If there is one home renovation project you are most likely to be tempted to outsource to the experts, it is anything having to do with your bathroom or kitchen counters. Who wants to go through such a tedious process as cutting tile?
But tile saws can completely change the tile redo game – read on to find out how using a tile saw could actually end up saving you money in the end.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Tile Saws
- OUR TOP PICK: DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw
- DEWALT DWC860W 4-3/8-Inch Wet/Dry Masonry Saw
Comparison of the Best Tile Saws
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How to Choose a Tile Saw
Here are two key things to keep in mind while reading through this review:
Versatility
Yeah, you are mainly going to be using your saw for cutting – we already guessed it – tile. But we are willing to bet that as soon as you see how effective your tile saw is, you are going to want to use it on all the home renovation projects. You will want a saw that won’t just cut through tile, but also stone, plaster, brick, pavers – you name it.
Messiness
Wet tile saws do have one serious drawback in that there is a lot of water spray produced when using them. However, there are a variety of models of wet tile saws that take steps to counteract this effect, such as splash guards. You may want to look for features like this if you are sick of mopping up your garage’s floor.
Review of the Best Tile Saws
Now that you know a bit more about what makes a good tile saw, check out some of the most outstanding tile saw models:
Best Overall:
DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand
PROS
CONS
The DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand is a beast of a saw that will serve you well no matter what you ask of it. This saw is endorsed by people who work with tiles on a professional basis. It is well made, of high quality material, and it is durable enough to stand up to hundreds and hundreds of cuts and still function just as well as it did straight out of the box.
It makes precise, accurate, clean cuts that will look as though they have been made by a laser or at the very least by a professional tile cutter. It also has a number of features that make using this saw more convenient than other models: the rubber on the sled works well as a stop even though that is not its primary purpose, it is quick to set up (usually takes users only about twenty minutes), and it comes with a sturdy stand that folds up easily. This saw is a monster and will revolutionize your world of Do It Yourself projects.
Bottom Line
The DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-Inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand is a fantastic tile saw that will do all you ask of it and more. The only drawback is that the user manual is not particularly user-friendly.
Best Wet Tile Saw:
SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw
PROS
CONS
The SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw is an excellent saw for cutting all kinds of materials, not just tile. It makes clean cuts as easily as though it is cutting through butter, whether you are working on tile, or stone, or even stone that is thicker than the recommended use – this saw can do it all!
The top is made of stainless steel and is as smooth as can be. It comes with an adjustable fence that is simple to figure out and stays secure no matter how hard you press against it. The whole thing is durable and made out of high quality material. You would be hard pressed to find a tile saw that will be able to cut more things for you than the SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw.
Bottom Line
The SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw is a great choice in tile saws as it can chomp through pretty much anything you throw at it. It is slightly messier than some of the other saws on this list, though, so make sure you are ready with some towels to clean up when your job is done.
Best Wet Tile Saw Under $300:
DEWALT DWC860W 4-3/8-Inch Wet/Dry Masonry Saw
PROS
CONS
We are willing to bet you probably were not expecting the “Best Wet Tile Saw Under $300” to go to a DEWALT, were you? Believe it! The reliable DEWALT brand is available at a stunningly low price in the DEWALT DWC860W 4-3/8-Inch Wet-Dry Masonry Saw.
This saw has all of the qualities of a top of the line tile saw, but at a bottom of the line price. And yet, because it is a DEWALT, you know you can trust it. It lives up to the DEWALT name, with its fantastic design and high quality material. This saw can cut through a broad range of materials with ease.
Users report it slicing and dicing through tile, cement, marble, granite, roofing tile, patio pavers, quartzite, plaster, sheet metal, patio brick, stucco, bluestone, and concrete. If you want a saw that can do it all, you will not go wrong with the DEWALT DWC860W $-3/8-Inch Wet/Dry Masonry Saw.
Bottom Line
The DEWALT DWC860W 4-3/8-Inch Wet-Dry Masonry Saw is an ideal tile saw for cutting through pretty much any material you could ever imagine. The only part of this saw that feels cheaply made is the water fitting.
Best Tile Saw for the Money:
SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw with HydroLock Water Containment System
PROS
CONS
The SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw with HydroLock Water Containment System is probably the easiest to use and most accessible saw on this entire list – not even to speak of its incredible value for the price! If you are a beginner to the art of tile work or even someone who is completely new to the process of tile cutting, this is the saw for you. It is quick and simple to set up and even easier to use.
