Craftsman 1 hp 18" Laser-Guided Wet Tile Saw with Stand and Bonus Blade (21541)

Nice sturdy saw for the price. June 03, 2010

Some of the benefits of a pro saw at a lesser price.  So much easier to move the blade instead of the tile. Very nice stand, easy to move around - even for 1 person.  I used it to cut 20" porcelain tiles, but would not recommend it for over 16 - 18" sizes.  I had to to lay the end of the tile on top of the guide to start and then push it flat onto the table a couple of inches into the cut and diagonal cut would not have been good at this size.  Good water quantity (could make lots of cuts before refilling).  Laser is a little quirky, but not a big deal and once you're used to it the accuracy is pretty good.

The Craftsman Bridge Tile saw was broken when I got it. May 19, 2010

I purchased the tile saw at the Sears Kiosk so they did not charge for shipping which was great.  I put tile down about 2 times a year for differant people and was looking for a newer easier way to cut tile.  This saw fit alot of what I wanted in size, wieght and style.  When I recieved the saw a couple days after they said it would arrive the box had been retaped and one end was completly open.  There were several plastic pieces broken(leg bolt, cord holder and the cover for the pump.  Also the table top was warped and the aluminum stop had been damaged during testing.  When I tried to roll the saw on its wheels the kept collapsing.  Luckily they returned the saw and I got all my money back.  I would like to buy another one but am afraid of the shipping and not so great quality of construction.  If they start selling these in stores so you can look at it first that would be great.  They also need to package it better in the box there is not much keeping it from getting damaged in shipping. A little more metal and less plastic never hurt.

This is a very poor quality tool January 29, 2010

I have used tools with the Craftsman label, purchased from Sears for years. I have been pleased with the quality of the tools and the way they have lasted. This saw was a major exception. After much reading of reviews, on the web, and comparing prices and capabilities I settled on this saw plus my experience with Craftsman tools in the past. I ordered it from Sears website. I wanted to have it shipped to the local store to save on shipping. This item was only able to be shipped direct to my home at a cost of $24.45. More on this in a moment.

I received the saw, unpacked it and found 2 legs would not extend without more effort than should have been necessary. One of the legs was missing its threaded locking knob. I got it set up only to find that the miter would not slide in the stop rail. I found two bolt heads sticking up in the stop rail. One was not tightened and the other was missing its nut completely. There are two top plates where the tile sets during cutting, they were not at the same level so that a tile would rock from side to side. There is a flexible conduit that takes the electrical cord and the blade cooling water line to the saw. The conduit was broken where it attaches to the main body. I tried to lower the legs so that I could return the saw to Sears only to find that I had to use a rubber mallet on both of the legs that were difficult to extend. I could not get the wheel assembly to stay down because the latch would not lock and hold.

I can't speak to how the saw might actually cut tile because after all that I saw wrong with it I called Sears to find out how to return it for a refund.

Now back to the $24.45 for shipping. Be aware that if you are not satisfied with the tool the shipping is non-refundable. I did not see this in the purchase agreement. This is my fault.

But to not do a full refund when the tool is obviously damaged and not usable after explaining both on the phone to arrange the return and in the store during the return process is not good customer service.

Great saw for the price October 23, 2009

     I bought this saw to do a tile job in a bathroom.  Like any other tool, once I got used to it I was able to make some amazing cuts.  Surprisingly, the ability to angle the entire saw so you can make bull-nose and other miter cuts works very well.  Mine came with two blades and I am still using the first blade.  It's still cutting great after about 200 cuts.  The water flow from the pump is really good.  Just keep the filter clean and change the water before it becomes mud.  This saw is extremely quiet when you are not cutting a tile.  You mostly hear the water draining back into the tub.  Every saw is loud when cutting a tile, this one is no different although it's still quieter than most.  I haven't set up the laser or used the little quick angle tool that is provided so I can't say anything about those. 

The saw is pretty heavy so set it up once and get all your cuts done.  If I put a tile against the guild and just pulled the saw through the cuts, on big tiles the cut came out crooked and chipped.  However, if I floated the tile in the middle of the table and cut along a pencil mark I could make any cut perfectly.  If you try to cut a twelve inch tile in 1 sec you will most certainly stop the motor from turning the blade and you will chip the tile.  If you cut at about 1-2 inches per sec you will have difficultly making a bad cut. 

Because the table is so big, it also worked great making intricate cuts in concrete backer board. 

My bathroom project came out great.  I have three more baths, a kitchen and a porch to do and I can't wait to use my saw again.