For most construction work, a 24-tooth general use blade is sufficient. That blade is very aggressive and will help you rip and cross-cut lumber and sheet goods quickly and with a high degree of accuracy. With a 24-tooth demo blade, you’re getting work done quickly, but you won’t get a near-finished edge.
So we’ve summoned all of our wisdom and powers of brevity to bring you this useful guide to choosing the right circular saw blade. Choosing the right circular saw blade for rip cuts might be even more important. We hope this article about choosing the right circular saw blade cuts through the confusion so you can select the best accessory for the job.
When I first started using circular saws, what I knew about the circular saw blades was this: how many teeth the blade has and the size of the blade. Back in the spring, I had the opportunity to peer over the shoulder of a demo guy at a Diablo circular saw blades booth at a Home Depot event and was mind-blown at how he was slicing through thick metal like the circular saw blade was a hot knife through butter. Before jumping into which way to insert a circular saw blade when changing the blade, let’s first talk about which direction the blade of the saw actually cuts.
Blade Types:Generally speaking there are four major categories of circular saw blades. Combination saw blades are designed to cut both rips and crosscuts and are the most common type of circular saw blades. Unless you have two circular saw blades available at all times, it would be more than a nuisance to switch from a rip to a crosscut blade every time you change the cutting direction.
If you want to know which blade to use for a specific project or are just looking for an overview of the types of blades that exist, here we have all the information you need about circular saw blade types. One of the most obvious features of any circular saw blade that will be immediately recognizable even to someone who has never used a circular saw in their life is the number of teeth. They are a good choice if you need one blade for a variety of uses, but if you need a blade for a more specific job, you’re better off buying a specialist blade for that application.
what blade to use on circular saw Related Question:
What type of blade is best for circular saw?
Mostly, a 24-tooth circular saw blade is preferred by many people, especially if you have to cross-cut lumber and sheet materials. The 24-tooth blade is good enough for you if the diameter is 7¼”. However, as the diameter increases, you should also consider looking for circular saw blades with more teeth.
What are the four types of saw blades used with circular saws?
Generally speaking there are four major categories of circular saw blades. They are: Rip Blades, Crosscut, Combination and Specialty blades. Ripping saw blades are designed primarily to achieve a smooth, clean and safe cut when ripping wood or cutting in the same direction as the wood grain.
What blade is best for cutting wood?
Ripping solid wood: Use a 24-tooth to 30-tooth blade. You can use 40-tooth to 50-tooth multipurpose blade as well, but it will take longer. Cross-cutting wood or sawing plywood: Use a 40-tooth to 80-tooth blade. You can use a 40-tooth to 50-tooth general purpose blade as well.
Is more teeth on a saw blade better?
Blades with more teeth yield a smoother cut. Blades with fewer teeth remove material faster, but tend to produce a rougher cut with more “tearout”. More teeth means you will need to use a slower feed rate.
What saw blade makes the smoothest cut?
With fewer spaces between the teeth, crosscut blades remove less material, resulting in a smoother cut. It also means it takes these blades longer to move through wood. Crosscut blades are the go-to choice for finish carpentry and other applications that require precision and a smooth finish.
How do I know if I need a new circular saw blade?
Look for worn-down, chipped, broken and missing teeth or chipped carbide tips that indicate it’s time to replace a circular saw blade. Check the wear line of carbide edges using a bright light and magnifying glass to determine if it’s beginning to dull.
Can you put a smaller blade on a circular saw?
Can I use smaller blades? Short answer: Within reason, you can. Long answer: For safety reasons the blade gap should not be larger than 1/8″ (3 mm). If you do not care about workplace safety, you can use smaller circular saw blades in most cases.
Are Diablo blades worth it?
Diablo blades are available in a wide selection of sizes and styles and are easy to find online and locally at Home Depot. The consensus is that Diablo saw blades balance great quality with excellent value, and are a good choice when replacing or upgrading the OEM blades that are often bundled with new saws.
What is a 60 tooth saw blade used for?
A crosscut blade, on the other hand, is designed to produce a smooth cut across the grain of the wood, without splintering or tearing. This type of blade will usually have 60 to 80 teeth, and the higher tooth count means that each tooth has to remove less material.
What is a 40 tooth saw blade used for?
We chose a 40-tooth blade for a balance of cutting speed and finish quality to produce a happy medium between the two sectors. Realistically, a dedicated trim carpenter would likely go for a 60-tooth blade while a framer would prefer the speed of a 24-tooth model.
How many teeth should my saw blade have?
TPI is the number of teeth the blade has per inch. If you’re looking to cut wood or other soft materials, you’ll need a blade with a TPI of 6 up to 20. For harder materials like metal, a TPI between 14 up to 36 is more suitable. The number of teeth can be found on the blade.
How many teeth do I need on my circular saw blade?
Number of Teeth Generally, blades with more teeth will provide a smoother, finer cut whereas blades with fewer teeth will provide a rougher cut. The benefit of fewer teeth is faster cutting and a lower price. For most construction work, a 24-tooth general use blade is sufficient.
What size circular saw will cut a 4×4?
Cutting a 4×4 with a Circular Saw – Guide If you need to cut a 4×4 post, then the ideal tool is a large 12” miter saw. This saw has the blade diameter needed to chop through a 4×4 in a single pass, so if this is an option for you it’s the way to go.
How deep can a 6 1 2 inch circular saw cut?
The 18V Brushless Lithium Ion 6-1/2 Inch Deep Cut Circular Saw (C18DBALQ4) is a revolutionary cordless circular saw utilizing a 6-1/2″ blade which allows a 2-19/32″ cutting depth, making it one of the deepest cutting cordless circular saws on the market. This circular saw has a similar cut capacity as a 7-1/4″ saw!
Why does my saw blade burn the wood?
A dull blade will make it hard to cut quickly, and the slower the feed rate of the saw, the more friction against the wood and the greater the likelihood of scorch marks. Pushing the stock through the saw too slowly is a common cause of saw blade burn. Sometimes a blade that feels dull might only be dirty.
