Top 5 Best Table Saw Blade Reviews
Table saws are an essential feature of your tool kit, if you are a fervent DIYer or a professional carpenter. A table saw gives you efficient performance and ample power to cut through the toughest sheet materials and boards. However, the real hero is the saw blade, which obeys the rotational capacity of the motor and delivers razor sharp cuts. Keep reading this review to get an idea for the best table saw blades.
It is also the component that faces the most amounts of friction and wear. It offers versatility on service by allowing you to make several types of cuts. An efficient blade saves you the hassle of cleaning out poorly-made or burned cuts, thus saving time and energy. A table saw is only as powerful as its blade so it is imperative that you make an informed choice while selecting your best table saw blade.
What To Look For?
It is elementary to understand that there are a number of saw types available in the market and not all of them run the same blade. Some blades are designed to used in specific saw types so make sure that’s the blade you pick is compatible for your saw to achieve the best results.
There are plenty of consideration to keep in mind to make sure that you get desired results from your blade. Sometimes it’s not that the blade is inefficient, but it is just not suited for the job that makes it unworthy. Here is a useful checklist of features to look for in a table saw blade:
- Type of cut: The blade design that you choose depends on the type of cuts it will be required to make. Rip cutting is done with the woodgrain and requires lesser number of teeth. These teeth are also set at an acute angle, separated by sizeable gullets to deliver more aggression and cut through and wood clear the chips quickly and efficiently. Thus, a rip blade with this specialised design is best suited for the job. The other alternative is the cross-cut blade that cuts across the woodgrain. It is equipped with more teeth and set at a lesser acute angle to get cleaner results while working across the grain. This type of blade features a knife-like-top-bevel design to cut through thick wood smoothly. However, if you think that specialized blades will not find much work in your workshop or you do not want to alternate between them, you can look for general purpose or combo blades. These blades offer the suitable number of teeth, hook angle and shape to allow a number of cuts, without compromising quality. The general purpose blades have all Hi-ATB teeth with large gullets to deliver aggressive cutting action, suitable for a majority of materials and cuts. The combo blades have a group of 4 alternate top bevel ATB and 1 flat top tooth and each group is separated by a large gullet. This design makes it suitable for both ripping and cross-cutting.Thin-kerf blades are best suited for less-powerful table saws as they do not generate a lot of heat and wear which increases the longevity of these saws.
- Number of teeth: This criteria works on the simple principle that more teeth cut easily through material. So, if you have a ripping job at hand, fewer teeth on 10” blade would be ideal. More teeth are required to achieve optimum performance from a cross-cut blade so that each tooth has to remove lesser material and the blade leaves a clean, sharp cut.
- Material to be cut: Manufacturers often build blades to suit certain materials that may be damaged when worked upon with a regular blade. Melamine or plywood are some such materials and you took take care of whether the blade you are choosing is specialised to cut through them.
- Compatibility: Make sure that the blade you buy is compatible with the version and make of your table saw. This should be especially considered when buying a blade from a manufacturer other than that of your saw.Most saws are designed to use 10” inch blades that can be used for a variety of jobs. Some applications may require smaller or larger but using them depends on the compatibility of your saw. You can use smaller blades, when needed, but with a compromise in depth of cut. Blades larger than the default size for your saw should never be used as they will not fit properly and may cause accidents.
- Teeth coating: A blade that has its steel teeth coated with carbide sustains its edge for longer and cuts smoothly for neater results. At least a C3 grade carbide-coated blade should be your minimum requirement, as it allows for several re-sharpenings without depreciating the quality of the blade.
Top 5 Table Saw Blades
All leading tool manufacturers offer their own range of table saw blades with varying features and capacities. With so many considerations to keep in mind, it can be quite baffling to pick out the blade that suits you best. Here is a list of some of the best table saw blades that promise to deliver the most value for your money:
1. Freud D1244X Diablo 12-Inch 44 Tooth ATB General Purpose Miter Saw Blade with 1-Inch Arbor
The D1244X Diablo from Freud packs ample features to make it a leader in its class. It is a general-purpose blade, which means it can efficiently rip as well as cross cut. Adding to the versatility, it has 44 teeth to slice through light and hard wood, plywood and beams alike.
It has an optimized design to make usage comfortable for the operator. The laser-cut stabilizer vent helps in noise and vibration reduction to keep the blade cool. Laser cut expansion slots allow the blade to expand when it heats up from prolonged usage, which maintains accuracy. The blade can seamlessly fit miter saws and sliding miter saws to expand its function range.
The blade teeth have a titanium carbide coating to increase their durability several fold. It also lends a razor-sharp edge to the blade. The tri-metal shock resistant brazing that helps the carbide tips to resist the effect of extreme impact further enhances longevity of the blade. The blade has a Perma-Shield Non-Stick Coating to provide overall protection against heat and abrasion
With versatility, high performance and durability features, this blade is a complete package that comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Things We Liked
- Thin-kerf blade (0.98 inches) produces lesser heat to provide durability and places lesser pressure on the saw.
- Compatible with saws from other brands.
- 1-inch arbor lends accuracy to blade rotation.
Things We Didn't Like
- Specialized rip cuts may be unsatisfactory for professional jobs.
