Which Size Scoring Wheel Do I Need?
This is one of the questions we get asked most by our tiling customers, and it’s easy to see why.
Rubi manual tile cutters allow the use of interchangeable cutting wheels, but it appears less than clear as to which diameter wheel to use and when.
The size of scoring wheel you’ll need will depend on whether you’re cutting porcelain, ceramic, marble or any other materials.
The aim of the ideal scoring wheel is to score just once to get the cleanest snap, especially on ceramics. In order to do so, you’ll need to buy the right tile cutter and the right scoring wheel (not one without the other).
We’ve provided a guide below, which aims to make things a lot clearer.
Ceramic & Glazed Tiles
6mm scoring wheels are ideal for ceramic and glazed tiles. They produce a shallow line. Any deeper and it might produce crack marks and can sometimes be prone to chipping the tile.
Porcelain & Floor Tiles
8mm cutting wheels are good for porcelain and floor tiles because the blade is narrower, giving you a deeper cut, and in doing so it gives you a better chance at snapping it in one go.
Ceramic Stoneware
10mm scoring wheels are great for ceramic stoneware. Normally these tiles are slightly more textured (even on a minute scale) so the larger wheel doesn’t deviate on any crevices. The tiles are generally still quite polished so, like the 6mm wheel, this gives you a shallow cut, but it’s slightly wider, allowing you to snap stronger material.
Rough Ceramics & Difficult Cuts
18mm+ cutting wheels are for rough ceramics and difficult cuts. They give a deep and wide cut and are great for textured tiles. There’s also less deviation and these wheels are normally better suited to scoring multiple times, depending on the thickness/material of tile.
What about Heavy & Textured Tiles?
For heavy and textured tiles, it’s advisable to score a few times to make the scoring line as continuous as possible.
Clean the wheels at when you’ve finished the job to prolong the life span of the scoring wheel. This can be done by wiping with a cloth or submerging in lubricant.
We hope you find this guide useful. If you require any further information on scoring wheels then please feel free to email us at sales@buybrandtools.com.