Ryobi R18TS User manual

ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS
18V Wet / Dry Tile
Saw
R18TS

Important!
It is essential that you read the instructions in this manual before assembling,
operating and maintaining the product.
Subject to technical modification.

3
Safety, performance, and dependability have been given
top priority in the design of your wet / dry tile saw.
INTENDED USE
The product is intended to be used only by adults who
have read and understood the instructions and warnings
in this manual, and can be considered responsible for their
actions.
The product is intended for wet cross cutting, rip cutting,
and bevel cutting of man-made tiles, pavers, and natural
stone tile materials.
The product is intended for dry cutting of the above
materials when equipped with a special cutting wheel.
Do not use the product in any way other than those stated
for intended use.
GENERAL POWER TOOL SAFETY WARNINGS
WARNING
Read all safety warnings and all instructions. Failure
to follow the warnings and instructions may result in
electric shock, re and/or serious injury.
Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.
The term “power tool’’ in the warnings refers to your
mains-operated (corded) power tool or battery-operated
(cordless) power tool.
1) WORK AREA SAFETY
■Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or
dark areas invite accidents.
■Do not operate power tools in explosive
atmospheres, such as in the presence of
flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power tools
create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.
■Keep children and bystanders away while
operating a power tool. Distractions can cause
you to lose control.
2) ELECTRICAL SAFETY
■Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never
modify the plug in any way. Do not use any
adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power
tools. Unmodied plugs and matching outlets will
reduce risk of electric shock.
■Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded
surfaces, such as pipes, radiators, ranges and
refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric
shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
■Do not expose power tools to rain or wet
conditions. Water entering a power tool will
increase the risk of electric shock.
■Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for
carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool.
Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges
or moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords
increase the risk of electric shock.
■When operating a power tool outdoors, use an
extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use of
a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of
electric shock.
■If operating a power tool in a damp location
is unavoidable, use a residual current device
(RCD) protected supply. Use of an RCD reduces
the risk of electric shock.
3) PERSONAL SAFETY
■Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
common sense when operating a power tool. Do
not use a power tool while you are tired or under
the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. A
moment of inattention while operating power tools
may result in serious personal injury.
■Use personal protective equipment. Always
wear eye protection. Protective equipment such
as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat or
hearing protection used for appropriate conditions
will reduce personal injuries.
■Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the
switch is in the off-position before connecting
to power source and/or battery pack, picking up
or carrying the tool. Carrying power tools with your
nger on the switch or energising power tools that
have the switch on invites accidents.
■Remove any adjusting key or wrench before
turning the power tool on. A wrench or a key left
attached to a rotating part of the power tool may
result in personal injury.
■Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and
balance at all times. This enables better control of
the power tool in unexpected situations.
■Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewellery. Keep your hair, clothing and gloves
away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewellery
or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
■If devices are provided for the connection of
dust extraction and collection facilities, ensure
these are connected and properly used. Use of
dust collection can reduce dust-related hazards.
4) POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
■Do not force the power tool. Use the correct
power tool for your application. The correct
power tool will do the job better and safer at the rate
for which it was designed.
■Do not use the power tool if the switch does not
turn it on and off. Any power tool that cannot be
controlled with the switch is dangerous and must
be repaired.

