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