Most straight tile cuts are best done with a manual score-and-snap cutter rather than a powered saw — it’s faster to set up, doesn’t need water or dust extraction, and gives a cleaner break on porcelain and ceramic than most people expect from a hand tool. The main decision is really about size: which cutter handles the tile format you’re actually working with.
How a score-and-snap cutter works
A manual tile cutter scores a controlled line across the glazed surface of the tile with a hardened wheel, then applies even pressure along that line to snap the tile cleanly along the score. Done properly, this gives a straight, clean edge without the dust and mess of a powered cut. The trade-off is that it only cuts straight lines — curves, notches and cut-outs for pipes or power points need a different tool, which we’ll get to below.
Choosing a cutter size
Sigma’s manual cutter range runs from compact 37cm models up to large-format machines built for oversized porcelain slabs, and the right size depends entirely on the biggest tile you’ll actually be cutting — not the smallest.
For standard tile sizes, the Sigma Art. 2G (37cm) and Sigma Art 7F (37cm) cover most everyday floor and wall tiles. If you’re working with larger format tiles, step up to the Sigma Art. 4DU (103cm), Sigma Art 4EN (125cm), or the Sigma Art 4FN (155cm) for the largest slab formats. Buying a cutter too small for your tile means you can’t make the cut at all — always size to your largest tile, with a bit of margin.
For large-format porcelain specifically, where the tile is thick and dense enough that a standard score-and-snap struggles, the Sigma KERA-CUT 8AE2 is built specifically for that job.
For curves, notches and cut-outs: angle grinder attachments
A score-and-snap cutter can’t handle a curved cut, an L-shaped notch around a pipe, or a cut-out for a power point — for that, you need a diamond blade fitted to an angle grinder. The Sigma KERA-FLEX is an angle grinder attachment purpose-built for controlled tile cutting, and Diarex and DTA both stock diamond blades that fit standard angle grinders for the same job. For finishing a cut edge cleanly afterwards, the Sigma Jolly Edge Cutter trims edge trims and profiles to length.
Browse the full tile cutter range at Multifors to compare sizes.