There’s no denying that table saws are very versatile cutting tools. They can be used to perform a wide range of cuts from miter to bevel, crosscut, and rip cuts.
But to get the most out of this tool, it’s important that you invest in the best table saw blades. This way, you can benefit from improved cutting efficiency and you’re guaranteed that your saw will last.
Question is, how do you determine the right saw blade with so many options available? In the following, we’ll help you answer this question by providing a detailed guide to top-rated table saw blades. Let’s dig in.
Reviews of the 6 Best Table Saw Blades
1. Diablo Freud D1050X Diablo ATB Combo Saw Blade: Best Combination
Want a table saw blade that can perform both rip cuts and crosscuts? If you do, the Diablo Freud D1050X is among the best combination blades on the market.
This unit comes with 50 teeth, which are divided into 10 sets of five. Each set contains teeth that are angled just close enough to make rip cuts whilst retaining a smooth finish for crosscuts.
The blade also includes big-sized gullets that facilitate the clearance of large chunks of material. You’ll be particularly impressed with the laser-cut stabilizer vents that help to minimize both noise and vibration.
The expansion slots present, are another reason why the Diablo Freud D1050X is ranked one of the best combination blades. They give the blade ample space for expansion, which stems from the accumulation of heat. As a result, this cutting tool stays cool regardless of the task it’s subjected to.
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2. Freud LU79R006M20 Thin Kerf Blade: Best for Plywood
Are you looking to buy the best table saw blade to cut plywood? If you are, you’ll definitely like the Freud LU79R006M20 Thin Kerf Blade.
The 160-mm blade comes fitted with 48 teeth and a 20-mm arbor. Better yet, it’s made of Freud’s proprietary TiCo material. The TiCo is made up of three different materials - titanium carbide, tungsten, and cobalt - resulting in exceptional durability.
The high-alternative top bevel tooth design is another reason why we consider it the best table saw blade for plywood. The HATB configuration produces ultra-smooth cuts without any splinters.
To add to this, the blade body includes laser-cut anti-vibration slots. The slots help to minimize blade vibration and heat buildup from the cutting process; thus, enhancing your precision.
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3. DEWALT 10-Inch DW7124PT Table Saw Blade: Best 10-inch
Do you own a 10-inch table saw and are looking for a compatible blade? Then you’re in luck because Dewalt offers the best 10-inch table saw blade, the DW7124PT.
There are plenty of things that you’ll love about this blade, beginning with its carbide teeth. The carbide material not only increases the blade’s cutting efficiency but also its durability.
Also crucial to note is that the blade has just 24 teeth which assume an ATB tooth shape. The number and configuration of the teeth make the blade well-suited for performing rough rip cuts.
The dampening slots are another excellent addition to this ripping blade. They minimize vibration created by the cutting process while helping to enhance accuracy.
You will also like the tough coat finish. This blade coating plays a crucial role in reducing friction, and heat; and subsequently, enhancing its durability.
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4. Freud D1280X Diablo Crosscutting Saw Blade: Best for Cross Cutting
Are you hunting for a table saw blade that can be used specifically for crosscutting? If you are, the Freud D1280X Diablo is one of the highest-rated crosscut table saw blades.
A common characteristic among crosscutting blades is the fact they have more teeth, and this one is no exception. It has an 80-tooth count, which makes it ideal for cutting across the grain.
Another thing you’ll like about the D1280X is that it’s regarded as one of the best thin-kerf blades. The thinness reduces tear-out so you don’t end up wasting a ton of wood. This also means that there’ll be less sawdust produced.
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5. Diablo by Freud D1024X Ripping Saw Blade: Best for Ripping
Want to purchase the best blade for ripping hardwood? If you do, check out the Diablo by Freud D1024X blade.
There’s a lot to love about this 10-inch blade, starting with its affordability. It comes in at a very low price, making it the best table saw blade for buyers on a budget.
Related: The Best Budget Table Saws
As is the case with other Freud cutting tools, the blade teeth are made of Tico high-density carbide. The Tico carbide material provides two key benefits.
