New woodworker - which saw blade?

[True Grit]

Hello all,
I am new to woodworking (a rather amateur affair but a real passion with me).
I have a Rexon BT2502AE 250mm Table Saw but the blade - although not bad - does not give a very finished cut (250mm - 30 teeth I think)

I have previously bought a Dewalt blade for my mitre saw and it is brilliant. Currently looking on eBay for a new blade for my Rexon and there are several Dewalt blades in the £30 - £35 mark that are the right size (and 48 - 60 teeth)

But there are several properties I am not sure about - positive/negative rake? Grind geometry? Tooth pitch?

£30 quid is quite an investment for me on a blade and I really would like to make the right choice. Could anyone advise me please?

 

[Chems]

I asked the same question a while ago, got told to buy freud, I replaced my manufacture 40tooth blade with a freud 40tooth blade an the difference is incredible!

 

[jasonB]

A lot depends on what you are cutting and how.

To rip (cut along the grain) cut hard & softwoods you will be better using a blade of about 24T with anti kickback lugs, this will have a higher positive rake and low top angle or even zero.

For cross cutting and general PLy/MDF work then a 48T blade with positive rake and a slightly higher top angle will be better.

And for veneered/laminate/MFC you want a dedicated blade thet can have several different tooth profiles fron high angel alternate top bevel to triple chip etc.

If you can only stretch to one blade then a 36T general purpose will do all things but none very well.

Also look at Wealden Tools and CMT from Axminster Tools

Jason

 

[Digit]

If you have a Freud supplier near you TG then you will find that each blade package has a bar code device on it showing its suitability for various tasks, or visit their website.
Freud blades are superior too any normally supplied with a table saw and hold an edge longer in my experience.

Roy.

 

[mailee]

Another vote for Freud blades here too. I am just about to buy a new one for my table saw, not cheap at fifty odd quid but worth every penny IMHO.

 

[True Grit]

A lot depends on what you are cutting and how.

To rip (cut along the grain) cut hard & softwoods you will be better using a blade of about 24T with anti kickback lugs, this will have a higher positive rake and low top angle or even zero.

I have mainly done rip cuts so far. Surprising that 24T is the best - do more teeth just make no difference, or does it actually hinder the cutting?

Also, I dont know what anti-kickback lugs are I'm afraid, could you explain?

Thankyou for your detailed reply!

 

[True Grit]

Another vote for Freud blades here too. I am just about to buy a new one for my table saw, not cheap at fifty odd quid but worth every penny IMHO.

There is this blade on eBay - any good?

FREUD PRO 250x30x40T TCT CIRCULAR SAW BLADE LP30M 025

Cant see it on the Freud website so an old line? Seems a bit cheap at £27 inc postage?

Also - no one has mentioned Dewalt - have I made a newbie faux-pas? Are they not any good?
TG

 

[True Grit]

I asked the same question a while ago, got told to buy freud, I replaced my manufacture 40tooth blade with a freud 40tooth blade an the difference is incredible!

Thanks for replying Chems.

Do you use it as general purpose? Ripping and cross cutting? Any problems?

 

[mailee]

Yes TG that blade is fine for a general purpose blade. It is here on this site for information: http://www.powertoolspares.com/blades2. ... ubmit.y=10
There is nothing wrong with De Walt blades but in my opinion Freud are the best. I have a large De Walt sliding mitre saw which is fitted with a De Walt blade but it has lost it's edge after a few months. It still cuts well but not as cleanly as it used to when new. HTH

 

[True Grit]

Yes TG that blade is fine for a general purpose blade. It is here on this site for information: http://www.powertoolspares.com/blades2. ... ubmit.y=10
There is nothing wrong with De Walt blades but in my opinion Freud are the best. I have a large De Walt sliding mitre saw which is fitted with a De Walt blade but it has lost it's edge after a few months. It still cuts well but not as cleanly as it used to when new. HTH

Thanks very much for that - and the great link. Do you think the LP30 is good value for money, or would a few more quid get me a better blade?
TG

 

[mailee]

I would go for that blade TG. It is the same blade so will be a good quality one and it will do what you want of it. Just wish mine was as cheap for my table saw. :wink:

 

[True Grit]

I would go for that blade TG. It is the same blade so will be a good quality one and it will do what you want of it. Just wish mine was as cheap for my table saw. :wink:

Well I'm sold - and I'll save a money on the Dewalt! Glad I asked now.
Cheers,
TG

 

[Chems]

Thats the blade I bought TG, its lovely, I use it for ripping and cross cutting of both soft and hardwood, I really couldn't ask for more. Maybe in the future I will buy one with an even higher tooth count but I find if I want a really smooth edge I will either use a plane or perhaps if its end grain use a router and a flush bit and a straight edge.

