Is this cheap Vitrex Tile saw any good?

[wau5]

Vitrex 113402NDE 450W Torque Master Tile Saw 240V - http://www.NoLinksToThis/p/vitrex-113402nde-450w-torque-master-tile-saw-240v/60888

( £35 at argos ).
Need it for about 10 ceramic tiles and about 20 travertine tiles, and that's probably all the use it will ever see.
I wasted almost a whole day trying to cut out squares for corners/joints in tiles with anglegrinder and than trying to make them even with nipper/rasp- the end result wasn't anything good so back to square 1
I do not want to hire one/or buy an expensive one as I really need it just for the cuts where you need something different than a straight line-for the rest I got good manual tile cutter already.

Maybe anyone has used/tried that tile saw and can comment if it's good enough and won't crap out on the first tile? I read some reviews about screwfix own-brand tile saws where those cheap ones are just total crap and die within cutting only a couple of tiles, but didn't see much bad reviews about this vitrex one.
Just want to try to get the best of the worst in this pricepoint?

 

[wau5]

found another cheapo without hordes of bad reviews, what about this Plasplugs saw?
Plasplugs Corded 110mm Wet Wheel Tile Cutter DWW200 | Departments | DIY at B&Q - http://www.diy.com/departments/plasplugs-corded-110mm-wet-wheel-tile-cutter-dww200/653270_BQ.prd

which one do you think would be better/has better build quality the vitrex or the plasplugs?

 

[wau5]

Or this QEP tile cutter from toolstation? (seems very similar in design to the vitrex one)
QEP Diamond Wheel Wet Tile Cutter 450W - Toolstation - http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p10565?searchstr=tile%20cutter

They all look very similar, however I got no idea what I should even look for , I'm sure some pros here would know which is the best from these worst tile cutters?

 

[Tile Shop]

Not used but based on others experiences, it all depends on what you are cutting. The plasplugs, turd. Stay well clear. They are proper crap!. The Vitrex 450/QEP, not got a very powerful motors. You'll find they will only cut ceramic adequately and struggle on anything else like porcelain or stone. Hear a few good things about 750w vitrex (Vitrex Power Pro 750 Wet Saw 240v 103420 | Buy Vitrex Wet Saws Online from Pro Tiler Tools - http://www.*******************/vitrex-wet-saws/1768/vitrex-power-pro-750-wet-saw-240v-103420).

So really depends on what you are cutting and what your budget is, but the more you spend the easier and longer lasting it will be. (And avoid the Rubi ND180. still feeling bitter about that one!)

Orrrrrr...... Buy a cheap angle grinder with a good blade. For a couple of one off jobs you could get the combo for less than £40......
Heres mine:
Draper 51747 115mm Angle Grinder 230V - Toolstation - http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Power+Tools/d40/Grinders/sd3149/Draper+51747+115mm+Angle+Grinder/p96949
Spectrum DX10 Turbo Diamond Blade 115 x 22.2mm - Toolstation - http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p67488?table=no

You can get better blades for less, but thats what they had in stock and I needed it there and then.

 

[wau5]

The thing is.. I had an angle grinder already, bought a blade for it, however I realized I'm not able to make straight perfect cuts with an angle grinder for large tiles , actually I don't think I could even cut a perfectly straight 5cm line with an angle grinder ( got no angle grinder skills + Can't see anything much with a guard on )

 

[Tile Shop]

Heres a tip from another thread you could try:

Long cuts freehand are much easier carried out if you pull the grinder through.
As long as your work piece is clamped to your cutting table you'll be able to have much more control as opposed to pushing it through, which is the most common way of doing it.
To do this all you need to do is flip the grinder over so that the cutting wheel is on your right side.
You'll also have to spin the guard around 180 degrees.
Cutting this way has an extra couple of advantages.
Sighting your line is easier, dust and debris is pushed away from you instead of towards you.
This is the way most full time natural stone fixers cut.

Could give that a go before forking out on a new cutter...... just a thought.

 

[Bill]

I have and use the Vitrex one, it will cut porcelain tiles but the blade is not great - it far easier to replace the blade with porcelain specific one, which I did, I bought one from Toolstation and it works perfectly. Obviously, it won't cut forever but for the price, it is a decent little machine and if you are lucky, it should last ages.

I am a tiler not a salesman.

 

[wau5]

I have and use the Vitrex one, it will cut porcelain tiles but the blade is not great - it far easier to replace the blade with porcelain specific one, which I did, I bought one from Toolstation and it works perfectly. Obviously, it won't cut forever but for the price, it is a decent little machine and if you are lucky, it should last ages.

I am a tiler not a salesman.

That's cool Tom,what kind of usage do you put yours through? once in a blue moon or rather frequently?

 

[Bill]

That's cool Tom,what kind of usage do you put yours through? once in a blue moon or rather frequently?

frequently but I use a few types, I probably use it once a week.

 

[wau5]

Interesting..
anyway, I just went to a local shop where they had the vitrex on display but at some £50 , not really impressed with the overall feel of it. so went to toolstation accross the road and bought their QEP £30 version, seems about the same overall..
However the build quality of it seems similar to some cheap £4 tesco toaster, pretty nasty.
the case looks a bit to me like some cat litter tray Will try to use it tomorrow ,hopefully it will last me through the few tiles I need to cut.

