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Cutting Mosaic Tile

Online Mosaic Instructions

These instructions are updated regularly. Email me at inspire@mosaicartsupply.com if you have questions. Click here for Legal and Copyright Information.

  • For an authentic hand-made look, don't cut your mosaic tiles too uniformly.  They shouldn't be perfect rectangles.  Ideally, mosaic tiles should be slightly irregular rectangles so that there is a gap even when the pieces are set close together.  This ensures that there will be a small line of grout between each tile, which highlights the design.
  • If you want a level surface, and you are gluing your mosaic tiles to a flat surface, make sure your tiles are about the same thickness.  Stone is often much thicker than glass mosaic tile.
  • Tile Nippers are used for stone, china and ceramic mosaic tiles.  Wheeled Glass Cutters are used for glass mosaic tiles, stained glass and smalti.
  • Tile Nippers will cut vitreous glass tile, but a Wheeled Glass Cutter will make the cut glass much cleaner without as much splintering and waste.  Tile Nippers tend to crush smalti and stained glass, and you wind up wasting too much expensive material.
  • Wear safety glasses when using Tile Nippers and Wheeled Glass Cutters.
  • After cutting, mosaic tiles can be razor sharp. Minor cuts on the hand are not uncommon. Be careful. Keep out of reach of children.  Cut mosaic tiles and glass only where you can vacuum or sweep up easily.  
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