 

[jasonB]

A rip blade has a deep gullet (gap between teeth) this helps it remove the sawdust quicker, the downside is that these gaps can cause the blade to take too big a bite and kick the wood back at you, for this reason they have anti-kickback lobes, you can see these as bumps behind the TC Teeth on the 271 blade

BTW negative rake blades are for mitre saws and radial arm saws as they don't pull the blade into the work (can also be used with caution on faced boards) Rake is the angle of the tooth in the side views shown in the above link, top bevel is the one looking at the teeth on the right

Jason

 

[True Grit]

Thats the blade I bought TG, its lovely, I use it for ripping and cross cutting of both soft and hardwood, I really couldn't ask for more.

I'm ordering it today - really good to know its money well spent!
TG

 

[True Grit]

A rip blade has a deep gullet (gap between teeth) this helps it remove the sawdust quicker, the downside is that these gaps can cause the blade to take too big a bite and kick the wood back at you, for this reason they have anti-kickback lobes, you can see these as bumps behind the TC Teeth on the 271 blade

BTW negative rake blades are for mitre saws and radial arm saws as they don't pull the blade into the work (can also be used with caution on faced boards) Rake is the angle of the tooth in the side views shown in the above link, top bevel is the one looking at the teeth on the right

Jason

Ah..it makes sense now, the lobe holds the wood away. Thankyou - nice to learn something new.
Interesting about the neg rake as well. I didnt know this when I bought the Dewalt blade for my mitre saw - have to have a look.
I did find with the Dewalt that it cut beautifully at first, but soon lost its 'perfect' edge if that makes sense.
Cant wait to try the Freud now!
TG

 

[John. B]

Another blade that might interest you is the new Freud Ultimax.
They claim (And I watched it in action) to cut wood of all sorts, laminates, plastics aluminium and mild steel up to 3mm.
A 250mm (10") x 2.4 x 48T with a 30 bore. Asking price £61.46.
They also come in 160mm,190mm,216mm, and 230mm sizes.
I've no connection with Freud I just like them.
I have a Rage portable cirular saw and I can verify these blades really do cut through thin mild steel without damage.
John.B

 

[True Grit]

Another blade that might interest you is the new Freud Ultimax.
They claim (And I watched it in action) to cut wood of all sorts, laminates, plastics aluminium and mild steel up to 3mm.
A 250mm (10") x 2.4 x 48T with a 30 bore. Asking price £61.46.
They also come in 160mm,190mm,216mm, and 230mm sizes.
I've no connection with Freud I just like them.
I have a Rage portable cirular saw and I can verify these blades really do cut through thin mild steel without damage.
John.B

Looks a great blade - I found a short video from Freud showing it cutting through a long line of different materials here;VIDEO
As its about three times the price of the other one though I'm going to give it a miss this time.
Thanks for the info though!
TG

 

[Digit]

I commented adversely on this forum at one time about Norm's practice of going from saw to glue up. With my Freud blades I have accept that I was wrong, I simply could not believe that any saw blade could produce such clean results.
(I wonder if we can get some commission from Freud?)

Roy.

 

[True Grit]

Well just paid for a;
FREUD PRO 250x30x40T TCT CIRCULAR SAW BLADE LP30M 025
from eBay.
With a 15% off voucher they sent me it cost £21.46 delivered so I'm quite chuffed.
On my own I was going to get a Dewalt blade that was not as suitable for about £15 more, so my gratitude goes out to all those who gave freely of their advice and experience.
I'm building one wall of my living room in with a bookcase/entertainment centre and this will help enormously.
Thanks guys!
TG