The Wet Tile Cutters Evaluation
If you are a passionate DIYer or a professional looking for the right tool to cut through tiles, the D24000 is the right choice for you. It comes with a stable cutting cart that ensures a consistent accuracy of 1/32-inch. As it features an integrated 45/22.5° miter, you can even take up quick angled cuts with it. It measures 24 inches in height, 29 inches in width, and 36 inches in length, so finding a place to set it up won’t be difficult as it boasts a decent footprint. The power cord measures 8 feet in length, eliminating the need for extension cords. Another pleasing aspect is that it features a rigid aluminum frame and arm, thus being built to withstand harsh worksite conditions and ensure alignment preservation for the blade and cart.
Performance
As it uses a powerful 1.5 HP motor, you can confidently rely on it to handle cutting through the toughest materials with ease. It provides a 24-inch ripping capacity and a 3-1/-inch cutting depth that makes it ideal even for professional use as you can handle pavers and V-cap tiles with it. If you are ever in need to make plunge cuts in order to shape the pieces you are working on, you will be glad to know that it accommodates them due to the existence of the plunge feature.
Integrated Rail System
Accuracy is what you need with the tool, and thanks to the integrated rail system it features, the DeWalt delivers when it comes down to this aspect. This system is made of stainless steel, and it in integrated right into the frame in order to ensure durability in addition to stability as you cut through tiles. Additionally, it boasts a cantilevering design that provides control even when you are cutting diagonally.
Mention Worthy Features and Specs
- Keeps the workspace clean by directing the water back into the tub with the help of its side and rear water extensions.
- Water spray is easy to minimize as the tool allows you the ability to adjust the water feed and the nozzle at the blade.
- Manufacturing company backs it with a 3-year warranty against defects.
Convenience in Use
Regardless if you plan on using it recreationally or professionally, convenience in use is an aspect of great importance that you cannot skip on. The compact frame it features measures 34 inches by 26 inches, allowing easy transport and storage. The cutting cart it comes with is removable, which means that you can get rid of it for easier storing of the tool. Furthermore, it features dual water nozzles that you can adjust so that messy over-spraying won’t occur to keep the workplace clean.
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CONS
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- Side and rear water extensions help keep the workspace clean
- Rigid build of the frame and arm ensures long lifespan even in tough jobsite conditions
- 2-position edge guide allows an easy line-up of corner cuts
- Stainless steel rail system ensures accurate, clean cuts
- Water pan has an impressive 5-gallon capacity, requiring for you to rarely empty it
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- Heavier when compared to our other selections
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With an imposing 4200 RPM rating, and utilizing a powerful 1.5 HP motor that puts to shame other tools, the D24000 is definitely the best selection to go for. Its quality is reflected in its pricing as well, so don’t be shocked by the more expensive price it comes at considering what it has to offer in exchange.
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The PCE980 is ideal for smooth cutting into stone, ceramic, and porcelain tiles, but it does an equally great job with glass, marble, and pavers. It features rubber foot pads that keep it in place when you are handling tiles, so safety in use is no issue to worry about. It comes with a slide tray which features water channels, helping keep the working surface clean and dry, and raising cut accuracy.
To keep you dry when working with it, it features an adjustable splash guard. It is equipped with a drain plug which drains water over a bucket quick so that a mess is not created. It comes with a roll cage that keeps the cutting cart safe during transportation and storage and makes it easy for you to carry the saw as well. Since we have mentioned the cutting cart, we should mention that it delivers a 17-inch cutting capacity, and it allows you to cut tiles that measure 12” by 12” on a diagonal.
In terms of accuracy, it is hard to surpass as it delivers a precision of 1/16-inch on cuts up to 12 inches long. Its on-board miter square helps increase accuracy when doing repeatable rip cuts, and it makes it easy to line up miter cuts, of course. Furthermore, it is backed by a lengthy 3-year warranty, which eliminates all worries regarding defective parts or manufacturing flaws as you won’t pay for repair or replacement costs in case an unfortunate event arises.
