The saw smooths the edges as it cuts, ain't that perfect!??? Plus the tumbler grinds down the edges, I just put my glass:dishes:tiles: in for a 1/2hr and tada!

My grinder-Christmas-present is waiting to be wrapped in my basement.

I'm excited!

ring saw, more versatile than a grinder

I looooove my ring saw. Main reason: I can cut exactly where I want. In order to save on the blade, I use wheeled nippers to nip the edge of plates. But, if there is a center design on the plate, then I use the ring saw to cut out the center; that way I am assured of saving the design in the exact shape I want. Additionally, the edges of pieces cut with the ring saw are not nearly as sharp as the nipped pieces. I would also like to have a grinder, but if I had to chose one, I would chose the ring saw.

Yep, I'm kinda hankerin' for a ring saw too. I can cut glass, but to get the intricate shapes, a saw would be in order.
I'd choose that over the grinder.
If I recall correctly Stoney, that glass is a bit thicker and it IS harder to cut. I had some problems with some mottled glass just this weekend. I couldn't cut a straight strip for nothin'. You are not alone. Don't give up, just try a different type.

Thank you! so much ...

I'll tell him a ring saw. I was watching ebay over the weekend and they're around $300 which is a little higher than I expected to spend on me this Christmas, but since he's a "tool guy" it shouldn't be a problem. He's a huge advocate for having the right tool on hand to do the job. (I bet he never thought he'd see the day when I quote those words right back at him! LOL!)

Oh, and another question. The other day, somebody posted a picture of all the plates they cut up with their wet saw. Was that a normal, tile-cutting wet saw? We have one from when we tiled the floor, and I wanted to commandeer it and DH kept telling me no-no-no that it is his, and I need something different for my glass & plates. I think he just doesn't want to share.

Yep, it's a guy thing. We have to have our OWN set of tools. I got crap for using a "good" screwdriver of his to dig out some grout the other day, and ended up getting the one out of my "girlie kit" in the kitchen.
Yeah, they're pretty territorial about their tools.

I don't know about cutting glass with the WS; haven't done it yet, or if you're supposed to, but if he's offering to get you your own stuff, go for it!

Have fun choosing!!!

Stoney, I was going to suggest the wet/tile saw, but I see you have one. It was I who cut the plates. If the thing w/cut bricks, and mine has when putting in my path, it'll cut plates. I first experimented w/it to cut cups/vases/bowls in half. Just hold your cup under the blade and it's miraculous. WONDERFUL tool. Believe me, I have ALL the tools, and the tile saw is my favorite besides the Morton system. If your DH won't let you use the saw, just tell him to get your very own blade for it so you won't have to use his. He sounds persnickety w/his tools, as all men are, so to share the saw, just have separate blades. No big deal to change them out. I've had my saw for four yrs., and wouldn't trade it for anything. I use it more than the ring saw. The ring saw is for glass, not plate shards. Those suckers are tough.

Stoney, My power tools are a ring saw, a grinder, and tumbler. The grinder by far is my favorite! I can score and nip my glass close to a shape, then use my grinder to finish shaping it.
The ring saw will get you more details and I use it minimally due to the high cost of replacement blades. When I want a rose, a seahorse, or something like that with fine detail, I use the ring saw. I used it more when I did stained glass.
So it might depend on what your preference is on mosaicing.
Silvamae, what blade are you using on your ring saw to cut plates? I can't imagine cutting plates on mine. It is so sensitive with glass, I don't think I would put something like ceramics in it.

I have the Taurus 3. I CAN cut plates with it (very easily) but do it minimally to save my blade. I just have the regular blade right now, but the next thing I want is the MEGA blade,so I can cut plates without as much worry.

Maria

Thanks for the confirmation, Slow, that the tile saw can cut plates. I tried to tell him there's not THAT much difference between floor tiles and plates, but he didn't want to hear it. I'll work on that during Christmas vacation.

What I want to do is cut the hard, Old World glass into shapes ... I want squares of all sizes, rectangles, maybe some swervy shapes. I'm wanting to make shapes that piece together to form a picture. I want to cut shapes and drill teeny holes in them and hang for wind chimes. I want to make those wonderful GOG pictures I see you all do.

I think I want a ring saw.

Definitely the ring saw for glass. The tile saw is for cutting ceramics/clay products. The porcelain plates are just as hard to cut as those horrible $ store plates, and I can't cut them w/just nippers.

I've used the wet saw for cutting glass tiles.
Works just fine. However it's not easy cutting little squares etc. with it because the blade eats about 1/8"
of glass. And when you add it up, that's a lot of waste. But for cutting strips from a sheet...no problem. If you already have a wet saw lying around, I'd give it a try. But you may need a blade for glass. Learning to cut by
hand or with a system will eventually be faster and waaay
less of a mess. If you aren't planning on making intricately specific shapes, I vote for a grinder.
Linlee

I always end up using my grinder after I cut things with my saw, to perfect the shape. I don't use my saw much. Every once in a while there is a shape I need it for, but not often. The edges don't come out as perfect for me as they do on the grinder. Can't live without my grinder! Best $100
I have EVER spent.

Hazie