Discuss cutting glass mosaic tile on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. cutting glass mosaic tile - Choosing a backsplash is like taking a ride in a Dr. Seuss-like Backsplooziesplat! All who enter here are sure to leave with more ideas than thought possible..
I'm hoping someone who installed a mosaic backsplash can answer this question. I am finally ready to install my backsplash. I've purchase glass mosaic tile consisting of 3/4" tile on a mesh sheet. I plan on using a glass tile nipper for areas around outlets. The only other cuts I will have are in the three corners for a total of six sheets. What would be the simplest and hopefully the least expensive way to cut the sheets?
We were going to rent a tile wet saw but then decided to purchase one from Lowes. It is a Skil and it worked great on our floor tiles. Unfortunately, we never found a good way to cut our 3/4" mosaic on mesh tiles with it. We ended up using nippers. They do make nippers specifically for glass tiles, but we did not have time to order them or search them out. They use two wheels I guess.
We did use Bondera Tile set instead of thin set or mastic on our wall tiles. We were happy with it. Much less mess.
wilkiepup, I hope my backsplash comes out as nice as yours! Are any of your tiles transparent? I had looked at Bondera's website and it appears their product is gray. I have some transparent tiles so I need a product which is white.
I also looked for a glass tile cutter but haven't found one. I may order one as I'm going to leave all cuts for the end.
wilkiepup - Please, please, please enter your kitchen in the
What's Your Story contest
!!! It's awesome - love your tile backsplash and all the other cool touches. I think it would be extremely inspirational to many.
wilkiepup - Please, please, please enter your kitchen in the
What's Your Story contest
!!! It's awesome - love your tile backsplash and all the other cool touches. I think it would be extremely inspirational to many.
Susan
Gee Susan, thanks so much for the kind words. It really is my dream kitchen. I think of it as a silk purse made out of a sow's ear. I will consider entering it..but we are still wrapping up all of the details every weekend and after work. It's nice to take a break and come to Ikea fans for encouragement to get it done!
wilkiepup, I hope my backsplash comes out as nice as yours! Are any of your tiles transparent? I had looked at Bondera's website and it appears their product is gray. I have some transparent tiles so I need a product which is white.
I also looked for a glass tile cutter but haven't found one. I may order one as I'm going to leave all cuts for the end.
Yes, the Bondera would probably show through transparent tiles. But they are so beautiful and most folks still use the thinset anyway. My husband was not convinced that we had saved much time or labor by using the Bondera. I know yors will be super!
But they are so beautiful and most folks still use the thinset anyway.
Please, please PLEASE do not use mastic when installing glass tiles. Most glass companies will recommend something like Laticrete's 254 Platinum thinset, which DOES come in white. If you go to Lowes, their Multi-Purpose Pro thinset (the one that goes for about 25-26.00 a bag) Is the exact same thinset in a different bag. (Has to do with copyrite laws and competition between big box and showrooms). You can buy this WHITE thinset at any Lowes that carries Laticrete. For those that carry Mapei, look for the Ultraflex III, and make sure it's the III and not the II.
As for cutting, the hand cutters (the ones with the two wheels on them) are good for rough cuts that won't be seen, such as around the outlets as was discussed here already. For clean cuts, though, the only way to do it right is on a wet saw, with a blade made specially for cutting glass. It'll be thinner than a tile blade, with alot more diamond to it, and therefore won't chip nearly as much, giving a nice clean cut.
This thread is so timely! I just ran down to Home Depot to pick up some supplies. First off, I was annoyed that they have no premixed thinset suitable for glass tiles. I will see if Lowe's sells that Multi-Purpose Pro stuff premixed. Then I tried out the manual tile cutter on one of my sample tiles and was saddened by all the chipping. Sounds like I'll be renting a wet saw! Thanks for the tips!
cutting glass mosaic tile
ready to install my backsplash. I've purchase glass mosaic tile consisting of 3/4" tile on a mesh sheet. I plan on using a glass tile nipper for areas around outlets. The only other cuts I will have are in the three corners for a total of six sheets. What would be the simplest and hopefully the least expensive way to cut the sheets?
Re: cutting glass mosaic tile