4
■Disconnect the plug from the power source and/
or the battery pack from the power tool before
making any adjustments, changing accessories
or storing power tools. Such preventive safety
measures reduce the risk of starting the power tool
accidentally.
■Store idle power tools out of the reach of
children and do not allow persons unfamiliar
with the power tool or these instructions to
operate the power tool. Power tools are dangerous
in the hands of untrained users.
■Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment
or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts
and any other condition that may affect the
power tool’s operation. If damaged, have the
power tool repaired before use. Many accidents
are caused by poorly maintained power tools.
■Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly
maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges
are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
■Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits
etc, in accordance with these instructions,
taking into account the working conditions and
the work to be performed. Use of the power tool
for operations different from those intended could
result in a hazardous situation.
5) BATTERY TOOL USE AND CARE
■Recharge only with the charger specified by the
manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one
type of battery pack may create a risk of re when
used with another battery pack.
■Use power tools only with specifically
designated battery packs. Use of any other
battery packs may create a risk of injury and re.
■When battery pack is not in use, keep it away
from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins,
keys, nails, screws or other small metal objects
that can make a connection from one terminal
to another. Shorting the battery terminals together
may cause burns or a re.
■Under abusive conditions, liquid may be ejected
from the battery; avoid contact. If contact
accidentally occurs, flush with water. If liquid
contacts eyes, additionally seek medical help.
Liquid ejected from the battery may cause irritation
or burns.
6) SERVICE
■Have your power tool serviced by a qualified
repair person using only identical replacement
parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power
tool is maintained.
TILE SAW SAFETY WARNINGS
WARNING
The product is not intended for use by persons (including
children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental
capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge,
unless they have been given supervision or instruction
concerning use of the product by a person responsible
for their safety.
Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not
play with the product.
■Use only diamond cut-off wheels for your power tool.
Just because an accessory can be attached to your
power tool, it does not assure safe operation.
■The rated speed of the accessory must be at least
equal to the maximum speed marked on the power tool.
Accessories running faster than their rated speed can
break and fly apart.
■Wheels must be used only for recommended
applications. For example, do not grind with the side of
cut-off wheel. Abrasive cut-off wheels are intended for
peripheral grinding. Side forces applied to these wheels
may cause them to shatter.
■Always use undamaged wheel flanges that are of
correct diameter for your selected wheel. Proper wheel
flanges support the wheel, thus reducing the possibility
of wheel breakage.
■The outside diameter and the thickness of your
accessory must be within the capacity rating of your
power tool. Incorrectly sized accessories cannot be
adequately guarded or controlled.
■The arbour size of wheels and flanges must properly fit
the spindle of the power tool. Wheels and flanges with
arbour holes that do not match the mounting hardware
of the power tool will run out of balance, vibrate
excessively and may cause loss of control.
■Do not use damaged wheels. Before each use, inspect
the wheels for chips and cracks. If power tool or wheel
is dropped, inspect for damage or install an undamaged
wheel. After inspecting and installing the wheel,
position yourself and bystanders away from the plane of
the rotating wheel and run the power tool at maximum
no load speed for one minute. Damaged wheels will
normally break apart during this test time.
■Wear personal protective equipment. Depending on
application, use face shield, safety goggles or safety
glasses. As appropriate, wear dust mask, hearing
protectors, gloves and shop apron capable of stopping
small abrasive or workpiece fragments. The eye
protection must be capable of stopping flying debris
generated by various operations. The dust mask
or respirator must be capable of filtrating particles
generated by the operation. Prolonged exposure to
high intensity noise may cause hearing loss.

