Chemical additives produce another negative side effect. Not to mention inhaling antifreeze mist is not the safest way to work. However, working with frigid water constantly streaming over your hands and misting your face is a real productivity buster. Others have tried adding window washer fluid, anti-freeze, or even alcohol to their water reservoir to prevent freezing. Some construct time-consuming wet saw tents or use plastic kiddie pools to try and contain water output but…spoiler alert…water still gets everywhere. Even if you attempt to contain the messy run-off, it is very difficult to control all the spray and mist exuding from the saw itself.
However, most professionals have found that clients, home owners, and other sub-contractors cannot tolerate the mess that accompany wet tile saw operation. On paper, the idea to simply move your cutting station inside is very tempting. Past Solution Attemptsĭesperate to avoid costly downtime during a winter off-season, tile and stone cutters have turned to many different methods in the past to keep their wet tile saws running during the winter months. Keeping your tiles, stones, grouts, and mortars at warm temperatures makes them easier to cut, produces better cuts, and makes them easier to set, install, and cure. It is important to find a warm location to store your materials to reduce costly waste and produce higher quality results. Tiles and stone also become more brittle in cold temperatures.
TILE SAW PLUS
Plus when the temperatures drop below freezing, reservoirs, pumps, and supply lines freeze up which renders your wet tile saw useless. Cutting tile after tile with frigid water pouring around your hands and spraying around your face is a miserable way to complete a project. When the temperatures drop, so do the temperatures of your water reservoir. Operating a wet tile saw during the winter presents obvious challenges. Most find them easier to fill, drain, and use than reservoir trays. 5 gallon buckets significantly increase your water capacity as well so you can cut for longer without refilling.
Using an external bucket reservoir makes it easier to keep clean water entering the pump instead of using the sediment filled run-off. This results in a cleaner, fresher cut than if you were using a dry tile cutter.Įven though wet tile saws include a water reservoir tray at the base of the saw, many professionals find it more efficient to place their pump into a clean 5 gallon bucket. Wet tiles and stones are less brittle and easier to cut.
TILE SAW FREE
Not only does this water source keep the grinding wheel from overheating, it produces a cleaner chip free cut while reducing dust and debris. Water is pumped continuously both over the wheel and over the material being cut. These electric table saws do not technically use a blade at all, and instead use a diamond coated grinding wheel. Wet tile saws are essential tools for cutting ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and stone.