| A wet tile saw cuts tiles made of ceramic, leaving a | | | | The blade remains stationary as the tile moves |
| clean, smooth edge. A tile setter needs to trim tiles | | | | through -- but the blade must stay wet. Because of |
| at the installation site to fit the edges of a room or | | | | this, a water pump pulls water from a reservoir and |
| create inventive designs. A table-mounted, portable | | | | sends into across the blade before the water is |
| wet tile saw allows her to cut tile as they are | | | | recycled. |
| needed to exact specifications. The saw combines a | | | | A motorized wet saw uses a diamond-cutting blade. |
| circular blade, similar to a wood table saw, with a | | | | The blade stays stationary while you move the tile |
| water pump and hose to constantly drench the | | | | through it. The blade needs to stay wet throughout |
| cutting area with water to reduce friction and cool | | | | the process. A water pump pulls water from the |
| the surface. | | | | water pond below the blade and sends it across the |
| Since tiles are so thick, brittle, and made of ceramic, | | | | blade. The water falls back into the pond and is |
| a special saw must be used. An ordinary circular saw | | | | recycled. The pond must be cleaned every so often |
| for wood or metal would either break the tile or get | | | | to keep the system from becoming clogged. A |
| so hot that it would seize up and stop cutting. | | | | carriage system moves the tile past the blade. It can |
| However, ceramic tile is not cut well with sharp | | | | be adjusted to fit the size of the tile. |
| blades. The wet tile saw was invented to address all | | | | If you are replacing your kitchen countertop on the |
| these unique properties of ceramic. It doesn't | | | | top of the materials listwill be a Tile saw. If you |
| overheat, uses a relatively dull blade with no | | | | consider the price to just rent one at either of these |
| serrations, and can be transported to a job site and | | | | places (about $50 per day), you would have to be a |
| set up on top of an existing table or sawhorses. | | | | fool not to buy one, especially if you will be doing |
| A manual tile cutter can be tedious when working | | | | other projects where one might come in handy. You |
| with a larger quantity of tile. The manual model has a | | | | will also need a rafter square, a notched trowel or |
| round cutter that rolls along the tile, scoring it as you | | | | spreader, a level and a sponge. Grout float, tape |
| push the handle downward. The kickstand pops up | | | | measure and rubber hammer, grout sealer (you can |
| and pops the tile in two pieces as you apply pressure. | | | | buy grout with this already mixed in), and tile spacers |
| A motorized wet saw, however, features a diamond | | | | if needed. |
| cutting blade and makes quick work of cutting tiles. | | | | |