ceramic tile cutter

[roger g]

Has anybody tried one of those cheap (or reasonably cheap) electric tile cutters that look like a very small table saw with a diamond blade.Some come in what looks like a smalll suitcase and they cost under $100.00.
Also: what are the quality results of a "wet" or a "dry" saw.

roger

[Rich]

Definately want to use a wet saw.. I bought a small one from HD for a bathroom remodel - it cut 3/4" slate tile without any trouble.

[Cole]

Wet saw all the way, but please if you are going to do a lot of work, spend some extra money and " move on up."

Here is what I have and love it. It is probably a little out of your price range that you are wanting to spend.

[roger g]

But why wet? I've cut tile with a diamond blade on my angle grinder and I've put a small blade on my table saw which barely protruded enough to cut tile but it worked pretty good though using the angle grinder wasn't as neat as the table saw. I'm debating whether to continue to use my table saw but buy a bigger blade or whether to buy one of those little units but for years I have either nibbled, nibbled, nibbled, or cut dry I was wondering why they use wet. Is it just for dust or doesn't it make a noticeable better cut. Big thick tiles I can see wet but norminal stuff I don't know.

roger

[Cole]

It does make a better cut and it makes dust obsolete.

[roger g]

Okay, thanks.


roger

[Pokey]

I have used one of the smaller wet table saws quite a bit. they work well however i have to say that it is hard to make perfect cuts if you are laying tiles at an angle (diamond). If you are unable to use the fence you loose the line and have a hard time keeping the cut straight. I personally like a regular old score and break type cutter if you just using regular old ceramic tile. you don't have to go outside to cut any thing. Makes production quicker. i just use the table saw to make the cuts i cant make with the cutter.

[Dragon]

If you are unable to use the fence you loose the line and have a hard time keeping the cut straight.

Thats what you make a jig for.

Take a board and cut the angle you want on it. butt it to the fence (and clamp it to the table) and butt the tile to the board.

Voila, total control and dead on accuracy.

[Tom R]

'Wet-cutting' is a much faster and better cutting method than 'dry'.

Diamond blades are expensive and will last much longer with the steady stream of water keeping them 'cooled'.

The dust from dry cutting is very dangerous to breathe, - - enough of it can and will cause 'silicosis'.

The small tile saw you speak of (PlasPlugs?, - - or similar), - - is actually a handy little saw for small tiles (4 X 4, - - even 6 X 6), - - instead of 'spraying' the water, - - the water just sits inside the tub, - - high enough that the bottom of the blade is continuously 'immersed'.

As long as your installing a fairly smooth tile, - - the manual 'score-and-break' cutters are the most efficient, - - but even then you want the wet saw for notches and such.

Though they might seem a bit 'primitive' these days, - - 'rod' saws also work well for notches, - - it's a hardened 'carbide' wire that fits in a standard hacksaw handle.

For cutting circles, - - Roto-Zip's will generally cut (soft) wall tile OK, - - but are generally useless for (hard) floor tile cutting.

When I have to make small precision diagonal cuts and such, - - I stick my 12" diamond dry-cutting concrete cut-off saw blade in my metal cutting chop saw, - - and put on my mask.

I agree with Cole that the best wet saw out there is the 'Target'.

Hope that 'nips' some of your questions. :D

[roger g]

Tom, it wouldn't work on 12 inch tiles?
I've used the wire thingy and it works great on wall tile but I tried it on thicker floor tile and it didn't work well at all for some reason. I sawed and sawed until I was blue in the face and got nowhere and yet the wall tile went really fast. Intersting that the rotozip didn't work. I don't have one but I thought that it would have worked. The small blades that I used on my angle grider I used for going through stucco and found they worked for tile but being only 4.5 inches in diameter they just peek out enough to work on my table saw. I wouldn't do enough to warrant buying a 10 or 12 inch blade but I can sure dream.
Good info.


roger

[Tom R]

Yes, - - actually it will work on any size tile, - - but it puts kind of an unhealthy strain on it, - - it's an excellent little saw but at the same time, - - it is only made for 'light-duty' work.

Both the rod saw and the roto-zip blades are good for wall tile, - - but floor tile is made much (hotter) harder.

Yeah, - - and I'll also sometimes stick a 4" diamond blade in my angle grinder and 'free-hand' dry cut, - - for stuff like receptacle cut-outs that don't have to be that accurate.

I like tile work, - - but not enough to even let it near my 'prize' table saw!! :D

[Rich]

That's exactly what I have Tom - with the tub of water under the blade. Can't remember the name right now and it's stuffed in a sack.. bought at HD. I cut 12" slate with no problems at all. I don't think I would use it for any production work but for my little projects at home it works great.

[Tom R]

Yeah, Rich, - - you really can't beat it for the $99 it cost (about 6 years ago) - - mine is still running strong, - - but like you say, - - it's not for 'production-type' work.

I would highly recommend it as a great 'bang-for-your-buck' tool.