Strong and Sharp: Best Tile Saws

Lackmond is a company known for building stone, concrete, pavement and tile cutting equipment and diamond blades. This saw comes with one of their famous diamond blades. The powerful 15 amp motor produces 2.4 HP at 4,200 RPM. It has a 24-inch rip capacity and 18-inch diagonal rip capacity with a 3-3/4-inch depth of cut. The motor is tilting, offering 22.5 and 45 degree bevel cutting.

The saw is unique in that it has both a LED work light to make it easier to see your work. There’s also a laser cutting light for accurate cuts. This saw is mounted to a heavy-duty, collapsible stand with wheels.

No, this isn’t the saw to drag out in the middle of your bridge game, nor is it designed for cutting up your local bridge over troubled waters. This model is called a bridge saw, because like the MK Diamond unit the saw travels on a “bridge” or rails, over the material to be cut.

The manufacturer’s web site doesn’t list the motor’s horsepower, but only mentions that it is 10.5 amps. I’d take that to mean that it’s about 1-1/4 HP. The rails allow cutting of up to 30-inches, which means you can diagonal cut a tile up to 22-inch square. This one also has plunge cut capability while the rail pivots for 45 and 90 degree cuts.

MK Diamond is largely accepted as the crème de la crème of tile saws. They produce more models and sell more saws than everyone else put together. MK Diamond makes a variety of tile saw models, including this 24-inch model. It comes with a 1.5 HP Baldor motor, with permanently lubricated shaft bearings.

Although there’s a 10-inch wet cut diamond blade included, this tile saw also accommodates 6-inch and 8-inch profile wheels. The multi-position motor post and cutting head allow for plunge cuts and the smaller sized wheels while a blade shaft lock makes changing blades fast and easy. This saw has been a favorite of rental companies due to its tough construction and long life. Lastly, this model comes with a stand.

Bosch’s tile saw comes equipped with a 1.4 HP motor, turning at 4,200 RPM. It has a 24-inch capacity, or 18 inches on the diagonal. The expanded rear and side water collection trays help prevent over-spray and optimize water retention. The table is rubberized for secure positioning of the tile, without moving and has sealed bearings for longer life. This one also has plunge capacity,  a spindle lock for easier blade changes, and now comes with a stand as well.

Moving to a manufacturer that most all contractors will know, we have DeWalts entry into the wet tile saw market. This 1-1/2 HP unit drives a 10-inch blade. The 24-inch ripping capacity will allow you to cut 18-inch tiles on the diagonal. DeWalt has put dual water nozzles on this unit, which strikes me as a pretty good idea. It handles plunge cuts and the miter settings are indexed for 45 degrees and 22.5 degrees, the only one that has that 22.5 degree setting.

The C.R. Lawrence saw is a modified Makita cordless circular saw. The major modification is the addition of a water bottle and feeding mechanism as well as a change of blade. There is probably also an additional seal, to prevent the water from getting into the drive mechanism or motor. Being a Makita, you can count on this saw to be quality and to last.

The incredibly small size means this saw can be used to make cuts in place, including plunge cuts, even in tight spaces. The motor turns at 1,400 RPM and the shoe tilts up to 45 degrees. The Li-Ion battery pack provides long-service life, along with fast recharge times. This same saw is also sold for cutting glass.

DeWalt’s saw is a more traditional circular saw design, with the addition of a water line. The water line is attached to a sink faucet or garden hose for a continuous water supply. An on-the-saw valve allows you to turn off the water when not in use.

The saw’s motor turns the 4-3/8” diamond blade at 13,000 RPM for faster cutting. A lock-on button makes it so you don’t have to maintain the trigger pressed, reducing operator error. This saw not only cuts through tile, but granite, porcelain, concrete and stone as well. The shoe bevels up to 45 degrees for angled cuts, as well as allowing the depth of cut to be set.

Hitachi weighs in with a saw that they're referring to as a masonry saw. Tile qualifies as masonry, but they’re making a statement that this saw can be used for more than just tile. It has an 11.6 amp motor, which produces a no-load speed of 11,500 RPM for great cutting efficiency.

This saw has a very short blade to base edge distance, for cuts in tight areas, and a one touch lever or adjusting the depth of cut. The armature coil and ball bearing motor bearings are sealed to keep dust out and help ensure long life. Low vibration and an elastomeric covered handle help with operator comfort.

MK Diamond, Produces a wide range of stationary tile saws, and this one handheld unit. This is the same style as the Skil tile saw and could possibly even have been made by them. The differences between the two are somewhat insignificant. The motor is a little smaller than the Skil unit, at 8.75 amps, compared to 11. However, this is a dry saw only, with no provision for adding a water feed, either from a bottle or from a hose. That will drastically reduce blade life.

QEP is one of the largest manufacturers of tile saws, with a broad product lineup. That made it very surprising to find that they have the least expensive handheld tile saw on the market. If you don't use one all the time, this is a great bargain. It comes with a 1-3/5 HP motor that draws 10 amps. Depth of cut and shoe bevel are easily adjustable and the motor is double insulated to prevent water damage. A rubber grip has been added for comfort and the on-off switch is a push button.