Different circular saw blades and which to use when cutting what material

Circular saws are available in different varieties. Their main distinction is the task they are meant to perform. This is then related to the blade installed on the saw. It is the sole determinant of what a given type of circular saw would be used for. There is a further breakdown which takes us to the number of teeth a blade has and from which material it was made. For a better understanding, we shall start by looking at the number of teeth a blade has and how it impacts on its effectiveness to cut certain materials and not others.

Rip cut blades

Just as the name suggests, these blades are meant for ripping. Their number of teeth range from 16 – 40. They are very effective when cutting parallel to the grain of the wood. Sharpening this blade is a lot easier due to the few number of teeth. They are known for their aggressiveness and ability to get the job done faster. Plus, they are also cheaper to purchase.

 
Cross cut blades  
 

This is the direct opposite of the rip cut blade. It is made up of more teeth (40 - 80), which are good for cutting against the grain. They always give a more refined finish.

 
Combination blades 
 

A combination blade can perform both rip cutting and cross cutting effectively. It is made in such a way that for every one tooth for ripping, there are four for cross-cutting. This makes the blade look different and unique. It is a good choice for those who do not want to buy two different sets of blades.

Framing, plywood, and thin-kerf blades 

The framing blade is mostly used by those who are not so keen on a clean job. More like, just wanting to get the job done – fast. It has a total of 24 teeth. The plywood blade, on its part, has very fine teeth (100). This makes it efficient when cutting plywood. You won’t experience any splintering of the material. As for the thin-kerf blade, they are usually narrow which makes them cut faster, cause minimal wastage and consume less power.

We now head over to the categorization of the blades in regards to the material used to manufacture them.

 
Abrasive blades 
 

First on the list is abrasive blades. These blades do not have teeth. They are made of aluminium oxide or silicon carbide. The materials cut by such a blade are mostly concrete and metal. Even though they wear away quickly, these types of saws are highly cost-effective for small projects.

 
Diamond rim blades 

All the diamond rim blades are manufactured using special alloy metals together with industrial diamonds which are embedded on the outside diameter of the blade. They are used for cutting blocks, bricks, hard concrete, and cement composite materials. Examples include the continuous-rim blades, turbo-rim blades, and segmented blades. Out of the three, the segmented blades are the most aggressive.

The last two blades on our list are the special tempered alloy blades, and trim & panelling blades. The former has tempered carbon steel teeth that are used for cutting galvanised roofing metal, and brass, copper, or aluminium tubes. The trim and panelling blades have extremely fine teeth for making smooth cuts on finished materials such as mouldings and panelling.

From the information, you can see that circular saws are all about their blades. It is easier to make an informed choice when you have all the necessary information. Nevertheless, you can always ask for an expert opinion from somebody who is more conversant with the machines.

 

Check out other feature circular saw! ... Click here