I’m up to a pretty substantial tile job within a master bathroom I’ve been working on and just noticed FHB sent me an email with a video about cutting curves in tile done on a ring blade wet saw. http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/video/cutting-curves-in-marble-tile-with-revolution-xt-ring-blade-wet-saw.aspx Pretty cool tool…but I don’t have all that much need for a specific saw to do curves on. I just do it on my regular Target wet saw cutting into the curve and also using my grinder or even a carbide blade on my jig saw or a tile bit in my rotozip. I have a variety of choices for different situations.
Anyway….I went a checked out what they cost….YIKES!!!! http://www.contractorsdirect.com/Revolution-XT-Curve-Cutting-Ring-Saw?sc=8&category=27
Does anyone need one of these that much to justify the cost. I reckon some people do otherwise they wouldn’t be selling them.
Replies
Hey Andy,
Went to the site and saw their motto: 'Quality, Price, Service.'
On the back of my card I have the same motto! The line below says:' Pick two.'
skipj
I cut a small circle recently in 2" flagstone. I used the side of a 4.5" diamond blade in a grinder. With side of the blade you can come in and get a radius. But then I undercut it and whittle at it like you do.
It takes more time and dust but I tend to keep my tools simple and cheap.
I use DWs' stained glass ring saw. Not as big as that, but the blade is round, so cuting in any direction is pretty conveinent.
http://www.harmonystainedglass.com/taurus_II_ring_saw.htm
Neat tool. The bottom is filled with ice and water so the ring saw blade passes through it and stays cool. That diamond coated round blade is way to expensive to burn up.
Being a recovering tool addict i must confess i bought a gemini revolution tile saw. Great concept and does allow you to cut radius' and circle type cuts BUT this saw is the poorest quality tool i have ever bought. Cheaply made parts (bearings, pulleys etc) break repeatedly and gemini is aware of poor quality and charge as much for replacements. Again great concept I just wish a qualified company would build one.
ps i bought all options -the extension rails and sliding tray again a worthless piece of junk
I'l confess to only using the Gemni ring saw a couple of times for tile work so don't know how long it would hold up for that type work. On the other hand, DW has used it extensively for its' intended purpose of cutting glass. Her saw is something like eight years old and the only parts we have replaced have been the wear gromets and the blade (one).
I did buy the revolution xt designed for tile etc . Again I love the concept and versatility I just think it is poorly made. I wish Festool would build one (although I probably couldnt afford it)
If the curves were really prominent (sp?) or, they were in the center of a tile I'd prolly seek out a shop with a Flow-Jet.
Someone posted here or elsewhere a job where the tile was cut out to spell out a brewery name(?) in contrasting tile or stone ...beautiful.
Jim
The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
- Fyodor Dostoyevski