5
■Keep bystanders a safe distance away from work area.
Anyone entering the work area must wear personal
protective equipment. Fragments of workpiece or of a
broken wheel may fly away and cause injury beyond
immediate area of operation.
■Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces
only, when performing an operation where the cutting
accessory may contact hidden wiring or its own cord.
Cutting accessory contacting a “live” wire may make
exposed metal parts of the power tool “live” and could
give the operator an electric shock.
■Position the cord clear of the spinning accessory. If you
lose control, the cord may be cut or snagged and your
hand or arm may be pulled into the spinning wheel.
■Never lay the power tool down until the accessory has
come to a complete stop. The spinning wheel may grab
the surface and pull the power tool out of your control.
■Do not run the power tool while carrying it at your side.
Accidental contact with the spinning accessory could
snag your clothing, pulling the accessory into your
body.
■Regularly clean the power tool’s air vents. The motor’s
fan will draw the dust inside the housing and excessive
accumulation of powdered metal may cause electrical
hazards.
■Do not operate the power tool near flammable materials.
Sparks could ignite these materials.
Kickback and related warnings
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or snagged
rotating wheel. Pinching or snagging causes rapid stalling
of the rotating wheel which in turn causes the uncontrolled
power tool to be forced in the direction opposite of the
wheel’s rotation at the point of the binding.
For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or pinched
by the workpiece, the edge of the wheel that is entering
into the pinch point can dig into the surface of the material
causing the wheel to climb out or kick out. The wheel may
either jump toward or away from the operator, depending on
direction of the wheel’s movement at the point of pinching.
Abrasive wheels may also break under these conditions.
Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below.
■Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and position your
body and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces.
Always use auxiliary handle, if provided, for maximum
control over kickback or torque reaction during start-up.
The operator can control torque reactions or kickback
forces, if proper precautions are taken.
■Never place your hand near the rotating accessory.
Accessory may kickback over your hand.
■Do not position your body in line with the rotating wheel.
Kickback will propel the tool in direction opposite to the
wheel’s movement at the point of snagging.
■Use special care when working corners, sharp edges
etc. Avoid bouncing and snagging the accessory.
Corners, sharp edges or bouncing have a tendency to
snag the rotating accessory and cause loss of control
or kickback.
■Do not attach a saw chain, woodcarving blade,
segmented diamond wheel with a peripheral gap
greater than 10 mm or toothed saw blade. Such blades
create frequent kickback and loss of control.
■Do not “jam” the wheel or apply excessive pressure.
Do not attempt to make an excessive depth of cut.
Overstressing the wheel increases the loading and
susceptibility to twisting or binding of the wheel in the
cut and the possibility of kickback or wheel breakage.
■When wheel is binding or when interrupting a cut for
any reason, switch off the power tool and hold the
power tool motionless until the wheel comes to a
complete stop. Never attempt to remove the wheel from
the cut while the wheel is in motion otherwise kickback
may occur. Investigate and take corrective action to
eliminate the cause of wheel binding.
■Do not restart the cutting operation in the workpiece.
Let the wheel reach full speed and carefully re-enter
the cut. The wheel may bind, walk up or kickback if the
power tool is restarted in the workpiece.
■Support panels or any oversized workpiece to
minimize the risk of wheel pinching and kickback.
Large workpieces tend to sag under their own weight.
Supports must be placed under the workpiece near the
line of cut and near the edge of the workpiece on both
sides of the wheel.
■Use extra caution when making a “pocket cut” into
existing walls or other blind areas. The protruding wheel
may cut gas or water pipes, electrical wiring or objects
that can cause kickback.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY WARNINGS
■When not in use, blades must be stored in a dry place
and handled with care.
ASSEMBLY
ATTACHING GRAVITY FEED WATER BOTTLE
See figure 1.
The gravity feed water bottle has a built-in air vent that
equalizes pressure and allows water to ow more freely.
1. Remove the battery.
2. Unscrew the nozzle assembly.
3. Fill water bottle to desired level. Do not overfill.
4. Replace nozzle assembly.
5. Hold water bottle so that nozzle faces down.
NOTE: Water will not escape the bottle unless the tip
of the nozzle is depressed.
6. Insert the water bottle as shown. Gently press down on
the bottle until it clicks into place.
7. To remove water bottle, depress the water bottle
release button.

6
NOTE: For dry cutting, leave water bottle installed to
prevent dust and debris from clogging the water supply
system.
CAUTION
The water bottle is designed for water only. Use of any
other uid may cause damage to the tool.
WARNING
A 105 mm wheel is the maximum wheel capacity of
the saw. Also, never use a wheel that is too thick to
allow outer wheel washer to engage with the at on
the spindle. Larger wheels will come in contact with the
wheel guards, while thicker wheels will prevent wheel
screw from securing wheel on spindle. Either of these
situations could result in a serious accident.
WARNING
Do not use cutting wheels rated less than the no-load
speed of this tool. Failure to heed this warning could
result in personal injury. Do not use wheel with cracks,
gaps, or teeth.
WARNING
Do not use toothed or segmented wheels. Use only
continuous rimmed diamond wheels suited for masonry
materials.
INSTALLING CUTTING WHEEL
See figure 2.
1. Remove the battery pack from the saw.
2. Take the wheel wrench (5 mm hex key) from the
storage area.
3. Depress the spindle lock button and remove the wheel
screw and outer wheel washer.
NOTE: Turn the wheel screw clockwise to remove.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the spindle or spindle lock, always
allow motor to come to a complete stop before engaging
spindle lock.
NOTE: Do not run the saw with spindle lock engaged.
4. Wipe a drop of oil onto the inner wheel washer and
outer wheel washer where they contact the wheel.
WARNING
If inner wheel washer has been removed, replace it
before placing cutting wheel on spindle. Failure to do
so could cause an accident since wheel will not tighten
properly.
5. Replace the outer wheel washer.
6. Depress the spindle lock button, then replace the wheel
screw. Tighten the wheel screw securely by turning it
counterclockwise.
7. Return the wheel wrench to the storage area.
NOTE: Never use a cutting wheel that is too thick to allow
the outer wheel washer to engage with the ats on the
spindle.
OPERATION
WARNING
Always wear a dust mask when operating tile saws.
Failure to do so could result in serious injury.
WARNING
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side
shields when operating products. Failure to do so could
result in objects being thrown into your eyes, resulting in
possible serious injury.
WARNING
Do not use any attachments or accessories not
recommended by the manufacturer of the product. The
use of attachments or accessories not recommended
can result in serious personal injury.
BATTERY PROTECTION FEATURES
RYOBI 18 V lithium-ion batteries are designed with features
that protect the lithium-ion cells and maximize battery life.
Under some operating conditions, these built-in features
may cause the battery and the tool it is powering to act
differently from nickel-cadmium batteries.
During some applications, the battery electronics may
signal the battery to shut down, and cause the tool to stop
running. To reset the battery and tool, release the trigger
and resume normal operation.
NOTE: To prevent further shut down of the battery, avoid
forcing the tool.
If releasing the trigger does not reset the battery and tool,
the battery pack is depleted. If depleted, the battery pack
will begin charging when placed on the lithium-ion charger.
INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK
See figure 3.
1. Place the battery pack in the saw. Align the raised rib
on the battery pack with the groove inside the saw, then
slide the battery pack into the saw.
2. Make sure the latches on each side of your battery pack
snap into place and the battery pack is secured in the
saw before beginning operation.

