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The Best Tile Saws in 2022 - By Experts

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If you’re looking for a machine that’s strong enough to cut through marble, glass, granite, ceramic, and porcelain tiles, you need an effective and reliable tile saw.

It’s definitely better if you get one with a diamond blade and water as the cutting coolant. Depending on the model, however, you’ll be getting sliding, bridge, or stationary job.

They’ll differ in their cutting power, accuracy, speed, and water management system. Not sure what any of this means? Check the buying guide I’ve prepared at the end of the article.

And if you need to make a buying decision, here are the best tile saws you’ll find on the market, with their pros, cons, and reasons you should or shouldn’t go for them.

The 6 Best Tile Saws in 2022

The Porter-Cable PCE980 is made of rust-proof stainless-steel that makes it as durable as a tile saw needs to be. Besides being solid, it’s also pretty easy to transport as it weighs around 30 pounds.

It’s equipped with two tables, a stationary one and a sliding one. The latter helps you cut tiles to whatever size you want. However, it’s not completely even with the stationary one as it’s about ¾ of an inch lower, so make sure you don’t cut your tile at a slight bevel.

You can make simple miter cuts as it’s equipped with a miter square. The square clamps onto the ruler channel that you’ll find on the edge of the sliding table. With its help, you’ll be able to make repeated, diagonal cuts with high precision.

Moreover, it comes with a powerful 6.5-amp motor that can spin the 7-inch blade at a 2,850 RPM speed. However, you might want to replace the blade for a higher-quality one as the original may sometimes cause chipping on the edges of your tiles.

The Porter-Cable PCE980 can handle 17-inch tiles, and if you position them diagonally, it can handle a 12 x 12” tile without an issue. However, its cutting depth is a bit limited as it can only cut through tiles of 1-1/4” thickness. Although that’s enough for most tiles, it might fall short when it comes to stone pavers or thicker ones.

Since the Porter-Cable PCE980 is a wet tile saw, it comes with a water management system, which is a very effective one and definitely stands out. The blade guard prevents water from splashing into your face as you operate the saw, while the grooved channels on the sliding table let the water and tile debris fall into a basin below.

The only downside is that the basin is hard to clean and takes some time and effort.

 

Pros:

Cons:

Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

The Porter-Cable PCE980 is the best-wet tile saw for smaller jobs. If you manage to level the tables and replace the original blade, you’ll get top-notch performance out of this unit. The water management system is quite reliable, and the saw gives you good value for the money.

The SKIL 3540-02 measures 18 x 14.5 x 7.8 inches, which is suitable enough for utilizing a diamond-coated blade. It’s pretty durable and built to resist corrosion and rust. Its steel top is able to support a tile sized 12 x 12” and gives it more durability.

Moreover, like the Porter-Cable PCE980, this unit comes with a 7” blade, which is able to cut tiles from 0 to 45 degrees. It’s also equipped with an adjustable fence and miter gauge to help you get the most precise cuts and measurements.

Although its water reservoir isn’t the biggest, it’s still good enough for keeping the blade cooled down during operation and catching dust or debris.

The SKIL 3540-02 comes with a 4.2-amp motor, which isn’t the strongest, but it enables its blade to operate at a speed of 3,600 RPM, so it’s able to cut through pretty tough material.

It’s also CULus-certified, so you can rest assured that the motor will cut through masonry, stone, or any applications you have around your shop or home.

The SKIL 3540-02 gives you plenty of value for the money as it comes with many accessories, including a 7-inch diamond blade, a blade guard, blade wrenches, and the saw itself.

It’s not a professional tool, which means that it’s pretty intuitive and easy to use as well as put together.

Pros:

Cons:

Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

If you’re a homeowner who likes DIY jobs, the SKIL 3540-02 will suit you quite well. It has smooth operation, comes with plenty of safety features, and enables you to cut through many materials, including ceramic and stone.

If you’re looking for the best-wet tile saw for making cleaner edges with no burn marks and reduced flaking, the DeWalt D24000S is a great choice. It’s quite compact, so it’s pretty easy to store and transport.

It’s equipped with a 15-amp motor that delivers a high speed of 4,200 RPM and a diamond-grit blade that cuts through any type of tile effortlessly. Its motor is a direct drive one, so there are no gears to wear out over time, consequently extending the longevity of this saw.

What’s more, it comes with a kit that carries up to five gallons of water, which means the pump remains submerged and brings sufficient amounts of water to the blade.

The DeWalt D24000S can be mitered up to 45° and has a miter stop that locks in at 22.5° to enable you to make more acute cuts. When the blade is positioned upright, it can cut 3-1/8” deep, which means you can cut V-cap and pavers sizes.