First off, it improves the blade’s cutting efficiency, and two, it increases its lifespan. In fact, the manufacturer has incorporated tri-metal shock-resistant brazing to the carbide tips. This enables the blade to withstand intense impact; further, enhancing its durability.
Also worth mentioning is that the D1024X has an ultra-thin kerf design and a non-stick coating. The latter offers protection against corrosion, gumming, and heat.
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6. Forrest WW10407125 Saw Blade: Best for Fine Woodworking
If the majority of your projects involve making very precise and smooth cuts, consider the Forrest WW10407125. Though it’s more expensive, it’s considered the best table saw blade for fine woodworking.
This is a 10-inch blade that’s equipped with 40 teeth. These specifications enable the blade to cut with unmatched accuracy leaving incredibly clean edges. The resulting finish is so smooth that you won’t have to sand your workpiece any further.
Another reason why we consider this one of the best table saw blades is that the brand offers its customers a sharpening service. If your blade becomes dull, you can send it back to them for re-sharpening.
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Types of Table Saw Blades
The first thing you should think about is the type of table saw blade. On that note, there are four main varieties:
General-Purpose Blade
One of the most popular types of table saw blades is the general-purpose blade.
As implied in its title, this blade comprises features that make it fit for several applications. Usually, such a blade comes with 40 teeth. These teeth are spaced uniformly and contain an alternative beveling configuration.
General-purpose blades can be used for an array of cutting jobs; be it cross-cutting, ripping, or making grooves.
Rip Blade
What makes rip blades unique is the fact that they cut with, or along the grain of the wood. Most of these blades are used to make initial cuts. Here, they remove long wood fibers where there’s less resistance compared to cutting across the grain.
Also crucial to note is that a rip cut blade has a low tooth count. This is why it doesn’t create the kind of resistance you get when using a high tooth count blade. On the flip side, it tends to leave a rougher finish.
Crosscut Blade
If you have experience with woodworking, then you know that cutting against the grain is more difficult than cutting along it. This task calls for a specialty blade referred to as a crosscut blade.
With a rip blade, it slices along the fibers of wood; hence splitting them apart. But a crosscut blade does the opposite, that is, it slices through the wood fibers.
What you’ll like about a crosscut blade is that it has a high tooth count, resulting in clean, finished cuts.
Combination Blade
Combination blades offer the best of both worlds. As you’ll come to learn (later in the article), this blade contains teeth with different configurations.
More specifically, a combination blade has 40 evenly-spaced teeth with an alternative bevel pattern (such as those in a crosscut blade). These are followed by 10 widely-spaced teeth with a flat-top design. The flat teeth are similar to what you’ll find on a rip blade.
If you’re looking for a tool that can double up as a crosscut blade and rip-cut blade, the combination blade is the ultimate answer.
Dado
The best dado blade is designed to create wide grooves in wood, which can then be used for shelving, inlays, and door panels.
The blades of most table saws only contain a single flat metal blade. However, dado blades come in two variations: stacked or wobble.
Stacked dado blade
A stacked blade comprises several cutters and spaces, which are wedged together to create a bigger profile.
Such a dado blade usually has rip-style teeth in the center and crosscut blades on the outside. This configuration enables the blade to get rid of large chunks of material whilst creating a smooth cutting line.
Wobble dado blade
The distinguishing characteristic of this dado blade is its ability to spin in an offset pattern. This allows you to make wide-grooved cuts through the stock.
Most wobble dado blades also have an adjuster, allowing you to make adjustments to the wobble.
How to Choose the Best Table Saw Blades
Intended Use
The first thing you should consider is the specific application for which you’ll be using the table saw blade.
For DIY projects, buying one blade that can serve multiple functions should suffice. In that regard, general-purpose blades or combo blades that can do both rip cuts and crosscuts work best.
A combination blade is a particularly wise investment. It eliminates the need to buy specialty blades designed to serve a single purpose. This also saves you time as you don’t have to keep alternating between different blades.
However, if you’re looking for table saw blades that serve specific roles, then you should take a different approach. Specifically, think about the intended application and buy the right blade for that.
