WTS2000L Wet Tile/Stone Saw for RIDGID

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Message WTS2000L Wet Tile/Stone Saw From the days of “This Old House,” to the influx of champions like Martha Stewart, the do-it-yourself (DIY) market has never been bigger, and is rapidly approaching 300 billion dollars in the US alone. Eager to meet the needs of this continually growing consumer base—while still catering to professionals—IDEO was approached to design a high performance tile saw with high portability and a life expectancy of 10 years. IDEO’s initial observations with professionals and DIYers revealed that current flooring and surface trends are demanding larger tiles for commercial and residential applications. Convenient solutions for these applications were largely unavailable through popular big box retailers where both audiences tend to shop. To accommodate this emerging product niche, IDEO was tasked with designing a saw that could easily manipulate tiles ranging from 6” to 24”. To accommodate the needs of professionals, the saw would have to be tough enough to survive transportation in pick-up trucks or vans, and portable enough to be carried up stairs to job sites. To accommodate use in less than ideal situations—dusty and poorly lit areas—the design needed to be easy to assemble yet still able to precisely cut a slab of granite under constant water flow. The consequent design took shape as the WTS2000L Wet Tile/Stone Saw. Unlike most saw systems that support their motors with a wishbone yoke, the WTS features a unique single-arm motor support, resulting in a design that appears to float above the work surface with an unobstructed user-view of the cutting blade and control cluster. Also unique—and desired by professionals—the WTS cutting head is capable of tilting between 90 and 45 degrees with a powerful yet compact brushed motor and gearbox configuration. A six-gallon injection-molded main water tray and backsplash guard is easily removed, cleaned, and refilled without deconstructing the saw. Major castings are free of extraneous detailing, preventing the trapping of dirt and debris. Controls for the built-in laser guide, LED work light, and main power are easily accessible on the front control panel. The entire unit, including cutting table, can be quickly deployed to full working height by one person. Masonry Magazine recently named the RIDGID saw as one of the most innovative of 2008. http://www.ideo.com/work/wts2000l-wet-tile-stone-saw

A tool for tile-setting pros and do-it-yourself Joes

From the days of “This Old House,” to the influx of champions like Martha Stewart, the do-it-yourself (DIY) market has never been bigger, and is rapidly approaching 300 billion dollars in the US alone. Eager to meet the needs of this continually growing consumer base—while still catering to professionals—IDEO was approached to design a high performance tile saw with high portability and a life expectancy of 10 years.

IDEO’s initial observations with professionals and DIYers revealed that current flooring and surface trends are demanding larger tiles for commercial and residential applications. Convenient solutions for these applications were largely unavailable through popular big box retailers where both audiences tend to shop. To accommodate this emerging product niche, IDEO was tasked with designing a saw that could easily manipulate tiles ranging from 6” to 24”. To accommodate the needs of professionals, the saw would have to be tough enough to survive transportation in pick-up trucks or vans, and portable enough to be carried up stairs to job sites. To accommodate use in less than ideal situations—dusty and poorly lit areas—the design needed to be easy to assemble yet still able to precisely cut a slab of granite under constant water flow. The consequent design took shape as the WTS2000L Wet Tile/Stone Saw.

Unlike most saw systems that support their motors with a wishbone yoke, the WTS features a unique single-arm motor support, resulting in a design that appears to float above the work surface with an unobstructed user-view of the cutting blade and control cluster. Also unique—and desired by professionals—the WTS cutting head is capable of tilting between 90 and 45 degrees with a powerful yet compact brushed motor and gearbox configuration. A six-gallon injection-molded main water tray and backsplash guard is easily removed, cleaned, and refilled without deconstructing the saw. Major castings are free of extraneous detailing, preventing the trapping of dirt and debris. Controls for the built-in laser guide, LED work light, and main power are easily accessible on the front control panel. The entire unit, including cutting table, can be quickly deployed to full working height by one person.

Masonry Magazine recently named the RIDGID saw as one of the most innovative of 2008.

Project date: 2008