Ridgid or Harbor Freight Tile Saw?

[clinebarger]

looks pretty good except here Cline.
is that a Schluter SS rail?

Yeah....It's not perfect, I was surprised how much large format tile is warped & how difficult it is to hide it tight spaces.

Yes....I used Schluter Rail, man that stuff is high dollar!!!

I'm quite happy with the results & not so sure from what I've seen that the Day Laborers contractors use would've done a better job?

 

[UncleDave]

Yeah....It's not perfect, I was surprised how much large format tile is warped & how difficult it is to hide it tight spaces.

Yes....I used Schluter Rail, man that stuff is high dollar!!!

I'm quite happy with the results & not so sure from what I've seen that the Day Laborers contractors use would've done a better job?

Pretty sure they wouldn't. Your work is better than mine.

Mrs Uncle Dave is pretty darn good at it.

 

[clinebarger]

After dealing with Hexagon tile.....Wish I would've used square 2x2's like that.

 

[ccs368]

I have the exact same Diamondback saw from Harbor Freight. I believed I paid under $300 over a year ago. My decision was based on ability to cut large format tiles and this model suit this requirement. I had a cheapie $75 model decades ago and tossed it because the fence was so inaccurate. What I liked was the sliding table on the Diamondback. That was a feature that I was convinced after the previous throwaway unit and performs well.

The saw was easy to put together but the steel sleeves included to secure the saw to the frame was defective and luckily I had to drill it out to remove the burrs otherwise the bolts will not go through.

I did not use the included blade but one (GoYonder blue) which had great reviews for granite but was ultimately disappointed because of the chipping left on the edges caused by the design of the blade exiting the cut. You just have to be mindful on where the cut is to be placed (preferably under the baseboards) so not so revealing.

 

[dlundblad]

Random, but while the conversation is going on, is tile a thing a DIY’r should attempt?

 

[spasm3]

Random, but while the conversation is going on, is tile a thing a DIY’r should attempt?

I'll let you know lol!

 

[spasm3]

Random, but while the conversation is going on, is tile a thing a DIY’r should attempt?

Just grouted , turned out ok!

 

[UncleDave]

Random, but while the conversation is going on, is tile a thing a DIY’r should attempt?

Depends on what you are trying to do and what your background in things like this are.

Id say if you have a project and time try for something simple.

If you were local you could just use our saw, we've got tons of use of that fairly cheap saw.

Im terrible at it but can get it done in a disproportionally long time. The wife is really good.

 

[Warstud]

Bought a used Ridgid tile saw off facecrook marketplace for $100, Water pump intake was clogged & blade was burnt, Cleaning/Back Flushing the intake & a new Diablo blade made it work like new.

Renovating my bathroom has by far been the most challenging home project I've ever undertaken, But with quotes of $15,000 & up, Had no choice when I can do it for $5,000 in materials which included A Lot of Plumping, Framing & Water-Proofing NOT included in those quotes.

Doing the Grout now, In which I spend more time cleaning than actual Grouting seems like.

Looks nice....did you start in the middle and work out ?

 

[clinebarger]

Looks nice....did you start in the middle and work out ?

In the shower pan....I started in the middle around the drain. On the floor I started from the wall opposite the toilet & sink....My house is over 120 years old & the walls aren't very square & had to create the illusion of being square by hiding the slight angled cuts behind the toilet & sink.

If anyone is using large format tile on the walls....Those wedge type leveling systems helped me a ton. They also helped with the large hexagon floor tile but in took about 200 T's & Wedges. The wedges can be reused over & over if you don't get them covered in mortar

 

[spasm3]

In the shower pan....I started in the middle around the drain. On the floor I started from the wall opposite the toilet & sink....My house is over 120 years old & the walls aren't very square & had to create the illusion of being square by hiding the slight angled cuts behind the toilet & sink.

If anyone is using large format tile on the walls....Those wedge type leveling systems helped me a ton. They also helped with the large hexagon floor tile but in took about 200 T's & Wedges. The wedges can be reused over & over if you don't get them covered in mortar

Do the T portions break off low enough that that don't interfere or show up on the grout?

 

[clinebarger]

You have to pull on them straight to break them off at the base. If you try to tear them off from the side.....Pieces will stick up.

 

[Warstud]

In the shower pan....I started in the middle around the drain. On the floor I started from the wall opposite the toilet & sink....My house is over 120 years old & the walls aren't very square & had to create the illusion of being square by hiding the slight angled cuts behind the toilet & sink.

If anyone is using large format tile on the walls....Those wedge type leveling systems helped me a ton. They also helped with the large hexagon floor tile but in took about 200 T's & Wedges. The wedges can be reused over & over if you don't get them covered in mortar

I see alot of bad tile jobs out there in public bathrooms where the job wasn't planned out right and they start tiling at one end with a full tile and when they get to the other end they a sliver of piece. Really looks bad. Looks better starting in the middle and working out so both pieces on the end are the same size.

 

[UncleDave]

Glad I didnt sell the thing after the last set of jobs when I was " done" (done - thats cute)

Went to replace a toilet - rotted floor. #$%^&*#

Doing another tile floor with the diamondback, pulled it off the shelf in the garage last night...

Here we go again.....

 

[Silver]

I notice a lot of tile saws for sale used. Facebook, craigslist, etc. A 40 year old craftsman would be better than a HF.

 

[Andrew1972]

I go by my grandfather's mantra. Buy the less expensive low - mid range tool to do job. If/when you break it buy the better typically more expensive one. Otherwise you might end up with a lot of expensive tools you barely ever use.

 

[UncleDave]

I notice a lot of tile saws for sale used. Facebook, craigslist, etc. A 40 year old craftsman would be better than a HF.

Could be great, could be someone else's junk.

This cheapie has gotten me through 2 kitchens, and three bathrooms now and still works great.

 

[spasm3]

The HF worked great for me, also tiled a washer/dryer closet. It's much quieter down stairs now after tile.
Probably the uncoupling mat helped.

 

[ondarvr]

I've had the HF model for maybe 7 years, my wife uses it to cut glass and I use for many different materials. It still works fine.