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CONS
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- High accuracy of 1/16-inch on cuts up to 12 inches long
- You can adjust the splash guars as needed to ensure you won’t get wet
- For safety and protection of the saw, the sliding table can be locked during transportation
- Water basin and drain plug help keep the workspace clean
- Easy transportation and cutting cart protection granted by the roll cage
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- Not the cheapest product in this niche
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Although it is not the cheapest acquisition you could make, the PCE980 is worth every cent as it provides you with smooth cutting of stone, ceramic, porcelain, and other tough materials. Feature-rich and focused on efficiency as well as the preservation of a clean working space, it is a tool every DIYer should own.
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What stands out the most about it is definitely the HydroLock system which keeps the water contained near the blade as the upper and lower guard design is specially thought up for this purpose. This reduces clean-up to a minimum, which is good news considering how messy a workshop can usually get. To keep you organized and your workspace neat, it also features a built-in cord wrap that not only ensures easy storage but safe transportation as well.
It provides flexibility for different types of cuts as it can bevel cuts at 0, 22.5, and 45 degrees. It features an aluminum tabletop which is rust-resistant and durable, so you can rest assured knowing that this is not an investment which will fail you soon. The sliding side extension it features can be used on either side of the saw, and it provides support for tiles measuring up to 18” by 18”.
Now, you will finally be able to enjoy accurate straight and miter cuts as it features an adjustable rip fence with miter gauge. For beginner DIYers, this is great news as control over the cutting process and accuracy are the two most important aspects to look into. It comes with a 7-inch diamond blade and it provides a maximum depth of cut of 3/4-inch. This might not be the biggest depth for a cut, but depending on the applications you intend to use it on, it should suffice.
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CONS
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- Provides total flexibility when it comes to cut types – bevel cuts at 0, 22.5, and 45 degrees
- Great for beginners due to the adjustable rip fence it comes with
- Built-in cord wrap makes it easy to store and transport it
- Weighs only 22 pounds – easy to carry and move
- With the help of the sliding side extension, it can support tiles up to 18” by 18”
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- Does not provide an impressive cutting depth
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The ease of use the Skil provides makes it especially great for beginners DIYers. Its adjustable rip fence ensures you will enjoy only accurate straight and miter cuts, while the HydroLock system keeps your workspace clean and neat so that you don’t waste time on cleaning up too much afterwards.
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The QEP was an obvious choice for our top as it smoothly cuts ceramic, stone, porcelain, and marble tiles due to its 3/4 HP motor. Sure, the motor is not as powerful as the ones other models feature, but it is sufficient for all the tasks you will take up. It features an interior water baffle which helps minimize water spray, thus not only keeping the workspace clean, as well as your clothes, but helping reduce refills.
It comes with an 8-inch extension table which you can attach to either side in order to be able to cut larger tiles. The 7-inch continuous rim diamond blade it features is positioned for cutting maximum depths of up to 1.25 inches. In order to ensure a higher versatility in use, the table tilts for 22.5 and 45-degree miter cuts. The aforementioned motor generates 3600 RPM, so even tough, demanding jobs will be made easy with it by your side.
It features rubber foot pads which add stability, ensuring the saw is kept safe throughout the duration of the job. Of course, we must not overlook the durable steel table and frame that ensure the product’s longevity as a whole. As it boasts a flat design, the table allows unlimited tile sizes for diagonal cuts and rips. Furthermore, it comes at a reasonable price considering the features it comes with and its overall durability, so for those who are on a budget it is a leading option.
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CONS
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- Comes with an 8-inch extension table that can be attached on either side
- Features an ingenious water recirculation system which keeps the working area clean and dry
- Reasonable price makes it one of the most affordable products on the market right now
- Locking adjustable angle makes accurate cuts easy
- The table tilts to 22.5 and 45 degrees to allow miter cuts
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- Could have provided a bigger maximum cutting depth
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Let’s face it, our possibilities differ when it comes down to finances, so it is quite refreshing to see that tool companies think about the “little guys” as well. The QEP is the ideal example of excellence at a cheap price as it provides you with a quality tool to use when cutting tiles, all without asking you to empty your pockets in order to purchase it.
