Wet Tile Saw Blade?

[karoc]

Guys I purchase the Ridgid 7” wet tile saw. I know that a blade can make or break a cutting tool. The tile saw comes with blade, but we all know that with any cutting tool/machine that they put cheapest blade they can with tool. I’m going to use that blade comes with it, but I also want to have on hand a good blade. I’m somewhat new at wet saws so I really don’t know what look for other than looking at price of blade. Open for suggestions, links and pics sure would help little. Trying do little tile work by our shower in house going put on market next week. Thanks for guidance

 

[cgrutt]

I'd see how the blade supplied with it cuts before buying another. It really depends on the tile some are super hard and chip slightly along cut line others cut smooth as butter. Porcelain will generally be harder to cut than glazed subway tile, etc. I've been using a dewalt (I think) continuous rim diamond blade on my 7" Ridgid tile saw for a couple years and it does a decent job (getting time to replace though). Believe Ridgid makes a "premium" blade in addition to standard blade but haven't used either (ETA I suppose my saw originally came with the standard blade but I don't really remember how it cut). Not sure if Diablo has diamond blades or not but their wood blades are usually pretty good. As for professional blades look into Montolit but the blade may cost more than your saw.

Try to plan your cuts so they are all along a wall, etc where the cut will be covered by caulk (I'm using the term to include siliconized grout) and it really won't matter as long as cut is straight.

 

[karoc]

Thanks for responding cgrutt, I’m using 6x18” tiles which I need cut off 1/4 off length of tile. That edge be up against 3 piece shower which going caulk that edge. The guys that I paid to install done poor job so I’m having try make it look best it can. Tks

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks for responding cgrutt, I’m using 6x18” tiles which I need cut off 1/4 off length of tile. That edge be up against 3 piece shower which going caulk that edge. The guys that I paid to install done poor job so I’m having try make it look best it can. Tks

Cutting 1/4" can be tricky it's probably going to break as you cut. Come in from both sides a couple inches to avoid cracking a corner (into the good side). If you've only got a few tiles to cut I'd definitely see how the blade that came with saw does before buying another. Go slow and steady let the blade cut tile don't put too much pressure into cut. Be patient it will get there. Also make sure blade stays wet. That saw will throw a fine mist straight back at you. Use the blade guard to keep the spray down but you'll need to keep it high enough to see your cut line. I use the fine permanent markers to mark tiles the water will quickly wash away pencil or chalk. Good luck.

 

[gizardlizard]

Pearl blades are awesome.

 

[karoc]

Pearl blades are awesome.

Going research that, thanks

 

[karoc]

Well I went ahead and bit bullet purchase new one at HD. I look at FB to buy used but most look like wore out, others on other side town. I paid HD 2.99 to deliver it to my home instead me fighting circus in parking lot and inside. There’s always long lines, so worth 2.99. The saw is not top of line, there was good reviews and few not so good. I watch Youtubes on how others kinda put it together help me. But it still took me couple hours, but I still need check see if it’s square or not. I went this route cause it take me few times renting to finish here in present house. Just lot of cutting due to poor planning. My 1000sq ft retirement home it looks like going with tile showerand tile floor then subway about 3’ up wall. Still undecided about flooring in other rooms, tile or engineered flooring ( kind with plywood on back) With these tile projects with stop/go schedule I think it was better for me purchase one instead of renting, or buying used. Again guys thanks for y’all help.

 

[duneslider]

Home Depot and Lowes used to sell the 7" MK HotDog blade and it worked really well. Blades labelled as porcelain blades will work better on porcelain than ones not labeled that way. I have a dewalt saw and generally use dewalt blades and like them, I am not sure if they make a 7" blade though.

Go slowish, make sure plenty of water is flowing, draw a line and follow it. This isn't like a wood saw, you can move the tile around to keep it cutting on the line you want.

 

[cgrutt]

Well I went ahead and bit bullet purchase new one at HD. I look at FB to buy used but most look like wore out, others on other side town. I paid HD 2.99 to deliver it to my home instead me fighting circus in parking lot and inside. There’s always long lines, so worth 2.99. The saw is not top of line, there was good reviews and few not so good. I watch Youtubes on how others kinda put it together help me. But it still took me couple hours, but I still need check see if it’s square or not. I went this route cause it take me few times renting to finish here in present house. Just lot of cutting due to poor planning. My 1000sq ft retirement home it looks like going with tile showerand tile floor then subway about 3’ up wall. Still undecided about flooring in other rooms, tile or engineered flooring ( kind with plywood on back) With these tile projects with stop/go schedule I think it was better for me purchase one instead of renting, or buying used. Again guys thanks for y’all help.

That's a much nicer saw than the one I have (also Ridgid) but since yours cuts on top it probably doesn't have the spray issue I mentioned above. Good luck with it.

 

[mike93lx]

The blade that came with my ridgid tile saw works great

 

[karoc]

Surprisedly it cut pretty dang good, I know blade is new but we see after I’ve cut few more tiles. Looking at this pic, it’s little taper cut but not bad. That be caulking edge. Thanks guys for comments

 

[cgrutt]

Looks awesome.

 

[signcrafter]

Different blades for different materials. Ceramic cuts easy, porcelain is harder, granite even harder, and then you have things like glass tiles. A good blade made for the material will make a huge difference. I have a ridgid 10" saw similar to yours and spent a good deal of time and scrap tiles to get the table square to the blade. Should be bearings under the table that you adjust and then the rails can be adjusted. Thinner blades like the hot dog work good for ceramic but can deflect when used on harder materials or thicker materials, especially when making sliver cuts like you are. When cutting mosaic or making sliver cuts I will put something on the table to support the whole tile, kind of a zero clearance table if you will. I've used whatever I have laying around, from backer board to drywall. Drywall usually holds up for a day or so and then I just get a new piece when it's too wet and crumbling. Also blade depth makes a huge difference for cut quality. Box stores have decent blades but a flooring store or online will get you more high end quality blades. I don't pull out my tile saws very often anymore. A quality snap cutter and grinder will do most cuts. But sliver cuts and some others are best for tile saws. You can also "sharpen" blades by cutting certain materials depending on the blade. Most can be sharpened by making a few cuts in CMU block material.

 

[karoc]

Thanks for good advice signcrafter, my table is little out of square with blade. I did not know about adjusting bearings. Thanks

 

[signcrafter]

Thanks for good advice signcrafter, my table is little out of square with blade. I did not know about adjusting bearings. Thanks

If it's the same as my 10" ridgid it should have adjustments when you pull the table all the way out and flip it over. Does it cut straight if you cut down the middle of a tile and not just taking slivers off?

 

[karoc]

If it's the same as my 10" ridgid it should have adjustments when you pull the table all the way out and flip it over. Does it cut straight if you cut down the middle of a tile and not just taking slivers off?

It’s off maybe 16th over 18”, to me that’s not to bad. I don’t have square to check it, I just measured both ends. I’m just about finish with this little project, few lessons learned about doing tile work