Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

How to use a diamond cutting disc

Updated: 21 October 2026

The disc is already chosen, and you are about to put it on a 230 V or cordless angle grinder, or on a small tile saw, to cut a tile or a block. How to use a diamond cutting disc starts with the guard, the bore and a trial run, not with how hard you can push. These wheels cut tile, brick and concrete. They are not metal-cutting discs. The [diamond cutting disc comparison](/hub/sanders/diamond-cutting-disc) is where the twelve listings sit, priced from £6.98 to £19.90 on 19 October 2026. We did not run a cutting trial. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The disc is already chosen, and you are about to put it on a 230 V or cordless angle grinder, or on a small tile saw, to cut a tile or a block.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch 115 mm ceramic cut, 1 disc

Best overall

Bosch Bosch 115 mm ceramic cut, 1 disc
9.3/10about £6.98
View offer
Tech Traders Tech Traders 115 mm segmented, 3-pack

Best value

Tech Traders Tech Traders 115 mm segmented, 3-pack
9.1/10about £9.79
View offer
SANLEETEK SANLEETEK 115 mm M14 electroplated

Rank 3

SANLEETEK SANLEETEK 115 mm M14 electroplated
6.8/10about £16.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Inspect and mount
  2. 2.Guard, direction and a trial run
  3. 3.Feed for tile, then for block
  4. 4.Dust, water and a mask
  5. 5.When to stop and when to call a professional

Inspect and mount

A crack, a missing segment, or a disc you have dropped does not get fitted. Do not modify the bore. The usual hole is 22.23 mm. Tech Traders prints 22.2 mm. Take a 16 mm reducer or the DT-DIATOOL washer out when the arbor is already 22.23 mm. SANLEETEK screws onto an M14 thread and will not clamp between flanges. One RDXMAX review says the disc spun in the flanges. If it moves once the nut is tight, stop. Do not add packing. Which rim you should have bought is on the diamond cutting disc buying guide.

Guard, direction and a trial run

A 115 mm guard takes a 115 mm disc. DT-DIATOOL is 180 mm and will not fit. Vearter is a 76 mm mandrel wheel. Taking the guard off is not a mounting method. Fit both flanges as the grinder maker shows, tighten the nut, and trial-run clear of the disc plane before the disc meets the tile. Match any arrow to the grinder’s rotation. Use the lower of the disc mark and the grinder plate. EZARC states 13,300 rpm, Tech Traders 13,000 and SANLEETEK 13,200. LEKOMESH states 19,000 rpm maximum and a recommended 11,000 rpm. Do not treat 19,000 as a target. None of these listings print a full BS EN 13236 mark.
Bosch Bosch 115 mm ceramic cut, 1 disc

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch 115 mm ceramic cut, 1 disc
9.3/10about £6.98
View offer

Feed for tile, then for block

On glazed ceramic and porcelain you let the rim cut. A fast push is how the glaze leaves the edge in chips. Mark the line, support the offcut so it cannot pinch the disc, and take more than one pass on a thick tile. A segmented masonry disc will nick the glaze. On brick, block, paving or a concrete cill, a segmented rim is the one that clears heat. If the disc glazes over, stop and change rim. Which rim clears heat is on the turbo or segmented diamond blade page.

Dust, water and a mask

Cutting concrete, paving, brick or tile produces respirable crystalline silica. The UK limit is 0.1 mg/m³ over eight hours. CIS36, for concrete and paving, calls for water or extraction and RPE at APF 20 where the task needs it. ST3 asks for water or local exhaust on hand-held rotary cutting of stone. A comfort mask is not that factor. Do not soak a mains grinder that is not rated for water. Move a show edge to a wet tile saw.

When to stop and when to call a professional

Stop if the disc vibrates, a segment is missing, the bore spins in the flanges, or the cut wanders. RTDHO’s UK reviews describe a diamond layer that vanished after a short length. That is a replace moment. Call a professional for a lintel, for a long mitre on large-format porcelain you have not cut before, and for regular silica exposure under COSHH. If the grinder kicks, unplug it or remove the battery.

Common questions

How do I mount a 22.23 mm disc safely?
Seat a 22.23 mm bore on a 22.23 mm arbor, with both flanges as the grinder maker shows, and with the guard on. Remove a 16 mm reducer if the spindle is already 22.23 mm. Tighten the nut and trial-run clear of the disc plane. If it still moves, stop. Do not pack the bore. SANLEETEK is an M14 screw-on wheel and does not mount this way.
Do I remove a 16 mm reducer?
Yes, when the arbor is 22.23 mm. The reducer is only for a smaller spindle. Left in, it holds the disc off-centre. DT-DIATOOL’s washer and worksky’s rings follow the same rule: use only the ring that matches the arbor.
Can I cut dry indoors?
You can make a short cut only if the dust is controlled. Concrete, paving, brick and tile release crystalline silica, and the UK limit is 0.1 mg/m³ over eight hours. CIS36 asks for water or extraction, plus RPE at APF 20 where the task needs it, for concrete and paving. A closed room with no extraction is not that control. This page does not claim a dry cut is dust-free.
When is wet cutting allowed on a grinder?
Only when that grinder is rated for water. Do not soak a mains angle grinder that is not. A wet tile saw is the usual place for a show porcelain edge, because the water stays on the table and the tool is built for it. If you are unsure of the rating, keep the grinder dry, use extraction and RPE, and move the neat edge to the saw.
When should I stop and replace a disc, or call someone else?
Replace it when a segment is missing, the disc vibrates, the rim has glazed and stopped cutting, or the diamond layer has worn through, which is what RTDHO’s UK reviews describe after a short length. Call a professional for a lintel or other structural cut, for a long mitre on large-format porcelain you have not cut before, and if silica exposure is a regular work task under COSHH.

Related pages

Diamond cutting disc for porcelain

Diamond cutting disc

Best diamond cutting disc: ceramic, porcelain, paving

Diamond cutting disc buying guide: rim, bore, speed

Turbo or segmented diamond blade: which rim to use

Sources

Sources taken from the research digest. Prices, stars and review counts are the stored amazon.co.uk listing figures from 19 October 2026.

  1. HSE — PUWER overview (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  2. HSE — HSG17 abrasive wheels (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  3. HSE — silicosis and RCS (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  4. HSE CIS36 — cutting concrete and paving (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  5. HSE ST3 — hand-held rotary cutting of stone (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  6. BSI — BS EN 13236:2019 (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  7. Toolstation — EN 13236 speed sheet (retrieved 19.10.2026)
  8. ATS Diamond Tools — rim types (retrieved 19.10.2026)