Are you in a hurry and want a quick answer? FORREST Woodworker II is the best general-purpose table saw blade you can buy. Keep reading to learn why.
Many woodworkers, including myself, view the table saw as one of the most important power tools available. One thing I discovered is that a table saw’s cut quality depends upon the type of blade used as well as its quality.
Once you understand what features make the best table saw blade products, you will increase your saw’s performance and the quality of your work.
Best-Rated table saw blades compared:
What Goes Into Making a Table Saw Blade?
There are two sizes of table saw blades that dominate today’s market: the 10-inch table saw blade and the 12-inch blade. While larger blades are used in many commercial or industrial settings, this article will focus on features that make the best 10-inch table saw blade. This size balde is the most popular with DIY and amateur woodworkers and represents the largest percentage of the power tools on the market today.
Saw blade kerf
One thing that you will notice as you try different table saw blades is the width of the cut that they make. In woodworking terms, the width of the cut path into the wood is referred to as kerf.
Why is there such a variance in kerf widths between table saw blades? The blade body can vary depending upon the job the blade is designed for, with thicker table saw blades often used for rough carpentry work and thinner blades designed for fine woodworking.
Thicker table saw blades can cut through wood faster, but you should feed the wood into them at a slower rate if you are working with thicker stock to prevent excessive tear-out.
Table saw blade teeth
Another feature that you will notice when shopping for your table saw blades is the number of teeth various products possess. For blades designed for woodworking, the number of teeth can range from approximately 24 teeth to over 60.
Blades designed for rip cuts will have fewer teeth and will tend to cut through wood more quickly. Conversely, crosscut table saw blades tend to have 60 or more teeth and will cut more slowly. In general, table saw blades with more teeth produce a smoother cut with less tearing of the wood fibers.
blade teeth configuration
The configuration, or shape of the teeth, will affect how it cuts into the wood. A few of the configurations you will want to consider include:
- Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) – With this configuration, the teeth alternate between left and right-facing bevels. This will yield a smoother cut and is used when making crosscuts. They also make a veneered blade for plywood.
- Combination (Comb) – This is a general-purpose workhorse saw blade that can be used to make either cross or rip cuts in wood. This is accomplished by placing an FT tooth between four ATB teeth.
- Flat-Top (FT) – These are highly efficient teeth that cut through wood quickly. This design removes material by raking it out of the kerf area, making them the choice for woodworkers making rip cuts.
- High Alternate Top Bevel (hi-ATB) – these table saw blades have a greater bevel angle than standard ATB saw blades. This makes the knife-like cut more precise and is intended for materials that chip easily, such as Melamine.
- Triple Chip Grind (TCG) – These teeth are designed to cut through harder materials such as Laminates and MDF boards. The teeth alternate between a raking and trapeze design that will remove materials without generating chips and tears along the edge of the materials that they are designed for.
Tooth gullet
The space between blade teeth has a space in front of the tooth referred to as the gullet. This space allows material to be removed as the blade cuts. Deeper spaces remove more chips, which are found on aggressive blades used for rip cuts. Shallower gullets remove smaller chips and are used on the less aggressive crosscut table saw blades.
Table Saw Blade Types
Learn more about table saw blade types here.
Best-Rated Table Saw Blades Reviewed
Now let’s take a deeper look at a few specific models of table saw blades that I believe are the best ones on the market right now.
Best Combination Blade for the Money: Forrest WW10407125 Woodworker II
- This kerf saw saves 1/8" on wood loss for each cut.
- Feeds easily when used for moderate rips and crosscuts on a table saw
- Reduces jump in for better pull control
OVERVIEW
This general-purpose blade from Forrest is truly a hand-made item. That includes hand tensioning as well as hand-brazed teeth. It helps to explain the high price tag that comes with the Woodworker II.
The 10-inch body is covered with 40 teeth set into an ATB configuration. Combining these features is what helps to make this a general-purpose saw blade that can be used on both cross and rip-cuts.
PROS
CONS
Best For Plywood & Melamine: Freud LU80R010 10″ x 80T Blade
- Specs: Arbor 5/8", Diameter 10", Grind Hi-ATB, Hook Angle 2°, Kerf .126", Plate .087", Teeth 80
- Premium TiCo Hi-Density Carbide Crosscutting Blend for Maximum Performance
- High Alternate Top Bevel (HiATB)Tooth Design produces splinter-free cuts
OVERVIEW
A .126 kerf and a two-degree hook on the blade teeth help this blade bite into plywood and melamine without generating the tears that you will experience with other types of designs.
It also has a 1/8-inch thin kerf that will go into your project with less resistance than a wider blade would experience. Friction and vibration technology keeps the blade true while rotating, a feature that will create smooth cuts.
PROS
CONS
Best Flat-Toothed Blade: Forrest Woodworker II #1 Grind Saw Blade
- Long life micro-grain carbide teeth
- 5/8" arbor hole
- .125 kerf
OVERVIEW
Another Forrest product on my list is the number one grind, which provides a flat-bottomed cut when used to make a variety of grooves and joints. That will allow you to make fewer passes to create an even surface along the bottom of the cuts you make. Extra care has been paid to the durability of the tips of the teeth, which will be important when making multiple passes for these types of cuts.
PROS
CONS
Oshlun SDS-0842 8-Inch 42 Tooth Stack – The Best Dado Blade set
- Professional Grade C-4 Carbide
- Full Body Chippers
- Precision Ground Carbide Tips
OVERVIEW
This best dado blade set allows you to take advantage of one of the major benefits of using a table saw: making dado cuts. It comes with 16 pieces, which include the blades as well as extra shims for fine-tuning. These pieces are made from C-4 carbide, a professional-grade material that will extend the life of the teeth and help to keep their sharp edge.
PROS
CONS
Freud D1280X Diablo 12-Inch Saw Blade – Best For Crosscuts
- The product is 12x80t Diablo blade
- Easy to use
- The product is manufactured in Italy
OVERVIEW
I have included this 12-inch blade with a one-inch arbor on this list due to its ability to make great crosscuts. Diablo series of table saw blades are coated to reduce friction and they have laser cut vents that help to reduce blade vibration during cuts. It should be noted that this saw won’t fit on 10-inch table saws.
PROS
CONS
Freud LM75R010 – Best Blade For Ripping Hardwood
- Specs: Arbor 5/8", Diameter 10", Grind TCG, Hook Angle 12°, Kerf .091", Plate .071", Teeth 30
- Premium TiCo HI-Density Carbide Ripping Blend for Maximum Performance
- Heavy-Duty Thick Kerf and Plate ensure a stable, flat blade for long cutting life
OVERVIEW
Freud’s third entry on this list is a single-purpose saw blade made to rip cuts into the wood. The unique look of the teeth in this model is due to the alternating raking and trapeze pattern that will help make quick cuts. The gullets are wide on this table saw blade, allowing it to keep the chips and debris moving out of the cut as you feed your lumber.
PROS
CONS
Cutting It Down To One
- This kerf saw saves 1/8" on wood loss for each cut.
- Feeds easily when used for moderate rips and crosscuts on a table saw
- Reduces jump in for better pull control
As you can see, all six table saw blades have features that allow them to stand out from one another. With that being said, I feel that the Forrest WW10407125 Woodworker II is the best 10-inch table saw blade for the money today. As I write for new and intermediate woodworkers, I feel that this general-purpose table saw blade offers the most bang for your buck.
While you will pay more for this saw blade than most other table saw blades, the handheld construction is worth the price. Hand tensioning is a feature that is not found on most of the other table saw blades on this list and will provide you with a product that is stable enough to make straight cuts.
Each of the 40 teeth is hand-brazed, providing protection and durability to the edge as well as the entire tooth structure. The number of teeth allows you to still move faster through cuts than you would with most crosscut table saw blades. At the same time, the ATB configuration provides you with crosscuts that won’t blow out.
A 1/8-inch kerf on this saw blade offers a thin kerf profile. That will cut into the wood more easily than the thicker blades that were reviewed and should generate less friction with each rotation.
Finally, I believe you appreciate the fact that you can make more types of cuts with this table saw blade, helping to eliminate set-up time and allowing you to get your project moving along faster!
1 thought on “Best Table Saw Blades To Buy: 2024 Review & Buyer’s Guide”
Great read. I have been using a table saw for over 30 plus years. I cut everything from green logs to raised door panels. Thanks for this guide.