Choosing The Right Table Saw Blade
Choosing The Right Table Saw Blade
Here are my recommendations for table saw blades, based on what I have been using in my shop:
COMBINATION/ALL PURPOSE:
Freud Industrial 50T Combination (FULL KERF) – https://amzn.to/37YxcSn
Freud Industrial 50T Combination (THIN KERF) – https://amzn.to/37Zlerz
CMT Orange 42T All Purpose (THIN KERF) – https://lddy.no/vhgt
RIP BLADES:
Amana Prestige 30T Glue Line Rip (FULL KERF) – https://amzn.to/3dU57PW
CMT Orange 24T Rip – https://lddy.no/vhh1
CROSSCUT BLADES:
Amana 60T Cut-Off & Crosscut (FULL KERF)- https://amzn.to/3ra4vto
CMT Orange 60T Fine Cut-Off (THIN KERF) – https://lddy.no/odwa
PHENOLIC PLY/MELAMINE:
CMT Orange 60T Fine Cut-Off (THIN KERF) – https://lddy.no/odwo
JOINERY (FLAT BOTTOM KERF):
Forrest Woodworker II #1 Grind (FULL KERF) – https://amzn.to/337590J
WOODCRAFT may have this blade as well – https://www.woodcraft.com/products/forrest-ww10401125-woodworker-ii-grind-saw-blade-10-x-1-x-40-tooth
A Less Expensive Alternative- https://amzn.to/2HrRFoI
Another Less Expensive Alternative- https://lddy.no/rfkd
(Please keep in mind that I do not own and have not used the less expensive blades. But these are Flat Tooth Grind ripping blades and at a much lower cost and I have the word of other viewers that these blades are good blades. It’s good to have options!)
PLASTIC/NON-FERROUS METALS:
Freud Diablo 84T (THIN KERF) – https://amzn.to/3uCR2wh
MY 12″ MITER SAW BLADE:
CMT Orange Chrome 72T (FULL KERF) – https://lddy.no/mpus
MY DADO STACK:
CMT Orange 8″ Precision Dado Stack – https://lddy.no/qe5i
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Very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you
I would have thought some advice concerning blade thickness and riving knife thickness would have been mentioned. In any case make sure your riving knife is thicker than the saw blade but thinner than the kerf.
Great video and information as usual bud!
And I had to do a double take as I wasn’t sure the blades were changing in the intro. Nice effect. Lol
It definitely saves money when you don’t have to recut or remake a piece because your blade cut isn’t what you need…
Hello,
Did you als consider that some tooths have a difference in height.
So you will not get a crisp flat bottom in a groove or on a tenon.
I like your chanel very much.
Looking forward to the next
Ruben
I just recently ordered some blades from Taylor Tools and this video helped reinforce that they were indeed good purchases. I look forward to having them arrive and start using them. Thank you for making this video!
Thanks for sharing your insight into the bewildering world of blade choice! I’ve recently been working with reclaimed oak, and, whilst I can rip it with my tracksaw or circular saw, it is a real struggle on my table saw.
It came with a 10" multi material blade, which I changed almost immediately for a general purpose blade that worked really well with MDF and other soft materials, but just about set the oak on fire.
Given the current price of wood in general, and hardwood in particular, I quickly realized that it would make sense to invest in a dedicated ripping blade.
You always hear that low tooth count and aggressive tooth angle are essential for burn-free, straight cuts when ripping, but I have often seen advice pointing in the direction of 40, 50, and sometimes higher count ripping blades.
I notice you, too, are showing similarly high tooth-count blades for ripping. In my experience, working with oak worktops and fitting solid wood doors, the lower the tooth-count, the cleaner the rip cut.
I’m based in Scotland, so most of the blades you recommend will not be available over here, or will have different monikers. That said, again, a big thank you for sharing! 👍
How do you clean your blades?
Excellent breakdown, usable info. With all those blades you need 3 saws or a saw with a fast blade change feature.
All high end blade manufacturers have a blade for melamine that doesn’t require first scoring the melamine. They claim all edges will be clean with those speciality blades. What’s your take on those.
nice blade swaps in the intro 😉
Very good information. I had no idea there were so many different blades – I always used a combination blade. I’m gonna have to watch this a few more times for sure.
You don’t like/use Diablo blades?
wish you great success, just try not to too fast speaking, remember there a lot of non-native English speakers all around the world, even more than in america itself.
If you need help finding any of the blades that I talked about, they are all categorized and linked in the video description. Also keep in mind that these things are guidelines, not necessarily the rules. With advancements in technology manufacturers have figured out how to do some pretty interesting things with blade geometry.
One more thing with regards to SawStop owners: The blue Amana blades and the red Freud blades are perfectly acceptable to use in your SawStop table saw. Contrary to popular belief, you can use painted or coated blades on your SawStop saw and the brake will work as advertised. It’s the blade TEETH that cannot be covered because it can interfere with the electrical signal and therefore limit how fast the blade brake can activate. Some Amana coatings do cover the teeth but are still safe to use, as per Amana. (The CMT thin kerf rip blade has anti-kickback shoulders so technically it is advised not to be used in a SawStop because the anti-kickback shoulders could limit the speed at which the brake can stop the blade if things go south.) As always, if in doubt do what makes you comfortable.
