High quality, budget priced 7 1/4 saw blade

[leapinlew]

I was cutting some 3/4" Birch plywood last night and my circular saw was making a terrible mess of it by chipping it. I figured the blade was dull so I went to put on a spare blade I have. The blade I have was a 24T framing saw blade and I knew it wasn't going to make very clean cuts, but it's all I had and I thought it would be better than what I was using. It was actually a little worse.

Whats a good inexpensive blade I can purchase that will make good cuts? I use the saw a couple times a year. It's not a daily tool for me.

[mcseforsale]

I've been using this and I'm very happy with it...I cut 3/4 MDF, 3/4 Ply, 2-by...basically everything in the course of a year.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_59914-70-DW3578LX50_0__?productId=3341684&Ntt=dewalt+blade&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Ddewalt%2Bblade%26page%3D2&facetInfo=

Hope that link worked...if not, it's at Lowes and the product ID is DW3578LX50


DeWalt 24-tooth segmented 7 1/4.  It's a nice, thin blade (1/16-ish).  I've built my entire cab with it after finding my "fine" blade (bought for this very cab) had almost 1/2" of runout (wobbled like a drunk frenchman).  I brought it back and decided to try this on the MDF.

I think because it's so thin and has a slight kerf, it cuts really nice through MDF.  I've also ripped 3/4" ply during this project and the cuts are supreme...no flash and absolutely no chipping.  Honestly...it's a fantastic all-arounder and I'm very glad that my ply/fine blade had to be returned.

These cuts were made with this blade on a 2.3HP Skill 12-amp (it's about a 5 year old saw.).  I always use a straight edge. 



This is a 4" strip I ripped from a 4'x8' 3/4" ply sheet.  The edges are better than the edges from the factory...



This is my crappy saw.  I had to lose the good one.     So, I bought this in a pinch about 5 years ago and it hasn't broken yet.   



YMMV

AJ

[leapinlew]

Very nice cuts! I was thinking more teeth was better? Something like this:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_203752-353-74715B10_0__?productId=1207373&Ntt=7+1+4+saw+blades&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3D7%2B1%2B4%2Bsaw%2Bblades%26Ns%3Dp_product_price%7C0&facetInfo=

I could try both cheap enough I guess.

[TopJimmyCooks]

mcseforsale is on the right track. Your 150 tooth blade is what is commonly referred to as a plywood blade - they are only good to use under limited circumstances - cuts certain types of thin plywood without splintering. 

For a good all purpose blade for wood, mdf, and plywood, the 24 carbide tooth blade is great and that Dewalt one is decent quality. I've used them myself.  In general, more teeth = smoother cut, up to a point of diminishing returns.  As teeth go up, more power is required and feed rate is reduced.  I wouldn't go for a 60 tooth blade in a circular saw. 

I would toss it and get another $10 blade at the first sign of dullness/burning. 

[yotsuya]

I bought a cheap $5 blade at Harbor Frieght that gave me better cuts than a $30 blade I bought and returned at Home Depot.

[mcseforsale]

Yeah, the "fine" blade I had to return was from there.  It had a lot of runout.  I bolted it in, and went to check for 90 degrees on the fence part of my saw and noticed it wobbled about 1/2" side to side, so I returned it. 

This one was sitting on a peg for well over a year.  So, I figured what the hell.  it was excellent and I was shocked how well it worked.  Especially on the 3/4" ply.  That ply is the lowest grade...I bought it to floor the attic in my garage and I've been picking off the leftovers for this project.  I ripped a 3/4" square piece last week using a straight edge and I was shocked how clean it was.  Absolutely NO chipping or chatter.

In fact, I *MADE* several straight edges out of that 4" ripped piece (^^^)  and they work perfectly.  I am very shocked how well this whole project turned out without a table saw. 



AJ

I bought a cheap $5 blade at Harbor Frieght that gave me better cuts than a $30 blade I bought and returned at Home Depot.

[kahlid74]

I wound up buying a new Freud diablo 40 tooth and it's the damn best table saw blade I've ever used.  So much better than my previous blade.

