Need advice on Circular saw blades.

[knave]

I'm a casual woodworker.  I've had the same blade in my swa for the past 7 years...

I think it's time for a new one and I have no clue.  In the past I've pretty much just cut 2x4's and other similar things. 

Now that I want to make cabinets, and will probably be cutting more types of wood, what blade or blades should I get? (on a budget)

(Think MDF, and some plywood as well as 2x4's 2x6' etc...) Oh and it's a 7 1/4" blade. 

Thanks

[ScottS]

For construction lumber (2x4s, 2x6s, etc) you want a cheap blade without many teeth. That lumber will be very "green" and difficult to cut. A blade with a smaller number of teeth will rip through it very quickly. You can get these blades at your local Home Depot or Lowe's. I'd expect to pay less than $10/blade.

For furniture/cabinet construction, you want a smooth cut. Buy a high-quality blade with as many teeth as you can find. Freud makes some decent blades that are specifically designed for plywood. You'll probably have to go to Amazon or another mail-order supplier to find these blades. I'd expect to pay $20-30/blade or more. Don't cheap out! The better the blade, the better your results will be!

[DrewKaree]

I'm a casual woodworker.  I've had the same blade in my swa for the past 7 years...

I think it's time for a new one and I have no clue.  In the past I've pretty much just cut 2x4's and other similar things. 

Now that I want to make cabinets, and will probably be cutting more types of wood, what blade or blades should I get? (on a budget)

(Think MDF, and some plywood as well as 2x4's 2x6' etc...) Oh and it's a 7 1/4" blade. 

Thanks

Go get a plywood Blade for plywood, first of all.  Get a second carbide blade for MDF, and buy several.  Given that you say you're going to use those 2 materials, and that this is a circular saw, there's no reason you shouldn't just buy purpose-suited blades for that saw.  Then, like Scott says, pick up ANOTHER blade for any other materials you're going to use. 

Your worst-case solution is this:  Go to Home Depot and buy a buttload of cheap carbide blades.  Since you'll almost definitely always have cleanup work to do, make your cuts JUST shy of that line.

I tell you the above because that's JUST what people do, thinking they're going to "save money".  Then they have to sand up to the ACTUAL line they wanted to cut to but couldn't because they bought asstastic blades and now they've got a wavy line, pieces don't match up, etc.  After ruining several items due to "saving money", they either get frustrated and give up, or go and spend the money on what they should have ACTUALLY gotten in the first place.

I'm not telling you this to yell at you or anything; I'm just saying that buying the proper blade in the first place leads to better results, more satisfaction, less waste, less screwed up pieces, and less re-buys of wood to get the piece completed properly.  Buying the proper item in the first place is often more expensive than a "this'll do" item, but in the long run, often ends up saving you FAR more money than you'd ever dreamed.  (think of how expensive wood is - is saving $10 on a blade REALLY saving money if you end up with asstastic results and have to repurchase 5 more pieces of wood at $2 each?  Then consider that you already spent money on the blades....etc, etc, etc)

[ChadTower]

I have to pick up a masonry blade tomorrow.  I was thinking this one.