[quote=Blogstar]BG tile saws are the least dangerous of all circular saws. You can touch the blade with your finger, though I wouldn’t recommend getting it pinched between the table and the blade.

Some tile store will cut your tiles for a fee and /or a rental saw can be had to cut the pieces with just a few hours rental, once the main floor is installed. I know you probably don’t like those Ideas , but they can be used.

Less scrupulous people buy the tile saw and return it after the job is done![/quote]

Yes, I’ve watched several people use their own tile saws (mounted on the tailgate of their pickups) and it seems that that many cuts need to be made and also adjusted on the fly (as the tile is being laid). Ex: around the toilet flange, around pocket-door mouldings, etc. I don’t think it would be easy to “pre-plan” all those cuts before the job unless you installed the slipsheet/hardibacker first and at least removed the toilets one or more days prior to the tile being laid so you could lay out all the tile and look at it. I guess it would depend upon the complexity of the tile pattern, how expensive the tile was and how long the homeowner can live without one bathroom. Then if those cuts turn out to be a little off and the tile needs to be shaved some more to fit, someone needs to get in the car in the middle of the job (while the glue is down?) and go get the tile cut some more.

Having a wet tile saw on the premises all during your tile job is the best way to go. And if HD is taking those (expensive) saws back after they have been used, they need to seriously revisit their refund policy because they are clearly being taken advantage of by “customers.”

I have also found that those mechanical tile scorers (they resemble a 3-hole punch for paper) don’t work very well, can’t do anything but a straight cut and often crack the tile being scored.