Reducing dust when cutting tile is important for many reasons (including safety and cleanliness), but wet tile saws can be a pain to use, with the slurry created spraying all around the work station and cold weather making the saw much more difficult to use outside. iQ Power Tools has a solution for that: the world’s first 7” portable dry table saw with integrated dust control.
The iQ228CYCLONE Dry Cut 7” Tabletop Tile Saw was originally unveiled last year, but has just recently become available for pre-order. Estimated ship date on the new units is around the first of April, 2021.
You may be familiar with iQ’s selection of other dry cut masonry and tile saws, all boasting their impressively designed dust collection systems, allowing users to safely cut silica-containing materials without the hassle of hooking up a water source. In the specific case of the new iQ228CYCLONE, iQ states that it collects 99.5% of the dust created.
How exactly does it do that? A combination of a Durabond filter, a 15 amp vacuum motor, and 4 cyclones that use centrifugal force to pull the dust downward before it hits the filter, which ultimately extends the life of the filter. The filter will need to be spun three times per day with the built-in exterior twist knob, to clear it of build up.
A bottom mounted dust tray can be pulled out to remove the dust as needed throughout the day.
A typical wet tile saw uses water to not only suppress dust, but to keep the tile blades cool as it cuts through the tile. The iQ228, on the other hand, uses a proprietary blade that is designed to stay cool thanks to ists unique diamond concentration, the type of metal, and flange thickness. The on-board vacuum also helps air cool the blade.
The saw is designed to cut a variety of different materials, such as ceramic, porcelain, and marble, among others. It features a max cut depth of 1-1/4”, a maximum 18” rip with the rolling table, and a 24” rip capacity without the rolling table.
The IQ228 also have several preset measurement systems built directly into the table top, like one inch measured increments for rip cuts, as well as 45 degree and 22.5 degree angles. The fence is also adjustable down to 1/16 of an inch for exact measurements.
It will be interesting to find out how often the dust tray needs to be emptied, if it’s any louder than a wet tile saw during operation, and the quality of cut, but those items can only be determined after it hits the shelves in the coming weeks.
Acme Tool put together a helpful video of the new saw, which you can watch below. The saw is also available for pre-order on their website for $599.
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.