Why you should trust us
Before you proceed, we would like to introduce ourselves in brief so you can put your trust in us. The Drillly team consists of a group of professionals who have been working in the power tools sector for the past few decades. We’ve been closely monitoring the market and have the first-hand experience with the tools we review. That authenticates us as a credible reviewer.
What’s more, we run field-tests on each of our review units to get practical usage data on their performance and functionalities. We intensively study online community based genuine customer reviews to have better perspectives. We conduct interviews with industry experts and celebrated engineers and tool designers for using their invaluable insights which are reflected in our product choices.
Furthermore, we have no connection with any brand or manufacturer for product promotion. Instead, we stick to facts and maintain objectivity when writing our reviews. If you go through our reviews, you’d notice we don’t mince words. Please read our recommendations carefully to get a clear idea of the product.
How did we pick these products?
The picking process was divided into three stages. First, we ran a 30-hour extensive online research analyzing current market conditions. We found an ample amount of tile saw brands offering diverse types and features. After a series of comparisons among different models we primarily selected 25 saws with the highest number of positive user ratings and reviews.
Then we brought the saw units to our lab for an extensive field-test session. We applied them on different tile materials to monitor how they performed under various working conditions. Based on their cutting efficiency, smoothness, consistency, dust management, accuracy, motor capacity, ergonomics, and warranty policy we narrowed down our list to top 10.
The final stage involved the reevaluation of the former stages plus we reached out to the industry experts and leading engineers in the field for their valuable insights into our final list. They helped us rank our top choices according to certain categories that you will find in the following section.
Our top 10 Best Tile Saw
So, what is the best tile saw on the market? In the following section we’ve tried to answer that question. Spoiler alert, there’s no single best choice that would meet everyone’s requirements. Read carefully to pick yours.
What is a tile saw used for?
As the name implies, the very existence of a tile saw is to cut tiles super efficiently. These tools are designed in a way to keep the blade wet and lubricated by water unlike the circular saw and angle grinder that can also be used for the same purpose. This unique feature of water lubrication makes the tool stand out from the others. You can use them for all types of tiles in the world, including wood, ceramic, travertine, marble, porcelain, stone, granite, glass, mosaic and slate.
These tools are portable and contain spacious work surface for ease of use. They also contain lots of water serving to minimize dust particles spreading all over. So, they’re not only safe but also less messy.
They also cut through hard material smoothly if the blade is rightly chosen. Diamond blades are always better options for marbles, glass, and stones.
Since they are specifically designed for cutting hard slates into different shapes, positioning deck offers multiple cutting angles, so, shaping and joining tiles is a piece of cake. Being portable and often foldable, you would be able to move them around easily and stack them up in a small space when there’s a work break.
Tile saw: A comprehensive buying guide
Choosing a power tool has the biggest impact on a working project. A wrong tool can reduce work efficiency and finishing quality. They also consume more time. You wouldn’t want to use a less efficient tool for a project that deals with expensive materials. That could waste a lot of money. A right tool not only ensures fast and smooth results but also helps save money and the environment. Besides, hard tiles produce tons of dust that is not healthy if not properly housed by the machine. Make sure you wear protective glass and face mask before working with this machine.
Here are some vital points to keep in mind when planning to buy this tool.
1. Power
These are typical electric machines using simple motor mechanisms to rotate blades for getting cuts. The power of the motor plays a vital role here. However, you must not be fooled by the power of the motor of these machines. Because you will find models packing highly powerful motors but delivering a way less smooth finishing than comparatively those having less stronger motors. It’s mainly because of proper tuning, consistency in power delivery, torque-speed and building materials.
2. Cut quality and accuracy
The quality and accuracy of cuts depend on the matching of the cutting material and the quality of the blade being used. Also, the motor rotation speed and power decide how consistent the cut would be. Make sure you use diamond blades for consistent performance with all tile materials. The position of the blade matters here too. Continuous water flow ensures smoother cuts as water molecules wash away dust particles instantly.
3. Types
Tile saws can be primarily divided into two basic types—Wet and Dry.
1. Wet
In Wet category, the cutting blade is soaked with sufficient water for smoother and flawless cuts. Water keeps the blade cool and works as a lubricant. These models are simple to use and even a novice can achieve professional-level accuracy working with a wet machine. Water creates a dustfree working environment keeping the working space dustless and tolerable. Wet saws are of two types--- ones containing re-circulating pumps, the other ones don’t have pumps.
- Recirculating pump variety: These saws house water reservoir from which water is used and re-used upon filtering. So, you wouldn’t need to hook it up to a tap or faucet.
- Pump-less variety: These don’t have a reservoir of their own, so, a water source is required for constant fresh and clean water supply.
2. Dry
On the other hand, dry or waterless saws require skilled workers and they are mostly handheld. You’d need multiple pauses during work as the blade gets hot when making deeper cuts for some time. Make sure you use them outdoors as these will create a lot of mess.
3. Handheld
Handheld models are for lighter projects where the cutting materials are thin. They come very handy at times where mobility is necessary. There are both wet and dry hand held models available on the market. For the wet handheld models, you would need to attach a water hose to them.
