These were returned to us by a customer who needed to change their project, so she didn’t need these tools. Both have never been used, but their handles got scuffed up during shipping. We’re selling these at a discount because of the cosmetic defect. Otherwise they should work properly.
The photo is NOT of these particular tools! These are the stock photos! Each tool has cosmetic issues on the handle grips.
The original product descriptions for each tool are linked above. The ProControl is for cutting glass ONLY and is not to be used for hard materials like stone or ceramic. The Mosaic Tile Nipper can be used to cut stone and ceramic. Please read their respective product descriptions for more complete information!
The Offset Tile Nipper is a tile nipper meant for cutting ceramic and porcelain tile. This tool excels at cutting china plates and dinnerware and is easier to use than our ordinary tile nipper when it comes to cutting thin broken china.
Jaws are at an angle to make cuts from an edge easier
Tungsten carbide blades for long service life
Has thicker, more comfortable handle grips
Great for cutting thin china and porcelain dinnerware
This tool cuts ceramic and porcelain up to 5/16-inch (under 5mm) thick. Thicker dinnerware and stone can be cut using the compound tile nipper. The offset tile nipper can be used to cut recycled glass tile, but it is not recommended for that purpose. The blades are curved which can lead to irregular cuts on stone or marble.
Make sure that you don’t cut glass around people who are not wearing safety glasses. Flying chips could potentially hit their eyes as easily as yours.
This tool is meant for cutting thin ceramic and porcelain tiles and dinnerware, up to 5mm (5/16-inch) thick.
Be aware that cutting tile can produce sharp tiny slivers. Never sweep off a work surface with your bare hand. Use a vacuum or counter brush.
Product Specifications for Offset Tile Nipper
steel hand plier with cushion grip
weighs 11 oz
tungsten carbide cutting blades
QEP model # 10103
Replacement Springs
Replacement Springs are available, but your cutters are not defective or useless if the springs fall off. The springs tend to fall of all hand tools eventually, even the most expensive brands. Keep your pinky fingers inside the handle instead of outside with the rest of your fingers and use that to open the tool. This is basic shop/studio practice for using any type of plier tool, most of which do not come with springs in the first place.
How To Make Mosaics
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
Our Mosaic Starter Kit with Compound Nipper is the same as our regular Mosaic Starter Kit, but it includes the Compound Tile Nipper for hard porcelain and stone instead of the regular Mosaic Tile Nipper. The Compound Tile Nipper has a force multiplier which allows you to cut hard ceramics and stone with much less effort. The kit includes these professional grade tools: compound tile nipper, mosaic glass cutter, safety glasses, Weldbond glue, and two 1-pound bags of vitreous glass mosaic tiles. It does NOT include grout.
Although the kit was designed with beginners in mind, it includes the same tools and materials used by full-time mosaic artists and professional architectural installers. Notice that we didn’t include ordinary household items like plastic trays for mixing like most craft kits do. Our kit is made of only essential items like tile, glue, and hand tools. Also note that we didn’t include small sample-sized amounts. The mosaic tile grout and glue in this kit are the standard size we sell, and the tools are the same as those used by professionals when installing murals. The kit was designed by our resident mosaic artist and are packed right in our shop. Don’t expect a lot of shrink-wrapping and labels and custom packaging -just value!
Compound Nipper Mosaic Art Starter Kit Components
Our Compound Nipper Mosaic Art Starter Kit includes:
Shipping cement products is not good value for your money. Buy grout at a local building material or hardware store. We use traditional sanded portland-cement grouts such as made by Mapei and Custom Building Products. These products are dry and only require water and mixing. We have no experience with the epoxy and urethane products that come pre-mixed and have fumes.
How To Make Mosaic Art
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
The Mosaic Tile Nipper is our recommended hand tool for cutting glazed ceramic tile up to 3/8-inch thick and can also be used for cutting most varieties of stone, porcelain, and dinnerware. However, the tile nipper should not be used for glass tile because it crushes and splinters more glass than it cuts. For cutting glass mosaic tile, you should use a Mosaic Glass Cutter, which has wheel-shaped blades and cuts more cleanly.
Cutting Unbreakable Dinnerware and Hard Stone?
This tile nipper is fine for cutting most types of stone and dinnerware. However, some varieties of modern dinnerware are extremely hard. In fact, some of the “unbreakable” plates found at thrift stores are made from some of the hardest engineered materials known to science. We generally avoid a plate if it is particularly difficult and move on to the next piece unless it has a pattern we like. Keep in mind that a plate that is extremely hard tends to break into pieces with extremely sharp edges. If you do need to cut extremely hard materials, then use the Compound Tile Nipper, which has a force multiplier built into its mechanism.
