TECHNICAL GUIDE · NARROW STRIP TRIAL
Narrow strip Test it first
There is no honest single width that serves as the minimum for every tile, cutting length and cutter. A strip of the same width might be a short concealed piece in one material or a long exposed piece in another.
Jump to topic
First check whether a layout change can remove the strip. If it must remain, plan a trial on the same material and record the conditions.
01 Width alone is not enough
Describe the complete piece before the trial:
- material manufacturer and product;
- thickness and actual format;
- strip width;
- complete cutting-line length;
- line direction across the tile;
- retained side;
- intended edge role: concealed, processed further or exposed.
Strip width without its length, material and edge requirement is not enough to compare a result honestly. It is not a tool specification either.
02 Use the same material
A “similar tile” can differ in thickness, surface, size or batch. Use material representative of the real job and record its identity. If the match cannot be confirmed, state that clearly.
Check the current processing instructions for the material. Directions for one product do not become a procedure for every porcelain tile, sintered slab or stone.
03 A separate trial for each method
A narrow piece does not choose between scoring and breaking or wet cutting by itself. The method also depends on the material, line length, support, required edge and applicable instructions.
If you compare two methods, keep two separate records. Do not combine different tools into one claim about a “minimum width”.
04 Assess the complete piece
Separating the strip does not finish the assessment. Check:
- actual width and length of the finished piece;
- the whole edge, including both ends;
- whether the result suits the edge's intended role;
- number of attempts, including unsuccessful ones;
- whether the material, setup, support or tool changed between attempts.
Do not diagnose the cause of damage from one mark. If the result differs from the plan, return to the material and tool instructions.
05 Narrow-strip trial record
Fill in the record during the trial, before you assess the result and before you choose the next step.
| Field | Record |
|---|---|
| Material | manufacturer / product / batch if available |
| Size | thickness / actual format |
| Strip | width / length / line direction |
| Method | tool / applicable instruction / working part |
| Support | arrangement required for the material and tool |
| Result | dimensions / complete edge / both ends |
| Attempts | total number / what changed between attempts |
| Intended use | concealed / processed further / exposed edge |
The record does not create a product limit. It lets you say exactly what happened in one documented case.
06 What this trial tells you
A successful strip supports only the recorded combination of material, size, length, method and support. It does not prove that every tile will behave the same way or that a narrower piece will also work.
An unsuccessful trial does not reject a whole tool class either. It shows that the recorded result under those conditions needs reassessment.
07 Choose the next step with complete information
Compare methods in our guide to choosing a tile cutter. If the line is straight and the material and instructions support manual scoring, check the Puppy range. If the job calls for wet cutting, compare the BigDog range.
When the score is straight but the break runs away from it, use “Scored straight. Broke off line.”. Do not choose a tool from one millimetre figure alone.