Cutting Curves in a Porcelain Tile With a Jigsaw

Trace the curved line to be cut with a wax pencil on the back of the tile. Jigsaws do best with sweeping curves instead of detailed, intricate tight curves.

Set the ceramic blade into your saw in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Lay a piece of scrap leather down on the work bench, and then lay the tile down on the leather, face down and with the smaller portion to be cut off hanging over the side of the bench. You want to keep the line to be cut on the tile as close to the edge of the workbench as possible.

Place another piece of scrap leather over the back of the tile. These two pieces act as a protector and keep the tile from being scratched by the bench and clamp, and help relieve the pressure of the clamp from being on just one small spot on the tile.

Screw the C clamp to the bench and tile, which will hold the largest piece of the tile steady.

Place the blade against the side of the tile where the wax line begins and trigger it on, keeping the blade vibrating at the slowest speed. If the tile is large enough, have a helper hold the part of the tile to be cut off steady with his hands. You want to avoid vibration as much as possible.

Slowly move the blade along the wax, keeping the blade centered on the line. If the tile begins to vibrate excessively then stop for a moment until the tile becomes still again.