Tile Cutter Vs Wet Saw – Which is Right for Your Home Project?

Tile cutting is challenging without the right tool. An aesthetically satisfying finish can be achieved when you cut tiles in the right shape and size. You can’t install tile in edges to a required size when you don’t have the ideal tool in your hand.

So, which tool cuts tile precisely? 

Tile cutter and wet saw both are efficient tile cutting tools. But picking any of the tools is a wise decision. Therefore, which one to choose between tile cutter vs. wet saw?

Well, don’t get confused; I am here to help you. In this blog post, I’m going to compare a tile cutter to a wet saw. The wet saw has a blade that cuts the material in a controlled, consistent fashion and the tile cutter does not. This is a pretty basic distinction, but it is important to understand. I will go through each machine and talk about what it is, how it works, how it’s used, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

What is the Tile Cutter?

Tile cutters are inexpensive tools well-known for delivering clean cuts. They are not electrical nor battery-powered, which means they are a manual tool. They score and snap tiles following a 2-step process. 

After scoring the tile on the exact location, they snap the tile off in order to create the ideal size. Since it is a manually operated tool, working with it is extremely easy. Extensive professional skill is not mandatory to operate the tool.

It is suitable for cutting straight lines through soft tiles and handling small tile cutting projects. They can be used to cut ceramic, porcelain, and glass tiles. You should use the tile cutter on soft tiles to get clean cuts. If you are looking for a durable, cost-effective way to tile a floor, consider the use of tile cutters. Tile cutters are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and prices. They are a very economical and simple way to tile floors.

Quick Pros of manual tile cutter:

• Tile cutters are more affordable than wet saws
• It can be an effective and easy way to make tiles
• Easily fit it into your work area
• Create a variety of patterns, such as diamonds, squares, or hexagons
• Can make small designs with this option
• Most tile cutters are exceptionally portable. You can bring the tool to your working area to reduce your preparation time.
• It’s easy to use.
• This is a budget-friendly alternative to a wet saw.
• You can save money
• Ideal for beginners, since it only requires a few simple steps and a lot of time to get the hang of.

Cons:

• It can be dangerous to your health to score and break tile for the first time
• The tile cutter cannot be used for ceramic or granite tiles
• The blades may be dull and not sharp
• The blades may be dull and not sharp
• A tile cutter can cause serious injury if you use it incorrectly
• The tile cutter may not always cut properly when you use it on tile
• It can take some practice to get used to the feel of the blades
• When cutting a tile with a tile cutter, you have to make sure the blade is at the proper angle. 

What is a Wet Saw?

A wet saw is a tool that is used for cutting glass and tile materials. Wet saws are designed with a special blade that is dipped into a container of water. When you are cutting, you need to press down hard on the handle to make sure that you are cutting through the right part of the material. The blade of a wet saw can easily slip off when you are working on a tile or other hard material. 

Wet saws are a great way to cut large tiles. They are easy to use and are able to make a nice cut. Wet saws are very useful in making decorative cuts on large tiles. The saws can cut up to a tile with a diameter of 18 inches. This is quite a big size for the saws to handle, but they can still do it easily.

Are you looking to take your tile cutting abilities to the next level? A wet tile saw is an electrically-powered tool that cuts various tiles with its rotating diamond blade. The blade is sturdy and powerful to cut through any thick materials and reduces error.

When cutting tiles, a wet tile saw creates dust. That is why it comes with a consistent water spray system that sprays water to reduce the dust. Wet tile saws are suitable for fast and precise cuts and great for dealing with larger tile cutting jobs.

Quick Pros of Wet tile saw:

• You can cut through tile, stone, wood, metal, glass, and other hard materials.
• The tile saw can be used on a variety of surfaces
• As you use your tile saw, it will save you time and money
• The wet sawing technique creates a very clean cut line
• The tile saw is designed for heavy-duty cutting
• It’s easy to use and simple to maintain
• You can easily access the blade and motor
• You can easily pull the blade out
• You can get through your work quickly
• You can get started with little effort
• The tile saw is easy to transport and store.

Cons:

• There is no real advantage to using a wet tile saw over a dry tile saw.
• A wet tile saw is heavy and it needs a lot of space to move around, which makes it difficult to store.
• In addition to being large, a wet tile saw is loud and cumbersome.
• A wet tile saw can be dangerous if you do not properly follow all of its safety procedures
• You could use a wet tile saw to cut tiles that are smaller than a foot long and it would not be safe for someone who does not know how to use it.

Quick Comparison Chart – Electric Saw vs. Manual Tile Cutter

Take a quick look at the below comparison table of manual and saw tile cutter.