 

[Sean Kelly]

For what you want it for the cheap cutter will be good enough. Ceramics and Travertine should not be a problem. I hardly use a wet cutter these days. However I had to use one last week to cut out for an electrical socket very close to the edge of a porcelain tile.

I normally use battery angle grinder with an ATS blade. The tile is normally resting on a bucket, but for difficult cuts I try and cut on grass (less vibration).

 

[andy8758]

I can cut a tile straighter freehand, using an angle grinder, than with a table top wet saw. Buy a few extra tiles, and practice cutting straight. With a good quality diamond blade, there will be a straight clean cut. Downside with an angle grinder is the dust. The upside is, it can be used for a lot of non-tiling work too.

 

[mma]

Loads on Screwfix

 

[One Day]

Without being funny, why spend SO long looking at cheap tile saws? If it was 1000 pounds plus, i can understand, but surely your time is worth far more than 30 or 40 quid?!
Or am i just too impulsive when i make a purchase?!

 

[wau5]

Without being funny, why spend SO long looking at cheap tile saws? If it was 1000 pounds plus, i can understand, but surely your time is worth far more than 30 or 40 quid?!
Or am i just too impulsive when i make a purchase?!

probably too impulsive but anyway, If I don't do research and buy the first thing that shows up, I Always regret it and have to waste even more time buying something else + all the frustration

 

[wau5]

Well I tried to use my newly bought saw... Quick review- UTTER GARBAGE Cheap Chinese Pokemon Toy!

-This thing should NOT be sold, why are they even wasting earths resources making such thing.
-weighs nothing, so it slides around and you can't cut anything with it, there's no holes/no way to fix it to a table or screw it down, had to pile tiles around it to keep it in position
-the ''fence'' is laughable, it bends /twists like crazy , there's no real precise way for it to be adjusted at 90degree angle
-It DOES NOT cuts straight, due to bad fence as it twists and makes the cuts uneven.
-the guard is too large so you can't see anything under it and it's a trouble to even cut in freehand.
-Water god damn everywhere...you need to wear a wetsuit ( Ok This is wetsaw and I might forgive it that, but still the bad guard soaks you wet with a fine mist directed at you.)
-I have done about 25-30 cuts so far (just on scrap tiles on practice), I'm yet to cut a tile where it doesnt tears out huge chunk at the end, Not a single tile I was able to cut without chipping it at end badly.
-already got bleeding arm from a flying shard from this utter garbage.
-the size of this thing is laughable,its suited to cut MAYBE 20x20cm tiles, for anything rest..good luck!
-the base/table of it is also pretty terrible
-the on/off switch is in weird place so if you would need to switch it off asap at one moment- you wouldn't be able to find where the switch is.

I really don't think I have one single positive thing to say about this junk, ok maybe you could take its motor/ make new base for it/make new fence, add some bulk to it and clamp it down to a table and now you might have an ok'ish saw.

 

[Bill]

Well I tried to use my newly bought saw... Quick review- UTTER GARBAGE Cheap Chinese Pokemon Toy!

-This thing should NOT be sold, why are they even wasting earths resources making such thing.
-weighs nothing, so it slides around and you can't cut anything with it, there's no holes/no way to fix it to a table or screw it down, had to pile tiles around it to keep it in position
-the ''fence'' is laughable, it bends /twists like crazy , there's no real precise way for it to be adjusted at 90degree angle
-It DOES NOT cuts straight, due to bad fence as it twists and makes the cuts uneven.
-the guard is too large so you can't see anything under it and it's a trouble to even cut in freehand.
-Water god damn everywhere...you need to wear a wetsuit ( Ok This is wetsaw and I might forgive it that, but still the bad guard soaks you wet with a fine mist directed at you.)
-I have done about 25-30 cuts so far (just on scrap tiles on practice), I'm yet to cut a tile where it doesnt tears out huge chunk at the end, Not a single tile I was able to cut without chipping it at end badly.
-already got bleeding arm from a flying shard from this utter garbage.
-the size of this thing is laughable,its suited to cut MAYBE 20x20cm tiles, for anything rest..good luck!
-the base/table of it is also pretty terrible
-the on/off switch is in weird place so if you would need to switch it off asap at one moment- you wouldn't be able to find where the switch is.

I really don't think I have one single positive thing to say about this junk, ok maybe you could take its motor/ make new base for it/make new fence, add some bulk to it and clamp it down to a table and now you might have an ok'ish saw.

User error.

Mine cuts straight, the blade guard is fine, I don't get wet when I use one.

Now if you had asked me earlier how I use mine then you wouldn't be in a pickle like you are now.

