What are the Different Circular Saw Blades?

Introduction

A circular saw has different types of saw blades which can make deep cuts in different kinds of materials like plastic, concrete, metal and wood. A circular saw is very powerful, but you need a sharp blade to use one. There are different types of saw blades which are designed for specific uses, so you always have to consider which particular blade you need for the job. These circular saw blades, come in different sizes and can be made from a variety of materials with different shapes or kinds of teeth. To know more about a circular blade and what it’s used for, you can check out what is a circular saw used for.

There are a few primary factors you should consider before choosing the right circular saw blade for the job at hand. These factors will be addressed below.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Circular Saw Blade

1. Nature of the material to be cut
2. Type of task to be carried out
3. Type of cut
4. Size

NATURE OF MATERIAL; this is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing the right circular saw blade. Some circular saw blades like worm drive saws and sidewinders can cut a variety of materials. Still, can’t work if you choose a blade designed for cutting plywood and use it on a slab of granite, this is why you have to choose a blade that is designed for the material you need to cut.

TYPE OF TASK TO BE CARRIED OUT; You should choose a circular saw blade based on the type of task you are to carry out. Some blades are designed to make smooth finishing while some are designed to make rough cuts, so you ought to know the type of task to be carried out before choosing the right blade for the job.

TYPE OF CUT; When cutting wood, for instance, there’s a vast range of cuts you may need to make. There are different blades for different types of cutting like, crosscutting, cutting dados and so on.

SIZE; Most standard circular saw blades have different sizes, so you should make sure you’re using the right blade size for your tool.

13 Different Types of Circular Saw Blades

There are various types of circular saw blades but here are the most common types of saw blades you should know about;

1. RIPPING BLADES: Ripping blades are made to cut along a wood grain. They have a few numbers of teeth of 15 to 24 and a deep gullet. They are capable of making very fast rough cuts.
2. PLYWOOD BLADE: The average plywood blade has more teeth than usual, considering that plywood chips or flakes are not hard. They have an average of 40 teeth and above. The blade is used on smooth materials which helps to reduce the splintering of wood when cutting.
3. GENERAL PURPOSE BLADES: The general purpose blades are like a combination of ripping blades and crosscutting blades. They are also called combination blades. If you want to handle a variety of tasks, the general purpose blade is your go-to. But if you are to carry out a designated task, you should get the specific blade for that task.
4. CROSSCUTTING BLADES: A crosscutting blade is used to cut across wooden grains and not along. It has more teeth than a ripping blade and a shallow gullet compared to other blades. It produces a smoother and excellent result but cut at a slow pace.
5. MASONRY BLADES: Masonry blades are quite different from the regular blades that are used to cut wood. They do not possess any teeth and are made up of unique materials(fibreglass-reinforced silicon carbide abrasive)from the other wood-cutting blades. Masonry blades only work when cutting masonry o any job that consists of masonry.
6. FINISHING BLADES: Finishing blades are used to make precise, clean cuts on wood. The result is usually visible only after the task has been completed. They have a large number of teeth and are designed to make very smooth cuts that won’t spoil the wood.
7. DADO BLADE: Dado blades are mainly used to cut particular grooves in the wood. It is used to cut dados, grooves or rabbet cuts.
8. METAL CUTTING BLADE: There are specific blades which are used for cutting metal, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals. It does not consist of any teeth and possesses expansion slots.
9. THIN KERF: A thin kerf blade is designed to make narrow cuts through wood. These blades are primarily used to cut dimensional lumber and are not to be used in tough woods as it’ll cause them to flex, which makes it tasking to get a straight cut. The width of a cut is known as “kerf”.
10. PLASTIC: Most times, regular blades that are used to cut wood can also be used to cut plastics, but it is important to use one with a large number of teeth, between the range of 40 and 60. This blade is also suitable for cutting through soft metals.
11. TREATED WOOD: In the case of treated wood, it is advisable to choose a blade with thicker kerf(width) as it’ll allow you to cut straight lines easily.
12. CARBIDE-TIPPED BLADE: The carbide-tipped blade is designed with teeth attached to the body of the blade and then sharpened. It is suitable for cutting wood of various depth and can withstand wear and tear.
13. THE ALUMINUM-CUTTING BLADE: The aluminum- cutting blade as the name implies, has very thick teeth and is used to cut aluminum and some soft metals.

Conclusion

There is a vast range of materials that can be cut by a circular saw as well as a unique range of cuts. Make sure to choose the most suitable blade for the job while considering sone important factors stated above. Although choosing the most suitable saw blade for a job can be quite tasking, it is very necessary if you want to achieve excellent results. Using the wrong blade, even on the right circular saw could damage the wood or the job at hand or could simply not work. To avoid wasting time and effort, you must search for the right blade with the right circular saw.