Cutting through wood and doing any kind of masonry work are two very different worlds. Masonry work includes any cutting done with stone, concrete, brick, or ceramic tile. Whereas a blade meant to cut through wood will have many teeth, a saw blade designed to do masonry work will usually only have notched edges. A saw blade meant for masonry work really does more grinding than cutting.
When using a saw blade to grind through masonry, some sort of cooling and lubricating system is a must. Without cooling, a masonry blade will quickly dull out, leading to slower cuts and eventually breaking down. The heat that builds up without a cooling system can also damage the material that is being grinded.
When you are shopping for a masonry saw, you ll want to go for the most horsepower available with your budget. More horsepower means more grinding power, leading to jobs that get done faster. The depth capacity of the saw is another important factor to consider, as that will determine the size of the blades that you can employ. Just as with the horsepower of the saw, a larger blade will shorten the work that you must do.
There are several types of masonry saws to choose from. The tile cutter is the least expensive masonry saw on the market. A tile cutter functions by slicing a score into a piece of tile and then cracking that tile in two. Although a tile cutter is an affordable option to begin with, it is also inappropriate for most projects that do not involve tile. For the simplest of jobs, such as retiling a bathroom, the tile cutter will suffice.
A wet tile saw is a step up from a simple tile cutter, and can make life quite a bit easier when working with tile. The wet tile saw looks like a small table saw. Water is sprayed at the saw blade as it passes through the tile to prevent over heating. The run off water collects in a tray underneath the table, and is then recycled to be sprayed over the saw blade again. A wet tile saw is definitely the way to go if you intend to do a good deal of work with tiles.
There are also circular tile and masonry saws available. Circular tile or masonry saws are often cordless, giving you the mobility that you may sometimes need. The primary difference between a wood cutting circular saw and a masonry saw is the presence of a cooling or lubrication system to keep the blade from overheating.
If you need to cut through stone or brick, then a full fledged masonry saw is what you ll need. A masonry saw may look like a wet tile saw, but these machines are much larger, and are often gas powered. Blade sizes range from 10 to 14 on a masonry saw.
Masonry saws are going to be more expensive than their wood cutting counterparts. It is important, however, that you choose a saw that is right for the job. Using something for a purpose other than what it is designed to do can lead to equipment failure and possibly personal danger.
Author Resource:-
Sean Duncan is a woodworking tools expert. He frequently writes for http://onlysaws.com - a website featuring a selection guide for various types of saws and other woodworking tools.
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