 

[andy8758]

Some advice on wet saws.
1. Give yourself every opportunity to get good results - spend out on a high quality diamond blade.
2. Make sure there is always plenty of water feeding onto the blade - insufficient water makes the blade jam.
3. Don't force the cut, allow the blade to move at its own pace, if the saw moves as you cut you might be forcing it too much.
4. Keep the cutter at table height - use a workbench to stand it on. If it moves too much, clamp wood behind to stop movement. It's called a "table saw" for a reason!
5. Most of us only ever use a wet saw outdoors, or if used indoors, put a container under the table to catch the water and often a tarpaulin to stop the floor getting too wet. Some saws are better than others at preventing splash back.
6. Blade guards are often annoying. The better quality cutters are better, but not perfect. Practice is the key.
7. I don't find straight cutting guides helpful. Try practicing getting your line of sight (line of blade matching cut line) right.
8. Water tends to wash away pencil marks. Try scoring cut with manual cutter, then gently running pencil or felt tip pen along line to highlight cut.
9. Tiling is messy work. Wear old clothes that you expect to get wet and covered in cement.
10. There is a saying that it takes 10,000 hours experience to become skilled at something. If you are doing this as Diy, expect lots of frustrations, but persevere and be proud of what you achieve. But if everyone could achieve our standards of tiling after a few hours - we would quickly be out of work!

 

[Old Mod]

Some advice on wet saws.

I feel either a blog coming on or your very own forum in here Andy.

Another

 

[andy8758]

I feel either a blog coming on or your very own forum in here Andy.

Another

 

[Old Mod]

Is there a punchline @andy8758 ? Haha

 

[wau5]

Some advice on wet saws.
1. Give yourself every opportunity to get good results - spend out on a high quality diamond blade.
2. Make sure there is always plenty of water feeding onto the blade - insufficient water makes the blade jam.
3. Don't force the cut, allow the blade to move at its own pace, if the saw moves as you cut you might be forcing it too much.
4. Keep the cutter at table height - use a workbench to stand it on. If it moves too much, clamp wood behind to stop movement. It's called a "table saw" for a reason!
5. Most of us only ever use a wet saw outdoors, or if used indoors, put a container under the table to catch the water and often a tarpaulin to stop the floor getting too wet. Some saws are better than others at preventing splash back.
6. Blade guards are often annoying. The better quality cutters are better, but not perfect. Practice is the key.
7. I don't find straight cutting guides helpful. Try practicing getting your line of sight (line of blade matching cut line) right.
8. Water tends to wash away pencil marks. Try scoring cut with manual cutter, then gently running pencil or felt tip pen along line to highlight cut.
9. Tiling is messy work. Wear old clothes that you expect to get wet and covered in cement.
10. There is a saying that it takes 10,000 hours experience to become skilled at something. If you are doing this as Diy, expect lots of frustrations, but persevere and be proud of what you achieve. But if everyone could achieve our standards of tiling after a few hours - we would quickly be out of work!

thanks, I have used it more and have got used to it more as well, and I can cut out the stuff that I need with it now ( but mostly doing it freehand) . However... It's not able to cut a tile fully without making a large chip at the end of the cut for just simple straight cuts, not sure why, but it's just not able to do that however slow you go. So really this tool only served its purpose of cutting out squares/other shapes in tiles (the task I bought it for really).

I would still rate it as total crap even after using it for some time.

 

[andy8758]

Large chip at the end - turn the tile and do a short cut at the other end (20 mm is fine) then cut in your original direction - the blade won't cause a large chip to break off the end corner. You will likely have a small obstruction where the two cuts meet - gently rub this spot to flatten edge, using either a tile file and silicon carbide paper, or even carefully using the flat edge of the cutting blade.

 

[wau5]

Large chip at the end - turn the tile and do a short cut at the other end (20 mm is fine) then cut in your original direction - the blade won't cause a large chip to break off the end corner. You will likely have a small obstruction where the two cuts meet - gently rub this spot to flatten edge, using either a tile file and silicon carbide paper, or even carefully using the flat edge of the cutting blade.

Brilliant, thanks Andy for the good tip, that should solve the problem for sure.

 

[wau5]

Large chip at the end - turn the tile and do a short cut at the other end (20 mm is fine) then cut in your original direction - the blade won't cause a large chip to break off the end corner. You will likely have a small obstruction where the two cuts meet - gently rub this spot to flatten edge, using either a tile file and silicon carbide paper, or even carefully using the flat edge of the cutting blade.

I can report that this stuff indeed works and Now I'm able to cut full tiles without a huge tearout in the end ( ok there's a very small tearout, however it's very rare and you can just file it off).
Pretty good, now I have to botch this thing up and make a larger (much much larger) table/fence for it and it should be rather decent tool for not much $.
Thanks Andy

 

[Unused Account 1]

Use angle grinder,mark your two points ,then use a batten and clamps to the line ,then run angle grinder down ,have a go if just got a few cuts

 

[McLovin]

Just my two cents but you could have called a local tiler and asked him to cut 10 or so tiles for you. Bunged him £30 - £40 (cost of the cutter if not less). Job done! But thats just me

 

[Dumbo]

Buying a tile cutter for 40quid and expecting g it to an amazing job is like buying soda and expecting it drive like a merc

 

[Dan]

Skodas are not bad these days! And Mercedes have one of the worst after sales going.

But yeah I get what you mean lol

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Bradley Wiggins like the Skoda and they are not that cheap anymore!