Moreover, it features two water nozzles that deliver a constant flow of water to lubricate the diamond-grit blade and minimize debris of stone, glass, or porcelain that are produced during the cutting process.

A small problem with the DeWalt D24000S is that the effectiveness of its dust-reduction and lubrication depends on the material you’re cutting, and you’ll have to play around with the water nozzles to get it right.

The smooth guiding fence keeps the wet tile saw and blade in place while the high-quality stainless-steel rail is durable and facilitates the operation of the saw. Not only that, but it also allows you to make straight cuts in the tile, supports 24″ rip capacity, and 18″ diagonal pieces of tile on various types of materials.

A downside to the DeWalt D24000S is that it’s not the most portable option as it weighs 69 pounds, so if you’re going to move it around from a place to another, you should opt for a more portable option.

Pros:

Cons:

Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

The DeWalt D24000S is the best wet tile saw for anyone that’s looking to make powerful cuts through porcelain and stone tiles when remodeling floors. It comes with a strong 10-inch tile saw and a stand for cutting tiles to accurate sizes.

If you’re looking for a professional wet tile saw, I’d highly recommend the D24000S.

The QEP 22650Q is equipped with a ¾ HP or 4.8-amp motor, which isn’t the most powerful, but suits average DIY jobs. Especially considering its 3,600 RPM speed. Combined with the strong 7-inch blade, you can use this saw to cut through ceramic and pavers.

Being a fixed or stationary saw, it doesn’t give you the most versatility or capability to cut all tile sizes, but it still does have a lot to offer. It has a miter gauge for cuts at 22.5 and 45 degrees, has a maximum rip capacity and diagonal capacity of 30 inches, and a maximum cut depth of 1-1/4 inches.

However, the QEP 22650Q has a plastic construction that makes it a little less durable than the competition. 

It is quite easy to transport as it’s only 15.7 pounds, so if you do light-duty jobs at different sites, it would be a very suitable choice for you.

You have to dry it thoroughly after operation, however. Otherwise, it may rust pretty quickly.

Pros:

Cons:

Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

If you’re a very casual DIYer that’s looking for a budget-friendly wet tile saw to tackle small jobs, the QEP 22650Q is the ideal choice for you. Of course, it doesn’t have the most satisfying operation or the best specs, but its performance is quite decent for its price level.

The DEWALT DWC860W is a strong tile cutter that will help you slash through any tile type you want. Because of its high precision and strong motor, it is a great saw for both beginners and professionals.

It comes with a 4-⅜-inches premium diamond blade, with enough power to cut heavy and intensely-embedded stones in a fast manner. Also, it is able to cut through stones up to 2-inches deep as well as cut equally precisely in dry and wet tiles.

The DWC860W has a compact and lightweight design as it weighs only 9 pounds with dimensions 6.9 x 10.3 x 9.8-inches, which makes it easy to use as well as store.

Moreover, on both sides of the blade, there is a water line, with regulators installed so the flow of water coming from the line can be controlled. This works on reducing dust overall with the of the dust-sealed switch. The 13-feet water line provides you with a continuous supply of water when you are cutting tiles, which increases the blade productivity and reduces the wear and tear on it.

The powerful 10.8-amp motor going at 13,000 rotations per minute gives you so much power, you can easily cut through granite, concrete, porcelain, and other stone or tough materials.

The DWC860W can bevel to a 45-degree so you can do quick and precise angle cuts. With a rubber over-mold grip, it also increases your comfort and ergonomics. There’s even a lock-on button that spares you the need to continuously press on the switch.

Pros:

Cons:

Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

The DEWALT DWC860W is a great choice for anyone who’s looking for a top-notch wet tile saw. It has a powerful motor, gives clean and precise cuts, and many features that give you a better cutting experience. And the best part is that it doesn’t come at an insane price, but is actually rather affordable.

The MK Diamond MK-170 is a 1/3 HP 7-inch bench wet tile saw that is mid-range in terms of both price and quality.

The unit is compact, with a 14 x 15 x 13-inch footprint, and it weighs only 15 pounds. The small design makes it easy to carry around, easy to use, and also easy to clean.

Moreover, it comes with a submersible water pump and a 7-inch diamond blade that’s able to make cuts 12 inches long and 2 inches deep.

The high torque motor is a universal one, and although it’s not the strongest, it’s still able to reach a 5,500-RPM speed. This makes this saw a great choice for cutting floor tiles or counters.

However, the powerful motor may cause so much overspray when used on certain materials, so it is better to use it outside.

A sliding platform exists to allow high precision during operation. It allows you to move the work smoothly into the blade and also comes with a high-impact thermoplastic water reservoir, which will not peel or rust and can be easily removed for cleaning.

