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What Can You Use to Cut Travertine Tile? (How To)

Travertine tiles look particularly beautiful and are a type of natural stone tile. There are a few different methods for cutting tiles but some are better suited to particular types of tiles. So, in this article I will cover what can be used to cut travertine tiles.

As a general rule, you should use a wet saw to cut travertine tiles. Travertine is a natural stone that is one of the hardest types of tiles. Professional tilers use a wet saw for natural stone tiles. Other tools like grinders, and dremels do work but require many passes, and take a long time.

Man Holding a tile

If it’s only a few cuts stores, big department stores like Walmart typically have a wet saw, and will make a few cuts for you for free. However, if you need to cut tiles for an entire project you should hire or buy a wet saw. Below, I provide detailed instructions for how to cut travertine tiles, and how well each of the different methods for cutting tiles work.

What Can You Use to Cut Travertine Tile? (How To)

Thick travertine tiles are more difficult to cut than thin travertine tiles. But, overall travertine tiles are harder and require more work to cut than soft tiles such as ceramic. So, here’s a summary of what tools and machines will work to cut travertine tiles.

Overall, a wet saw, grinder with a tile attachment, a dremel with a tile attachment, or a tile cutter can be used to cut travertine tiles. But, a wet saw is the best to use because it can easily cut travertine tiles. All the other options take too long to travertine tiles.

Travertine tile manufacturers recommend using a wet saw. Professional tilers have also stated that they always use a wet saw for natural stone tiles such as travertine. And will only use the other options for softer tiles.

Can You Use Tile Cutter to Cut Travertine Tile?

Confused man standing

Tile cutters are commonly used to cut tiles. First, a tile cutter is used to score the tile, and then it’s broken off using the mechanism on the tile cutter. Tile cutters work well for soft tiles like ceramic, but here’s whether one can be used to cut travertine tiles.

In general, a tile cutter can be used to cut travertine tile. But, you won’t be able to snap the tile after cutting it using a tile cutter. Travertine tiles are natural stone, which is far harder to cut than other types of tiles. As a result, a tile cutter is very inefficient to cut travertine tiles.

Tile cutters come in a few different sizes. A larger tile cutter can generate more force on the tile, and is better suited to travertine tiles. But, typically it still won’t be strong enough to break the tile.

So, you will need to use a mallet afterward to make the cut. Doing so reduces makes it more likely the cut will be bad, and you will need to use handheld tile cutters to break off the loose pieces. Tile cutters also don’t create a very smooth edge after the tile has been cut.

Therefore, you should ideally use a wet saw. Professional tilers only use tile cutters for soft tiles such as ceramic. And don’t use them for natural stone tiles like travertine.

Can You Use Wet Saw to Cut Travertine Tile?

tools to cut travertine tile

A wet saw is a powerful tool that makes light work of most tiles. It can also be set up so that it makes a very straight cut very easily. But, this is whether it’s possible to use a wet saw to cut travertine tiles.

A wet saw can be used to cut travertine tiles. A wet saw is the best tool to use to cut travertine tiles. Natural stone tiles like travertine are much harder and more difficult to cut. So, other tools like a tile cutter, or angle grinder do a very bad job at cutting travertine tiles.

Wet saws can be purchased at a reasonably affordable cost. However, if it’s for a one off job, it’s typically a better idea to hire a wet saw. Or, ask around your friends and family to see if someone has one.

Can You Use Dremel to Cut Travertine Tile?

tools to cut travertine tile

Dremels are very versatile tools that have many different attachments. There are attachments that can put on a dremel that allow them to cut very hard materials, however, they are reasonably small and as a result don’t have a very powerful motor. So, this is whether a dremel will work to cut travertine tile.

As a general rule, a dremel can be used to cut travertine tile. But, it is not very good at cutting travertine tile and multiple cuts will be needed to get all the way through a travertine tile. Travertine tiles are far stronger than other tiles. A wet saw is the best thing to use for travertine tiles.

If you do use a dremel with a tile cutting blade it will take a VERY long time to make cuts. Therefore, it’s only really suited for one or two tiles.

If you need to cut tiles for a full tile install such as in a bathroom, using a dremel should not be used. Professional tilers and travertine tile manufacturers recommend using a wet saw to cut travertine tiles.

Can You Use Angle Grinder to Cut Travertine Tile?

tools to cut travertine tile

Angle grinders are very powerful and can cut through a wide range of materials. Different blades can also be attached that are designed for different materials. There are tile attachments that can be used for angle grinders but here’s if an angle grinder can be used to cut travertine tiles.

Overall, an angle grinder can be used to cut travertine tile. But, only if it has a tile attachment. An angle grinder does a very poor job at cutting travertine tile, because travertine is very strong and hard, unlike other types of tiles. A wet saw is the best tool to cut travertine tiles.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 29, 2022.

To completely cut through travertine tiles you will need to make the same cut 2 to 3 times, and you will need to cut very slowly. For these reasons, it will take a very long time to cut a large amount of tiles.

In general, if you need to cut travertine tiles for a whole project then you shouldn’t use an angle grinder. Instead you should use a wet saw.

A wet saw is more powerful, and will make accurate cuts much quicker. Professional tilers typically use a wet saw for natural stone tiles like travertine.

How to Cut Travertine Tile

Confused man standing

Cutting tiles is not overly difficult and with the right know how you can anyone can become and very good at cutting tiles. There are a few methods for cutting tiles, but using a wet saw is the recommended method for travertine tiles. Below are detailed instructions for how to cut travertine tiles using a wet saw.

Overall, a wet saw is the best thing to use to cut travertine tiles. Any other method won’t work or will take far too long. Start by marking on the tile where the cut will be using a pencil and a square edge. Then place the tile on the wet saw, and make the cut.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 29, 2022.

In general, a wet saw is the best for cutting travertine tiles. But, a tile cutter, an angle grinder with a tile attachment, and a dremel with a tile attachment will also work. However, they take far longer to make cuts than a wet saw. Especially, for thicker travertine tiles.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on September 29, 2022.

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