Make sure that you don’t cut glass around people not wearing safety glasses. Flying chips could potentially hit their eyes as easily as yours.
Be aware that cutting tile of any type can produce sharp edges.
Crumbs from cutting can be extremely sharp. Never sweep off a work surface with your bare hand. Use a vacuum or counter brush.
Efficient Cutting
It is much easier to cut up four or five pieces of tile and choose the one that fits best than it is to try to trim one piece to a certain shape or size. It is quicker too. Keep your rejects in a small pile and pay attention to the shapes that are in it. If you don’t use a certain size or shape as often, try to cut fewer pieces like that. This is much more effective than trimming a piece down to what you need, and it is a lot less tedious.
Replacement Springs
We now carry replacement springs, but no, your nippers are NOT defective or useless if the spring falls off. The springs tend to fall off all hand tools eventually, even the most expensive brands. They can still be used efficiently without the spring: Keep your pinky fingers inside the handle instead of outside with the rest of your fingers and use your pinky to open the tool. This is basic shop/studio practice for using any type of plier tool, most of which do not come with springs in the first place, at least not back in the day.
How To Make Mosaic Art
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
The Compound Nipper is our recommended tool for cutting extremely hard tile such as thick dinnerware, porcelain and certain varieties of stone. This nipper has a compound lever mechanism which multiplies the mechanical force of your hand three times more than conventional tile nippers, which enables you to cut harder materials with much less effort.
The nipper should not be used for glass tile because it crushes and splinters more glass than it cuts. For cutting glass mosaic tile, you should use the Mosaic Glass Cutter, which has special wheel-shaped blades.
Compound Nipper Hard-Tile Cutting Tool
Tungsten Carbide cutting tips
3x force multiplier
Rubberized grip for comfort
Cuts porcelain, ceramic, dinnerware, stone
Safety latch for storage
Not for Eggshell Pique Assette
If you are looking for a tool to cut thin eggshell china such as thin teacups and saucers, this isn’t it. Like most mosaic cutters, this tool will not close sufficiently to cut the material. This tool was made for hard stuff. For cutting eggshell china, I always used a non-mosaic tool: a generic pair of diagonal cutting pliers.
Cutting Unbreakable Dinnerware
Traditional porcelain can be very hard, but some varieties of modern dinnerware are even harder. In fact, some of the “unbreakable” plates found at thrift stores are made from some of the hardest engineered materials known to science. The Compound Nipper is the tool for cutting this type of dinnerware, but keep in mind that these extremely hard materials have some special safety considerations. First, the extra force required for cutting them means that pieces are more likely to fly out when the cut is snapped. Second, some of the razor edges produced can be exceptionally sharp. A tile file or rubbing stone can smooth these sharp edges, but our recommendation is to avoid any piece of dinnerware that seems particularly difficult and move on to the next plate. Most dinnerware is fairly easy to cut, so there is no reason to struggle with a difficult plate unless you really like the pattern.
Safety and Cutting Tile
Always wear safety glasses with side shields when using the cutters.
Make sure that you don’t cut tile around people who are not wearing safety glasses. Flying chips could potentially hit their eyes as easily as yours.
Be aware that cutting tile of any type can produce sharp edges.
Crumbs from cutting can be extremely sharp. Never sweep off a work surface with your bare hand. Use a vacuum or counter brush.
Efficient Cutting
It is much easier to cut up four or five pieces of tile and choose the one that fits best than it is to try to trim one piece to a certain shape or size. It is quicker too. Keep your rejects in a small pile and pay attention to the shapes that are in it. If you don’t use a certain size or shape as often, try to cut fewer pieces like that. This is much more effective than trimming a piece down to what you need, and it is a lot less tedious.
How To Make Mosaics
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
This tool cuts ceramic and porcelain up to 5/16-inch (under 5mm) thick. Thicker dinnerware and stone can be cut using the compound tile nipper. The offset tile nipper can be used to cut recycled glass tile, but it is not recommended for that purpose. The blades are curved which can lead to irregular cuts on stone or marble.
Always wear an N95 Mask when using any jigsaw, and cut outdoors to prevent dust build-up.
