What You Should Know When Purchasing a Tile Saw

No one simple project can so thoroughly transform a room like the installation of tile.  Tile can be used on the floor, the walls, and in bathrooms, it is occasionally even used on the ceiling in many shower enclosures.  The installation of tile is a project that can be accomplished by the home handyman or handy woman with average skills.  But, like most other home renovation projects, the job goes much better with the proper tools.  Of course, nothing makes a tiling job go better than a tile saw equipped with the proper blade.

Now that you know you need one, the first question to address is whether you should rent a tile saw or purchase one.  Well, like any other tool, the answer will depend on the amount of tile you intend to install.  If you, like me, seldom do just one project in any niche, your decision will be to purchase your own so you can work in your own time frame.  Should you choose to rent, then rent from a reputable tool supplier and be sure to have the proper blade for the type tile you are installing. If your decision is to buy, then this article will supply you with some necessary knowledge to help you make an intelligent purchase. 

First, lets think a little bit about money.  If it your intent to purchase a tile saw for less than $100, you probably better rent one.  Yes, there may be a few that will get the job done, but you are likely to be disappointed with the way it operates.  However, like any tool, quality tools produce quality results.  Of course, on the other end of the spectrum, for the average homeowner, a seventeen hundred dollar commercial grade saw is likely extreme overkill.  So, to keep things simple and narrow the range, I find that a good price range for a homeowner to look in is between two and four hundred dollars.  This price range should provide for a good selection of saws with the features you will need to produce the desired results.  There are some exceptions to this rule however.  If you have the need to cut tiles on the diagonal that are 12 x 12 or larger, you are going to need a saw with a 10-inch blade.  While a 7-inch blade will cut the length of a 12 x12 tile, they usually max out at 10 x 10 inch tiles on a diagonal.  If you need a 10-inch blade, then the money you will spend increases.

Now lets cover the nuts and bolts.  The Internet provides us with a wealth of information today and some of the best of that information are the product reviews done by people that have used the model of tile saw you are interested in.  Read the reviews and look for comments such as the slides allowed the table to glide smoothly, the blade does not warble, and the water pump provides a constant flow of water across the blade.  If these items produce positive reviews then you will likely have a saw that will produce good results.

Finally, make sure you have a blade that is designed to cut the type of tile you are installing.  Most saws in this price range come with blades designed for cutting ceramic, travertine and slate tiles.  While this blade will cut porcelain tiles for a little while, it will quickly dull and start to break tiles before the cut is finished.  Thus, make sure you buy a high quality blade that is designed for the job you are doing.  If you take in to account the factors we have discussed, you should end up with a tile saw that you are happy with and one that will help you complete your tiling project in a way that produces quality results.