4. Tabletop
Tabletop models are wet models where a table frame is used for convenient cutting. They offer a bigger working surface to put tiles for smooth and fast cuts. They can have a fixed blade, sliding tray or overhead rail designs.
- Fixed blade design: Here you would need to push the cutting material towards the blade.
- Sliding tray design: Sliding tray design has a built-in tray for putting your tiles on. It slides towards the blade.
- Overhead rail design: This model has a movable blade. So, you’d be rolling the blade on the tiles.
4. Blade type
Blades for these machines are of mainly 2 types-- Wet blades and Dry blades. As you can understand, wet blades are for wet saws and dry ones for dry saws. Wet blades are made of super sturdy materials often using diamond parts for cutting stones, marbles and glasses. On the other hand, the dry blades are comparatively less sturdy. Apart from round shapes, you'll find oval oscillating blades for oscillating tile cutters.
5. Blade capacity
This refers to the depth that the blade is able to reach when cutting. The standard blade (diamond) sizes are 7”, 8”, 10". There are smaller (4 inches) blades available for smaller machines.
- A 10-inch blade can go up to 2.6" of depth into the tiles
- On the other hand, the 7 inches diameter blade will be able to cut 1.5 inches deep
- The 8" blade should go up to 2"
Make sure you choose the top-quality blade for your saw. The smoothness of the cut depends a lot on the quality of the blades.
6. Feed Rate
Feed rate ensures the optimum circulation of the blade when in action. If you work on different tile materials, make sure you choose a machine that has an adjustable feed rate. For a single material, a fixed feed rate is preferable.
7. Portability
It’s a great feature to look for in a tile saw. Usually, it’s a heavy machine and requires a good amount of strength to drag around. Besides, we often require to move the machine in a convenient working space for you can’t move the entire pile of tiles easily. Well-known manufacturers tend to attach wheels for making them portable.
8. Versatility
Versatility refers to the spectrum of tile materials a single saw can cover. Professional-grade models are by default versatile in action. Versatility also refers to the features that allow different cutting angles and positions. A good model would let you cut different types of materials, but also, you’ll find multiple-angled cutting options.
9. Build quality
One of the vital points for any power tool is the build quality. These are heavy-duty equipment and are applied on rock solid materials. The build quality must be good. However, manufacturers often compromise on build quality in a bid to achieve a competitive price point. Make sure you take care of that.
10. Tile size
The size of the tile matters because it must be on par with the saw’s blade size and motor capacity. If the tile is more than 2.5 inches thicker, you’d need a minimum 10 inches blade. Also, shaping the tiles requires specific angled cuts. That can be attained only when you have an advanced model in hand that allows you to play around with your tiles using bevels and angular rails.
11. Water source
The source of your saw’s water feed largely depends on what type of saw you are using. Sliding table models have a built-in water reservoir underneath the working surface from which a pump will draw water to soak the blade. Make sure you check the water sprayer properly doing its job, or else the blade will get unnecessarily heated. We found lots of products housing poorly aimed jets that do a little to soak the blade.
For stationary models, the blade is positioned in the reservoir. The spinning blade will kick the water up, which again flows back to the reservoir beneath. That means the amount of water remains intact. There’s a high chance you are going to get wet when you use this type of saw.
12. Accurate Integrated Rail System
For precise cuts, you’d want an integrated rail system pre-installed in your saw. This would help you achieve the mobility of your cutting materials.
13. Drains
A drain system would help you conveniently get rid of water when the work is done. If you don’t have it with your package, chances are that you might face a lot of hassle draining water from the saw.
14. Side guide (adjustable)
Many models would have a fixed side guide. That means you wouldn’t be able to set a side-length for your working piece. This limits the working range. Make sure you have an adjustable side guide in your saw.
15. Side extension
A side extension will enable you to work on bigger tile sizes even when your saw is small. It would be wise to have side extensions with your machine.
16. Bevel
Bevel helps to achieve an angle or curved cut. When you require a rounded edge you would need a bevel to get that.
17. Protective casing
Protective casings are safety features. Although the blades are not sharp, you must ensure that your saw has a protective casing. This essential safety feature reduces work hazards and induces smooth operation.
18. Overheat guard
Like protective casing, overheat guard would ensure safety from overheating of your saw during operation. The machine usually houses a heat sensor that shuts off the motor if it hits a certain level of temperature.
19. Spare parts
It doesn’t matter if you spend a fortune to get the most expensive saw on the market, with time certain components will wear off. Cutting heads, splash guards and diamond blades are among the parts which need to be changed periodically. This is why buying products from renowned brands would ensure parts availability.
20. Warranty
Warranty policy must be considered before you proceed to purchase any power tool. Since you are investing a good amount for these products, you can always expect logical warranty coverage offered by manufacturers. Try to rely on known and trusted brands for optimum after-sales services and warranty coverage. However, this is not applicable in case you have rented one.
