth.