Last Updated on July 26, 2021 by James
A wet tile saw has been made for a very specific set of work purpose, to cut tiles and some models cut pavers. The reason for this is that you have to grind the tile rather than actually cutting it, which requires a certain method. The edges of a blade in a tile saw is not as sharp as the blades that are used to cut through hardwood or metal. The edges of the blade in a tile saw is coated in diamonds so that it can easily grind the tile. This is also one reason why you cannot put the blade of a tile saw on your circular saw or your miter saw.
One interesting thing about a tile saw is that it can easily make use of water to cool the grinding action. The water is used to prevent the tile from cracking or breaking away because of external factors such as extreme heat which is caused by friction. This is why a tile saw is often referred to as a wet saw. Another great advantage of making use of a wet saw or a tile saw is that the dust that is gathered from the tile is captured by the water itself. We reviewed the top 3 in the industry to help you find the best one for your needs!
Benefits of Tile Saws
Tile saws are very useful tools for tile, stone and terrazzo cutting. They provide tile workers with the unique ability to cut intricate patterns into tile or stone materials and often at a much faster pace than by hand. Tile saws use special blades that are designed to slice tile instead of grinding tile.
There are two types of tile saw blade systems: an abrasive disc system (Dremel type) or diamond-impregnated wheels (Diamond Blade). The difference between these two systems is the material used in making the disc / wheel itself. Diamond blades are made with industrial diamonds set in a metal frame, while Dremel tile blades are made of aluminum oxide.
There is also the option of diamond tile saw blades without wheels. They are used primarily by tile technicians who need to cut tile on-site at the job site itself, and they can be considered as a hybrid between knife-grinding and tile blade cutting systems. One advantage of tile blades over manual nippers or tile nippers is that you can make multiple cuts on tiles before you have to replace it. Manual nipper or tile nipper use will reduce the overall life span of the tile because there will always be minor chipping during tile trimming. Because tile saws do not grind tiles but rather slides through tile, the tile life span will be more preserved and with tile saw blade sharpening you can make multiple cuts before tile blade replacement.
View the Best Tile Saw for the Money, Below.
#1. DeWALT D24000 1.5 Horsepower 10-inch Wet Tile Saw
Best Features
- It has a rubber top so as to prevent any kind of slipping or sliding.
- It weighs 69 pounds making it easy for a single person to port it and set it up.
- It has the huge cutting capacity with a 26-inch rip and 18 ⅜ inch diagonally 4200 RPM.
Powerful Design And Quick Cuts
Of all tile saws you come across, we can assure you without making a sales pitch that this Dewalt tile saw is by far the best tile saw option available and will assure you of quality. The process of cutting a tile is tedious but with this 15 AMP Dewalt tile saw, your task is assured to not be a difficult one. This powerful 1.5 horsepower motor lets its 10-inch diamond blade to cut through accurately and in a clean manner through any form of hard material including stones and porcelain. The Dewalt D24000 is one of the best tile saw options available for contractors and serious DIYers alike for any form of tile remodeling project.
This tile saw from Dewalt comes with a generous 3 ⅛ inch cut depth that allows the user to use the saw even when you are cutting a tile that has V-cap or pavers. It also has a versatile plunge feature that is used to make plunge cuts when you are trying to shape the pieces to accommodate electrical outlets, plumbing lines and a lot more.
Accurate Integrated Rail System
Tile saws are an investment when it comes to its sturdy stainless steel rail system this tile saw from Dewalt is designed to be integrated inside the frame of the tile saw so as to ensure that you make accurate cuts and maintain its durability. The cantilevering design of the rail and cart system of this tile saw gives you ripping capacity of up to 24 inches. It also allows for diagonal cuts when you work with tiles up to 18 inches, which makes it ideal for small as well as large tiling projects. The integrated miter feature of this tile saw is built inside the frame of the saw and it offers stop at both 45 degrees and 22.5 degrees. The uniqueness of the Dewalt D24000 is that the edge guide of this tile saw makes it really easy to line up the corner cuts.
Compact Convenient And Durable
The fact that this tile saw is portable and is lightweight weighing only 69 pounds along with a compact frame which measures 34 by 26 inches, you can very easily take it from one place to another or store it in any space or set it up as you like either in your workstation or home. In addition to this, if you wish to clean it up, the cutting cart, which is removable, will make cleaning this saw more convenient and quick. The Dewalt D24000 wet tile saw is 10 inches and it also comes with a warranty of three years, along with one-year free service contract and a 90 days money back guarantee. Although it is slightly more expensive it is worth being purchased for life.
#2. Chicago Electric 2.5 Horsepower 10” Industrial Tile/Brick Saw
Best Features
- The Chicago Electric 2.5 Horsepower tile saw comes with an adjustable cutting head that allows you to adjust the blade for cutting through standard tiles or bricks up to 3-½ inches.
- This tile saw has a cutting capacity of 24 inches.
- The head of the tile saw pivots allowing to make 22.5 degrees and 45 degrees bevel cuts.
Chicago Electric is an in-house power tool brand that is parented by Harbor Freight. Harbor Freight Tools as a brand is a discount tool retailer which was founded in the year 1977 and was originally dealing with as a mail order catalog service. Although Chicago Electric Power Tools is not a major brand as Dewalt or Bosch, it is still competent and powerful when it comes to this tile saw which can give many bigger brands a run for their money.