This model cuts through a wide variety of material, including tile, porcelain, granite, and glass (though you will need to purchase an additional blade with a diamond edge in order to really cut through glass properly). Its blade guard is probably the best out of all of the saws on this list, so you will never have to worry about getting splashed or water going everywhere. There is not much to dislike about this saw.
Bottom Line
The SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw with HydroLock Water Containment System is a fantastic tile saw that is simple and easy to use. Its only drawback is the flimsy quality of its gate, but that can be reinforced with hand clamps and made more sturdy.
Best Professional Tile Saw:
Husqvarna Husqvarna 967181002 K760 II 14-inch Gas Cut-Off Saw
PROS
CONS
If you make your living by slicing through a wide range of material and building it all back up, the Husqvarna Husqvarna 967181002 K760 II 14-inch Gas Cut-Off Saw is for you. You need a saw that is going to be easy on your body but tough on whatever its teeth are chomping through, and this Husqvarna does it. This thing feels as light as a feather when you compare it to some of the other saws on the market.
But do not let its lighter weight fool you – this saw is a beast! It can chew through pretty much anything: concrete, steel beams, cinder blocks, brick, you name it, and this saw can get it done. This saw is endorsed by construction professionals and for good reason: if you need a saw that can stand up to daily use and still bite just as hard as when you first take it out of the box, you need to go with this Husqvarna.
Bottom Line
The Husqvarna Husqvarna 967181002 K760 II 14-inch Gas Cut-Off Saw is a hungry little saw that will be tough on cutting and easy on your back. You may need some patience when first starting it up, though, as it can be a little touchy on its first run.
Best Tile Saw for Homeowners:
Porter Cable PCC780LA 20V MAX 7” Sliding Table Top Wet Tile Saw
PROS
CONS
Forget being a construction professional – what if you are just a weekend warrior? If you are a homeowner that would rather spend some time paying a professional to do your renovations when you could just as easily do it yourself with a nice tool, the Porter Cable PCC780LA 20V MAX 7” Sliding Table Top Wet Tile Saw is the nice tool you need.
A lot of the other saws on this list, and any tile saw that is primarily designed for commercial use, is going to be pretty messy when it comes to the water splashing around. And why would they not – you are mostly going to be using those kinds of saws outside!
But this Porter Cable saw is actually clean enough that if you did not have any workshop space at all, you could use it inside your house and not have to worry about making an unmanageable mess. And that is not its only awesome quality. It easily cuts through a bunch of different kinds of materials and also happens to be cordless, which is a true convenience factor.
Bottom Line
The Porter Cable PCC780LA 20V MAX 7” Sliding Table Top Wet Tile Saw is a great saw that cuts through renovation materials easily without making any kind of mess. It does eat up batteries, though, so make sure you have some extra on hand.
Conclusion
Yeah, home renovation projects involving tile might not be the most fun thing in the world. But working with a good tile saw can certainly make them far more appealing, especially in that they are done more quickly and less expensively than if you outsourced the labor out! Invest in a good tile saw today and never fear a bathroom redo project again.
People Also Ask
What is a Tile Saw?
A tile saw, quite simply, is a saw that is specifically designed for cutting tile. There are multiple types of tile saws, both wet and dry, and they have different purposes and different reasons for using them.
What is a Tile Saw Best Used For?
Contrary to its name, a tile saw is not just for cutting tile. Yes, most tile saws are more efficient at cutting tiles than at cutting other things, but there are plenty of tile saws (particularly on this list) that are excellent at cutting brick, plaster, pavers, stone, you name it!
What is the Best Tile Saw?
The best tile saw, as mentioned above, is the DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-Inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand. It comes with its own stand, it is easy to operate, it slices and dices through a wide range of different material, and it is as precise as if you are making cuts with a laser.
What is a Wet Tile Saw?
A wet tile saw differs from other forms of tile saws in that they are not powered manually, but rather by an electric motor. These saws look similar in appearance to many other different kinds of table saws and usually require some sort of stand.
Why Do Tile Saws Use Water?
Wet tile saws use water because the speed of the cutting blade on a wet tile saw is such that when it makes contact with the tile, the tile can actually start to smolder. Since the charred-edges look is not exactly in fashion right now for most modern kitchens and bathrooms, water takes care of that problem.
What is the Best Wet Tile Saw?
The best wet tile saw is the SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw. It is versatile enough to cut through everything you throw at it, not just tile. It is also incredibly well made and feels reassuringly sturdy.
When to Use a Wet Saw vs. Dry Saw for Tile
If you are cutting a large quantity of tile, or the straightness of your cut is incredibly important to the success of your project as a whole, you absolutely need to go with a wet saw. Dry saws are more labor intensive and generally less precise, as a whole.
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