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Choosing between masonry saw and a wet tile saw
If you are working on a project that involves cutting rough materials such as concrete or breeze blocks, granite, porcelain or stone, you will have to choose between a concrete wet saw, or most likely, between a masonry saw or a wet tile saw. Both options could perfectly perform those cuts, but depending on the desired results of your project, you should choose one or another.
That is why in this article, we will explain which kind of saw works better for a specific project.
How to choose between a masonry saw and a wet tile saw?
In a few words, there are two characteristics to check out when it comes to choose between these two machines. First of all, you should measure the thickness of the blocks or materials that you need to cut through. Then, you need to consider if you will be needing mitre capabilities on your saw.
In general terms, masonry wet saws are capable of cutting deeper than tile saws. In fact, a small masonry hand saw could cut about four inches whereas a standard wet tile saw could cut only half of that. Basically, masonry saws have a deeper capacity of cutting. Let’s say that you are cutting a typical floor tile and a standard brick: the tile saw would easily cut the tile, but a masonry saw would be more suitable for cutting the brick.
Concerning cutting miter joints, it is a more accessible component on tile saws than on masonry saws, even though there are special cases, obviously. For mitre cutting, you need the option of leaning the cutting head of your saw, so the blade cuts the material at a 45º angle. The purpose of this angles is to fit two mitre cut pieces, putting them together like on top of an exterior corner or putting together two tiles. If your project requires this type of cuts, we recommend you a tile saw. However, don’t forget to check the specific indications of the saw before buying it.
The final factor when choosing between a tile saw or a masonry saw
If these differences between a tile saw and a masonry saw are not enough for you to make your mind, the last consideration that you should keep in mind, is the price. Wet masonry saws are usually more expensive because they can cut rougher materials, and they are more heavy-duty. To sum up, they can be used for many purposes. Wet tile saws are cheaper, but they should not be used to cut heavy and large materials. The price also depends on the store or supplier, but in general they follow this pattern.
So, finally, which saw should you use? If you have some heavy materials and you don’t need to cut a mitre joint, we highly recommend you the wet masonry saw. Nevertheless, if your materials are thin enough, like floor tiles, or if you think you will need to perform a 45º degree angle cutting, the best option would be a wet tile saw.
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