The Diamond In The Rough
This 10 inches tile saw from Chicago Electrics is the perfect example of searching for a diamond in the rough. It is known to operate just like any other tile saw but at 3 times the price. It does not have an ornamental look and you will not even find the brand doing upscale marketing about it but this tile saw is a steal deal. The two-position cutting head of the tile saw allows you to adjust the 10-inch blade everytime you want to cut a standard tile or brick which is up to 3-⅛ “ thick. This tile saw also comes up with an in-built 3 gallon per minute water pump which is detachable and easy to clean and comes with a high impact ABS water tub with a 45 degrees miter fixture.
Further, it comprises of a powerful 2.5 horsepower dual capacitor motor that has sealed bearings along with thermal overload protection. It can cut through tiles up to 18 inches long along with 12 inches diagonal cuts which has maximum depth of 3-⅛ inches. The Chicago Electric Tile Saw is built up with an oversized steel frame with a linear bar system that is designed to reduce vibration. Unlike most other kind of saws, this tile saw does not come with a blade so you have to buy it separately. It is a great option for those who cannot afford one from Dewalt or Bosch, and is ideal for home projects. If you are into serious DIY-ing or looking to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, this tile saw will not disappoint you.
#3. SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw With Hydrolock Water Containment System
Best Features
- This wet tile saw from SKIL comes with a Hydrolock Water Containment System that can keep the water contained near the blade that helps to reduce the clean-up time.
- There is also a sliding side extension that gives support to tiles up to 18 x 18 inches.
- The table top is made of aluminium and is durable and rust resistant in its surface.
Ideal For Home Renovating Project
Irrespective of whether you are updating and renovating, to add tiles to your kitchen or bathroom can get a lot easier with this 7-inches SKIL wet tile saw. The saw comes with a HyroLock system that allows you to keep water splash at a minimal level so that you can cut tiles in a room when they are being installed. You do not have to go back and forth to setting up the tile saw to cut the tiles as this tile saw from SKIL which comes with HydroLock system, helps you to complete your job faster. This 3550 tile saw comes with a 7-inch diamond blade which has continuous rim and helps you with efficient and accurate cutting.
Packed With Punch
It also comes with a durable aluminium table top which is rust resistant and a sliding side extension that can cut through tiles of 18 x 18 inches. Whatever be your next home remodel project, you do not need to think twice before buying this tile saw from SKIL. Compared to other tile saws this one is affordably priced and comes packed with a punch in terms of its quality. Basically the water capture is is good and you can make cuts with precision. In addition to that, the built-up of the tile saw is compact and sturdy and comes with a noticeable power. The guide bar also hasan indicator on both ends which makes it easy for to level out. The extension offers you greatness when cutting larger tiles. Setting up this tile saw is also pretty easy and will not take anything more than 20 minutes to get it ready. If you are budget conscious and not wanting to spend a lot on a tile saw yet looking for a good quality tile saw then go for this model from SKIL.
How To Cut Tile With A Tile Saw
1. Cover The Overspray
The one important factor about a tile saw or a wet saw is that it can get often get messy for you. Even though most of the dust accumulated is covered up with water, you would still require some amount of overspray behind the tile saw. So if you can, try placing a tarp or a piece of plastic behind the tile saw to cover the overspray.
2. Allow The Water To Flow
Another good tip to keep in mind is that before the water begins to move over the blade, wait for sometime and then begin to cut through the tile. If you do not do this, you might just end up making a crack or breaking the tile since the friction caused by the grinding (or cutting) will lead to extreme let out of heat and that too quickly.
3. Feed Rate
When you are using a tile saw to grind a tile, ensure that one of your hands is on the tile to prevent the tile from moving. The harder is the material of the tile, the slower will be the feed rate. So, in case you are cutting a soft stone such as a slate, the blade of the tile saw will cut through the tile with relative ease. But in case it is something as hard as porcelain, you will have to use a blade at a slower speed or else the tile will crack.
How To Make Difficult Cuts
In case you are cutting a tile that has a rounded edge, or have a corner that is difficult to navigate, make use of an angled cut method. You would most surely want to make multiple cuts at certain angles until you have enough pieces that can even be broken with your hands. Once these angled pieces are broken down, make use of a diamond blade to grind off the excess material of the tile.
Conclusion
When deciding upon a tile saw to purchase, ensure that you know what type of tile saw you want. Whether you want to use it for multiple projects, or for small home projects or for a professional contractors work. They can be a great asset and you will realise that the money you spend on a tile saw for getting your job done for your tile projects will be worth it. Tile saws do not come with the typical blades such as that of a circular saw or a miter. They mostly use a diamond blade to grind the tile. The reason why tile saws are called wet saws is because they use water to cool down the tile and the heat of the blade so as to keep the material from breaking away easily. If you have any further query on tile saw, write to us in the comment section below and we will answer you with details right away.
List of Best Tile Saw 2021
- DeWALT D24000 1.5 Horsepower 10-inch Wet Tile Saw
- Chicago Electric 2.5 Horsepower 10” Industrial Tile/Brick Saw
- SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw With Hydrolock Water Containment System
Summary
Looking for the best tile saw? Find one that fits your budget and needs with our detailed tile saw reviews and comparison charts.
