You can use tile nippers to clip small pieces of tile, mosaic tiles or edges off of larger tiles. Don't plan on doing an install this way, first try a few of the tiles you happen to have to see how they will brake.
This is not a traditional way of cutting tiles, but much like with a grinder, if you have a masonry blade (usually synthetic diamond coated) then you can cut most tiles this way. You need to be extra careful if this is something you are going to try. You can also have another person hold a hose or other water source pouring it over your cut as you go, being again careful not to get it near electrical components of the saw.
This is not something you should ever need to do. The only case in which I would imagine you need to do anything like this, is if you have a cheaply glazed tile that is chipping off tiny particles on its finished side as you cut it. Even then, your tile cuts should always be hidden. Only in rare cases would they not be; Maybe with some crazy angles (you would want to use natural stone tile for this instance anyway)
The above natural stone tile can easily be cut using a grinder with a masonry blade. You can hold these tiles in your hand and the grinder in your other hand to make small cuts like the above. If your using porcelain tile you may get fragments flying off with such a style of cut. And if your using ceramic you will want to make even small cuts like the above with a tile saw using water and a flat solid surface.
There is no need to make lines on the tile like this. If your tile saw isn't cutting straight you have a problem. You only need to make a pencil mark on each side where your line will go in at. Most experienced tile cutters will be able to tell where the lines are going to meet. Like the above, even if you cut on one line an 8th of an inch to far, it would be covered up by the outlet plate. This is true for tiles around floor registers too.
Need help or have more questions? Feel free to contact a local tile installer to receive a free estimate on your Colorado or Denver Metro based tile project.
Highlands Ranch Tile, Professional Tile setters & Tile repair for Douglas County, Highlands Ranch Colorado - All Rights Reserved - 1999 - 2012
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Douglas County Colorado is the eighth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado. We are located midway between Denver and Colorado Springs. Between 2010 and 2000 Douglas County was one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. From Santa Fe Dr, to I-25 and County line Road (Arapahoe County, Colorado) to Castle Pines Parkway HR TILE will install or replace tile for all of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and has been for many years. We are also Colorado natives and enjoy all this wonderful state has to offer.
Highlands Ranch Tile provides affordable tile estimates regardless of the type of tile our clients have chosen. From inexpensive ceramic tile from your local Home Depot (and we have some great Home Depots in the ranch, 1200 Mayberry Road, Highlands Ranch, CO or one off Yosemite in Lone Tree, Colorado) or higher end tiles from places such as Carpet Exchange, Daltile or Tile for less, we work with all of it. We didn't so much as chose Highlands Ranch to work in as we grew up here our selves. I've seen Highlands Ranch go from having dirt roads such as Countyline to a full and rich community of on-going development. There are plenty of contractors that dread receiving leads or doing work in Highlands Ranch, that's fine they can stick to Denver or Aurora. As for us, it is our community and our home; More over Douglas County in general is an amazing place to live. Even the sheriff's office is professional. We enjoy living here and working here and have a lot of experience with the community and providing tile repair service and tile installations.