Features	Tile Cutter	Wet Tile Saw
Operational Method	Electric	Manual
Ease of Use	Hassle-free using	Little practice is necessary
Cutting Tile	Cuts softer tiles precisely	Cuts both softer and harder tiles
Cleanliness	Doesn’t create a mess	Creates dust
Weight	Lightweight and Portable	Bulky
Performance	Quick but not as much as a wet tile saw	The faster and powerful blade
Project Compatibility	Ideal for smaller tile cutting projects	Best for larger tile cutting projects

In-depth Discussion – Tile Cutter vs. Wet Saw

The tile cutter and the wet saw aren’t just two different ways to do the same job. They’re two totally different ways to go about doing the job. A tile cutter is a tool that’s built for a job, and its sole purpose is to make the job easier for the person using it. It’s a very specialized tool. The wet saw, on the other hand, is a general-purpose tool. It can be used for a multitude of different jobs. It’s a very versatile tool, but it can’t do the work as well as the tile cutter.

Learning about the fundamental differences will let you determine between a snap tile cutter and a wet saw. Take a moment and read below.

Tile Cutting Types

Tile cutters are only suitable for a straight cut. Making curved cuts is not possible with this tool. On the other hand, wet saws are efficient in making straight cuts, intricate cuts, and curved shapes. 

Moreover, cutting glass tiles will be a troublesome task with a tile cutter. The glass tile will break if you try to cut it with a tile cutter. But with a wet tile saw, you can comfortably do this because it contains a diamond-tipped blade that makes the task easier.

However, both are much efficient in delivering clean cuts.

Convenience

As stated earlier, tile cutters are manually operated tools. In comparison, wet tile saws run with electricity. A tile cutter has to depend on a human to be operated, which means if the user makes a mistake and misuses the tool, the outcome will also be imperfect.

In contrast, a wet tile saw relies on electricity when operated. The machine is entirely useless when electricity is not there.

Tile Cutting Tasks Size

A wet tile saw is faster, powerful, and delivers precise results than a tile cutter. This characteristic makes it an ideal tool for handling larger tile cutting projects. All you need to do is, set up the tool in an open space so that the created dust can’t make any hassle in the cutting process. 

Besides, tile cutters are best for delivering precise results in smaller projects like installing or renovating tiles of a small room. In simpler words, when installing tile in-home, choose a manual tile cutter.

However, depending on the project type, it is necessary to pick the tool.

Size and Skill

In terms of size, wet saws are large, big, and bulkier compared to tile cutters. It consumes a large area, and installing it is a cumbersome task. Due to the wet saws’ water supply feature, it is a bulky tool. It would be best if you work with it in an open space. Also, a little practice is compulsory to get familiar with this tool.

On the flip side, a tile cutter is a lightweight tool that will allow you to move around in your workplace without any trouble. It doesn’t take much space to get installed, and a novice or beginner can comfortably work with it. 

Ease of Use

Wet saws are an electrically-operating tool, and it has a water supply option too, don’t operate this tool with a damp hand. If you do so, you will more likely get an electric shock. A wet tile saw delivers the best performance when an experienced person works with it.

Therefore, working with a tile cutter is a breeze. It is a manually operated machine; it doesn’t have any safety issues. Both professionals and beginners can accomplish tile cutting tasks conveniently with a tile cutter.

Which Tool Should I Get?

Both tools have differences that you must know before picking the right one for your project. Hopefully, from the above discussion, it is now clear that buying a tile saw is ideal when the project is to handle large and dense tiles. And you will need a wet tile saw for handling larger projects because its blade is powerful and can cut both softer and harder tiles effortlessly.

Which is better-wet saw or tile cutter?

The best answer would be both! Wet saws and tile cutters are both versatile tools that can be used for multiple applications, including cutting tile, glass, vinyl, wood, and even drywall. But they also come with some downsides. While wet saws are less powerful, they tend to work well with wet materials, and hence they can be easier to use. On the other hand, tile cutters have more power and are great for cutting dry materials like tile, but they are more difficult to use.

Do you need to use a wet saw to cut tile?

The tile is very hard and durable, so it needs special tools to be cut. Using a wet saw on tiles can cause water damage to your floors, so you should use a dry saw instead. A dry saw is easier to handle and does not need a blade cover or lubricant to work properly.

What is the benefit of a wet tile saw?

A wet tile saw is a tool that cuts tiles, ceramic flooring, and other materials by using a water spray and a rotating blade to cut the material. A wet tile saw has several benefits compared to conventional tools such as power saws and circular saws. It uses less power, it’s quieter, and it has a lower risk of injury to you and your employees. However, it does not work as well with thicker materials, and hence, it’s not recommended for cutting marble, granite, or concrete. 

Can you cut tile with a dry saw?

Yes, you can use a dry saw to cut tile. But you’ll need a high-quality tile saw, or else it will probably damage your flooring.

Final Words

Tile Cutting, or cutting concrete and stone, is a job that requires a lot of precision. A wet saw is usually the best option, but you still need to know how to use it. When using a tile cutter, always keep in mind that you are cutting the tiles and the grout as well. You have to ensure that you don’t cut the tiles on the backside of the grout. It is very important to be able to cut and remove the tile correctly so that you do not damage the tile in any way. In order to be able to do this, it is necessary to know which areas of the tile should be cut and which ones should be left alone.