CERAMIC TILE SAW

Ceramic tiles are thick and brittle, so a special saw is needed for cutting them. Ordinary circular saws do not cut ceramic tiles properly. Wet tile saws are generally used to cut tiles made of ceramic. The advent of the wet tile saw brought a real change in the way ceramic tiles were cut. The advantages of a wet tile saw are that it doesn't overheat, uses a relatively dull blade with no serrations, and is portable. It can be transported to a job site and set up on top of an existing table or a sawhorse.

A wet tile saw operates by grinding a channel through the tile. Then a blunt, wide, non serrated blade that uses sharp sand crystals or diamond to cut is used instead of sharpened metal. The use of these saws leaves a clean, smooth edge. A tile setter can use such saws to trim tiles at the installation site to fit the edges of a room or to set the tiles in innovative patterns. Table-mounted, portable wet tile saws allow for ease of cutting and make for precision work. The saw combines a circular blade, similar to a wood table saw, with a water pump and hose that constantly drenches the cutting area with water. This reduces friction and cools the surface.

The quickest way to cut ceramic tiles is by using a hand tile cutter. The tile is placed on the padded bed against a frame provided for support. Then the saw handle is pressed down firmly and the titanium wheel is rolled along the tile. Now when the handle is firmly pressed again, the tile will break cleanly across the desired line. Tiles cut in this manner may not be cut very accurately.

Heavy duty ceramic tile saws are available for cutting extra hard and dense domestic tiles. These saws come equipped with large cutting wheels and specially-equipped handle carriages.