How to Use a Dremel for Tricky Tile Cuts

Installing ceramic tile in your bathroom or kitchen sometimes requires making small, tricky cuts. This is often necessary when laying tile around pipes and fixtures on the floor and for those areas where the tile must have a notch to fit correctly. Using a Dremel for tricky cuts requires using a 545 diamond-coated cutting wheel and a 402 mandrel to hold the wheel. This is usually the best setup for most Dremel rotary tools when cutting ceramic tile.

Bench vise
402 mandrel
545 cutting wheel
Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and mark the cut line on the ceramic tile. When making your measurements, ensure that you allot for the necessary gap for the grout.
- 2
  Place the tile in a padded bench vise and tighten it securely. Install the 402 mandrel into your Dremel tool and attach the 545 cutting wheel to the top of the mandrel using the mandrel screw and a flat-head screwdriver.
- 3
  Set the speed setting on the Dremel to 20,000 RPM and grip the tool in both hands to ensure you have control when cutting the ceramic tile.
- 4
  Cut along your cut line mark with the Dremel. Make several shallow cuts along the line instead of a single deep cut. While several shallow cuts take longer, this method prevents you from breaking the tile.

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