Almost all types of tiles can be cut with a manual tile cutter, even very hard gres porcelain tiles. It can be used to cut all floor and wall tiles, and consists of several parts.

Parts of a manual tile cutter.

Base: Tiles are placed on the base of the manual tile cutter which is always made of a durable material. The cutting line is always visible on your base.

Guide: The guide drives a scoring head with the handle in a straight line, and is usually made of chromed steel. It can be a single or double guide which leads to greater visibility of the scoring line.

Scoring head: The scoring head is made up a handle and a scoring wheel, which is also known as a scoring blade. This is used to weaken the tile, and is made from a very hard material called tungsten carbide. In many cases, a scoring head can include a separator or breaker, also known as breaking feet, which makes the manual tile cutter multi-functional.

Separator or Breaker: These add pressure onto the scored tile which causes the tile to break along the scored line.

Lateral stop: This is an L-shaped adjustable tool that allows for making repetitive cuts. This can be useful, especially if you need to cut many tiles to same size.

How to cut tiles with a manual tile cutter.

1. Measure the size to which you need your tile to be cut.
2. Mark your tile and draw a line where you need the cut to be made. Some cutters have measuring guides and a lateral stop to help with making accurate cuts, which has the effect of making your tiling job faster.
3. Place the marked tile onto your manual tile cutter base, and align your drawn line with the cutting line as indicated on the base of the manual tile cutter. Secure your tile firmly to avoid any unwanted movements. From this point your tile should always stay in the same place.
4. Move the scoring head with the scoring wheel to the edge of the tile. Your scoring wheel must be right on the top of both the drawn line, as well as the scoring line on the base. Apply pressure by pressing handle down firmly.
5. Depending on the manual tile cutter type, pull or push the scoring head along the full length of the tile, ensuring that the scoring wheel does not disturb surface of the tile. Make sure the tile stays secured in position.
6. Use a separator to apply constant pressure on the tile by pressing it smoothly down. This will break tile along the scored line into two pieces. Your cut should be smooth, straight and consistent.