For instance, if you’d like to cut grooves and joints in lumber, then invest in the best dado blade. If you’d like to make rip cuts, then buy a ripping blade. Finally, if you’re looking to make crosscuts, then look for crosscut blades.
Kerf
If you’re new to table saw blades, you might be wondering about the meaning of kerf. Well, this is simply the thickness of the blade, and it determines the amount of material that gets removed during the cutting process.
Based on this, table saw blades are divided into two: full and thin-kerf blades.
The thinner blades offer the benefit of slicing through materials efficiently. And they use just a small amount of power to do so.
On the downside, thinner blades are more susceptible to deflecting- a factor that can compromise your precision.
Full kerf blades, on the other hand, are thicker and hence more stable. Thicker blades also remove larger chunks of material in one go. The thickness of a full kerf blade is typically about ⅛ inches.
Also crucial to note is that full kerf blades are better at resisting vibrations and deflections; hence, creating a smoother cut. However, they also need more power from the saw’s motor.
So if you have a less powerful table saw, say less than 3 horsepower, you’ll want to buy a thinner blade. This way, the power produced by the table saw is enough to drive the blade. However, if you have a powerful table saw, then go for thicker kerf blades.
Size or Length
The size or blade diameter is another aspect you should keep in mind.
Most blades have a diameter of 10 inches, and rightly so. This is because a 10-inch length is usually sufficient for most cutting applications.
However, if you’re planning to cut material that is thicker than 1 ¼ inch, then go for a 12-inch blade instead. Before you choose a bigger blade though, consider the level of accuracy you prefer. A bigged blade is more susceptible to wobbling, which can compromise your precision.
Teeth Shape
Also referred to as configuration, the shape of the blade’s teeth is another factor worth considering. Here’s a breakdown of the most common teeth configurations:
Flat-top
In this case, the blade’s teeth have top edges that are square to the table saw’s plate. This configuration is also popularly referred to as a raker. This stems from its ability to slice through the wood in the same way a chisel works.
What makes a flat-top blade unique is the fact that it cuts fast, and offers exceptional durability. But since it’s designed to rip - cut parallel to the grain - it doesn’t result in very clean cuts.
As such, it’s not a suitable choice for making cross-cuts. If used for this application, the blade can lead to too much tear-out.
Alternate top bevel (ATB)
The teeth on these blades are usually angled across the top edge. More specifically, each tooth is designed to lean in the opposite direction.
Thanks to the tooth atb configuration, the blade uses a slicing motion allowing it to cut through wood more cleanly. Most ATBs comprise 40 teeth and they’re great for all-purpose applications.
Combination
A combination table saw blade usually comes with 50 teeth, which are organized in sets of five.
The arrangement consists of four alternate top bevel teeth and one raker tooth, making the blade perfect for both crosscutting and ripping.
High alternate top bevel (hi-ATB)
This blade has a steeper or higher bevel angle than the ordinary ATB blades. This gives it a knife-like design that translates to more precise blade cuts.
Triple chip grind (TCG)
This design comprises two alternating shapes of teeth, that is, a raker tooth (flat-top design) and a chamfered tooth. The chamfered tooth design creates rough cuts while the subsequent raker tooth cleans it up.
This kind of saw blade is designed for slicing through dense materials like brass and plastic laminate.
Teeth Count
The tooth shape isn’t the only thing you should consider when buying blades for your table saws. Rather, you’ll also want to account for the number of saw blade teeth present.
Ideally, you should base this tooth count decision on the application you’ll be using the blade for. This way, you don’t end up using the wrong blade to perform rip cuts or cross cuts.
For table saws designed to do ripping work, choose a blade with fewer teeth. Though a blade with fewer teeth works faster, it leaves rough edges and has more potential for tear-out and splintering.
However, if you’ll be doing more crosscuts, then the more the saw blade teeth the better. That said, keep in mind that such crosscut table saw blades work at a slower pace. This creates the risk of burning the workpiece due to the production of excess heat.
What if your projects involve both rip cuts and crosscuts? Well, the most suitable tool is a combination or general-purpose table saw blade.
