Bought one of these based on good recommendations but to date have yet to cut a tile without an extra bit breaking off so my current opinion of this is that it's a load of junk. Willing to learn what I'm doing wrong tho'.

Score the line on porcelain tile (33cm x 45cm). Apply pressure. Apply more pressure. Tile breaks down the line but also snaps of a triangular piece from the bit I need. So I'm pretty hacked off with it.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Are you using a "pressing" action to snap the tiles, or are you using a "sharp, slapping" (but not too hard) action? The later is preferable on hard tiles.

Generally, I also find that, the harder the tile is, the harder you have to score it, especially if the surface is textured, though if you score it way to hard, the tile might break prematurely.

The longer and thinner the cut is, the more important it is to get the score just right, and the power of the preaking action just right. It takes practise though, to find the correct "feeling".

Try holding the breaker lever against the tile with one hand, and slapping the lever with the other.

Thanks for the suggestion. Still breaking off so I'll revert back to the wet cutter and stick the Clonker on eBay.

you should break porcelain on a lump hammer on a hard floor hold evenly either side of scribe and gently tap harder and harder preferiably on a rounded edge of the hammer.

they will break a split second after the impact when the natural vibration frequency has been reached, you will learn by the sound of the tile as you try to break it. To keep your corners sharp on split diamond cuts hold the tile with your elbows on opposite corners and break with your knee (with pads on) aim for center of tileand press down with your forarms and elbows evenly tilingkungfoo

And then when you have sliced your arm offfff.. use a tile cutter...

I did a 5sqm floor the other day, and the customer had bought 60x30 textured grade 5 porcelain. I've worked with that particular tile before (kinda cheap, availible at one of the local diy chains), and it's a real bitch to cut. So I did what I normally do when I come across tiles which are really hard to cut; I take a tile and practise on it. That has the effect of you not being as careful as you'd normally be when each cut matters (especially when the customer has skimped on error/waste margins), which in turn makes it easier to find the correct power settin' in yer wrist. Don't make it easy for yourself though; do hard cuts, ie long, thin slivers.

I still had a two or three tiles break when I cut "live", so to speak, but when I was done, I had two full spare tiles

And oh, I use Montolit cutters.

Have you tried altering the depth of the scoring wheel with the gauge. Sometimes if its set wrong it effects the score. I think it has 4 settings to chose from.

Originally Posted by wivers

Have you tried altering the depth of the scoring wheel with the gauge. Sometimes if its set wrong it effects the score. I think it has 4 settings to chose from.

BIG CLINKER PROBLEMS....and thats the best answer you can give?? TSK! I expected more from you

Well i was gonna sugest washing them with sugar soap or trimming them with scissors. Although this is also quite effective.

Wivers is right - I always use mine on the highest setting.
I find uneven breaks happen for two main reasons - not having the cutter on a flat surface or leaving shards under the breaker area.
Any new manual cutter takes a while to get the "feel" for.
Grab some old scraps and practise!

When you press down the handle to make the break have you got it pushed right up to the stop ?
I have found my big clinker to be very good as good as my rubi in fact .

This sounds daft, but have you checked that the scoring wheel is acutally passing the end of the tile not stopping just short of it because you have the scoring wheel set too low, i use a husky and find that the scoring wheel can slip upwards after repeated use, and needs to be adjusted.

Originally Posted by Oli

This sounds daft, but have you checked that the scoring wheel is acutally passing the end of the tile not stopping just short of it because you have the scoring wheel set too low, i use a husky and find that the scoring wheel can slip upwards after repeated use, and needs to be adjusted.

Montolits don't have this problem! Buy a Monty Oli, you know it makes sense.

Oh no grumpy, my accountant wouldnt like that at all. Maybe next year.

Originally Posted by Oli

Oh no grumpy, my accountant wouldnt like that at all. Maybe next year.

lol......

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

lol......

Are you giving one away grumps??

Originally Posted by Oli

Are you giving one away grumps??

My Monty is priceless, for everything else there's Mastercard.......

Another monty fan, Never used one but will have a look into it.

big clinker probs? do you not need NHS patient line?

Originally Posted by Oli

This sounds daft, but have you checked that the scoring wheel is acutally passing the end of the tile not stopping just short of it because you have the scoring wheel set too low, i use a husky and find that the scoring wheel can slip upwards after repeated use, and needs to be adjusted.

Noticed that too

Get the genesis 600mm clinker breaker, a good bit of kit IMO

Have noticed the same with mine, but only when cutting a certain batch of tiles. they were 200x300 and would cut perfectly if portrait, but as soon as I turned them landscape and cut, a nice little extra wedge would cut out too. It drove me mad and used a whole box of tiles over a whole bathroom. Trade Depot were the suppliers so tiles were probably crap! Otherwise, check the height setting and make sure there is nothing under the tile (shards or other rubbish)

Originally Posted by chris.tiling

Have noticed the same with mine, but only when cutting a certain batch of tiles. they were 200x300 and would cut perfectly if portrait, but as soon as I turned them landscape and cut, a nice little extra wedge would cut out too. It drove me mad and used a whole box of tiles over a whole bathroom. Trade Depot were the suppliers so tiles were probably crap! Otherwise, check the height setting and make sure there is nothing under the tile (shards or other rubbish)

had a similar problem with my tx700n,as chris says, it turned out to be a little tile shard that had got wedged by stop end

I have just invested in a Clinker and I find it better than my sigma or my mates rubi for cutting 600 x 300 9mm porcelain tiles. I find the squeeze down and wrist slap method the best. You do have to keep the bed clean but I have found it a joy, and cheap. Cowgomoo

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Clinker.
I am just getting ready for a new one now. Had mine 18 months and it's been great.

I just bought a Montolit Minipiuma though for mosaics and small stuff but my Clinker is my everyday workhorse.

How have you found the minipuma mate

A bit awkward tbh but it's early days yet.
The only mosaics I have used were absolute pish and had a slippy net backing.

I tried some 300x300x9 ceramics on it but couldn't get as clean a break line as I could on the clinker.

It's great for small tiles though.

Once I have had a bit more time with it, I'll post a review.