Skil Tile Saws

Skil tools are a company that’s been around since 1924 and have a reputation for high quality power tools. They provide tools for both DIY enthusiasts as well as professionals so you’ll be able to find a wet tile saw that suit your needs.

dewalt tile saw

Northern Industrial Tile Saws

Northern Industrial are another common brand known for creating tile wet saws although they haven’t been around for as long as Skil. However, they provide a number of different tile saws ranging from basic models that only cost around $60 right up to professional saws that cost anywhere up to $700. Make sure you understand exactly what you need from a wet saw before you choose one in order to avoid overspending or choosing a tool that doesn’t live up to your expectations.

MK Diamond Tile Saws

If you’ve spent any time looking for power tools then you’ve probably already heard of MK Diamond because they are one of the most established brands around. Established in 1868, MK Diamond has a lot of experience creating power tools for both the commercial and personal markets. Again, you need to be aware of exactly what you need from a tile saw before you choose one because they provide a number of different options.

Other ceramic tile saw brands definitely worth mentioning are Husky, QEP, DeWalt, Northern Industrial, Ridgid, and Felker.

When you’re choosing a wet saw make sure you take into account your budget, how much you’re going to use the tile cutter and which type of jobs you’re going to be using it on before you buy. While it can be tempting to get a professional model in reality most DIY fans will be happy to use one of the more basic models. Setting a budget is a good way to cut down on the number of brands of tile wet saws that are available and help you to avoid spending a lot of money on a tile saw you don’t really need.

http://www.tilesawpro.com

I bought the Husky Tile Saw from Home Depot. It was quite inexpensive; almost a throw away compared to the cost of other tile saws. This 7 inch tile wet saw has paid for itself at least a couple of times over. It has been excellent for my occasional, but significant, tile projects. In fact, I lent it to a friend who was putting tile in his new house. He used it to cut stone to apply on shower walls and terrazzo tile everywhere else (shower floor, step into shower and bathroom floor). The saw worked great for him also; not one problem.

My tile project involved laying 3/8” thick, 18” wide high gloss ceramic tile from Spain. I installed floor tile in my living room, down the hallway, into the office and down three steps onto a landing. The saw worked flawlessly. The water reservoir is large enough to make numerous cuts before a refill. The saw has never been clogged and I have never had to clean any water paths. Other than spraying the tile particles out of the reservoir with a water hose and replacing the blade this saw has required no maintenance. Or, at least I can say it has never required any maintenance.

The only negative thing I can say about this saw pertains to the laser guide. It is worthless and unnecessary. After just a few cuts the laser light stopped working due to water in the circuitry. I spent a few minutes trying to repair it but then gave up. The laser had caught my attention while comparing saws. I thought it was a cool feature. But in actual use its useless in all but approximate cuts. The laser guide is a marketing gimmick that is not nearly precise enough. I wanted my cuts to be on the money and couldn’t rely on a semi-fat red laser line. One exception, as evening approached I occasionally used the laser light to help me see where I wanted to start cutting. Otherwise, I had to pull out lights and extension cords. This saw comes with a good adjustable guide to slide your tile against. The guide holds tight and is very parallel to the blade when clamped.

With the Husky Tile Saw you push or slide the tile into the 7 inch blade. The Husky Saw has more than ample horsepower to do home improvement tile jobs. In my case, the wet tile saw cut through tile like a dream. I didn’t push the tile to the blade I merely guided the tile into the blade. When cutting became a chore for the saw I replace the blade and the dream cuts resumed.

I pat myself on the back for buying this saw instead of renting one. Sure, a rental saw might have come with nicer features like a radial arm and integrated saw stand. But having my own full time saw allowed me to take my time and get familiar with my saw. Another thing I liked about this saw was its size. Its large enough to cut 18 inch tiles but small enough to store in just about any garage nook. This is a valuable point for anyone with limited storage space.

In summary, the Husky 7 inch wet tile saw is inexpensive and capable. I would not consider this saw professional grade but it does provide professional looking straight clean cuts. This saw performed very well for me and is worth more than what I paid for it. I used the heck out of this saw and it produced professional cuts each and every time without breaking the bank. The saw is currently in may garage waiting for my next tile project.