Tile Saw

[Renee S]

After seeing all the wonderful designs that a person can create with pattern bars, I decided to give it a try. Now there's only one problem. I need a tile saw. Haborfreight has a Chicago 2.5hp, 10" industrial tile/brick saw for $200. Lowes has a MK370 7" 1/2hp for $300. I found in the old archives a post by Lisa Allen that said she loves her MK370. I was wondering if anyone has the Chicago saw and if they like it. Also, Lisa if you read this post are you still using your MK370? Is it still holding up to all of your wonderful pattern bars or have you move on to a professional model saw? The post I found was in March 2003.

Renee S

[charlie]

i have the hf saw. i tiled my house with it (about 3000 sqft) of tile and granite. i use it for cutting glass also. still going strong. you'll need a better blade than the one it comes with. you also need the leg set unless you're going to put it on something, but the legs are too short so i put 2 5 gallon buckets under the legs. look into this if you need saw legs: http://www.mytoolstore.com/trojan/troj08.html

[Jenny]

You can get a MK 370 for $280 at amazon plus free shipping

[charlie]

You can get a MK 370 for $280 at amazon plus free shipping

plus there's a link for 25 off on that same page.

[Lisa Allen]

Hey Renee-
My MK 370 works fine for cutting pattern bars. The only problems with it is that it is quite loud and when I started making thicker and larger slabs, I found it harder to slide the slabs through and get even cuts. But I am making slabs that are 12"x14"x1.5" in depth. If you are going to do smaller slabs or do little loaves to slice up, it will be fine......goes all day.

I decided to upgrade to the MK 100 to accomodate the larger slabs and that is the saw that I love. It runs very quietly and easily holds the larger slabs. You can do a search for either saw on google and get a better deal than from Home Depot or Lowes. Most offer free shipping as well. Save all you can on the saws, as the blades aren't cheap, especially for the MK100.

Lisa

[Ron Coleman]

I just ordered the MK 100 saw myself, in fact I'm watching it inch its way closer to me this evening on the UPS tracking site. Won't get here till Monday afternoon.

What you want to do with the saw and how much use you plan on putting it too should help you decide which one to buy.

The entry level diamond saw would be something like this;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/145/145_1.html#

The motors are very noisy and the life of one of these saws is going to be rated in hours, just a few hours. The motors on these small saws are called "universal" motors and are similar to what you have in a vacuum cleaner or portable drill.

The next step up would be something like this;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/770/770_1.html#

More money but more sophisticated and it will last longer. However the motors are still the "universal" type with the asssoiciated noise and limited life.


A new tile saw design that is in the mid price range is something like this;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/100/100_1.html#

The motor on these units is still the "universal" design and will be noisy, but it should be a little more druable than the low end nuits. These units are not very big, looks can be deceiving.

This link shows what could be the most durable of the tile saw designs;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/100/100_1.html#

More money. but built to last for a number of years under heavy use. The motors on this type saw are "induction" motors, not the "universal" type and are very quiet.

Look around and check prices and features and accessories. To help determine which motor type a particular saw has, ask if the motor has "brushes". If it does, it's a "universal" type motor and noisy. If the salesman doesn't know, find a different salesman.

Ron

[Linda Reed]

Always go for the highest quality you can afford...

But, that said... I own a hf Chigago Electic Tile Saw that I used to tile our last house - about 1500 sq ft of tile, that I have loaned out to at least 5 different friends for kitchen and bath jobs and that I and a firend both use to cut glass with on a semi-regular basis. It is and has been a real work horse. Can't say if that was a fluke or not, but I would guess it is about 6 years old and the pump has gone out a few times (replaced with a parts washer pump), and it just spins on.

Linda

[Renee S]

Thanks for all the information. Now that I know
what to look for I can make the right choice.

This Board is great. :biggrin:

Renee

Happy Slicing

[Steve Immerman]

I initially purchased a Harbor Freight saw. Hated it.

Now have a MK 100. Love it.

Steve

[BillBrach]

I recently bought the MK145 to cut glass with.

Yes, it is VERY loud and also, seems too fast for cutting small pieces of glass. So, to solve both of these, I used a 1500 watt industrial light dimmer to slow it down to a more reasonable speed.

Now, you can work at it without feeling like you need ear muffs.

The only problem I still have to solve is the lousy cut. It likes to chip out a LOT on the backside of the glass.