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Another Skil entry which has managed to impress us from a lot of points of view, the 3540-02 is a more budget-friendly option to go with. Thus, if your budget is small but you want to make sure that the tool you use is still qualitative, this is your best pick. One of its most appealing traits is the wide range of cuts it allows you to perform with it as a result of the 0 to 45 degrees bevel angle range. Smooth and fast cutting is basically ensured with it due to the 7-inch diamond blade it features.
It features a powerful motor and provides a no load RPM of 3600, meaning that stone, masonry, and porcelain are materials it does not have difficulties cutting through. The adjustable rip fence it comes with allows you to fit the tile you want to cut perfectly for the resulting cut to be clean and natural. Furthermore, correct measurements and cuts are ensured each and every time you use it due to the miter gauge it comes with.
It comes with a corrosion-resistant stainless steel tabletop, which means that you can use it for years on end without worrying about wear signs appearing. An interesting feature of this tool is the blade cooling water reservoir which obviously keeps the blade cool, minimizing the build-up of dust and debris. When it comes to the warranty provided for it, the manufacturing company covers the product for 3 years from the date of purchase, which is more than enough.
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CONS
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- Best option for those who have a small budget set aside due to its cheap price
- Blade cooling water reservoir prolongs the lifespan of the blade and its cut quality by keeping it cool during use
- Bevel stops at 0° and 45°
- Precise measurements and cuts are granted by the adjustable rip fence it comes with
- Lengthy 3-year warranty ensures you won’t have to invest in repairs too soon
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- Not the most feature-rich product out there
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For those who are on a strict, limited budget, this Skil model is the go-to choice. It might not be the most feature-rich selection on its market, but it does provide clean and accurate cuts in tough materials, so there is nothing more that you could ask from it.
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Tips and Tricks to Keep in Mind
For more experienced users, these tools are not complicated at all. While we are not saying that a beginner might have a hard time understanding how to use the wet saw, what we are in fact saying is that a few tips regarding general safe use, proper handling, and a few tricks up the sleeve never hurt.
#1 – Safety comes ahead of everything else:
- While the amount of dust and debris released into the air is dramatically smaller when handling a wet saw as opposed to a dry one, the issue is not completely eliminated. Thus, if you are not wearing the right protective gear, that dust and debris will end up in your eyes, mouth, and nasal passages. Instead of putting your health at stake, you should put on safety goggles and armask to prevent the ingestion of these harmful particles and to avoid having cloudy vision.
#2 – Protect your hearing:
- Although you usually tend to forget about this step, when using tools which inevitably make noise – regardless of its amount – it is important for you to wear hearing protection. If you want to have some fun while tuning out the bothersome and potentially health-threatening noise produced by the power tool, you should wear a pair of noise cancelling headphones. They have the capability of blocking all external noise, allowing you to only hear your favorite music so that you may relax and have a good time while taking up DIY projects around the house.
#3 – The blade might be wet, but your hands don’t have to be wet too:
- As with all power tools, it is essential for you to make sure a proper handling is taking place. One of the first elements of proper handling is, obviously, keeping your hands dry. Just because it is a wet model doesn’t imply that it is alright for your hands to be wet when using it as well. If you don’t take care to follow this step, you could end up damaging crucial components of the tool, or even worse, electrocuting yourself.
#4 – Plunge cut for greater versatility:
- The ability to perform plunge cuts is one you will be greatly interested in as these cuts add a higher amount of versatility. What they allow you to do are holes for drains, vents, sockets, and so on. If you are the DIYer type, the plunge cut feature really comes in handy for projects you might want to take up around the house.
#5 – Check out the water tub from time to time:
- Frequent refills, while not necessarily deal breakers, can get quite annoying. For this reason, we recommend you look into a model that features a high volume capacity water tub, not having to tend to refill it all that often. Obviously, regardless of the tub’s capacity, you should still keep an eye on it, checking the tub from time to time so that you make sure a refill is not needed in the middle of you using the tool, which could otherwise inconvenience you as your flow will be interrupted.
