3 Practical Factors for Choosing the Right Circular Saw Blade

Circular saw blades are an essential tool for many projects due to their versatility.
Different types of circular saw blades are suitable for different materials and tasks, such as wood, plastic, metal, concrete, and masonry. It is important to choose the right circular saw blade for your project, as the right blade can improve performance and ensure safety during operation.

Although saw blades look the same, they are designed for specific tools and uses. The functions of saw blades on different equipment are different, and the application will also vary.
This article will focus on these two elements and briefly introduce the applicable scenarios of three types of saw blades.

Diameter
The diameter of a circular saw blade is a very important determining factor, because for each mechanical equipment and handheld power tool, only a certain size of saw blade can be loaded on the equipment.

For table saws, blades with a diameter of 254 mm are generally accepted. For hand circular saws, it is usually 165 mm or 190 mm; for miter and radial arm saws, it is usually 254 mm or 304 mm, and for sliding table saws, blades with a diameter of 315 mm or 350 mm or larger are accepted. These tools also work with smaller blades, but if you have a diameter range set, don't try to use a larger blade. It may be difficult to find replacement blades of this size.

Therefore, before buying a new saw blade, you should make sure it fits your machine. Choose the right size so that the circular saw blade works perfectly with your machine.

Engraving
The kerf refers to the thickness of the groove that the circular saw blade passes through. It also serves to define the thickness of the teeth themselves, or at least the thickness of the widest part of the saw blade. The kerf affects the width of the cut, cost, power consumption, and the rate of wood loss during processing. The kerf is usually wider than the base of the saw blade.

If you look at the construction of a carbide circular saw blade, you will find that there is a small carbide tip welded to the blade, which makes the cutting edge thicker than the blade itself.

For high-speed steel saw blades, although the cutting edge is still thicker than the blade itself, the cutting edge and the saw blade are one piece.

The thicker the blade, the less likely it is to bend and the wider the kerf will be. Therefore, heavy-duty fixed table saws usually use 3.2 mm blades. This blade can easily cut high-density hardwoods due to the power provided by the blade.

Table saws, miter saws, and radial arm saws rated below 1.1KW are usually equipped with thinner blades (about 2.4mm) for better performance power.

Portable circular saws, especially lithium-ion handheld saws, use thinner blades. It is difficult to find 3.2mm blades for portable saws. These ultra-thin blades put less pressure on the saw and do not bend as badly due to their smaller diameter.

So next time you choose a saw blade, you need to consider the above two factors and choose a blade that suits your saw blade. Next, let's take a brief look at the three common saw blades used by woodworkers.
Rip blades
Rip blades or rip blades are designed to make straight long cuts along the grain of the wood. Typically, they have fewer teeth than crosscut blades (about 16 to 40) and have deep grooves to effectively remove wood chips and sawdust. The teeth of rip blades have a shallow rake angle to prevent the blade from grabbing the workpiece during operation. Rip blades require faster cutting speeds, resulting in rough cuts. It is not recommended to use ripping blades for crosscutting as it will result in poor cut quality and cause kickback.

Crosscut blades
Compared to slitting blades, crosscut blades or crosscut blades are ideal for cutting against the grain of the wood. They have more teeth (around 60 to 80) and shallower gullets, making them ideal for cutting solid woods such as hardwoods and softwoods. Crosscut blades produce extremely clean, smooth cuts with less tearing. They have a steeper rake angle for a more powerful, smoother cut at slow speeds. Also, do not use crosscut blades for slitting.

Combination/Universal Blades
Combination blades are sometimes also called universal blades. They are designed to do both ripping and crosscutting at the same time. With combination blades, we do not have to switch blades when changing the direction of the cut. Combination blades also combine flat teeth and alternating top bevel teeth to ensure performance. Flat teeth cut as fast as ripping, while alternating top bevel teeth produce clean, precise cuts like crosscutting. However, for more specific tasks, it is recommended to use a dedicated ripping or crosscut blade.