Circular Saw Blades

UK_Night_Owl · 6 Dec 2013

I need some advice with regards to buying circular saw blades.

I have a new Bosch 190mm circular saw (GKS 65 G). I have been told that with circular saws, what is really important is to have a good quality blade, which obviously makes sense. I've also heard it said that, the manufacturers blade a saw comes with should be discarded, and replaced with one of quality manufacture.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good quality make of circular saw blades please?

Many thanks for your help.

condeesteso · 7 Dec 2013

I have a very similar Bosch, and on other saws tend to use Freud so I got a Freud for the Bosch recently - excellent, highly recommended. Found it on eBay, free shipping, forgot price but I am mean so it can't have been much.

wizard · 7 Dec 2013

I find bosch blades as good if not better than Freud

Grahamshed · 7 Dec 2013

I have to wonder if the rubbish blade theory has a price cut off point. I have recently brought a makita rail saw ( about £350 isn ) with a truly excellent blade and then an axial glide bosch mitre saw with a freud blade on it that agin is unbelievably good..... Though at that price so it bl@@dy well should be.

MMUK · 7 Dec 2013

My dad has a PKS66, it must be 15 years old now and still going strong. It's only on it's second blade which I replaced for him about 2 years ago. It's an OEM replacement so identical to the one it came with. It's not a normal toothed blade to look at, its more like a diamond blade in appearance with few teeth and big anti-kick cut outs. A very good blade and difficult to get hold of now, the replacement I got was NOS so I picked up a couple for him.

For myself, I normally use Evolution blades. They cut anything and are quite fine so you don't get the end of cut splintering. However, I have a pile of Irwin blades that I bought for my old CS which inconsiderately caught fire on me one day so I'm trying to use them up. I am having to open out the bore from 16mm to 20mm though.

Steve Maskery · 7 Dec 2013

I'm happy with my Freud blades, too. I have two TK ones that Aiden kindly bought for me when in the States. The particular model number does not seem to be available over here, which is a shame as the tooth configuration is a few crosscut teeth followed by a rip tooth. It does neither job perfectly but both jobs well. Very well, actually. Fortunately one is fitted to my saw, which was too big to steal and the other I have with me for some strange reason. I think it was ion my office rather than the workshop when I packed up. I'm glad.
But I did have a top-quality rip blade from Doug at Cutting Solutions. Flat Top Grind. It was one of several blades that got stolen, along with another, older, Freud blade.
If you want to ask Doug's advice, he will sell you an excellent blade at a very reasonable price.
[email protected] or 0800 280 0913 (I've had that number for a few years and I know that Doug did move premises at one time, so I'm not certain that it is still valid).
S