Steer me towards a wet tile saw

[Fyrme]

I'm looking for some good old real world down and dirty reviews of some light weight portable wet tile saws out there.

I've been laying tile for many years as a side job and have always used a heavy commercial Target wet saw. But I'm getting older and it's not getting any lighter. So now I'm looking for a smaller wet saw to take on smaller tile jobs, like back splashes and small rooms. I'll keep the Target for the big jobs.

My requirements are only that it needs to be a wet saw and be able to cut a 18-24" tile, even on a diagonal.

Anyone got any suggestions on what to get or what to stay away from?

 

[A_Pmech]

Honestly, those little big box store "table saw" tile saws aren't that bad. I used one to help a friend several years ago and it did a decent job on 16" tile.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Unless you plan on using just a couple of times, stay away from the Harbor Freight tile saws. I borrowed one from my FNL and the saw arm bearings were rusted and made and gave the saw motion a irregular line (jumpy) which translated to the tile. I bought a Ridgid brand from HD and it works great. Follow this rule if you have a lot of work in front of you. "Larger Tile ~ Larger Saw Blade"

 

[oscar80]

Had good luck with a small one from home Depot.

 

[shoot summ]

Unless you plan on using just a couple of times, stay away from the Harbor Freight tile saws. I borrowed one from my FNL and the saw arm bearings were rusted and made and gave the saw motion a irregular line (jumpy) which translated to the tile. I bought a Ridgid brand from HD and it works great. Follow this rule if you have a lot of work in front of you. "Larger Tile ~ Larger Saw Blade"

Bearings rusted are neglect by the owner, not the brand...

I've owned several of the HF bar type saws. Catch them on sale, true them up, put a good blade on them and they are a really decent saw for the price. Clean and lube them(like every saw) after use and they will last a long time. I tend to not want to store them so I buy them for a specific project(cheaper than renting) and sell them when I am done. They are not however that portable so they don't really meet the OP's requirement. I found a screaming deal on an MK212 a couple of years ago so now I have that beast permanently taking up space in my shop...

OP, I suspect since you have done tile on the side for some time that you use a scoring cutter for your straight cuts and the tile saw for any irregular cuts. If that is the case then a dry blade in an angle grinder actually works great for the irregular cuts, just a little messy...

 

[Ign]

We've got the original orange HF tile saw and its been a champ for my wife, with some light commercial use. The newer design maroon-ish/gray-ish one LOOKS better but I don't know if it is.

It sits up on the shop storage and gets pulled down as needed, no rusted bearings that I've experienced.

edit: in even further contrast to Porschedude, she used a Ridgid on a jobsite on what turned out to be a $3M home. Said she wished for our HF saw because the Ridgid didn't cut straight, even after another experienced tile guy on the job tried adjusting it. I believe her, my wife can tell a straight line and has that good "feel" for power tools. She's one of few people I allow to run my mill and engine lathe.

 

[Gerald O]

18-24" tile is not small. That requirement kind of contradicts "light weight portable" saw.

I've got one of these and am pretty satisfied with it:
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-horsepower-10-in-industrial-tilebrick-saw-69275.html

It's a sliding table design. Takes 24" tile. Doesn't come with a blade so get a good quality, not harbor freight, blade. With a good blade it cuts like butter and true.

 

[Jake79]

Check out dewalt. You won't be sorry

 

[Fyrme]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I know 18-24" is asking for a lot. I have just seen the little 7" jobbers at HD and Lowes and they look like a cheap toy on the shelf. Of course, anything now days looks like a toy compared to the Target I use. It's a belt driven 1hp all steel saw and tray. I guess maybe that's my hang up, I'm just used to looking at that thng. And even a 18" tile on a diagonal is too big to sit flat on the tray of mine. But that's where experience comes in. I like that HF unit with the wheeled stand. I think that is going to be an important feature for me as well as a large water tray/rail system. I'll check out the HF and Dewalt units.

 

[ecotec]

18-24" tile is not small. That requirement kind of contradicts "light weight portable" saw.

I've got one of these and am pretty satisfied with it:
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-horsepower-10-in-industrial-tilebrick-saw-69275.html

It's a sliding table design. Takes 24" tile. Doesn't come with a blade so get a good quality, not harbor freight, blade. With a good blade it cuts like butter and true.

My brother in law has that saw. He has had zero problems with it.

 

[Ign]

JUST got this email from HF, $215 for their big tile saw
http://m.harborfreight.com/25-Horse...s1031_c3714c&utm_referrer=direct/not provided

Don't know if the mobile link will work for all

 

[rlitman]

JUST got this email from HF, $215 for their big tile saw
http://m.harborfreight.com/25-Horse...s1031_c3714c&utm_referrer=direct/not provided

Don't know if the mobile link will work for all

Takes me to the saw.
I got the same email. Try this link for the coupon:
http://widgets.harborfreight.com/ws...3714c&utm_source=1031&cid=mEmail_s1031_c3714c

 

[rcjoy]

MK Diamond is what a lot of professionals use, and they also make smaller units.

