How do I Tell What Type of Saw Blade to Use?
Choosing the right saw blade for your project is important. What type of saw you're using and what type of cut you have to make will determine which blade you ultimately choose. Choosing the wrong blade may mean an uneven or jagged cut or the blade may not cut at all. Safety is another reason why it's so important to choose the correct saw blade for your project. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Looking at the Number of Teeth
-
Blades that have more teeth tend to provide a smoother cut, whereas blades with fewer teeth usually cut at a much faster rate. Blades with fewer teeth are usually used to cut lumber. Since the blade won't provide a very smooth cut, it wouldn't be a smart choice for cutting furniture pieces, which require a smooth, even cut. Typically a 10-inch saw blade with 24 teeth is used to cut lumber. To find a blade with a smoother cut, choose a crosscut blade, which has between 60 and 80 teeth. This blade is designed to make several individual cuts rather than ripping through the piece of wood.
Flat Top Tooth Configuration
-
Flat top teeth (FT) are used for ripping both hard and soft woods. Wood is less likely to chip and splinter if it is being cut in the direction of the grain, which is what an FT blade is used for. This blade is designed to not only cut the wood but to also remove or rake sawdust from the cut as it does so. This blade is best used for making fast rough wood cuts.
-
Alternate Top Bevel Configuration
-
An Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) blade has a blade design where the teeth alternate from a right to left-hand bevel. This blade is used for smoother cutting on natural woods and veneered plywood. The design of the teeth form a knifelike edge on both sides of the blade. This makes for a cleaner cut on this type of material than an FT blade. This blade is often used in cabinetmaking and furniture design.
Combination Tooth Configuration
-
Combination blades use a 4&1 configuration and are designed to do crosscutting and ripping. A combination blade is designed so that the teeth are arranged in groups of five, with four ATB teeth and one FT tooth in the configuration. There is a large gullet between the groups. The gullet is the space that is cut away from the blade in front of each tooth, which allows for chip removal. A combination tooth blade is typically used for large-volume cutting.
Triple Chip Grind Configuration
-
The Triple Chip Grind blade (TCG) is especially good for cutting hard materials, such as laminates, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and plastics. The teeth on a TCG blade alternate between one flat ranking tooth and one higher trapeze tooth. This configuration can also be used for non-ferrous metal cutting blades. A coolant or blade wax should always be used with this blade.
High Alternate Top Bevel
-
The High Alternate Top Bevel blade (HiATB) is typically used for extra-fine crosscutting. It can be used to cut materials that have been surfaced with melamine. These types of materials are prone to chipping. This blade has a high bevel angle that increases a knifelike cutting action at the edge of the blade. This blade is usually used for more delicate cuts and can be used for cutting laminated surfaces.
-
References
- Photo Credit David Sacks/Lifesize/Getty Images