Pros:

Cons:

Our Rating

5/5

Bottom Line:

The MK Diamond MK-170 is a light saw that is more suitable for DIYers or for light jobs. However, some professionals can use it as well as it can run at high speeds with a powerful torque, which enables it to tackle pretty tough tasks.

How to Pick a Tile Saw

Before you make up your mind regarding which tile saw to get, you might want to consider the factors that make a good tile saw.

1. Feed Design

The feed design has a major impact on the capabilities and size of your tile saw. There are three primary feed designs, and those are: sliding table, bridge, and stationary.

Sliding Table

As the name suggests, this type comes with a sliding table on which you place the tile and a stationary blade housing at the back of the saw.

The blade cuts the tile as it moves past it as you push the table back. When this mechanism works well, sliding table tile saws are pretty great.

Typically, the blade and motor housing are mounted on the arm, which means that you’re limited to how much of the tile can protrude on one side of the blade. The good news is, the other side is open, which means that you can make wide cuts, as long as you can hold the tile down and there isn’t a large portion of it off the platform.

A downside to sliding table saws, however, is that they’re not the most durable. This can cause their tables to no longer be square and throw off the cuts if it’s knocked around during transportation.

What’s more, they need frequent maintenance. Otherwise, they may get gummed up and lose the smoothness of their operation.

If you don’t have a high-end unit, make sure to move slowly in order to get a straight cut accurately.

Bridge Saw

Bridge saws come with a stationary platform and tile. The blade and motor slide down a bridge that extends from the front to the back, and to make a cut, you place the tile on the platform and pull the running saw towards you.

The best part about bridge saws is that they give you a lot of freedom to work with the tile size of your choice. This is because both sides of the platform are completely open, so you can use tiles of any width. As for the length, you get the full distance of the platform from the back to the front, excluding the length of the saw itself.

However, bridge tile saws are usually larger and heavier than other choices in order to enable you to work with very long tiles. So, if you’re looking for a unit that’s easy to transport and store, you might want to look for something else. You should also be willing to spend a little extra.

Stationary

As you can guess, with a stationary tile saw, nothing moves -neither the tile or the blade.

To cut your tile, you have to push it through the saw by sliding it on top of the platform. Of course, this makes getting a clean cut much harder.

Although they’re harder to handle, stationary tile saws do have some benefits. For one, they’re the most compact, lightweight, and portable option. They’re also pretty affordable.

Not only that, but they also give you all the cutting space you want as they have a completely open design. I’d say they’re the best option for a professional on a tight budget.

2. Water Feed

Different types of saws employ different water feeds. For most sliding and bridge tile saws, there’s a pump that sprays water from a reservoir that sits beneath the platform. It produces water through jets on the blade housing. When going for either, you should make sure that the jets point directly at the blade. Otherwise, your blade won’t be kept cool, and the system would be ineffective.

On the other hand, stationary tile saws usually have a reservoir in which the blade sits and where the water is held. As the blade spins, it kicks the water above the tabletop. There’s a plastic housing that works on containing the water and pushing it back down onto the blade. At the top of the platform, there are drainage holes that allow the water to re-enter the reservoir and keep the cycle going. Although these saws employ guards to keep you from getting wet, you’re still bound to get some water on you when you operate them.

3. Cut Quality and Accuracy

Needless to say, it’s super important for a tile saw to be able to make clean cuts in straight lines. It’s a crucial aspect when it comes to buying a tile saw.

That’s why you should invest in a unit that brings out evenly-cut tiles instead of saving up on a saw that produces lopsided ones.

Make sure that the unit doesn’t chip the cuts at the end. Otherwise, your saw would be inefficient.

4. Stand

A lot of tile saws come with a built-in stand. However, there are some that are designed to sit on top of a stand or a bench -and not all of them include it. However, I’d suggest you buy one with the stand included as there is no guarantee you’ll find an appropriately-sized one to buy separately.

While smaller saws can technically be placed on a bench or tabletop, I wouldn’t say it’s a good idea. This is due to the wet and messy nature of the tile-cutting process, and in the case of a small tile saw, you’ll probably end up soaking everything and having tons of cleanup to do.

Final Thoughts

While it’s a little tough to pick the best tile saw out of the six ones I’ve listed above, there are a couple of choices that simply stand out.

For one, if you’re looking for the most accurate choice that produces the cleanest cuts, I’d recommend the DeWalt D24000S.

However, if you’re on a tight budget and professional-grade work isn’t what you’re looking for, you could opt for the more affordable QEP 22650Q or the SKIL 3540-02 for home use.

Finally, the DeWalt DW860W would be a great choice if you’re looking for a super-high-speed option that’ll enable you to cut through practically any type of tile, be it stone, ceramic, or masonry.

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