Cutting out holes for sockets

[bluevin123]

Hi all,
Had a nightmare day,been tiling a kitchen with 300x600 white tiles,only one row of tiles between worktop and cupboards. The nightmare was 13 holes to cut for single and double sockets to cut out,along the width of the tile I had to make 2 sometimes 3 cuts in the one tile.
I used an angle grinder then a file to sort it out,took 3 hours on the last tile as it kept breaking. Never again.I would have used the wet cutter and done a plunge cut,but the wheel is to big.
A jigsaw that cuts tile or something like that would have been ideal...do you know what I could/should of done.
Thanks.
Vinnie.

[tumble123]

Hello Vinnie,
I noticed in B&Q this morning that they have started selling jigsaw blades designed for cutting ceramic tiles. I don't know how good they are but they might me worth a try. They're in the tiling department.
Regards Mark

[grumpygrouter]

You could have used a small diamond core drill to cut the corners first and then a dremel tile cutter would have fitted in.

[Dave]

My rubi table wetsaw has a removable guard(just lifts off) and it makes doing plunge cuts very easy as some cutters the guard gets in the way......so it would be plunge cuts for me......

[paulmsd]

I us a l 15 plus blade on my grinder
never had any problems with cutting holes in anything

[bluevin123]

Hi Dave,thanks but if its quite a small cut to make, wont the wheel be to big.For instance if Im cutting a square I cant get in the corners as it dont go right through the tile.
Hope that makes sense.
Vinnie.

[paulmsd]

cut the tile from the back mate

[bluevin123]

Cheers Mark,
Ill take a look at the Local B&Q in the morning.
Vinnie.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by bluevin123

Hi Dave,thanks but if its quite a small cut to make, wont the wheel be to big.For instance if Im cutting a square I cant get in the corners as it dont go right through the tile.
Hope that makes sense.
Vinnie.

no problem with sockets etc vinnie....just lower the tile over the wheel and let it cut from the back , slowly until it breaks the face and just manoeuvre the tile to suit the hole...
Any hole/square to cut , just take the lines to the outside edge of the tile with your pencil etc and use this line as a guide to show where to lower the tile at....easy once you have done it....take your time and no sudden moves and it won't break......

[Sir Ramic]

A Makita prtable tile saw would be ideal for this job. I can manage though with either wet cutter or angle grinder. Dont waste your money on the jigsaw blades.

[Dave]

This video shows you what i mean but obviously your cutter is different but still the same technique....

[d noulton]

as soon as I buy a wet wheel I remove everything except the wheel obviousley so you can do plunge cuts also Ifind the riving knife behind the wheel can cause the tiles to jam on straight cuts