Few brands and popular models worth noting
Due to limited scope we couldn't add a lot more good products to our list. If you are interested in digging deeper into the industry, take a look at these names and their popular models: Ridgid (popular model- R4030, R4007), FloorCraft, Brutus (popular model--60010), Pearl, Ryobi (popular model-- TC401), Kobalt, Workforce® (popular model-- THD550, CTC550), HUSKY (popular model- THD950l, THD750l), FELKER, Husqvarna (popular model-- TS60, TS250X3), Rubi (DC 250 850), Lackmond (popular model- Beast 10), Target (popular model--Tilematic), IQ (popular model-- IQTS244), Goldblatt, Plasplugs, Bosch, IMER ( Combi 200, 250), Milwaukee, Superior Tile Cutter Inc., Delta, Makita (popular model: 4101RH), Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, Toolstation, Clarke (known for thier radial arm models), Titan, Scheppach, Sigma, Chicago Electric (popular model--40315, Chicago 7), Florcraft, and Hitachi.
Here are some products we also tested:
- MK-770 7-Inch
- QEP 83200Q 24" Bridge Tile Saw
- MK Diamond 151991 MK-101
- 110V Handheld Wood Ceramic Tile Cutter
Tile saw use and maintenance tips
Every power tool requires well maintenance for a lasting and consistent performance. For wet tile saws, cleaning is an essential part of maintenance. We’ll discuss several stages of the cleaning process. But before that, make sure you use proper eye and ear protective gear before working with this machine. A face mask will help you reduce inhaling of tile dust. Also, be aware that wet saws will splash a lot of water and you’ll get wet to a certain extent no matter how efficient your saw is.
- If your model has a water reservoir, drain the sludge out
- Cover up the motor
- Use a pressure washer for cleaning rest of the components
- You can remove the modular parts and clean them separately using detergent or any cleaner
- Put them right in place
- Let them dry and always maintain a cover on top of the machine if not used for quite a while
Final thoughts
We worked hard to give you a clear market picture of the tile saws. We chose the best tile saws from the market and put them on our list for you to decide the ones that suit you the most. We put the first 7 choices into distinct categories based on their special features as not everyone has the same requirements. You need to go through each of our product reviews carefully. Hopefully, you will be able to make the right choice.
FAQ's
1. How to cut a tile with a wet saw?
Ans: A wet tile saw usually comes with several cutting options e.g. plunge, bevel, and diagonal. First, fill up the water reservoir with the right amount of water. Put on your eye and ear protective gear. Beware that you’ll get wet once you start the blade. Then choose a recommended tile size and start cutting. Working tray has adjustable kits for fitting the workpiece. Use the help of lock-on button when working for long sessions. Measurement plays a big role here. Use a scale for that matter.
2. How to Cut Rocks with a Tile Saw?
Ans: Rocks usually have rough surfaces that need extra care when cutting. When you are working with little pieces, make sure you do the right measurement and markings on it. Then place it on the tray and slide towards the blade. Take time for a smooth finish.
3. What size Tile Saw do I Need?
Ans: The size of the tile saw depends on the nature and scale of your working project. If you have a gigantic project requiring thousands of square feets of tile sizing, well, get an industrial grade tile saw that has the biggest size due to heavy duty structure. For regular household bathroom and kitchen decoration you wouldn’t need more than a standard size. Often, if you are a skilled professional, you can use a handheld model to cover a couple of hundred square feet of wall and floor surfaces. So, it also depends on your working ability and how skillful you are.
4. How does a tile saw work?
Ans: A tile saw uses an inbuilt motor to spin a sturdy and blunt blade at a certain rotation speed. When tiles are in contact with the blade, the hardness of the moving blade surface slides through tile material. Water is poured onto the blade for keeping it cool and well lubricated while reducing dust generation simultaneously.
5. Can I use a regular saw to cut tile?
Ans: It would be a blunder to attempt to use regular saw because the blade used for tile saws are specially designed for cutting super hard materials. These blades are basically blunt and regular saw blades are sharp.
6. Can you use a wet tile saw without water?
Ans: Yes and no. You can definitely use these saws without water but not for long. At a certain period of time the blade will get very hot and cuts will not be smooth. Then again, there will be lots of mess coming out of powdered tile pieces.
7. Does a wet saw make dust?
Ans: A wet saw makes a limited amount of dust. Some saws are designed to limit the dust amount to a very high percentage. But it is not possible to manage dust 100% efficiently.
8. Which should I buy - Wet Tile Saw or Manual Tile Cutter?
Ans: This depends on what type of project you are working on. If you want a cutter that will perform reliably without limitations for hard tile materials and will be able to perform complicated angled cuts at any volume, and you have a good budget for it, you may go for a wet model. For projects involving soft tile materials, cuttings are mostly straight and simple, get a manual one as they’ll save a lot of money. But you need a bit of skill for using the manual cutter.
9. What material can a wet tile saw cut?
Ans: Wet tile saws are powerful machines and should handle most tile materials. But for the budget models, the harder spectrum of tiles may not be fit for them. Usually, a standard saw should get away with most types of hard materials including glass and marbles.
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