Make sure that you don’t cut glass around people who are not wearing safety glasses. Flying chips could potentially hit their eyes as easily as yours.
This tool is meant for thick ceramic and porcelain tiles and dinnerware.
Be aware that cutting tile can produce sharp tiny slivers. Never sweep off a work surface with your bare hand. Use a vacuum or counter brush.
Product Specifications for Diamond Jigsaw Blade
brazed diamond bonding
2 inch long cutting surface
fits most electric jigsaws
0.25″ t-shank attachment point
QEP model # 10585
How To Make Mosaics
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
Our Mosaic Starter Kit Without Grout includes professional-grade tools: tile nipper, mosaic glass cutter, safety glasses, Weldbond glue, and two 1-pound bags of vitreous glass mosaic tiles. It does NOT include grout, which should be purchased at a local building material or hardware store (if grout is desired). The kit is not for making a canned project designed by us. Rather, it is what you need to start working on your own designs and projects. Our mosaic instructions for basic mosaic tasks are free and posted online.
The kit is the perfect way to get everything you need to get started now, and it is priced at a discount. Although the kit was designed with beginners in mind, it includes the same tools and materials used by full-time mosaic artists. Notice that we didn’t include silly cheap stuff like wooden sticks for mixing like most craft kits do. Our kit is made of only essential items like tile, glue, and tools. Also note that we didn’t use tiny sample-sized amounts. The mosaic tile grout and glue are the standard size we sell, and the tools are the same as those used by professional installers. The kit was designed by our resident mosaic artist and are packed right in our shop. Don’t expect a lot of shrink-wrapping and labels -just value!
Shipping cement products is not good value for your money. Buy grout at a local building material or hardware store. We use traditional sanded portland-cement grouts such as made by Mapei and Custom Building Products. These products are dry and only require water and mixing. We have no experience with the epoxy and urethane products that come pre-mixed and have fumes.
How To Make Mosaic Art
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
Our LOTUS POOL Aqua Metallic Glass Tile Assortment features deep aquatic shades of royal blue, teal, emerald, and muddy brown, plus violet and mint. This 1-lb mix is a special 10-shade variation of our permanent 3/4-inch Metallic Glass Tile Assortment, which includes all 29 shades of the Morjo™ Metallic line.
Morjo™ Metallic glass tiles contain copper dust swirls and streaks for a permanent, UV-resistant sparkle. These tiles are hard and durable enough for outdoor installation, yet they quickly cut into halves, quarters and triangles with little force using a pair of mosaic glass cutters. The backs of the tiles are grooved for secure mounting.
For a compatible 12mm iridescent version, see Dragonfly.
LOTUS POOL Aqua Metallic Glass Tile Assortment 3/4-Inch
Sales unit: 1 pound (roughly 145+ tiles).
Tile dimensions: 3/4 inch x 3/4 inch (20mm x 20mm).
Tile thickness: 4mm (1/8 inch nominal).
Material: glass with metallic copper dust swirls inside the glass.
Coverage: each pound covers 0.69 square feet.
Coverage: 218 loose tiles cover 1 sq ft. with grout spacing of 1/16 inch.
Frost-proof, impervious to liquid.
Suitable for indoor/outdoor use.
Product Coverage
Each pound covers 0.69 square feet, assuming a standard grout spacing of 1/16 inch. Coverage for 1 square foot requires 218 tiles. Note that cutting tiles generates some scrap, so you may want to budget 5% extra.
Compatibility
The 3/4 inch size (20mm) and 1/8 inch nominal thickness (4mm) is industry standard, which means these tiles can mix and match with a wide variety of brands.
Cutting Glass Tile
Though durable enough for outdoor mosaics, this tile cuts easily with minimal force using the mosaic glass cutters. Ordinary tile nippers are not recommended for any type of glass, as they will tend to crush the material rather than yield a precise cut.
Metallic Glass Tile in Mosaic Art
Even as an occasional accent, metallic glass tile will add sparkle, depth and luminosity to any mosaic project. Break up monochromatic color fields with their metallic equivalent, or sprinkle in pieces to add drama to your details.
Our Pique Assiette Porcelain Flats are hard durable porcelain pieces fired with classic china patterns for use in traditional pique assiette mosaic work. While most edges are kiln rounded, nearly all bags contain a few broken pieces with sharp edges. Given that, please do not order if handling sharp edges will be an issue. These are equally suitable as cutting stock and as finished tile. Smooth out any sharp edges with a Diamond-Grit File. Product image shows 1/4 kg of material (.55 lb). This amount will cover roughly 4×4 inches (16 sq. in).