Tooth Hook
One other aspect you should keep in mind when choosing the blade’s teeth is the hook angle. More popularly referred to as rake, it determines the angle of the tooth face in proportion to the middle of the blade.
Teeth that have a positive hook angle tend to cut more aggressively. Usually, the hook on a general-purpose blade ranges between 15° and 20°. However, specialty blades designed for ripping have a hook angle of 20°.
Overall, the smaller the hook angle, the more pressure you’ll need to apply when feeding the workpiece into the saw.
Gullet
Gullet refers to the gap between every tooth. It determines how much material the blade chips out with every cut.
If you’re looking for a table saw blade that can remove material fast (like a ripping blade), then look for one with a deeper gullet. However, if your goal is to get ultra-smooth cuts, then consider one with smaller gullets.
Compatibility
The size of the blade should correspond to the size of your table saw. This means that if your table saw was designed for a 10-inch blade, then that’s the exact size that you should go for.
Similarly, you’ll want to check whether it can work with special types of cutting tools like dado blades. If your saw isn’t compatible, then don’t buy such saw blades from the get-go.
Blade Coatings
Some table saw blades are sold as bare metal. But there are a couple that includes a coating.
This blade coating provides several benefits. For instance, it prevents the accumulation of pitch (resin) from the cut stock. This, in turn, minimizes friction and facilitates cleaner cuts.
The best blade includes a non-stick coating that not only helps the blade to run cooler but also protects it against corrosion.
FAQs
What kind of blade is best for table saw?
For this piece of machinery, we recommend investing in a general-purpose table saw blade with a 40 tooth count.
The teeth on this saw blade are designed to do both ripping and crosscutting. This saves you from having to buy additional cutting tools like cross-cutting or dado blades.
Are Craftsman table saw blades any good?
Yes, they are. They are equipped with several features that set them apart. For instance, they contain heat-treated steel plates that minimize the risk of warping. They also contain an extra coating to prevent rust and corrosion.
How thick is a table saw blade?
The thickness depends on whether it’s a full kerf or thin kerf blade. As for the thin blade, you can expect it to be 3/32 inches while a full kerf is ⅛ inches.
How long does a table saw blade last?
Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to this question. The length of time that your saw blade lasts will depend on:
- The frequency of use
- Whether it’s a quality blade (based on the materials it’s made of)
- The kind of wood it’s used to cut
Usually, the best table blades can last anywhere between 2 and 4 years.
Can you put 2 blades on a table saw?
While you can use two blades on a table saw, we recommend that you don’t. Instead, look for dado blades, which are specifically designed to make wider cuts than traditional ones.
Are table saw blades universal?
Yes, for the most part, they are. You can use any brand of the saw blade on your table saws. Just be sure that it’s the right size and type.
Are table saw and miter saw blades the same?
One thing that makes table saw blades a favorite is their versatility. Most of them can be used in different power tools including miter saws, and radial arm saws among others.
That said, it’s always important to confirm before making any purchase. If you intend to use the table saw blade on your miter saw, first confirm whether it’s compatible, with the manufacturer.
Can you use a circular saw blade on a table saw?
Yes, but this depends on whether they have the same arbor size. If the circular saw blade has a matching arbor size, then it will likely fit perfectly in a table saw too. But if it’s not, then don’t try to force it to fit.
Wrap Up
If you’re looking to buy a table saw blade, there are a few things you should consider. First, think about the intended application. Specifically, decide whether you’d like to use the blade for ripping, crosscutting, or making wide grooves.
Next, check the size of your table saw so you can buy a compatible blade. Other factors you should consider are tooth count, shape, hook angle, and gullet. It’s also good to check whether the blade has a coating that offers extra protection from heat and friction.
Taking these factors into account, one of the best table saw blades is the Diablo Freud D1050X. What we like about this blade is that it’s all-purpose. So whether you want to make crosscuts or rip cuts, you’ll be able to do so.
This blade is not too expensive and it provides a quiet and cool operation. This is achieved using the laser-cut stabilizer vents and heat expansion slots that prevent heat accumulation and vibrations.