7
WARNING
Always remove battery pack from your tool when you
are assembling parts, making adjustments, cleaning,
or when not in use. Removing battery pack will prevent
accidental starting that could cause serious personal
injury.
REMOVING THE BATTERY PACK
See figure 3.
1. Locate the latches on the side of the battery pack and
depress them to release the battery pack from the saw.
2. Remove battery pack from the saw.
CUTTING WHEELS
The best of cutting wheels will not cut efciently if they are
dull or badly worn. Using a dull wheel will place a heavy
load on the saw. Keep extra wheels on hand, so that sharp
wheels are always available.
STARTING/STOPPING THE SAW
See figure 4.
To start the saw:
1. Depress the lock-off button.
2. Depress the switch trigger.
Always let the wheel reach full speed, then guide the saw
into the workpiece.
To stop the saw:
1. Release the switch trigger.
After you release the switch trigger, allow the wheel to
come to a complete stop. Do not remove the saw from the
workpiece while the wheel is moving.
LOCK-OFF BUTTON
See Figure 5.
The lock-off button reduces the possibility of accidental
starting. The lock-off button is located on the handle above
the switch trigger. The lock-off button must be depressed
before you pull the switch trigger. The lock resets each time
the trigger is released.
NOTE: You can depress the lock-off button from either the
left or right side.
ADJUSTING WHEEL DEPTH
See figure 6.
Always keep correct wheel depth setting. The correct
wheel depth setting for all cuts should not exceed 6.35
mm below the material being cut. More wheel depth will
increase the chance of kickback and cause the cut to be
rough. For more depth of cut accuracy, a scale is located
on the rear bracket.
1. Loosen the depth adjustment knob.
2. Determine the desired depth of cut.
3. Locate the depth of cut scale on the rear bracket.
4. Hold the base flat against the workpiece and raise or
lower the saw until the indicator mark on bracket aligns
with the notch on the wheel guard.
5. Tighten the depth adjustment knob securely.
OPERATING THE SAW
See figure 7 - 8.
It is important to understand the correct method for
operating the saw. Refer to the gures in this section to
learn the correct and incorrect ways for handling the saw.
WARNING
When lifting the saw from the workpiece, the wheel is
exposed on the underside of the saw.
To make the best possible cut:
1. Hold the saw firmly with both hands.
2. Avoid placing your hand on the workpiece while making
a cut.
3. Support the workpiece so that the cut (kerf) is always
to your side.
4. Support the workpiece near the cut.
5. Clamp the workpiece securely so that the workpiece
will not move during the cut.
6. Always place the saw on the workpiece that is
supported, not the “cut off” piece.
7. Place the workpiece with the “good” side down.
8. Draw a guideline along the desired line of cut before
beginning your cut.
MAKING CUTS
Always draw the line to be cut on the tile using a marker
or grease pencil. If the tile is shiny and hard to mark, place
masking tape on the tile and mark the tape.
A common problem when cutting tile is straying from the
marked line. Once you have strayed from the mark, you
can not force the wheel back to the line by twisting the
tile. Instead, back up and recut the tile slicing off a small
amount of tile until the wheel is back on track.
To avoid this problem, use a straight edge guide whenever
possible for making cross cuts and mitre cuts. If wet cutting
is desired, it should be performed outside.
USING THE EDGE GUIDE
See figure 9.
Use the edge guide when making long or wide rip cuts with
the saw.
1. Remove the battery pack from the tool.

