Equipment for Cutting Bullnose Tile

Tile Cutting Board

• Tile cutting boards are the standard pieces of equipment to cut man-made tiles, such as ceramic and porcelain. They utilize a diamond or carbide tipped blade that scores the surface of the tile, then pressure is applied via a handle to snap the piece of tile in two along the scored point. Tile cutters can only be used to make straight cuts, such as where a piece of bullnose tile terminates against an inside wall.

Tile Wet Saw

• Tile wet saws come in a variety of sizes, from small versions that utilize a 4-inch blade to the standard size which has an 8-inch blade. Larger, commercial versions are also sold which have a 14-inch blade. Through a combination of water and a diamond-tipped cutting blade, they can cut any man-made or natural stone tile, regardless if they are field tiles or bullnose tiles.

Angle Grinder

• Angle grinders can be useful for small-scale projects where you don't need to make a lot of cuts, such as with a countertop where you only have a couple of pieces of bullnose to cut in. However, an angle grinder is not a finishing tool, which means any cuts made using a diamond or carbide blade are rough, and are only for areas where the cut will be covered by another material.

Handheld Tile Saw

• Handheld tile saws are similar to circular saws except that they can be used either dry or wet. You can use a handheld tile saw for trimming down a piece of bullnose, for example, or cutting it to fit against other field tile. They use either diamond or carbide blades, and are sold in either 4- or 8-inch formats.