Pique Assiette Porcelain Flats
tile size: irregular shapes with some breakage
sales unit: 1/4 kg
thickness: roughly 5mm
material: porcelain
variety: glazed
pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Coverage
One bag of 1/4 kg will cover approximately 4×4 inches (16 in^2). Product photos show 1/4 kg.
Compatibility
These are slightly thicker than the glass tile we sell, and as such will be ideal if you are wanting your mosaic to have texture with tiles and regions that are a little higher than others. (Raised elements might present issues on a functional table top or floor, but for other decorative mosaics and art, texture and dimension are an easy way to add visual interest to your work).
Make borders around mosaic mirrors and mosaic pictures, or use as accents in mixed media mosaic artwork made from various types of tile. You can mix glass, porcelain, and stone tiles with souvenirs made of durable materials. Our Salvage Assortment includes a wide variety of tile shapes and materials.
Pique Assiette Mosaic Style
Pique assiette is a style of mosaic art traditionally incorporating broken china and found objects. It is a centuries-old folk art form of recycled art. See our Irregular Glazed Ceramic Tile for another ceramic option with a similar “broken” style.
MiniGee™ glass mosaic tile by Morjo™ are the MINI 10mm versions of our Lojee-Nojee™ glass tiles. These are a low-grain variety of vitreous glass with much fewer specks. Most colors have no specks at all. These tiles are sold loose by the quarter kilogram (8.5 ounces = approximately 375 pieces). They are UV resistant and factory certified for commercial exteriors, swimming pools, backsplashes, showers, murals, as well as art-&-craft projects like mosaic stepping stones. You can use these with other brands of 3/8 inch (10mm) vitreous. The red, orange, and yellow colors in our mini Morjo vitreous compliment the Lojee Nojee™ color palette quite well.
The backs of these glass mosaic tiles are embossed to help the cement or adhesive bond more securely. Except of 1 or 2 colors, the embossed pattern is the tic-tac-toe pattern most people prefer for ease of cutting. See photos. They are competitively priced yet suitable for fine art. Mounting grids are available.
MiniGee™ Low-Grain Glass Mosaic Tile 3/8-Inch
tile size: 3/8 inch (10mm
thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
sales unit: 8.5 ounces (approximately 375 tiles)
material: glass
variety: low-grain vitreous for fewer specks
pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Coverage
With a standard grout gap of approximately 1/32 inch, one bag of approximately 375 tiles will cover 0.48 square feet. Approximately 731 loose tiles are needed to cover 1 square foot using the standard grout gap. If you are not using a grout gap (not recommended for wet mosaics or mosaics subject to freezing precipitation), then you need about 930 tiles to cover each square foot, You can use our tile estimator to calculate how much you need for your project.
Compatibility
Tile thickness is 1/8 inch nominal, the same as most of the glass mosaic tile we sell, which means that these can be used with other types and brands. There are larger 20mm versions of these available (Logee Nogee), and many of the color names are the same, but do not assume that they will match exactly because our current inventory of each size often comes from different manufacturer batches.
Cutting Morjo 3/8-Inch Vitreous
We recommend using the wheel-blade Mosaic Glass Cutter we sell to cut all types of glass mosaic tile including vitreous. (Regular tile nippers are for ceramic tile, and they tend to crush glass tile.)
Note that there is a practical limit to how small they can be cut because the sides of the tiles are tapered, and small pieces tend to fall over. We cut halves and quarters and diagonal triangles but do not try to go small than that, at least most of the time. If you are making the fine details of your image and need to cut smaller, you can lean pieces against each other, but that can get tedious.
Using Vitreous in Mosaic Art
The Morjo™ brand is economical enough for use in craft projects, but it can also be used for fine art and murals. There are enough colors available in the brand itself to render sophisticated images, including naturalistic portraits and landscapes, and these can be combined with other brands of the same size.
This listing is for two tools – a ProControl Glass Cutter AND a Mosaic Tile Nipper
The Compound Nipper is our recommended tool for cutting extremely hard tile such as thick dinnerware, porcelain and certain varieties of stone. This nipper has a compound lever mechanism which multiplies the mechanical force of your hand three times more than conventional tile nippers, which enables you to cut harder materials with much less effort.
The nipper should not be used for glass tile because it crushes and splinters more glass than it cuts. For cutting glass mosaic tile, you should use the 
