Things You'll Need:
- Circular Saws
- Combination Blades
- Crosscut Blades
- Flooring Blades
- Hollow-ground Planer Blades
- Hollow-ground Plywood Blades
- Masonry Blades
- Metal/plastic-cutting Blades
- Nail-cutting Blades
- Ripping Blades
- Thin-kerf Blades
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Step 1
Learn how blades are named. Some are obvious: A masonry blade is used to cut brick. A flooring blade is made for cutting flooring and rough lumber. This type of blade can even handle an occasional nail.
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Step 2
Recognize that the more teeth that are on the blade, the cleaner the cut. Carbide-tipped blades are more expensive, but they require less frequent sharpening and make the smoothest cuts.
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Step 3
Select a ripping blade for long cuts with the grain. Don't use this blade with plywood. The crosscut blade can cut plywood easily, as well as regular wood (across the grain).
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Step 4
Use a combination blade for general-purpose woodwork. The large teeth leave a rough-cut and the blade can be used for cross cutting or with-the-grain rips.
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Step 5
Look for a hollow-ground planer for smooth miter and crosscuts. There is also a hollow-ground plywood blade that cuts plywood and paneling without splintering.
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Step 6
Choose a non-ferrous metal/plastic-cutting blade for aluminum, brass, copper, lead, and most solid plastics.
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Step 7
Pick up a thin-kerf blade to minimize wood waste when cutting.
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Step 8
Try a nail-cutter if you're doing heavy remodeling. You may run across hardware in the wood.
