SKIL Tile Saw 3540-02 Review

Skil tile saw review

So, this is about SKIL Tile Saw. Ready?

Tiling is probably one of the most dreaded and precarious part of a construction project. There are just so much that could go wrong: the sizes, the precision cutting, and the thickness of materials. And while heavy-duty tile saw do good to get the job done, let us all get one thing straight here: commercial installation and power tools like the tile saw are just as bulky and heavy, as they are expensive and hard to operate.

Now, if you are a construction worker by profession then that’s obviously justified because neither do you have to buy the tools for yourself, nor do you need to keep them at your house for storage. But for any home enthusiasts or hobbyist who would like to do a little tiling around the house over the weekends, purchasing such expensive, large and commercial tools are just illogical, efficient and plain crazy. So, what can a non-professional do to install tiles without having to break the bank? A simple solution is to get a tile saw that is smaller in size, easy to operate and of course, cheaper than the giant commercial ones.

The market is teeming with such compact tile saws now, but the most important thing to keep in mind is too get one that performs just as well. And to save to all the hours or failed searches and frustration, I will review to you a tile saw that fits rights into the corner of your basement and your budget, and is super comprehensible: the SKIL  Wet Tile. But will it be good enough for the job? Let’s find out!

SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw

Table of Contents

About SKIL

Michel Electric Handsaw Co. was founded in 1924 by 2 of its owners: Edmond Michel and Joseph Sullivan. In 1926, after Edmond Michel parted the business, the name of the company was changed and “SKIL” was born. SKIL has always been a producer of heavy-duty, specialized saws. SKIL was the pioneer behind the world’s first circular saw, the Model 77, which set a benchmark for the portable saw industry and is still in production today. A sector of SKIL’s huge range of products includes cordless power tools like drills, tackers, sealant guns, belt sanders, mixers etc. But what really put the company on the map and into peoples’ choices are it innovative and quality saws, one of them now being the SKIL 3540-02.

You Can Also Read :  Best Saw Review for Buying Tile saw

About the SKIL Tile Saw 3540-02

The SKIL Tile Saw 3540-02 is a wet tile saw, meaning it uses diamond coated blades for operation. This saw is corded and electric, weighs 17.7 pounds and measures 18 x 14.5 x 7.8 inches in dimension. The SKIL 3540-02 has a corrosive and rust resistant stainless steel top that support tiles up to 12 x 12 inches. The saw uses a 7 inch cutting blade and can cut tiles at from 0 to 45 degrees as well. It just an adjustable rip fence and miter gauge for precise measurements and cuts. The SKIL  tile saw 3540-02 also features a neat blade cooling water reservoir that not only cools down the heated blade, but also helps catch the discard debris and dusts. It also comes with appealing warranty offers.

Power

The SKIL 3540-02 is rated 120V AC only. It has amperage of 4.2 and a no load rpm (rotation per minute) of 3600. This saw also comes with a CULus certification. Its supreme motor allows you to easily cut through stone, masonry and more.

Blades

This tile saw of SKIL 3540-02 uses a blade that is coated in diamond powder. The saw has a 7 inch diametre blade which cuts through 1 3/8 of an inch at 90 degrees angle, and 1 inch at 24 degrees angle.

Durability

Having to go through the costs and trouble of purchasing a saw only to have it rust and crack after a month of use is nothing short of a nightmare. This is especially true if you are using a tile saw since this type of saw uses water in its operation: to cool down hot blade and catch dusts. However, this water could also easily wear down the steel table if it is not stainless or resistant. The SKIL  wet tile saw 3540-02 uses a strong, stainless steel table that is corrosion and rust resistant

Accuracy

The SKIL tile saw 3540-02 has an adjustable rip fence that lets your fit the tile you are about to cut perfectly enough for a clean cut, without having it move or shift an inch at all. The miter gauge provided with it also makes sure that your make correct measurements and cut at perfect angles every time. But, probably the most neat cutting feature on this saw is that its bevels cut at angles, 0 to 45 degrees to be exact. This incredible feature lets you cut out materials in various different styles!

Includes

The SKIL tile saw 3540-02 the saw itself, a 7 inch blade, a blade guard and blade wrenches. The saw also comes with a 30 day money back guarantee which is more than enough time to test and examine the saw. But one of the most useful inclusions is SKIL’s generous warranty. SKIL gives its users a whopping 3 years manufacturer’s limited warranty. Anytime, you feel your saw could use some grooming and love, you know exactly where to take it!

Pros:

  1. The SKIL 3540-02 is smaller in size and lighter in weight. This makes the saw absolutely fantastic for home-use
  2. It is ideal for small tiling projects
  3. Comes with a great warranty value

Cons:

  1. It has a low rpm, disabling from heavy-duty tiling work
  2. The saw’s water reservoir is too small and demands refilling very frequently

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

  1. Can it cut small rocks in half?

Answer: Yes, it can.

  1. Can it cut through 5 inch bricks? And is good enough for cutting marble

Answer: The cutting depth of the SKIL 3540-02 is 1 ½ inch, so no it can’t cut through a 5 inch brick. But it can easily cut through marble.

Verdict

If you would like you have a good performing tile saw in your collection, then the SKIL 3540-02 is your tool! It is small, light and great for those small tiling and cutting project works. However, this saw would not be ideal for heavy-duty projects since it lacks both in size and motor power. But, it is definitely a great purchase for the money if you are not looking to commit to commercial saws but still finish up a little tiling here and there.

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