How to Use a Wet Tile Saw - Saw Finding
A wet tile saw is one of the most efficient tools to cut tiles like a professional. They consist of diamond-encrusted blades which spin rapidly for cutting through tiles. Follow our step by step guide on how to use a wet tile saw to give the material required shape.
Step 1 – Set the saw
A container of water helps to cool the blade and tile and prohibits heating up when the cutting process takes place. Most of the models have three basic water flow management system. They are- one connection for letting clean water in from a pump, one for draining out the waste-water and the other one for electricity entering into the saw.
Check these three connections carefully as they maintain the functionality of the saw. Place a bucket for collecting the waste-water.
Step 2 – Safety preparation
As the sharp blades of the saws can result in accidents and injury, follow these safety rules to avoid them:
There are various wet tile saws for cutting different materials and giving different shape. We strongly recommend selecting such a saw which is appropriate for your projects.
Check the electric connections carefully. Make sure that any part of the electrical cord should not get in touch with the drained water or pump water.
After runny the machine for some times, the water will gather some dirt which can block the water flow. So replace the dirty water with clean water in some time interval.
Never use an electric saw without eye protection. Safety glasses are essential for protecting your eyes from flying dirt.
Wear protective glove in your hand for avoiding injuries from sharp tile edges or scratches.
Some models can generate loud noise. If you work in such a loud sound for a long time, it can hamper your hearability. So wear earplugs before start working.
Do not place your hands, fingers, and clothes near the blade. Don’t touch the blade until it stops spinning completely.
Step 3 – Marking the cut line
Don’t start cutting without marking it first. No matter how basic the cuts you need, marking them first will give more accurate shape. You can use a mechanical pencil or marker to draw the desired shape on the tile. Make the cutline as narrow as you can make. Use measuring tapes, scales, pencil compass, etc. for drawing well-defined edges and angles.
Step 4 – Turn the water switch on
Now turn on the switch of water. As soon as you do it, the water will start to flow freely all around the edges of the rotating blades. Then the blades will spin at full speed. If the water struggles to pass through the blades, stop the cutting procedure, and do not proceed until it becomes okay.
Otherwise, the tile and the blade can break, resulting in some severe injury. Make sure that the water speed is moderate enough for not splashing water outside of the drain tray.
Step 5 – Place the tile
After determining the measurements and making cutlines, you have to lock the lock plate with measuring guides. You can do it on any side of the blades depending on your comfort and ease of working. Now place the tile carefully against the measured-plate.
After checking the measurements a few times, push down the level of locking. Be sure of securing the lockplates properly and placing the tile in the right place and lower the blade guard.
Step 6 – Switch the saw on
Press the on/off switch of the machine to start it. Usually, the switch situates on the front side of the wet tile saw. Don’t do it with wet hands. If your hands are wet, let them dry first, and then touch the power switch. Make sure that your body parts and clothes are not close to the sharp blades of the saw.
Check whether the blade is touching any other materials or not. It is mandatory to check them before turning it on to avoid major injuries and accidents.
Step 7 – Push the tile at moderate speed
While using a wet tile saw, the blade remains stationary. So it can not cut further unless you push the tile into the blade. Do it at a moderate speed so that the blade can cut through the material with minimum effort. Pay enough attention to the angles and pressure points.
If you push the tile too hard, it can be break or give unsmooth edges. Choose the thick part of the tile to feed into the blade because the thin layer is more likely to break while cutting.
Step 8 – Make the final cut
Secure the tiles with both of your hands while cutting. But for some cuts, the distance between the lock plate and the blade can be tiny. So it can be risky to place your hands near the blades. Proceed to do the previous step until you get the desired shape. When you successfully cut the tile, check whether you get the required cut or not.
If not, move the tile again under the blades to give a more exact shape or more smooth edges. If any tile parts stuck and don’t come out, turn off the saw pressing the switch. When the blade stops rotating completely, lift the blade guard. Now remove the remnants from the saw.
In this way, you can cut hard things using wet tile saws.
A wet tile saw is essential for cutting dense, hard materials and giving them a small,angled-shape. If you still don’t have one, purchase one based on your desired size and functionalities. We hope you can now use your wet tile saw to do your projects following our guidelines.