Recommend me a wet saw
Discussion
Hi all,
After some insane quotes to have a patio laid (since when was labour >£300 sqm?!), I may well be opting to do it myself. Originally was thinking of porcelain, but may revert to natural stone if DIYing as likely easier to cut and slightly more forgiving.
Been looking at wet saws, and seem to be a vast range of capabilities/costs even within manufacturers, and so not sure what I really need. Total area to be laid is about 90sqm, and thinking of using 600x400x30mm limestone now. Was looking at some Rubi saws, but not sure if those around £500 will be up to the job? Likewise, guessing those over £1500 are a bit overkill for something like this as a one-off use? Obviously doesn't need to be fully 'trade-rated' as not going to be doing this ongoing.
Worth also noting that I need to build a retaining wall out of blocks at some point too, so would be useful to have something which could also be used to cut a concrete block to size as well as tiles.
Thanks!
After some insane quotes to have a patio laid (since when was labour >£300 sqm?!), I may well be opting to do it myself. Originally was thinking of porcelain, but may revert to natural stone if DIYing as likely easier to cut and slightly more forgiving.
Been looking at wet saws, and seem to be a vast range of capabilities/costs even within manufacturers, and so not sure what I really need. Total area to be laid is about 90sqm, and thinking of using 600x400x30mm limestone now. Was looking at some Rubi saws, but not sure if those around £500 will be up to the job? Likewise, guessing those over £1500 are a bit overkill for something like this as a one-off use? Obviously doesn't need to be fully 'trade-rated' as not going to be doing this ongoing.
Worth also noting that I need to build a retaining wall out of blocks at some point too, so would be useful to have something which could also be used to cut a concrete block to size as well as tiles.
Thanks!
By all means splurge on an all singing, all dancing big Rubi wet saw for a couple grand.
But for what it s worth I laid 60sqm of porcelain patio this year (900x600x20mm slabs) with nothing more than a £30 4.5 Titan corded grinder with a porcelain blade from Amazon. Cut well and I think I probably cracked 3 slabs total (usually on the more complex cuts). Never laid a slab in my life previously.
But for what it s worth I laid 60sqm of porcelain patio this year (900x600x20mm slabs) with nothing more than a £30 4.5 Titan corded grinder with a porcelain blade from Amazon. Cut well and I think I probably cracked 3 slabs total (usually on the more complex cuts). Never laid a slab in my life previously.
If it's 30mm limestone then most bridge saws with the height clearance will do it easily. It's cutting thick porcelain that is harder work. Blade does make a big difference.
I have a wet bridge saw but I don't think the manufacturer still does them. The semi-cheap Rubi and similar can be a bit noddy considering the price.
I seem to remember the fanciest portable made to order Italian ones were £2.5k or thereabouts, which in the grand scheme didn't seem a lot extra compared to the basic ones.
Biggest issue outside cost is they're not the smallest lightest things so while mine does get used every so often it's a bit of a pain to store it and move it.
Wet bridge saw is definitely the way the go for easy long straight cuts especially in porcelain, but a 9" grinder and steady hand can slice that sort of stone pretty well too done dry. My 125mm Bosch with its wheeled extractor cover could do it too against a straight edge.
I have a wet bridge saw but I don't think the manufacturer still does them. The semi-cheap Rubi and similar can be a bit noddy considering the price.
I seem to remember the fanciest portable made to order Italian ones were £2.5k or thereabouts, which in the grand scheme didn't seem a lot extra compared to the basic ones.
Biggest issue outside cost is they're not the smallest lightest things so while mine does get used every so often it's a bit of a pain to store it and move it.
Wet bridge saw is definitely the way the go for easy long straight cuts especially in porcelain, but a 9" grinder and steady hand can slice that sort of stone pretty well too done dry. My 125mm Bosch with its wheeled extractor cover could do it too against a straight edge.
No affiliation to eBay link, I have same as this one, paid a whopping £60 for it used.
https://ebay.us/m/RNtRYS
Replaced the blade when I purchased with one from ATS.
Have done my bathroom in marble with it and so far around 60 sqm of 600 x 400 x 30 mandarin stone Dijon tumbled limestone slabs in the garden.
Have even cut granite worktop with it.
Occasionally it may stall if forcing it on a cut, but really no issues. Induction quiet motor too.
https://ebay.us/m/RNtRYS
Replaced the blade when I purchased with one from ATS.
Have done my bathroom in marble with it and so far around 60 sqm of 600 x 400 x 30 mandarin stone Dijon tumbled limestone slabs in the garden.
