Wet Tile Saw

Cutting tiles with accuracy seems almost impossible without chipping or breaking them a little. However, when you are in the middle of an important DIY project, the last thing you want is for the tiling you bought to suffer damage, or for the task itself to take an absurd amount of time. This is where wet tile cutters come in, presenting an opportunity for DIY home renovation passionate people to finish the tiling section in a professional manner – with clean cuts and almost zero effort involved.

Top 5 Wet Tile Saws Comparison

	1. DeWalt D24000	2. Porter-Cable PCE980	3. Skil 3550-02	4. QEP 22650Q 650XT	5. Skil 3540-02
	BEST MODEL		OUR CHOICE		BEST PRICE
Specifications
General Info
Manufacturer	DeWalt	Porter-Cable	Skil	QEP	Skil
Type	Corded	Tabletop	Fixed	Tabletop	Corded
Weight	69 Lbs	27 Lbs	22 Lbs	19.2 Lbs	18 Lbs
Cord Length	8′	6′	6′	5′	N/A
Amperage	15 Amps	6.5 Amps	5 Amps	4.8 Amps	4.2 Amps
Voltage	120V	120V	120V	120V	120V
Dimensions
Height	24″	N/A	15″	10″	N/A
Width	29″	21″	17″	20″	13.25″
Length	36″	21″	21″	15.8″	14″
Performance&Other Specs
Arbor Size	5/8″	5/8″	5/8″	5/8″	5/8″
Blade Diameter	10″	7″	7″	7″	7″
Diagonal Cut Capacity	18″	17″	N/A	Unlimited	7.25″
Maximum Depth of Cut	3-1/8″	1.25″	3/4″	1.25″	1-3/8″
Maximum Rip Capacity	25″	17.5″	18″	Unlimited	12″
RPM	4200	2850	3600	3600	3600
Horsepower	1.5 HP	1.0 HP	1.0 HP	3/4 HP	N/A
Cuts Through
Ceramic
Stone
Porcelain
Pavers
Marble
Features
Plunge
Onboard Miter Square
Splash Guard
Bevel Cuts	0° – 45°	0° – 45°	0° – 45°	0° – 45°	0° – 45°
Bevel Stops	0°, 45°	0°, 45°	0°, 45°	0°, 45°	0°, 45°
Other Features
	Adjustable Dual Water Nozzles	Roll Cage	HydroLock System	Interior Water Baffle	Adjustable Rip Fence
	Cantilevering Rail/Cart System	Stainless Steel Fixed Deck	Built-In Cord Wrap	Locking Adjustable Angle	Blade Cooling Water Reservoir
	Integrated 45°/22.5° Miter	Drain Plug	Adjustable Rip Fence	Rip Guides
	Rubber Foot Pads	Adjustable Rear Fence		Rubber Foot Pads
Included
	Rear Water Tray	7″ Porcelain Tile Blade	Side Extension	45° Angle Guide	Blade Guard
	10″ Porcelain Tile Blade	Blade Wrench	Rip Fence	Blade Guard	Blade Wrench
	Cutting Cart Side Extension	Miter Square	Miter Gauge	Rip Guides	7″ Diamond Blade
	Submersible Pump	Cast-Metal Cutting Cart	Blade Guard	Rear Extension Table
	Angle/Rip Guide	Blade Guard	Blade Wrench
	Blade Wrench
	Hex Wrench
Warranty&Support
Product Warranty	3 Years	3 Years	3 Years	1 Year	3 Years
User Manual
Customer Support
Telephone Support	(800) 433-9258	(731) 660-5986	1-877-754-5999	(866) 435-8665	1-877-754-5999
E-Mail Support	support.dewalt @sbdinc.com	support.porter-cable @sbdinc.com
Online Chat Support
Test Results
Cutting Ceramic	100 / 100	100 / 100	100 / 100	99 / 100	99 / 100
Cutting Stone	100 / 100	98 / 100	97 / 100	97 / 100	97 / 100
Cutting Porcelain	100 / 100	100 / 100	98 / 100	98 / 100	97 / 100
Cutting Pavers	100 / 100	99 / 100	100 / 100	99 / 100	99 / 100
Cutting Marble	100 / 100	99 / 100	99 / 100	98 / 100	96 / 100

The Wet Tile Cutters Evaluation

1. DeWalt D24000

As it provides a consistent accuracy to within 1/32” over 18”, the D24000 was a no-brainer as our number 1 pick. It might be a bit heavier when compared to our other selections, but this is not necessarily a negative aspect considering the quality of its cuts. Its normal maximum rip capacity is 25”, but when the plunge is involved, it raises to 28”. It can cut an 18” by 18” tile at tops on a diagonal.

The rigid aluminium arm and frame it features are built to last in the tough conditions of the jobsite, maintaining alignment regardless of circumstances. It features a powerful 1.5 HP motor which enables it to cut through an array of tiles, including glass, dense porcelain, stone, granite, and marble. In order to minimize water spray and keep you dry throughout the entire tile cutting process, it boasts the ability to adjust the water feed of the pump and the nozzle at the blade.

For your convenience, it features an on-board storage where you can place the blade wrench, the hex wrench, the side extension, and the miter gauge. It features side and rear water extensions which serve the purpose of directing the water back into the tub in order to keep your workspace, as well as the surrounding areas, dry and clean. Alongside all of these features and so many other uplifting traits, it is backed by a 3-year warranty, and it can be returned to the manufacturing company with the promise of a full refund as long as it is not defective during he first 90 days since the purchase date.

PROS	CONS
Side and rear water extensions helps keep the workspace clean	Heavier when compared to our other selections
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
VERDICT
With an imposing 4200 RPM rating, and utilizing a powerful 1.5 HP motor that puts to shame other tile saws, 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.

2. Porter-Cable PCE980

A 7-inch wet saw which utilizes a powerful 1.0 horsepower motor, 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 which 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.

PROS	CONS
High accuracy of 1/16-inch on cuts up to 12 inches long	Not the cheapest product in this niche
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
VERDICT
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 material tiles. Feature-rich and focused on efficiency as well as the preservation of a clean working space, it is a tool every DIYer should own.

3. Skil 3550-02

What stands out the most about this wet saw 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 cut tiles at 0, 22.5, and 45 degrees. It features an aluminium 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.

PROS	CONS
provides total flexibility when it comes to cut types – bevel cuts tiles at 0, 22.5, and 45 degrees	Does not provide an impressive cutting depth
Great for beginners due to the adjustable rip fence it comes with
Built-in cord wrap makes it easy to store and transport the wet saw
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”
VERDICT
The ease of use this Skil wet saw 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.

4. QEP 22650Q 650XT

The QEP wet saw 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 saws 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.

PROS	CONS
Comes with an 8-inch extension table that can be attached on either side	Could have provided a bigger maximum cutting depth
The table tilts to 22.5 and 45 degrees to allow miter cuts
Features an ingenious water recirculation system which keeps the working area clean and dry
Locking adjustable angle makes accurate cuts easy
Reasonable price makes it one of the most affordable wet saws on the market right now
VERDICT
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. This QEP wet saw 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.

5. Skil 3540-02

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 tile cutting 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 tile types 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.

PROS	CONS
Best option for those who have a small budget set aside due to its cheap price	Not the most feature-rich wet saw out there
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
VERDICT
For those who are on a strict, limited budget, this Skil wet saw 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 material tiles, so there is nothing more that you could ask from it.

Tips and Tricks to Keep in Mind

For more experienced users, tile saws 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 saw 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 when tile cutting. 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 tile saw which 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?

• 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 saw is used on them – for example, marble tiles, granite tiles, glass tiles, and porcelain tiles.

• 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 saws as well. First of all, they are less expensive, so for those who don’t have a big budget to begin with, dry saws are the better option. Secondly, considering the fact that they are not intended for big projects, dry saws 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 saw. 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, wet saws make for an obviously better choice.

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 saws 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 tile cutting tool, 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.