The saw which has a diamond blade and is watered constantly is called a tile saw. Since water is used while cutting with a tile saw making the material wet, it is also called as a wet saw or sometimes together, wet tile saw. Wet tile saw has its blade made of diamond which can cut even very hard to harder materials. This blade does not have any teeth also. So it can be used to make extremely straight cuts. Moreover, you can use a wet tile saw to cut curved tiles other than extremely straight cuts. We will be discussing how this saw cuts and how to use it properly in the later parts of the article. We will also learn how to cut special types of cuts on the tiles. Learning how to use a tile saw is very essential while undergoing a tile job as you have undergone many cuts that are L shaped cuts, round corner cuts or internal cut-outs.
Quick Overview
Tile saw safety measures
No matter how good and experienced you are, you must wear the necessary safety gears. It is a power tool after all. Although it sprays water to suppress dust, you still need to wear masks to prevent ceramic dust from entering your body. Ceramic dust is extremely harmful to the human body. They can cause irritation if they enter into the eye and mucous membrane. So you also have to wear safety goggles and hearing protection for your ears too.
Be aware; never operate a wet tile saw without water. If you do not use water, there will be overheating and production of very much excess amount of dust and very annoying noise. So, use a sufficient amount of water while cutting with a wet tile saw. (water with tile saw)
Another thing to remember when cutting with a wet tile saw is that it is operated by electricity and it also uses water to work at the same time. There is absolutely nothing more dangerous than the presence of water and electricity together. Therefore you should handle your wet tile saw very carefully.
Operation
Knowing the setup and setting up the table at the right height is necessary to perfectly cut out a piece of tile that is desired for the job. A tile saw is best positioned in a heavy bulky table or straight on the floor. A wobbly surface will make an uneven cut or even cause fatal injuries.
Blade
Your wet tile saw blade will be made from diamond. As it is the hardest material and you need to cut very hard materials. You can even cut stones using these. So I think that you have got the idea about the extent of the word HARD. These blades do not have any teeth. The cut you will be making with these blades will be extremely straight. So their cuts are faster, easier and more accurate.
Fill up the tank
Filling the tile saw’s water reservoir is important. All tile saws will have a gutter of water mounted beneath the cutting surface. Ensure that the water pump is completely submerged. Also, make sure that the water flow is not so fast and it is flowing through the blade. If it is too strong then water might spray in the surroundings which will be disturbing for you.
A tile saw can be used for various other purposes not only cutting tiles and mosaic but also for cutting bottles. Whatever you cut, make sure you wear your safety gadgets as it is a very risky project. Babies and pets should not be around while working with the tile saw. Certain types of bottle can be used to cut rings. This sort of bottle cuts may be used for any decorative purpose or DIY projects.
Now, position the tile onto the cutting blade. At first, we give a pencil mark onto the tiles of our desired cut. Then we adjust the fence with the blade keeping the widest part of the tile between the fence and the blade, this will ensure your hands are far away from the blade and they are at a safe position.
Turn the saw on
Now it is time to turn on the tile saw. The tile is positioned and ready for the cut. At first, it is necessary to make sure that water is spraying through the blade over the tile before cutting the tile.
Using a steady grip feed the tile into the blade, it is not necessary to force the tile into the blade than its natural speed. The blade will do its work of cutting the tile smoothly. At the edges of the tile, it is important to feed slowly as that is where most of the breakages occur.
Use both hands to serve the tile through the blade. Keep them at a far distance from the blades to avoid accidents. If the piece of the tile too small that the hands will go very close to the blade then use a small block of scrap wood instead. Let it do the risky work of pushing the tile towards the blade.
Suggestions on the blade guard
When you need to open the blade guard, do it after the blade completes spinning. Remember the presence of water and dust at the same place. If you open the blade while it is still spinning, then dirty water will spray all over you and your surroundings.
Cutting different shapes
To make a diagonal cut, position a meter guide or speed square between the tile and the fence. This will keep the tile positioned at 45-degree angle to the blade. For instance when making a partial cut like an L shaped cut while adjusting for a window or any electrical outlet set the tile up the same way as a complete cut.
If you want to cut tiles in a circular shape, do you think it is possible with a wet tile saw? Don’t worry, you can cut curves and circular cuts with this saw. It is a bit hard to do so, but it is possible. First, measure the area of cut and mark it properly. Now, make very narrow cuts in parallel up to the marked line. The thin tile strips will fall off as you cut. Even if they do not fall off, you can always use a tile nipper to break them off. An advantage of using a tile nipper is that you can angle it as required with respect to your drawn line.
Cutting harder substances than tile
Now I would be discussing how to cut stone tiles and a stone veneer with a wet saw or a tile saw. Stone is a tough material to cut on. As we see that cutting on stone creates a lot of friction. And stone cutting causes a lot of debris or dust which are harmful to the lungs. Wet saw when turned on while cutting a stone the water from the reservoir that gushes out keeps the blade and the stone cool so at the time of friction the blade is cool enough to cut it through. Some may argue that electricity and water are elements that do not go well and is dangerous. But there is nothing to worry as wet saws are designed in such a way that electricity and water do not mix. But still, as I have mentioned earlier, you must have to be cautious.
Most of the wet saws have a solid table that will place the stone on, lining up blade where you want the cut. After you have checked that the machine is in good shape and the blade is properly mounted, and the water is flowing and also know how to use a tile saw properly, it will be high time for you to turn the saw on to start the blade. Then, holding the stone steady, grasp the handle of the cutting head and slowly slide towards the stone. Just keep pressing the cutting head gently as the saw cuts through the stone. Once you reach the end, power the machine off and continue to the next piece if necessary.
