Circular Saw Blades

Whether you need a blade for a circular saw, mitre saw or table saw, the saw blade must be chosen based on its intended application.

Because each type of blade is used for a specific application, the secret to choosing the right blade lies in understanding the difference between blade types. More importantly, by familiarising yourself with the various elements that make up a saw blade, you will come to understand how the features of each of these elements will have an impact on your work.
Project guide service
Related Projects
Related Tips
Page 1/4
Types of Blades
Blade Elements
Features that have no bearing on your selection
Safety Tips
Accessories

Types of Blades

Regardless of which tool the blade is intended for, the selection principle remains the same: the blade is chosen to match a specific application based on the quantity, shape and hook angle of the teeth, as well as on the thickness and diameter of the blade.

Thankfully, most manufacturers indicate the recommended usage on the individual blades they sell and you will not have to reconsider these elements each and every time you buy a new blade.

The blade’s usage is determined by the various combinations of the different blade features based on the following categories:

Crosscut Blade

This type of blade, which is typically manufactured with a fairly large number of teeth (forty or so on a 7 ¼ in. blade), is used to cut across the grain of the wood. It is often used, for example, when the bulk of the work consists in cutting pieces of construction wood (e.g.: 2 x 4 in.), or when there’s a need for a high quality cut-finish with hardly any splintering.

Rip Blade

Used primarily for jobs where cuts are to be made along the wood grain (i.e. on a table saw) when the blade typically encounters less resistance from the wood, this type of blade has fewer teeth than the Crosscut blade (e.g.: 16 or 18 teeth on a 7 ¼ in. blade). What’s more, the gullet between each tooth on the blade helps to quickly eliminate sawdust, which in turn speeds up the work process.

Note: There are kits available on the market that contain both a crosscut blade and a rip blade. These kits enable you to acquire two basic blades that will allow you to handle most jobs.

Combination/All-Purpose Blade

The teeth on this type of blade are specially designed to effectively accomplish two tasks, crosscutting and ripping wood. As such, it is an excellent choice for the many users who do not want to change the blade on their tool according to the application. Keep in mind, however, that there will be a drop off in performance when compared to specialised blades: the cut finish will be rougher during crosscutting and, because the combination blade has more teeth than a standard rip blade (e.g.: 24 teeth on a 7 ¼ in. blade), the ripping process will take longer.

Planer Blade

This blade greatly reduces the need for sanding and is recognised for its distinctive profile of alternating ridges and the ATBR configuration of its teeth (see definition in the “Shape of Teeth” section).

There are two types of Planer blades: The “planer” version, used for trims and mouldings (see illustration to the left), generates a cut line the same width as the blade (i.e. the teeth are the same width as the blade) and is ideal for cutting mouldings using a mitre saw. It is not recommended for cutting construction wood.
The planer blade is not to be confused with the second type, or “planer combination” blade. These blades are made of high-speed steel or carbide and have the same profile as the planer blade but the teeth are offset and do not provide the same quality of finish (see illustration on the right). These blades provide a smooth enough cut when used for either crosscutting or ripping construction wood but are not appropriate for trims and mouldings.
Page 1/4