 

[A_Pmech]

The 7" table saw style I used came from Home Depot. It's a decent saw. Much lighter than a sliding saw. The table isn't big, but that doesn't matter.

I prefer my MK 101 but it seems like it weighs 90 lbs or more.

 

[FMC1959]

I got this one on sale at HD a few years back. Works great, folds in second and is easily moved around, laser guide, nice sliding table, makes nice easy cuts, and you can get the lifetime warranty. There is the 10" equivalent if you want bigger.

https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/seven-inch-wet-tile-saw-with-laser

 

[tarmy]

Buy the MK...when we first got married 30 years ago I bought one for remodeling our first house. Expensive ...but have done three kitchens, five or six bathrooms, and several floors. They cut granite, marble and glass tiles too.

They are indestructible and worth every penny.

 

[stage20]

Buy the MK...when we first got married 30 years ago I bought one for remodeling our first house. Expensive ...but have done three kitchens, five or six bathrooms, and several floors. They cut granite, marble and glass tiles too.

They are indestructible and worth every penny.

The mk is near identical to his target saw which is tooo heavy so its prob out of the question.

The dewalt is the lightest 10" sliding tray saw made at 60 something pounds. Mk target and even the hf are going to be 70 prob 80 pounds.

I've got a few commercial saws and my imer combi 250 is by far the lightest I have. Its a bridge saw. You are looking at 1200 to 1500 for it though

 

[Skyline]

I have an Imer 10" wet saw. They make outstanding saws, and it will cut tile, bricks or pavers with the right blade. There is no such thing as a small light wet saw that can cut a 24" tile on a diagonal. I haven't tried 24" tile with it...but it's no small saw, and you may still need the next size up.

The one I have is still quite heavy though; hard to move around. A second person makes it easy to move if you have to go any distance. But in reality, you're probably not going to be using a wet saw in a kitchen or upstairs bathroom. You'll have it outside somewhere, like the back yard. They are too noisy and messy to have inside. So if you are doing this for a living, just back your truck up to the spot you'll be using for the saw, drag it out the back, and you're set. If it's a little heavy, so be it. If you have to go a distance, get a hand truck for the saw; the stand and tray are light.

Another option, if you want real portability, it to just use a hand grinder with a diamond blade. Will cut anything...just makes lots of dust, and is pretty slow.

 

[gungatim]

I've got the HF clone of the Diamond, but checking their site they no longer carry it. Unfortunately it's probably way too heavy for your requirement, but have to say, it did my house, a friends, some marble fireplaces, then I loaned it to a subcontractor who used it a few times and liked it so much he offered to pay me retail for it...it's been sitting a while unused but I know next tile job it's ready to go. Key to any tile saw is a qauality blade.

 

[Fyrme]

A lot of great input here guys. Thank you!
I found THIS MK used at a local pawn shop. I don't think I want to pay $220 for a used saw, but If I can get him down to around $175, I might grab it. Now I know that it won't cut the big stuff without some modifications, but It's a name brand and light weight. I might just have to lug the big saw for the larger size tile jobs. And for the record, my Target with motor, tray, and stand, easily weighs 125lbs dry.

 

[stage20]

I have an mk 470 near identical. I use it for backsplash pavers and shower floors and borders. I ground the tile stop off on the tray do itts flat and you can do door jamb cuts with large tiles. Long rips arent easy but I use it when I have to carry up a highrise. I would not pay 175 for the saw. The grinder on that saw is high pitched. Its loud
Lowes has ne with more features brand new for 249

 

[Fyrme]

I have an mk 470 near identical. I use it for backsplash pavers and shower floors and borders. I ground the tile stop off on the tray do itts flat and you can do door jamb cuts with large tiles. Long rips arent easy but I use it when I have to carry up a highrise. I would not pay 175 for the saw. The grinder on that saw is high pitched. Its loud
Lowes has ne with more features brand new for 249

The MK-770 is $450-$500 new. It has been replaced with the MK_770EXP which is $600+ new. I think if it's in good shape, sub $200s is not a bad price. I can't help but think that its a better quality saw than the one Lowes carries. But maybe I'm wrong.

Your MK-470 is a $200 saw, so I can see your point if the one for sale was a 470 model.

 

[stage20]

The MK-770 is $450-$500 new. It has been replaced with the MK_770EXP which is $600+ new. I think if it's in good shape, sub $200s is not a bad price. I can't help but think that its a better quality saw than the one Lowes carries. But maybe I'm wrong.

Your MK-470 is a $200 saw, so I can see your point if the one for sale was a 470 model.

sorry. i thought the 370 470 and 770 were all in the same league. the 770 will pivot the head and rip a 20" tile. where as the 370 and 470 will only do 14" rips. motorwise its the same grinder style motor wet saw. very loud saw.

 

[Fyrme]

Yeah I'm trying to psych myself out for that reality I'll be facing. The belt driven is so quiet that the only way you know it's running is the sound of the water spray.