[GregD]

I can second the Freud Diablo blades.  I use them for all my saws.   I use 10 inch combination blades for both ripping and crosscutting and have never had a reason to change to a specialty blade.   I use thin kerf blades.

[mcseforsale]

Freud blades are good, but every time I hear "Freud", I only see this dude:



Name that movie!

AJ

[yaksplat]

I wound up buying a new Freud diablo 40 tooth and it's the damn best table saw blade I've ever used.  So much better than my previous blade.

+1

It's the only blade that i'll buy unless i'm cutting through shingles.

[kahlid74]

I wound up buying a new Freud diablo 40 tooth and it's the damn best table saw blade I've ever used.  So much better than my previous blade.

+1

It's the only blade that i'll buy unless i'm cutting through shingles.

I always thought my Table saw was just a POS as it was super loud and was slow cutting and I had to apply pressure . .  which should have been the first indicator the blade was dull by my friend insisted it was still a-okay.  The first time I ran it with the Freud blade it was at least 3 times quieter and I couldn't even hear it when it was cutting the wood.  I had to do a double take and then I was like snap crackle pop, this is awesome!  I'm a believer!

[kahlid74]

I just got a 40 tooth Freud Diablo 71/4" for my circular saw and it's fantastic.  If you can get it you won't be disappointed.  My local home depot had a special so I got it for 12 bucks.  It cuts 5/8" MDF like a warm knife through butter.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100017783/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=diablo&storeId=10051

[Peja]

I looked at diablo blades today at home depot.  Not bad priced for sure.  If I am trying to cut melamine, would these work with a skill saw our do I need a lot more teeth and a table saw to get past chipping?  I can do the masking tape trick with the skill saw, but just wondering if it will be ok.  This is for my control panel so looks will matter. 

I assume I could use another factory cut board as a straight guide or do you recommend something else?

I also saw diablo forestner bits as well..may give them a try as well.

Thanks

[kahlid74]

I looked at diablo blades today at home depot.  Not bad priced for sure.  If I am trying to cut melamine, would these work with a skill saw our do I need a lot more teeth and a table saw to get past chipping?  I can do the masking tape trick with the skill saw, but just wondering if it will be ok.  This is for my control panel so looks will matter. 

I assume I could use another factory cut board as a straight guide or do you recommend something else?

I also saw diablo forestner bits as well..may give them a try as well.

Thanks

My direct understanding of chipping is that it comes from a dull blade (with a saw that's too slow) and too much pressure/too fast.  Some of the more experienced wood workers here can correct me but in my direct experience, a super sharp blade running fast enough will cut before it chips.  By Skill saw you mean a Circular saw but branded Skill right?  A Circular saw should be plenty fine for cutting those as long as it's a plug in one.  Battery Circular saws in my experience die after 2-3 big cuts.

For cutting Melamine one of the Freud blades actually has on the side of it that it's made to cute melamine, so look for that and you should be fine.  The 40-60-80 tooth Freud blades are actually called finishing blades and should prevent chipping for you.  If you still get chipping with them your circular saw may not be strong enough/fast enough.

As far as the Freud Frostner bits I can attest they are the best hole bit I have ever used.  Super sharp and accurate.  100% worth the investment for a 1 and 1/8" one.  I bought four just in case they ever stop getting produced.  That way I've got spares should the Zombies attack.

[Peja]

Yes forgive me Kahlid........circular saw is what I meant (use those terms interchangeably, which I shouldn't).  It is also a plug in model(Craftsman, I believe) so I hope it will be fast enough.  I will do some test cuts first.

 Also thank you for the wealth of information......this really makes me feel easier about cutting my melamine.  I will have to double check what blades they had at Home Depot.  Most of the ones I saw said Plywood, MDF, etc.....didn't see one that said melamine.  However, they could be throwing melamine in with those woods. 

I will be picking up some forstner bits as well.  I wish that zombie apocalypse would just get here already!!  I'm ready!!