How to Choose a Saw Blade for a Circular Saw
No matter what you are cutting with your circular saw, there is a blade for the job. Wood-cutting blades are steel or carbide-tipped, and the number of teeth can vary from 25 to more tha 100. In general, a higher number of teeth is more appropriate for precision work or cutting veneered plywood, while fewer teeth are used for ripping construction lumber and other non-precision uses. A good multipurpose blade has between 50 and 60 carbide-coated teeth. There are also specialty blades for cutting metal, plastic, tile and concrete. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Remove the old blade from your circular saw with a wrench and examine the diameter of the hole in the center, called the arbor. The new blade must have the same size arbor. Take the blade with you to the hardware store as a reference.
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Determine the diameter of the blade that will fit your saw. Most plug-in circular saws use 7 1/4-inch blades, but battery-powered saws use smaller ones, usually 6 1/2 inches. Some older battery-powered saws use even smaller, 5 3/8-inch blades.
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Choose a carbide-tipped blade for most household and construction applications. Carbide cuts faster and stays sharp longer than steel, but the extra width on the tip of the blade produces a wider kerf -- the amount of material the saw removes. Choose fewer teeth for heavy-duty cutting. A saw with fewer teeth will cut faster, but is more likely to splinter the wood in the process. A blade with 40 teeth is good for ripping or heavy cross-cuts, while one with 50 or 60 teeth is a good all-purpose blade that will make fairly clean crosscuts.
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Choose a steel-tipped blade for precision applications, such as cabinetry or fine woodworking. The smaller kerf will be important when you have to make accurate measurements and cuts. Purchase a blade with a large number of teeth if you want to avoid chipping the material, such as when you cut veneered plywood or interior trim. Plywood-cutting blades typically have 80 to 100 teeth.
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Purchase a plastic-cutting blade if that is your primary use for it. These blades have even more teeth than plywood blades, and the teeth are smaller, so there will be less chance of chipping. You also can buy metal-cutting blades, which are like grinding wheels that you use with a circular saw. Masonry blades are similar but made of a different material.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a hollow-ground blade to prevent binding when you are cutting wet or warped lumber.
Steel blades will dull quickly when you use them to cut hardwood. High-speed steel blades are similar to regular steel blades, but they last longer and are a bit more expensive.
Follow all safety precautions when using a circular saw. Unplug the saw or remove the battery when you remove or install a blade. Wear goggles while using the saw, and keep your hands out of the path of the blade at all times.
References
- Photo Credit scie circulaire image by photlook from Fotolia.com
