Angle Grinders

• Two types of tile cutting angle grinders are used: variable and static speed. A static-speed angle grinder commonly clocks in at 7,500 RPM. This high static speed is unsuitable for thin, fragile or delicate veneer tile. A variable-speed electric angle grinder cuts certain materials better at a certain RPM. For example, a particular tool company makes a 4 1/2-inch variable-speed grinder adjustable from 2,800 to 10,500 RPMs. Use the lower setting for cutting fragile tile and the higher for cutting dense material.
  
  

Wet Saws

• High-RPM tile wet saws provide a lot more bite for cutting thick, dense tile and natural stone tile. The cooling jets on a high RPM wet tile saw generally disallow the chipping -- called chattering in the trades -- associated with high-RPM grinders. Nevertheless, a high-RPM wet saw is ineffective without the associated high torque and amps backing up the RPM. High-RPM wet tile saws with low torque ability tend to perform poorly with difficult-to-cut materials such as granite tile and thick porcelain tile.
  
  

Sweet Spot

• A high-RPM tile saw or grinder cuts through thick yet soft travertine like a hot knife slicing through butter. But the high RPM chips or shatters ceramic or porcelain tile. A process of trial and error is required for finding the variable-speed grinder RPM sweet spot for different tile choices. Additionally, adjustable-speed wet saws are available. This type of wet saw is less common than static-speed models and is similar to the adjustable-speed angle grinder in that speed adjustment is required for finding the so-called tile cutting sweet spot.
  
  

Additional Factors

• A stable and level working platform is essential for accurately and effectively cutting tile. For example, if you use a high-RPM grinder on an uneven workbench, the piece may vibrate and crack. Additionally, sediment and tile chips under a tile piece on a wet saw cutting tray may cause it to vibrate, crack and bind. No matter what the RPM, cut tile on a flat surface.