Cutting dates back to the earliest generation of man. It is a skill that has evolved and is still used in the modern world. Humans have progressed from using ancient tools such as the ax to modern-day tools such as saws. There are quite many saws, so much so that choosing one becomes a daunting task. This article focuses on the circular saw, particularly the large circular saw blade. Emphasis will be placed on examining the unique properties surrounding the blade and what you should consider before choosing a circular saw blade.
Table of Contents
- 1. Type of Material to be Cut
- 2. Blade size
- 3. Number of teeth
- 4. Kerfs
- 5. Blade Type
- 6. Blade Condition and Material
- Conclusion
1. Type of Material to be Cut
The fact remains that the circular saw remains top of the list when you consider the tool that most woodcutters use. It can cut different materials ranging from softwood or hardwood, concrete blocks, light steel, plywood, ceramic tiles, and so on.
It is important to note that these circular saw blades are marketed based on their suitability to cut different material types. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to find that some manufacturers market some blades for cutting specific materials.
Now, it might come to mind to instead go for blades that can cut multiple types of materials, which would often come less cheap than those specialized ones. Many users fail to realize that specialty blades last longer and cut better. Even when they realize it, it becomes almost impossible to regain all the money plowed into maintenance.
Most material types come with a parallel fiber direction; rip cutting is the most suitable mode of cutting. Other times, materials may come in unique configurations that permit you to crosscut along the grain.
2. Blade size
Circular saw blades are generally categorized by diameter, with each saw structural build-up specifying the extreme blade size it can accommodate. Most handheld circular saw sizes come in the range of 7 to 8 inches, and sometimes it is possible to have custom-made blades (Specialty Blades) of larger sizes, like 9 inches, or smaller sizes, like 4 inches.
For this range of blade sizes, circular saws often draw power from a 10 -13-ampere motor. This motor also has an in-built braking system, which stops the blade whenever you release its trigger. The blade size is one of the essential attributes of the circular saw that any user must consider, as it determines what type of material you can cut and how fast you can cut.
Another specialty blade, like table saws and miter saws, has blade sizes in the range of 10 to 12 inches. Furthermore, artisans can use blade sizes of minimal diameter for fine surface finishing.
3. Number of teeth
Another fundamental categorization of blades is by their tooth count. A general rule of thumb to note when considering tooth count is that the more teeth, the slower and finer the cut.
Users looking to carry out cutting tasks that demand impeccable finishing will opt for a blade with more teeth, whereas users who seemingly require speed and not necessarily a fine finish opt for blades with fewer teeth. Rip-cut blades usually have fewer teeth, while crosscut blades fall between extreme ranges of the rip-cut blade and combination blades with more teeth.
4. Kerfs
Now in the design of specialty blades, the producers often would create two versions of the same blade varying between Kerfs-the full-kerf version or the thin-kerf version. The full-kerf blade version has a cutting slot of 1/8 inch, which aligns with the saw’s power.
While the thin-kerf blade version has a slot size of 3/32 inch with a motor power rating of 3hp, the variation in their slot sizes helps to distinguish both blade types in the width of their cut, with the full kerf blade having a wider cut. The thin-kerf blade is suitable for mini-jobs that require less power.
These thin-kerf blades also come in different types depending on tooth geometry and vibration level. The thinner kerf produces less resistance during cutting operations and is better suited for the power needs of those saws. The trade-off, however, is that smaller blades vibrate and, as a result, reveal blade movement on the material surface. It is worth noting that these blades are difficult to use with hardwood.
5. Blade Type
When the user decides what type of cut he needs, whether smooth or rough and the surface finish requirements, selecting a blade type is more or less easy. There are four types of blades for the different kinds of cuts that users will need when looking to carry out cutting activities, namely:
Rip Blades
This blade is best suited for jobs that may not necessarily need an exquisite finish, and because of this function, manufacturers design these blades with fewer teeth in the range of 22 to 24 teeth. This blade is popular in applications where the user needs to cut without regard for finishing.
Rip blades cut parallel to the grain of the wood. Apart from the fewer teeth number that often has deeper gullet between its teeth compared to the crosscut blade, this attribute of the saw helps to cut a lot of material quickly and clear them simultaneously.
Crosscut Blades
Crosscut blades are carbide-tipped saws with an extension of a sharp chisel added to the tip of the teeth. They have a slightly deviated teeth configuration, which allows each point of the blade tooth to cut across both directions. The teeth design of this blade gives it the ability to cut cleaner and more efficiently, making it a perfect fit for cutting tasks requiring an elegant finish. Their blades are often small in size but are more in comparison to the rip-cut blade, which is solely the reason for their fine finish during operation.
Combination Blades
These blades, on the other hand, permit two cutting modes. The blades come with a configuration that offers parallel cutting and crosscutting of the rip-cut and crosscut blades, respectively. They carry out their cutting by simply alternating between the rip-cut blade and the crosscut blade and are popular among unskilled or semi-skilled woodworkers.
General-purpose Blades
The general-purpose blade is very similar to the combination blade, mainly because they carry out the same task as the combination blade: cutting across and parallel to the wood grain. Nevertheless, their only distinction is their bevel angle, which is more pronounced on the general-purpose blades, and because of this feature, they are gradually replacing most combination blades.
6. Blade Condition and Material
As you use a blade for a while, the blade becomes dull and will often perform less effectively. The rate of this dullness of the blade varies across different blade materials. So, when you decide to choose a circular saw blade, the user must consider the material make-up of the blade.
Manufacturers have different grades regarding material types used in producing the saw blade. You will often find blades nickel-plated, Teflon-coated, or aluminum coated. Other times, you will find blades made from carbide steel. Usually, some are quite pricier than others. This marginal difference in cost is for a good reason, as the material used in creating the more expensive blades provides the user with a long-lasting and better-performing blade.
As users use the blade, cheaper blades will often become blunt. While sharpening of blades will suffice for cheaper blades, it is often not the case with the more expensive premium blades. These premium blades can cut for a longer period before becoming dull. This lesser sharpening procedure for premium blades justifies the difference in the process between both grades of saws.
Manufacturers essentially utilize stainless steel to create cheaper blades, and as such, a lower frictional force exists between the blade and the material surface. On the other hand, the premium blades have their entire body structure made of carbide steel, which makes them last far longer and cuts much better than blades made from stainless steel. Besides, the premium blades are coated with lubricants to reduce friction.
Conclusion
There are so many brands of circular blades in the market today. Selecting large circular saw blades can be daunting for both beginners and skilled and semi-skilled professionals. It is because many illegal brands put preference profits over quality. Nccuttingtools has proved to be the most trusted manufacturer of large circular saw blades. Feel free to choose between the different range of sizes they offer. You should reach out to them if you need customized blades.
