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Different Types of Circular Saw Blades For Your Project

By: David S. Miles | Last Updated: January 15, 2024

A woodworking shop carries out many tasks, where cutting and shaping wood remain the essential parts of its projects. And you can’t ignore the fact that power saws are the tools for cutting and shaping the work materials.

However, a woodworker is supposed to choose the suitable blades for his projects. Not every blade can cut all the materials to the same perfection. This article will introduce the types of circular saw blades so that you can make good choices for your woodworking projects.

What Is a Circular Saw Blade?

A circular saw blade is a toothed or abrasive metal disc that has a hole in the center. The central hole is called a bore. Most of the blades have sharp teeth which used for cutting.

Circular saw blades are mainly used for cutting metal, plastic, or wood. Choosing a blade depends not only on the material but also on the type of cut you want.

Whether you use an expensive diamond-edged saw blade or a regular carbide-tipped saw blade, having a good knowledge of the different types of saw blades and functions will always good for the lifetime of your power saw as well as your current project. However, carbide-tipped blades are popular in the woodworking industry as they sustain longer than steel-tipped saw blades.

Types of Circular Saw Blades Explained

Different Types of Circular Saw Blades

Circular saw blades come in different types and sizes, depending on what material you’re going to cut and how smooth you want the material to be. Learn about the popular circular saw blades’ types as well as their application.

Ripping Blade

This circular blade has fewer teeth and big gullet. The blade is specially engineered to cut parallel to the grain. Making lumber from wood is easier when you use a ripping blade.

Crosscutting Blade

This blade has more teeth and little gullet, which means the blade can perform a more delicate cut across the wood grain. Usually, a crosscutting blade consists of 60 to 80 teeth, which results in removing less material. Another good thing is, you have no fear of splintering or tearing when using a crosscutting blade.

Plywood Blade

As the name suggests, the blade is used for cutting plywood. Commonly, a plywood blade will have 100 or more teeth, which means it leaves a finer cut with minimal splintering.

Hollow Ground Blade

It gives you a smooth cut when cut across the wood grain. When you’re working on a coated work material, opt for a hollow ground blade

Fine-tooth Finish Blade

As the name suggests, this blade leaves an excellent cut. A smoother finish is the main purpose of this blade.

Dado Blade

When you need to cut grooves, dadoes, and rabbet cuts, this blade will be your companion.

Thin Kerf Blade

Not every blade is suitable for cutting dimensional lumbar. That’s why you need a thin kerf blade to get your desired cut.  The teeth of this blade are skinny, which results in less waste and dust. The blade with carbide-tipped teeth is a favorite pick for industrial work as well as personal use.

Paneling Blade

This saw is commonly used with a table saw, or a radial arm saw. Cutting panels, veneer, and plywood are what a paneling blade suitable for. Some craftsmen use it even for cutting plastic.

Combination Blade

Changing blade all the time is a sort of hassle. A combination blade can help you with that. This versatile blade can cut parallel to as well as across the wood grain. Many woodworkers choose a combination blade as it can perform multiple types of cuts.

Features of a Circular Saw Blade

If all the blades come in a circular shape, then how are they different? Well, some features define a blade and its application. For example, the smoothness of a cut depends on the size of a circular saw blade’s gullet and teeth. So, what the teeth and gullets are?

Teeth

The sharp and angular points of the blade are called teeth. If you want a cleaner cut, you have to find a blade with more teeth than a regular blade. As we discussed earlier, a crosscutting blade can offer a clean-cut as it has more teeth and smaller gullet.

On the other hand, a circular blade with a combination tooth is suitable for both cutting parallels to the grain as well as crosscutting. You see, the type of tooth makes nearly all the differences.

Gullet

The oblique area between two teeth is called the gullet. It functions as a chip removal when applying the blade on wood. The rip-cutting blade usually has deeper gullets, while crosscutting blades have fewer.

Expansion Slot

Some blades have an expansion slot. This feature keeps the blade from overheat. The feature is extremely fruitful when your power saw is performing restlessly for a long time.

Size

There are different sizes of blades. Typically, the size of a circular saw blade is 71/4 Inches. However, you’ll find some mini circular saw blades of 4 ½ inches.  The diameter of the blade plays an important role when you work with a circular saw blade.

When you have smaller tasks, you can go for a smaller blade. But, when you work on a thicker wood or metal, a blade with a large diameter will be the fittest for the task.

Coated Blade

Professional woodworkers use a coated blade for a finer cut that doesn’t leave any burn marks. The coating keeps the blade from overheat and sparks. If you don’t care much about the burn marks left by the blade, then you can go for a simple blade.

Conclusion

Different types of circular saw blades are specially designed for various cutting purposesFor general worksyou may use a combination blade. However, if you have a lot of ripping or crosscutting tasks at a time, you can go for the respective blades.

Hopefully, this article has given you a clear idea about the definitive features of circular saw blades. So, make the right choice when you invest in a circular saw blade.

You May Also Like:

A List Of High-Quality Track Saws For The Money.
A Complete Guide About Small Handheld Circular Saw.
An In-depth Guide About Corded Circular Saw For Woodworking.

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One thought on “Different Types of Circular Saw Blades For Your Project

  • Thank you for your article explaining the different aspects and important factors of circular saw blades. I loved learning that circular saw blades are generally used for cutting plastic, metal, and wood. My dad has a project coming up that he needs to cut wood, so I will have to help him find the perfect circular blade for his saw.

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