8
2. Place the edge guide through the slots in the saw base.
3. Adjust the edge guide to the width needed.
4. Tighten the wing screw securely.
When using an edge guide, position the face of the edge
guide rmly against the edge of workpiece. This makes for
a true cut without pinching the blade. The guiding edge of
the workpiece must be straight for your cut to be straight.
Use caution to prevent the blade from binding in the cut.
MAINTENANCE
WARNING
Always remove the battery pack from the product
and disconnect from the power supply when you
are assembling parts, cleaning, or when not in use.
Removing battery pack or unplugging extension cord
will prevent accidental starting that could cause serious
personal injury.
■Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most
plastics are susceptible to damage from various types
of commercial solvents and can be damaged by their
use. Use dry cloths to remove dirt, dust, oil, grease, etc.
WARNING
Do not, at any time, let brake uids, gasoline, petroleum-
based products, penetrating oils, etc., come in contact
with plastic parts. They contain chemicals that can
damage, weaken, or destroy plastic.
■When servicing, use only original manufacturer’s
replacement parts. Use of any other part could create a
hazard or cause product damage.
■Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side
shields during power tool operation or when blowing
dust. If operation is dusty, also wear a dust mask.
■For greater safety and reliability, all repairs should be
performed by an authorised service centre.
LUBRICATION
All of the bearings in the product are lubricated with a
sufcient amount of high grade lubricant for the life span of
the product under normal operating conditions. Therefore,
no further lubrication is required.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Recycle raw materials instead of disposing
of as waste. The machine, accessories
and packaging should be sorted for
environmental-friendly recycling.
SYMBOLS
Safety alert
Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
Product meets applicable regulatory
requirements.
Please read the instructions carefully
before starting the machine.
Wear dust mask.
Wear eye protection.
Wear ear protection.
Do not expose to rain.
Do not touch blade.
ØDiameter
VVolts
Direct current
Waste electrical products should not
be disposed of with household waste.
Please recycle where facilities exist.
Check with your local authority or
retailer for recycling advice.
The following signal words and meanings are intended to
explain the levels of risk associated with this product:
DANGER
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation, which, if not
avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not
avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not
avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
CAUTION
(Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates a situation that
may result in property damage.

9
1
2
6
3
4
8
7
9
10
11
12
13
5
1. Lock-off button
2. Switch trigger
3. Spindle lock
4. Bevel scale
5. Edge guide lock knob
6. Bevel lock knob
7. Water bottle
8. Water bottle release button
9. Flow adjustment knob
10. Base
11. Cutting wheel
12. Wheel wrench storage
13. Depth lock knob
14. Inner wheel washer
15. Wheel
16. Outer wheel washer
17. Wheel screw
18. Battery pack
19. Incorrect method of support
20. Correct method of support
21. Edge guide

10
1
2
18
Fig.3 Fig.4
14 15 16 17
3
8
9
7
Fig.1 Fig.2

11
10
13
1
Fig.6Fig.5
20
19
Fig.7 Fig.8

961075389-01
Techtronic Industries (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
31 Gilby Road,
Mount Waverley VIC 3149,
Australia
Techtronic Industries New Zealand Ltd.
2 Landing Drive, Mangere,
Auckland, New Zealand 2022
Imported by:
BATTERY AND CHARGER
Model Compatible battery
pack (not included)
Compatible charger
(not included)
Lithium-Ion RB18L13
RB18L15
RB18L20
RB18L25
RB18L26
RB18L40
RB18L50
BCS618G
BCL14181H
BCL14183H
BCL1418IV*
RC18150U
RC18627U
*for vehicles with 12V DC outlets
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
18V wet / dry tile saw
Model R18TS
Voltage 18 V
Wheel Diameter 105 mm (4”)
Wheel Arbor 16 mm (5/8”)
Cutting Depth at 0º 22 mm (7/8”)
Cutting Depth at 45º 16 mm (5/8”)
No Load Speed 5000 min-1
Wheel Type Continuous rim diamond wheel
(1pc included)
Thickness of blade 1.6 mm (1/16”)
Choose proper cutting wheels for wet or dry cuttings in different
applications
21
Fig.9