If you have a tile cutting project, you will need a good tool to help you with it. In that case, the most obvious tools will either be a manual tile cutter or a wet saw.
These are the two best tile cutting tools for such projects. But which one is perfect for your project, and why?
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Tile Cutter Vs Wet Saw
This article will help answer that question. So, let’s get started.
Tile Cutter
Most tile cutting projects employ a tile cutter to handle the job. It is not only the most popular but also the most versatile tile cutting tool. This unit can cut through all sorts of tiles and glasses.
For only $50, you can get a regular tile cutter. But if you need a unit to handle the high-demanding jobs, you might have to part with almost $1,000.
1. Regular/Cheap Tile Cutters
These cheap versions are the best pick for cutting ceramic tiles. Nevertheless, you might want to go for a stronger manual cutter for cutting thicker tiles. However, that would cost you more money.
Furthermore, the cheap tile cutters cannot cut large tiles efficiently. You will require extra effort and may have to use a mallet to break the tile after cutting it.
2. Manual Tile Cutters
With the manual tile cutters, they are best for cutting glass mosaic tiles. Nevertheless, the glass tiles will break or create chips as you cut them. Generally, the manual tile cutter would be perfectly suited for low-intensity projects.
Suppose you want to cut marble or granite, then you should go for a robust version of the manual tile cutter.
The major challenge of manual tile cutters; even though these tile cutters can cut through hard and thick tiles, they won’t leave a smooth edge.
Wet Saw
One main upper hand of the wet saw is that it allows you to achieve smooth and clean cuts on your tiles. If you are cutting multiple saws at the same time, you should definitely go for a wet saw. Here, you can be confident of getting uniform shapes on your tiles.
Also, a wet saw lets you effectively cut any natural stone tile without damaging the piece. Also, it doesn’t heat up or produce a lot of dust.
When Should You Use a Wet Saw?
1. Household Projects
As we have mentioned, a wet tile saw will assure you of clean and smooth edges on your final product. So, if you have a project at home like if you want to install subway tiles in the shower, you should use a wet saw. The tile lets you make multiple cuts with ease.
2. When Working with Natural Stone
Clearly, a manual tile cutter cannot handle thick and heavy tiles. But here is where the wet saw comes in. A wet saw will slice through large tiles with minimal fuss.
Wet tile saws can be expensive, but if you have occasional projects, then you should hire one. It would cost you around $200 a week for a small wet table saw.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you are planning to cut thin and sift tiles like ceramic, you should opt for a handheld manual tile cutter. It would set you back around $100. Unfortunately, this tile cutter will not cut in a straight line and will need to press hard to cut through tiles with this tool. If you have a massive project with large tiles, this shouldn’t be your tool of choice.
For the heavy thick tiles, we recommend going for a wet saw as it saves you time and effort with a fine blade. Furthermore, it assures you of clean and smooth cuts. So, a wet tile saw is best for cutting through thick tiles, mosaics, as well as natural stones.
FAQs
Q. Is a wet saw best for cutting tile?
Ans. If you have large projects with many tiles, a wet saw is the best pick. It uses water that prevents the blade from heating up, eliminates dust, and minimizes friction. So, it easily handles a massive project.
Q. Who should use a handheld tile cutter?
Ans. This tile cutter can be utilized by both professionals and beginners. It is not very complicated to use, so amateurs should freely use the handheld tile cutter.
Q. What tile cutter accessories are necessary?
Ans. Some tile cutters work perfectly with specific accessories like tile scribers, carrying cases, alternating carbide cutting wheels, rubber mats, nippers, as well as maintenance kits. Always talk to a professional before purchasing the extra accessories.
Verdict
By now, you must have a clue of which tile you should go for based on the project you are dealing with. We would generally recommend the wet saw as it can handle almost any project. It might be costly, but it is the ultimate tile cutter. For the minor and occasional projects with thin tiles, a manual tile cutter will do the job.