Have even cut granite worktop with it.
Occasionally it may stall if forcing it on a cut, but really no issues. Induction quiet motor too.
ScottJB said:
By all means splurge on an all singing, all dancing big Rubi wet saw for a couple grand.
But for what it s worth I laid 60sqm of porcelain patio this year (900x600x20mm slabs) with nothing more than a £30 4.5 Titan corded grinder with a porcelain blade from Amazon. Cut well and I think I probably cracked 3 slabs total (usually on the more complex cuts). Never laid a slab in my life previously.
I can second the angle grinder with a good blade is all you need for diy.But for what it s worth I laid 60sqm of porcelain patio this year (900x600x20mm slabs) with nothing more than a £30 4.5 Titan corded grinder with a porcelain blade from Amazon. Cut well and I think I probably cracked 3 slabs total (usually on the more complex cuts). Never laid a slab in my life previously.
I laid my porcelain patio with one, and didnt crack any tiles, even cut out one for a drain and shaped the cutout part to fit in the drain cover no problems.
It did make alot of dust, so a mask and goggles a must, but i never felt i needed anything more.
If you have/buy a compatible Bosch grinder (not all are, they have more than one size of quick release fitting) and get one of these https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gde-115-125-fc-t-... (from someone selling at a less outrageous price), or get the 230mm equivalent, then it just makes life so much easier.
Reduces the dust to almost nothing, catches the debris AND makes cutting nice & straight at constant depth much much easier too. Really makes life easy. Wouldn't be without it now.
Reduces the dust to almost nothing, catches the debris AND makes cutting nice & straight at constant depth much much easier too. Really makes life easy. Wouldn't be without it now.
OutInTheShed said:
I have a cheap wet 'tile cutting' thing, circular diamond blade with water bath.
Like a table saw basically.
It's controlled, accurate, safe etc.
I'd guess a grown up version of that would be the proper job?
Those work OK for the little thin stuff but for the bigger ones it's much easier to move the blade not the tile. Great for doing long cuts without any risk of wandering or cracking the tile because you twisted it against the blade or something. Like a table saw basically.
It's controlled, accurate, safe etc.
I'd guess a grown up version of that would be the proper job?
Also the bridge saws usually don't chuck so much water about as they're cutting down not up and the spray is easier to catch. No blade guard/support in the way either.
I do have a fairly big fancy version of the table wet saw but it's a different beast for a different type of job.
I bought a used professional overhead Rubi when doing my patio because there are very few cheaper saws which will accurately cut a 900mm tile lengthways. The blades are not cheap (£70 each!) but it really did make the job easy. At the end of the day, sold the saw for what I paid for it, having had to put 1 blade in. Would whole heartedly recommend a bridge saw over any alternative for speed and ease of use.
I have cut the odd tile using a angle grinder, ebay blade, and my mrs trickling the hose on it for bigger cuts. But I dont think I would want to do a whole patio doing that.
I havent looked at all, but dont forget whatever you buy can then be sold on. If you buy used, you might well sell it on for the same price or even a better price.
I havent looked at all, but dont forget whatever you buy can then be sold on. If you buy used, you might well sell it on for the same price or even a better price.
One thing to watch out for.. or perhaps check or even add a laser to your wet saw..
Good chance not every slab will be 100% square, if you cutting on the 600 side this will create a lovely perfectly straight but non parallel cut to the other side.
Can get around this of course if you use the other long side for alignment, but that's not how mine works at least.
Good chance not every slab will be 100% square, if you cutting on the 600 side this will create a lovely perfectly straight but non parallel cut to the other side.
Can get around this of course if you use the other long side for alignment, but that's not how mine works at least.
Don't like leaving a post un-concluded, so thought I'd follow up to say I ended up getting a Rubi DV200 wet saw. I've had it delivered and tested it out on some 30mm thick tile samples I had whilst I wait for the actual tiles to be delivered.
Cut through them very easily, and the addition of water to the saw really does make it zero dust.
Not cheap, but seems like it will be an excellent tool for the job. Only downside is the physical size and weight of it, which is pretty hefty!
I suspect that I could probably sell it for 2/3rds of the new price when I'm done with it based on the handful that I've seen on online marketplaces.
Cut through them very easily, and the addition of water to the saw really does make it zero dust.
Not cheap, but seems like it will be an excellent tool for the job. Only downside is the physical size and weight of it, which is pretty hefty!
I suspect that I could probably sell it for 2/3rds of the new price when I'm done with it based on the handful that I've seen on online marketplaces.
Forums | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff