How to Use a Wet Saw
Using a wet saw to cut tile is an efficient way to achieve precise cuts. This handy and powerful tool is a favorite of professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike for ensuring a properly fitted tile edge, and can make just about any tiling job go faster and more smoothly.
In this article, we will cover step-by-step instructions for how to safely make straight cuts and more complex cuts with a wet saw, as well as how to cut more challenging tiles such as glass and natural stone.
Safety Precautions When Using a Wet Saw
A wet saw is a powerful tool, but it is not without its safety requirements. Following these precautions will help ensure you stay safe while cutting tile.
Safety Equipment
Safety Goggles
Protect your eyes from flying debris and water splashes.
Ear Protection
Wet saws can be loud, so use ear protection to prevent hearing damage.
Dust Mask
While wet saws reduce dust, a dust mask can prevent dust and potential spray from the water from getting into your nose or mouth.
Proper Machine Use
Dress for Success
Avoid loose clothing, dangling jewelry and tie back long hair to prevent entanglement with the blade.
Maintain Control
Use both hands to firmly hold and feed the material through the blade. Additionally, ensure the saw is placed on a surface that allows you to reach all the way across it comfortably.
Stay clear of the blade
Keep your hands clear of the cutting path. Use a push stick if necessary to guide the tile safely. The blade itself is unlikely to injure your skin if you brush up against it, but it will pose significant danger to your fingernails.
When to Use a Wet Saw
A wet saw is the best tool to use for demanding and complex tiling projects. It is an essential tool for making intricate cuts such as L-cuts, U-cuts, and curve cuts, as well as for handling thicker or harder materials like stone, marble, granite and glass tiles. Wet saws are also able to easily work through a high volume of tile while still providing precise and clean cuts, which are especially important for achieving professional-looking results and for large-scale projects.
Step-by-Step: How To Use a Wet Saw
01
Set up the Wet Saw
Place the wet saw on a flat, stable surface. An uneven surface can cause the saw to wobble and compromise cutting accuracy, or worse, lead to tipping and injuries.
If your wet saw has a built-in water reservoir, fill it with water according to the manufacturer's instructions. If it requires an external water source, connect the hose and ensure a steady water flow to the blade.
Always read the manufacturer's instructions before setting up or using a wet saw.
02
Measure and Mark the Tile
Using a tape measure, measure the space where the tile will be installed. Use a pencil or marker to draw a straight line on the tile where you want to cut. Be sure to take extra care and measure twice, because you will only get one chance to cut the tile.
03
Prepare to Cut
Press the tile firmly against the fence provided on the saw for straight cuts. If making diagonal cuts, use the miter guide and adjust it to your desired angle.
With the tile in place, turn on the wet saw. Allow the blade to get up to speed before cutting to avoid breaking the tile.
04
Make the Cut
Slowly push the tile into the blade, keeping your hands clear of the cutting area. Use both hands to guide the tile, applying gentle, even pressure. Let the blade do the cutting. Do not force the tile through the blade, as this can cause chipping or breaking.
Pay attention to the sound of the motor. If it sounds like it is struggling, you are pushing too fast. Reduce pressure and let the blade work at its own pace. Once the cut is complete, turn off the saw and slide the table back to its original position. Wait for the blade to come to a complete stop before removing the tile, as even a slowly moving saw blade can injure you.
Cutting Glass with a Wet Saw
There are two factors to account for when using a wet saw to cut glass tiles. If you do not take these special precautions, you are liable to break your glass tiles.
Use the proper blade
A diamond blade designed specifically for cutting glass is required. These blades typically have a finer grit than those used for ceramic or porcelain tiles.
Go very slowly
While it is important to keep a steady pace while feeding the tile through the saw blade, it is equally important to go as slow as you can. Cutting a glass tile too quickly can cause it to chip and break.
Cutting Mosaic Tile with a Wet Saw
While the process for cutting mosaic tile is the same for cutting other tiles made from the same material, the tiles that make up the mosaic can be tricky to hold steady during cutting. These tips will make the process smoother.
Keep them on the mesh backing
Mosaic tiles are often mounted on a mesh backing—and for good reason. This keeps the tiles uniformly spaced, which will make it easier to feed through the wet saw's blade.
Use a sacrificial board
To keep the tile even sturdier, consider placing a scrap piece of plywood or cardboard on the saw table to create a solid surface for the mosaic sheet to rest on. This will help prevent any slight shifting, resulting in a straighter cut.
Tape it together
Apply masking tape or blue painter's tape across the mosaic sheet, along the cut line. This can help stabilize the tiles and provide a clearer line for cutting. This kind of tape is meant to hold well and come off easily, so there is no need to worry about over taping.
How to Make an L Cut with a Wet Saw
01
Mark the tile
Measure and mark your cutting lines on the tile surface with a pencil or marker. Use a straightedge to ensure straight lines.
02
First cut
Place the tile on the saw table, aligning the line for the first straight cut with the fence. Turn on the saw and let the blade reach full speed. Slowly feed the tile into the blade, maintaining light pressure and following the marked line. As you reach the end of your marked line, slow down even more to make sure you do not cut farther than you intend to.
Once the first cut is complete, turn off the saw. Do not move the tile until the blade stops spinning completely, or you risk nicking it and ruining the tile.
03
Second cut
Carefully rotate the tile on the saw table so that the second cut line is aligned with the fence. You can use a square to ensure a 90-degree angle between the two cuts. Feed the tile through the blade to complete the second cut, following your marked line. Again, slow down as you reach the corner so you do not overshoot your cut.
04
Clean up excess
You will likely be left with a bit of tile in the corner of the L cut. Use sandpaper to remove the excess until the corner is a clean 90-degree angle.
How to Make a U Cut with a Wet Saw
01
Mark the tile
Measure and mark the outline of your U-cut on the tile surface. Precision in measurement is very important here, because any mismeasurements will result in unsightly gaps.
02
First cut and second cuts
Position the tile on the saw table aligning the longer outer edge of the U-cut with the fence. Clamp the tile securely if needed. Make the first straight cut along the marked outer line. Repeat the process to create the second straight cut on the opposite side of the U-cut. For both cuts, be sure you move the tile very slowly as you approach the end of your marked lines so you do not over cut.
03
Remove the inner section
There are two methods for removing the inner section:
Snap off
Place the tile on a flat surface with the waste section overhanging the edge. You can use a tapping block or a similar tool to gently tap along the marked line to break the waste piece away.
Plunge cut
If your saw has a plunge cutting function, position the tile under the blade and carefully lower the blade directly onto the center of the third line. Maintain control of the saw handle and slowly guide the blade through your marked line to complete the interior cut. The waste piece may still be attached by small amounts of excess tile, but you can easily tap it out or snap it off.
How to Make a Round Cut with a Wet Saw
01
Mark the curved line
Carefully measure and mark the diameter of your desired circle on the tile.
02
Make a series of straight cuts
Position the tile on the wet saw table and make a series of small, closely spaced straight cuts, about 1/4 inch apart, stopping just short of the circle's edge.
03
Snap off pieces
After completing the cuts, you can hold the tile in your hand and use a tapping block or similar tool to gently tap along the separations created by the cuts. This will effectively break away the unwanted pieces, making the space into more of a rounded shape.
04
Refine the edge
After snapping off the unwanted pieces, there will be excess tile left around the edge. Pick up your tile and use the wet saw blade to carefully sand down the edge of the round cut until the line is clean.