I'm trying to find better blades, but don't want to invest $50 or more, until I know if it will cut well. Got a couple Lopacki ( http://www.lopacki.com/sawblades/ ) blades on order, and will report back after I try one.

Anybody got recommendations on other blades I could try ??

Bill Brachhold

[dee]

A new tile saw design that is in the mid price range is something like this;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/100/100_1.html#

The motor on these units is still the "universal" design and will be noisy, but it should be a little more druable than the low end nuits. These units are not very big, looks can be deceiving.

This link shows what could be the most durable of the tile saw designs;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/100/100_1.html#

More money. but built to last for a number of years under heavy use. The motors on this type saw are "induction" motors, not the "universal" type and are very quiet.

Look around and check prices and features and accessories. To help determine which motor type a particular saw has, ask if the motor has "brushes". If it does, it's a "universal" type motor and noisy. If the salesman doesn't know, find a different salesman.

Ron[/quote]

ron, you've got the same link in there twice - which one is the induction motor type?
D

[Ron Coleman]

A new tile saw design that is in the mid price range is something like this;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/170/170_1.html#

The motor on these units is still the "universal" design and will be noisy, but it should be a little more druable than the low end nuits. These units are not very big, looks can be deceiving.

This link shows what could be the most durable of the tile saw designs;

http://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/pages/100/100_1.html#

More money. but built to last for a number of years under heavy use. The motors on this type saw are "induction" motors, not the "universal" type and are very quiet.

Look around and check prices and features and accessories. To help determine which motor type a particular saw has, ask if the motor has "brushes". If it does, it's a "universal" type motor and noisy. If the salesman doesn't know, find a different salesman.

Ron

ron, you've got the same link in there twice - which one is the induction motor type?
D[/quote]

OOps sorry, didn't proof read my post.

They are straight now, even if I'm not. The MK100 has the induction motor. Try the links above.

Ron

[dee]

OOps sorry, didn't proof read my post.

They are straight now, even if I'm not. The MK100 has the induction motor. Try the links above.

Ron[/quote]

thanks ron - what about the 660? says it's a direct drive motor - being mechanically ignorant, i have no clue what all that techie jargon is ;P
D

[Ron Coleman]

Good observation Dee, the 660 has a universal motor too. Just about all the "built in" motors are the universal type.

Universal motors are good for lots of power in a small package because they run at very high speed. The price to pay is noise, both from the high speed motor and the gears used to reduce the speed to something usable.

Ron

[dee]

Good observation Dee, the 660 has a universal motor too. Just about all the "built in" motors are the universal type.

Universal motors are good for lots of power in a small package because they run at very high speed. The price to pay is noise, both from the high speed motor and the gears used to reduce the speed to something usable.

Ron

hmmmm this one is supposed to be quiet according to their info....
D

[Kathie Karancz]

Hey guys:
I just bought the Taurus 3 Ring Saw (remember I'm a tool junkie) and they have a separate blade to buy which they claim is for pattern bars. I bought the extra blade (cost me $95.00 Canadian) and I haven't taken it out of the package yet. Anybody have experience with the heavy duty blade, cuz if it doesn't work, I will take it back.
Thanks ahead of time!!

[lucky]

The mega blade for the Taurus III works fine. Definately worth the money. The larger blade won't stretch your belt like the regular blade will. (Found out the hard way).

As for the Harbor Freight 2.5 hp Tile Saw. Love it.

[dblood]

I'm looking to do lots of production cutting of 1/8" glass, all straight cuts. I tried a cheap tile saw from Home Depot, but it chipped the edges too much and the blade is thick so it creates a lot of rough grit that gets in the way. I'm thinking of trying a lapidary slab saw because they come with really thin blades (in the area of 0.02"), and I assume they are smooth-cutting. Any opinions on this?

[dee]

I'm looking to do lots of production cutting of 1/8" glass, all straight cuts. I tried a cheap tile saw from Home Depot, but it chipped the edges too much and the blade is thick so it creates a lot of rough grit that gets in the way. I'm thinking of trying a lapidary slab saw because they come with really thin blades (in the area of 0.02"), and I assume they are smooth-cutting. Any opinions on this?

uhm, is this unfused sheets? wouldn't hand cutting with a morton system or strip cutter work better?
D

[AZ gram]

I'm confused. Will the Taurus III mega blade cut pattern bars? I would like to occasionally do something with pattern bars and I do have the Taurus III.