Just bought my first table saw, the Dewalt 7491rs and I want to get a better blade than the stock one but I’m still not sure what is better the 50T ATB, 50T ATBR, or 40T general purpose? I see eventually getting dedicated rip and crosscut blades, but for now one blade is in the budget.
Try a blade from FS Tool. You’ll never go back to the fancy colored ones.
how the hell did you do that editing? How do I learn your video trickery?
*Saw is perfect **MyBest.Tools** , stable and accurate. Very easy to use.*
I use the CMT Orange Chrome Carbide 12" Full Kerf Heavy Duty Crosscut Blade, 72 Teeth, Alternate Top Bevel Grind, 0.126” Kerf 285.672.12 on my Dewalt DWD780 Miter and it is the best blade I have put on it. It cuts clean, fast and it is actually a little bit quieter. Sorry, it is not what this video is about, but since you mentioned it, I thought I would agree with you choice of miter saw blades.
I like the blades self changing table saw 😀
great video with a lot of information. I’ve been using a lot more baltic birch plywood and I am looking for a good finish cut and would also like a single blade to do dados if I needed to. Which one or two would you recommend for my table saw?
One of the best saw blade videos on the toobs. Despite the clear and deep information given, my favorite part was the saw blades changing subtly in the intro. Clever and well executed. Thank you sir.
I love the magical blade changes in the intro! Good stuff man.
A friend managed a cabinet shop for a hospital system, where they make all of the hospitals’ cabinetry in-house. They solved the blade changing issue by lining up 5 tablesaws in a row with different blades. They monitor sharpness of the blades by measuring the motor’s amperage draw – a dull blade requires more power. Oh, and for that 1950s DeWalt RAS in the background, a 9" thin-kerf sliding compound miter saw blade is a good choice.
Whether I’m looking to purchase or curious and I’m sure this applies to many…to say the price of each blade really helps to narrow down what might be best for me. For myself it’s not about how much I have to spend but how much I need to put aside or save to get what I think is the best possible tool in my range.
Thank you for sharing but i want to ask, Is 24 teeth Ftg blade will work for rabbit and groove jointry in plywood, hardwood. Thank you
The video was helpful, thank you for sharing this information
Why is Comibnation Table Saw blade not available in Europe?
Excellent presentation. Answered some questions that I had. And this will solve for me some issues that I have had. In particular when cutting thin plastics and melamine. Thanks so much.
I tend to use my Worm Saw and sometimes my Sidewinder to cut down sheet stock. Just to make it easier to manage on my Cabinet Saw. A video examining blade choices and what I can do with different blades for those saws I would also find useful. I don’t use mine just to cut construction Spruce. I cut, once again plastics, melamine and wood species I am using to make furniture and a variety of projects. A look at blade choices there would be valuable as well. I think most people tend to use the blade that came with your hand power saw because they aren’t concerned with razor accuracy or pretty cuts when using such saws in a construction environment. Maybe I’m just a rarity. Really enjoy your videos, thanks again.
I own some amana tool prestige saw blades and dang I think they are awesome blades for the price.
I started with a combination blade and then went for a ripping blade (glue line 30tooth) and finally I got a 80t abt for crosscuts and plywood and I have never regret spending those extra bucks. They are very very good blades for the money
Another problem is wobbling of circular saws
0:18 “To be fair…” Let that marinate.
thank you very infomative for our woodworker !
Great video. Thank you I learned so much from you. 👍🏻👍🏻
Oh man, your radial arm is turned aside. I can hear the tears.
Thank you for the time you’ve put into this video. I’ll be reviewing it several more times to absorb the information. I’ve been out of woodworking for a long time and this gives me a good entry point for learning blades again.
In my experience the Amana 60 tooth blade (full kerf) is a great general purpose blade. It’s the blade I used 80% of the time. The other blade I used is a high quality 40 tooth flat bottom rip blade. Great for joinery and rip cuts.
I think the home gamer only needs two blades. I’d avoid any the big box stores sell.
A very good collection of useful information. I’m going to have to go through the video again with a notebook and pause button.
Are most of these available in low hook angle versions? I use a Radial Arm Saw exclusively – a 40-year old 10 inch Craftsman. (I noticed your old DeWalt lurking in the background … envious.)
Loved the intro. If only blades were that easy swap out in real life.
What’s your professional opinion on the newer CMT Orange Chrome line? How would you say they compare to Forrest or Amana Prestige line?
Simply; Thank You for this video, I learned a lot from it.
Thanks for the detailed description. Now to find someone to sharpen blades without charging near the cost of the blade itself.
Awesome, my son ruined his saw trying to rip wet PT lumber because he didn’t have a ripping blade. He was a newbie then and this will help him round out blades and allow us to have Christmas present options.
I searched your video back catalog to find the one where you discuss that lovely old Dewalt radial arm saw behind you and I sadly cannot find it.
I’m sure not too many ppl noticed the blades switching during the intro and the seamless editing. Nice job sir
Thank You For The Great Info!!!! 👍😎
Thanks, good job. Now to go spend more money 🤑. $600 for 3 sheets of plywood, nice to know what to cut it with.
This is gold, thank you.