To do the amazing bathroom tile work, a wet saw is a great tool to have. While there are other saws and alternatives to cut the tiles, the wet saw is specifically designed for the tiles,  but before buying it, I recommend you to read wet tile saw reviews and buying guides; it will save you time to select one easily. During tile cutting, the chunk of the material or the particles fly around. With a wet tile saw, the dust stays in control, and the risk of injury stays reduced. Also, without the wet factor, the blade won’t serve longer and will break. People prefer wet saws more than any other saws because it is the right machine for tile cutting. However, you may get confused about renting or buying a wet tile saw.

You’ve started remodeling your bathroom or are looking to lay tile.

Let’s see which option is more beneficial-

The Working Principle of Wet Saw

 A wet tile saw looks similar to a table saw but in a smaller size.

The saw uses the diamond-edged carbide blade, which cuts the ceramic tiles rather than slicing the material and does the job.

It comprises a water reservoir which justifies the term wet with a tile saw.

During tile cutting, the tile saw pumps water through the blade to keep the dust in control and to save the blade from breaking.

The water stream’s function goes continuously, significantly reducing the risk of getting dust or particles into your eyes.

Since the blade and machine become hot during tile grinding, the regular flow of water keeps things cool and under control.

Alternative Methods

Other methods let the DIYer work without renting or purchasing a wet tile saw.

As the first alternative, you can use a snap tile or rail cutter.

This snaps the tile instantly; however, the cuts can be uneven if you are not focused enough while slicing.

Also, this method doesn’t work on thicker tiles.

As long as the tiles are thin, this can be the alternative.

You can use a circular saw if you already have it as a second substitute.

Using the diamond blade, you can achieve similar results as a wet tile saw.

However, this type of cutting would be dry, and there would be a lot of dust and injury chances if you get hit by those flying chips. (NJ.gov)

Hence, the practical and sensible choice should always be a wet tile saw unless you can compromise your safety.

Types of Wet Saws

There are two types of wet tile saws that you should know about.

 

Recirculating pump saws:

As the name implies, wet tile saws recirculate the same water.

Since it uses the same water repeatedly, it reduces the hassle of keeping the reservoir connected to the faucet.

Though the water gets filtered, it gets reused!

Freshwater source saws:

The saw doesn’t consist of a water reservoir.

The water comes straight from an external water source via the faucet.

This tile saw regulates fresh water for every cutting session.

People often go for this type because more styles and features are available for freshwater source saws.

Should you Buy or Rent Wet Tile Saws for Bathroom Repair?

Now that you know what tile wet saws are, how they work, and what the types are, you should decide whether to buy or rent.

Let’s understand the decision-making this way:

A wet tile saw costs anywhere from $100 to $150.

Renting a tile saw costs around $50 to $70 per day.

Therefore, if you need a tile saw for one-time use, it would be best to rent it.

Also, if you need to use the tile saw for more than one day, it is better to buy it again.

The price is not specific for rental or purchase purposes, so be specific with your calculations and determine which case is fair.

The storage space also plays a vital role in influencing buying decisions.

Since a tile saw needs plenty of space and the reservoir comes along too, you must have a place to store it.

Otherwise, it is best to rent the wet tile saw.

Always consider the portability, and basic and additional features while buying or renting a tile saw, as it should match your purpose.