A rigid tile saw is a tool that may live in the corner of the garage until a person decide to undertake a renovation of they bathroom. When a person does undertake a renovation of their bathroom, the rigid tile saw becomes the most important machine that they own in their house. Should a person purchase the correct type of rigid tile saw, the weekend frustration will be replaced with a renovated bathroom that looks professionally to the members of the household.
Should a person, however, purchase the wrong type of rigid tile saw, they will encounter cracked tile, waste materials, and the regrettable feeling of having purchased a tool that is unable to perform its vital task. There are a variety of rigid tile saw models on the market for people to consider and select. Many wet saws may look the same from a distance, but there are some difference between those saws that will allow a person to select the right tool for their home and their work projects.
The different rigid tile saw models can be found on the market, and each includes features that is worth knowing about the saws. These models can be arranged from the most commonly used rigid saw in the home to the more sophisticated models that are used for commercial projects. Each saw will have a specific use, and avoiding the purchase of a rigid tile saw that is either too large or too small for the tasks that will be performed will allow a person to purchase a saw that is appropriate for their home.
Different Types of Rigid Tile Saws to Consider
1. Compact Portable Rigid Tile Saw
The first type of saw to consider is the compact portable rigid tile saw. These saws are the most common among weekend warriors that undertake only one or two renovation project each year in their home. These saws are not making any major compromise in their design.
They typically will weigh around forty pounds, they will be foldable for transport, they will have the power to cut through porcelain and natural stone, and they will feature an integrated water tray. This water tray is critical to keeping the blade of the saw cool; hot blades will chip the edges of the ceramic or stone material and work quickly to reach the end of their life. These compact portable saws also feature a sliding extension table that allows for the handling of 24-inch tiles without the need to purchase a second saw.
These saws also feature a rip fence that lock into place to allow for consistent cuts. These saws are not the best for large floor projects, but they will perform well for a single bathroom or kitchen backsplash. The cutting speed of the saw on thick materials may be relatively slow, but it will not be an issue for those that use the saw only occasionally.
2. Bridge Style Rigid Tile Saw
The second saw model is the bridge-style rigid tile saw. These saws are most common for those that perform a high volume of cutting projects for their homes or for their commercial locations. These saws typically have large table that can handle 36-inch tiles.
Additionally, the motor that powers the saw ride on a heavy overhead bridge, which prevents the saw from making wandering cuts that are common on less expensive saws. Furthermore, once the saw is set at 45 degrees with the rip fence, the bevel will remain at that angle for the duration of the project. Additionally, bridge-style saws include a pump system that will recirculate the water used in the saw.
This ensures that the saw will always be flooded with water during the projects, which will result in noticeably better cut edges. Less chipping of the tiles will save a person the need to sand the edges with an edge sander, and it will also save them money due to the reduction in the chance that they will need to throw away the broken tiles. The drawbacks of bridge-style saws are that they is heavy and not easily transported.
These saws are for professionals or for individuals that perform many renovation projects in their homes each year. These saws can appear to be too large for one or two renovation projects, but the precision with which they cut do become very noticeable when using these tools.
3. Plunge Cut Rigid Tile Saw
Another saw model is the plunge-cut rigid tile saw. These saws are most useful in projects that include many electrical outlet, many light switches, or any projects that may feature any curved notches in the tiles that are to be cut. These saws allow for the blade to be lowered into the tile without having to slide the tile under the blade. The plunge-cut rigid tile saw can act as a miniature radial arm saw.
These saws allow for a cut to be made in the middle of a tile rather than having to cut along the edge of the tile. This feature is very helpful when cutting around plumbing fixture or recessed lighting. The plunge-cut saw offers the most control over the cutting of the tiles once they have become familiar with the saw.
The blade can be eased into the cut, stopped at a certain depth, and easily removed from the tile without causing the ceramic or stone to shift. Additionally, the saw will have the same 45-degree features and tables as the standard rigid tile saw. These saws can be used as the main cutting tool for all projects.
The only major drawback to the plunge-cut saw is the learning curve. Because the saw requires a lighter touch on the tiles than the other saw models, it is likely that the first few tiles will be discarded until the user has become familiar with the saw.
4. Variable Speed Rigid Tile Saw
The next saw model to consider is the variable-speed rigid tile saw. These saws are of great importance to those that work with historical homes or homes with delicate tiles, such as marble or glass. The blades on these saws have the ability to be set to a speed of around 1800 rpm, which is slow enough to allow the diamond on the saw blade to work without generating the heat that may damage the more delicate tile materials. The edges that these saws cut are smooth, which saves time and money in sanding those edge.
Additionally, the saws have the power to control speed and motor strength at the same time, which allows for the saws to offer fine control over the cutting process. The trade-off for the features that is provided by these saws is the price of the saw. These saws will cost more money up front, but they will pay for themselves if they are used for cutting natural stone or glass mosaic sheet.
Furthermore, they will pay for themselves because they will save money on the cutting materials that will not be ruined during the sawing process, and they will save money on the frustration that commonly results from cutting delicate materials with conventional saws. Many people will experience the frustration of purchasing a variable-speed rigid tile saw after they have already ruined a few hundred dollar worth of delicate tiles.
5. Heavy Duty Commercial Rigid Tile Saw
Finally, there are the heavy-duty commercial rigid tile saws. These saws are for contractors that must cut tiles for full house or commercial locations. These saws have massive tables, powerful motor, and oversized water reservoirs. The oversized water reservoir allow them to cut all morning without having to refill the water.
Additionally, the blade guard and splash skirts around these saws are made to keep the workspace dry during use. This is helpful for those that use the saws for eight hour per day. Furthermore, the accuracy of the miter gauge and stops on the commercial saws allow for setting a measurement for intricate projects.
For instance, a person can set a measurement for the number of inches that a tile should be cut to match another tile, and all of the tiles will cut to that measure. These saws will not require any rechecking. The major drawback with commercial saws is that they contain all of the feature that are necessary for contractors, but they may be more than what is needed by the average homeowner.
These saws take up alot of space, and they are costly to purchase. However, should a person desire to make tiling one of their living skill, these commercial saws will save time and money.
6. Tile Saw Blades
Finally, the importance of the blade that is used within each of the saws should not be overlooked. Blades that are segmented and have diamond will allow for the cutting of porcelain quickly. However, the edges will be slightly rougher compared to other blades. Blades that are continuous-rim will be slower with the cutting process, but they will create the cleanest line possible with glazed ceramic and stone material.
Most experienced tilers will have both type of blades in their workshop at any given time. The rigid saw blade is, therefore, only as good as the blade that is placed within each saw.
