Cutting Saw Blades A saw blade is the heart of any woodworking tool
Choosing Cutting Saw Blades
Cutting Saw Blades A saw blade is the heart of any woodworking tool, doing most of the heavy-lifting when it comes to wood cutting. A cheaply made blade may lead to subpar results when used for any woodcutting task; on the other hand, quality craftsmanship will give you better results and save both time and money!
When selecting blades, there are various factors to take into account — number of teeth, material of tooth and its shape, width/kerf of blade construction. Quality determines both how a cut appears and its lifespan — the cheaper blades tend not to be as durable or efficient and their lifespan tends to be shorter compared to higher quality alternatives.
There are also different blade types used for performing various cuts. Crosscut, rip and laminated wood blades are most frequently employed but there are also specialty blades designed to cut fiberglass and non-ferrous metals.
One of the key considerations in selecting a blade is understanding what types of cuts your project requires. If clean, smooth cuts are key, then using either a ripping or crosscut blade would be best suited. However, for projects which call for multipurpose use a general purpose woodworking or utility blade would likely prove best.
Understanding what materials you will be cutting is also key in selecting an appropriate tooth size and style for your saw. Being aware of whether or not you’ll primarily be working with natural wood, composite materials or some other substance will allow you to determine whether you need blades designed specifically for crosscutting or ripping as well as standard or high-tongue tooth designs that some manufacturers offer.
Some blades offer extra features to help maximize performance and minimize heat. For instance, some have expansion slots to prevent blade skewing when cutting thicker materials while others feature low-friction coating to decrease noise production while cutting.
Other factors that can alter the quality of your cuts include teeth angle and kerf size. A full kerf blade covers more of the cutting area while producing more heat; on the other hand, thinner kerf blades tend to produce less heat but may take more time ripping through some materials.
As a rule, having more teeth on a blade increases its cutting speed; however, too many can lead to issues with tear out and make your final cut rough and unattractive. You can avoid this problem by adjusting your feed rate accordingly and selecting a bit that best matches your task.
