I am re-tiling my fireplace with a mixture of tile sizes. The smallest tile that needs cut is a triangle of dimension 35x35x50mm – all tiles are 10mm thick. I don't think it will be possible to cut such a tile in half manually (would be preferable)? I have an electric tile cutter – how should i feed such a small tile into the cutting disc in a stable linear manner without cutting my fingers off…?
Tile – Cutting small tiles accurately and safely
tile
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For your circle & tiles:
12-1/4 inches if you leave the tile full-width at the outside edge - tile plus grout.
2 pi R is circumference - 43.923 feet. 527.79 inches.
Divide by 12.25 to get number of tiles. 43.084 - depending on the project, you either figure 43 is close enough (0.27 inch grout line rather than 0.25) or you use 44 tiles and trim more off them (not full width at edge - 11.745" at outer edge.)
360 degrees in a circle divided by number of tiles = the angle of cut
360 degrees divided by 43 = 8.37 degrees per tile, to make symmetric, cut 4.185 degrees on each side. For 44 tiles, 8.18, 4.09.
To get fussy (the 43/44 may be near enough to make it matter) you could check with the fact that the edge of the tile is not really "the circumference of the circle" but a chord making up a polygon inscribed in the circle. Chord length = 2 * r * sin (c/2) where c is the "central angle" - so c/2 is 4.185 or 4.09 degrees for 43 or 44 tiles, respectively. Looks like it might make it 0.26 rather than 0.27 inch grout line for 43.
In real life, start from opposite sides and work to the point where you have one tile left on each side - check the fit of that as constructed and trim to fit as needed, since getting grout lines precisely repeatable to the 100th of an inch is unlikely in practice.
Best Answer
Not to discount the need for safety, but tile blades are relatively low-risk. I'd use heavy, well-fitting leather gloves to virtually eliminate the chance of injury.
Grasp the tile with both hands, elbows spread. By keeping your arms to the sides you prevent slips that would result in your fingers finding the blade. Press the tile firmly to the table or slide and move slowly past the blade. It's imperative that a firm grip is maintained and that the tile's orientation remains steady.
You could also clamp the tile, using a rubber pad, and cut with an angle grinder and diamond wheel.