#6 – Don’t use more force than necessary:
- One of the tendencies most people have is to use excessive force when pushing the tile through the blade. While this is most likely a mere reflex, it is one you have to get rid of as you might damage both the saw and the tile. As you use force when pushing it, you quicken the process of dulling the blade, and you also risk creating chips and cracks into the tile. How you should proceed is to use a secure yet gentle grip that won’t allow the tile to slip, but won’t cause the aforementioned damage either.
#7 – Always keep a first aid kit where you work:
- Accidents happen, and while most can be avoided if the person in cause simply pays a bit more attention to what he or she is doing, this is not the case all the time. Regardless of who is at fault or exactly what happens, what you must keep in mind is that safety comes before anything else. Even if you have all the protective gear we recommended previously on, it does not suffice as you could injure yourself more seriously. What you need for these unfortunate cases is a first aid kit that could help you stop the blood from gushing, bandaging yourself, and so on.
Wet or Dry – What is the Better Technique for Cutting Tiles?
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Wet saws
As the name suggests, wet cutting implies the use of water as an assistive agent for shaping and cutting thick tiles, metal, bricks, and so on. It is this specific design which makes it highly prolific for continuous cutting tasks, being less prone to overheating. The fact that water is involved in the process also implies that the work surface is a lot cleaner, a lot less dust being produced. However, there is a small detail to take into consideration with wet blades – they cannot be used dry! This is in complete discrepancy with dry blades, as they can be used wet. Of course, you should take into consideration the fact that some tiles boast better results when a wet model is used on them – for example, marble, granite, glass, and porcelain tiles.
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Dry saws
Better for small projects that aren’t very detailed, dry saws are preferred for minor repairs generally. For bigger and more complicated tasks, however, it is mandatory to employ a wet saw, so you can see why wet is better in this situation. But let’s not focus only on the negatives, as there are plenty of good sides to dry models as well. First of all, they are less expensive, so for those who don’t have a big budget to begin with, they are the better option. Secondly, considering the fact that they are not intended for big projects, they make for better companions to those who are occasional DIYers, who only do minor jobs around the house.
Which is better?
While if you draw the line and compare pros to cons for each cutting method, you will see that there is no major difference between dry and wet saws if it is mandatory to make a choice between the two, the one that wins is definitely the wet model. Great for indoor as well as outdoor use, it presents a more reliable, easier, cleaner, and beginner-friendly method to cut tiles. Thus, our focus on wet tile saws rather than dry models is easily understandable as, regardless of your specific cutting needs, the range of cost, and so on, they make for an obviously better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
?What size tile saw do I need?
The answer to this question depends on the purpose you intend for the tool. If you want to take up DIY projects at home, then a 7-inch model is more than enough. However, if you want to use it for a professional purpose, then it is wiser to opt for a 10-inch tile saw.
?What role does the splash guard fulfill?
An important feature for a wet saw to have, the splash guard acts as a barrier, preventing water from spraying you when you are utilizing the tool. Thus, if the saw has a splash guard, you are less likely to get wet when cutting tiles, not having your work process interrupted.
?What makes the wet technique so special?
Many experts agree on the fact that wet saws are better than classic tile saws as they keep the tile cool during the cutting process. Thus, it is less likely for any damage to be done to the tiles. Furthermore, when using the wet technique, a lot less dust is produced.
Any DIYer needs to have a complete set of tools at hand for any applications that might come up as time passes. When it comes to cutting tiles, there are two options you can select between – dry or wet saws. As we have debated previously, wet models have their undeniable set of advantages which makes them the more appealing choice. Just a quick glance over the features and specs of the DeWalt D24000 is more than enough to convince you that this is the tool you need. Its powerful 1.5 HP motor ensures a smooth cut in any type of tile material, while the 3-1/8” maximum cutting depth allows you to customize your cuts as you see fit.
For those in need of a more budget-friendly option, the Skil 3540-02 is the better option to go for. Not only is it better priced as it is one of the cheapest products in this niche, it doesn’t actually sacrifice quality to remain at this value. The blade cooling water system it features is more than enough proof that quality doesn’t always translate to big money, this feature making it stand out as it keeps the blade cool throughout the cutting process, all while minimizing dust and debris build-up.
