It is easy to mount a mosaic nipper to a scrap piece of plywood and extend the handle with a short piece of conduit or pipe. Extending the handle in this way provides mechanical advantage to the nipper so that much less downward force on the extended handle is required to cut a hard piece of stone or porcelain.
In this example, I mounted a Compound Nipper, which is the recommended hand tool for cutting hard mosaic materials, although a regular Tile Nipper could have been used. A mosaic glass cutter should be substituted for glass tile. A materials list for building this assembly is at the bottom of the page.
1.5-Inch U-bolts

1-Inch Conduit or Pipe

C-Clamps

Scrap Plywood

Use Caution Around Jaws

Collection Pan

List of Materials
You can mount your own mosaic tile nipper using these materials:
- 1x mosaic nipper
- 1x scrap plywood 1/2 inch or thicker, roughly 18 inches by roughly 6+ inches
- 2x U-bolts 1.5 inches wide
- 2x C-clamps (optional)
- 1x conduit or pipe, roughly 18 inches long, inner diameter larger than handle
- 1x roll of electrical tape (if you need to pad your handle to get pipe to be snug)
- 1x cardboard box or plastic pan to collect usable materials and cutting waste
Easier Cutting
It is easier to cut up 4 or 5 tiles and pick the piece that works best than it is to try to trim a piece down to size. The rejected pieces can be used elsewhere in the mosaic.
10 responses to “How To Mount A Mosaic Tile Nipper For Easier Cutting”
Great tip, that will make the job so much easier, Thanks
Great idea for us arthritic mosaic artists! Thank you!
Excelente idea. ????
My hands thank you for this idea!
I made this am so grateful for the great instructions! One thing I missed at the first trip to the store was a drill bit the same diameter of the ends of the u-bolt (d’oh!) Otherwise, putting this together was perfect. Thank you!!!!!
You could also turn it around so the jaws are over the table, and if your hands are really bad attach a loop for your foot to pull down instead.
Se podrá recibir información en español ??. Me seria sumamente útil !! Muchas gracias !!
Ola Lilian!
Google tiene un botón para “traducir esta página”.
Gracias!
Joe
Have you come up with any ideas for wheeled glass cutters for arthritic hands? I thought I had seen a diy hack a few years back but haven’t found it again. My hands are killing me, but I love mosaics too much to stop!
The system described in this article could also be used for the Wheeled Mosaic Glass Cutter that we sell. Thanks!