Official Luthiers Forum!

There it is, which saw blade should I get for my table saw?

This is a phenomenal blade:
http://www.amazon.com/Tenryu-GM-25540-Carbide-Tipped-Blade/dp/B000FXY38M/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1384299412&sr=1-1&keywords=tenryu+gold+medal
You can spend less but the $50 more you spend for the Tenryu over a $50 generic blade is the best $50 you'll spend this year.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

I cut a variety of materials (plywood veneer, hardwoods, melamine, etc..) so I use a couple different blades. A 24 tooth for ripping, a 80 tooth for melamine, and a 60 tooth for plywood veneers and crosscutting. As Todd mentioned above the Freud Diablo is a good blade and not that expensive. I just picked up a new 10" Freud Diablo rip blade today for $27.00 at HD. I prefer carbide tipped whatever blade I use. If you had to get just one blade the 60 tooth combination would work.

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The dullest pencil is sharper than the keenest mind.

Freud Diablo is the blade I use for most of my guitar table saw work. The table saw is the power tool I use the most. Thin kerf as Todd pointed out makes less sawdust, cuts much easier then wider blades, leaves a very nice cut. Think I paid less then $10.00. Bought 2 about 4 years ago and the second one is still on the nail ,unused. Our friend Grumpy.......AKA Mario put me on to them, and I sure appreciate that.......Thanks Mario.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

So you guys are using 7-1/4" blades? What is the saw's blade capacity?

Ed Minch

I use the Freud 10" 60 tooth combination blade.

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Another day, another dollar.

One reason for using a 7 1/4" blade on a 10" table saw is the thinner kerf of the smaller blade.

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John

1 5/8" on my Dewalt jobsite saw,1 7/8" on my old 8" Crafstman.

I used to spend the money on Forrest and other premium blades, but in the last 5 years the cheap
carbide blades like the Freud Diablo have gotten extremely good. The 7 1/4" has the advantage of
a thinner cut, but the 10" blade cut just as smooth. I don't see the need to spend the money for
the premium blades any more.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Todd

Thanks for that - I have been using a 10" Craftsman thin kerf, all purpose blade since January of '09 when I cut miles of 2X yellow pine for a workbench top. It is still on the saw, and granted I don't use the table saw much, but it still does a good job. I will try one of the smaller blades for exotic woods.

Ed Minch

I have a fair number of special purpose table saw blades, but the two used the most are the 10 inch Freud thin kerf combination blade and the 7 1/4 inch diablo.
One advantage not mentioned about the thin kerf blades (although Tom alluded to it) is that they require less power to make the cut, which is a plus for the average under powered homeowner table saw. The Freud has the further advantage of the special coating on the plate to reduce friction.
The 24 tooth 7 1/4 inch diablos work fine for most cuts and I have caught them on sale at HD , 2 for $10 (I don't know if we will see those prices again!).

+1 for the 7 1/4 Diablo.

+1 for Diablo.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

I have Freud, Simonds, Micor, CMT, and some house brand blades. They all cut really well as long as they are kept clean. As soon as resin glaze builds on the teeth, the best blades won't cut very well.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker