Tile is often glued onto surfaces that aren't perfectly square, which means pieces must be precisely cut to shape. The proper tools can help you do the job. Tile nippers are used to remove small pieces of tile, one bit at a time (figure A). The tool is useful for shaping tile around faucets and for cutting the corners off a piece of tile. A tile file is a strong sanding tool used to smooth the rough edges of a piece of tile after it's been cut (figure B). A tile cutter cuts through tile in two steps (figure C): First, its round blade is pushed across the tile to score a line where the tile is to be cut (figure D). Then the foot to the back of the blade is clamped down on the tile to cut through the scored line (figure E). A coping saw with a rod blade can be used to cut through softer tile, such as Mexican tile (figure F). Because the coping saw cuts in small strokes, it's especially handy for cutting irregular shapes. To drill through tile, use a carbide-tipped bit or a masonry bit. To protect the tile when drilling, place a tiny ball of plumbers' putty on the spot where you want to drill. Use an eyedropper to apply a small drop of water to the center of the putty ball (figure G). The wet putty acts as a shield for the rest of the tile as you drill the hole.
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