2. Freud LU83R010 10-Inch 50 Tooth ATB Thin Kerf Combination Saw Blade
Another great blade option from Freud is the LU83R010, which is a 50-toothed, standard 10” blade. It is a combination blade that is equally efficient for ripping as well as crosscutting. It is great option to deliver powerful performance from for table saws that are underpowered. The thin kerf of the blade does not overwhelm the saw and aids it in delivering optimum results.
The blade has laser-cut anti-vibration slots to reduce vibration while cutting, substantially. It also prevents any side-ways movement that may compromise the accuracy of your work. The large gullets between groups of teeth enable efficient chi removal, keeping the cuts clean and accurate.
To increase durability of the blade, Freud has equipped it with a Perma-Shield Non-Stick coating to reduce corrosion. It also prevents binding when the blade cuts thick material to maintain precision and save effort. The teeth are TiCo coated to lend them longevity and an incredibly sharp edge. It can glide through soft and hard wood, plywood and chipboard. The blade can be re-sharpened and will deliver the same cutting capacity every time.
Freud offers a limited lifetime warranty with this high-performing product.
Things We Liked
- 5/8 inch arbor lends accuracy to blade rotation
- Perma-shield coating prevents against resin deposition from wood to save the blade from drag that may result
Things We Didn't Like
- Surface finish may get compromised when the blade is used outside its default range.
3. DeWalt DW3114 Series 20 10-Inch 40 Tooth ATB Thin Kerf Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor
DeWalt is a respected name in the tool business and the DW3114 saw blade holds up that reputation. It is a standard 10” inch blade, suitable for all general-purpose cutting. The blade is recommended to be used on hardwood, softwood, plywood, and veneer. The blade has 40 ATB teeth of high-speed steel, which lets more number of teeth pass through a given area in a short time, delivering smooth, precise cuts.
The blade has a thin kerf that delivers high performance and smooth cuts without heating up the saw. The blade is computer-balanced to reduce vibration that occurs when cutting through relatively thick material. The blade features an exclusive wedge shoulder design that distributes the area of the blade such that each tooth has more steel, which boosts accuracy and durability.
The Series 20 blades from DeWalt are designed to offer accuracy, quality and durability and this blade is no exception. It comes with a 1-year full warranty.
Things We Liked
- 5/8 inch arbor lends accuracy to blade rotation
Things We Didn't Like
- Not suitable for heavy duty work
4. Concord Blades WCB1000T060HP 10-Inch 60 Teeth TCT General Purpose Hard & Soft Wood Saw Blade
This is a great general-purpose blade from Concord. Though a standard 10” in size, it has 60 TiCo teeth to cut through a variety of material including hardwoods, softwoods, plywood and even exotic and abrasive woods. The resultant cuts are neat and precise, lending high quality to your work. It is a general-purpose blade that rips and crosscuts with equal ferocity.
The 2.6mm thin kerf provides efficient cutting with minimal wastage. The lower hook angle leaves the surface smooth making this blade ideal for finishing jobs. The blade cuts with no chipping to produce cleaner results. It has a 5/8” arbor to increase accuracy of cuts.
A durable, high-performance companion for your table saw, the Concord WCB1000T060HP comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Things We Liked
- Professional grade blade, also ideal for DIYers; can cut through hardwood as thick as 3 ½ inches
- 5/8 inch arbor lends accuracy to blade rotation
Things We Didn't Like
- Does not have anti-friction coating
5. Forrest WW10407125 Woodworker II 10-Inch 40 Tooth ATB .125 Kerf Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor
The WW10407125 Woodworker II from Forrest has been optimized to deliver quality results. It is a high performing 10” inch blade with 40 carbide-tipped teeth that smoothly cuts through all types of wood, boards and beams. It is combination blade that rips to produce neat cuts with smooth finish and crosscuts without leaving significant saw marks.
It is designed to move with minimal noise and vibration so that they do not become a hindrance to your project. Forrest promises excellent quality with this blade, as it is hand-tensioned and is repeatedly straightened and re-straightened during manufacturing to offer greater flexibility to the blade. This also enhances its durability. The blade has a .125 thin kerf that allows the blade to perform optimally without burdening the saw.
Forrest offers a unique sharpening service with their blade that guarantees to restore the blade to the same quality as that of a new one. A 30-day money back guarantee that assures full refund upon dissatisfaction also holds up Forrest’s claim of high quality with this product.
Things We Liked
- Negligible tearout in plywood as compared to other blades
- 5/8 inch arbor lends accuracy to blade rotation
Things We Didn't Like
- The blade may struggle in rip-cutting through thick materials
Conclusion
Choosing the right blade for your is a tough job, given the number of features to be considered. That choice becomes even more challenging when the contenders are equally deserving. On close analysis, two blades stood out: the Freud LU83R010 10-Inch 50 Tooth ATB Thin Kerf Combination Saw Blade and the Forrest WW10407125 Woodworker II 10-Inch 40 Tooth ATB .125 Kerf Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor
Both these blades could each be the best table saw blade. They are compatible with saws from other brands and can perform rip and cross cuts efficiently. Therefore, the competition boiled down to the following criteria:
Number of teeth
Both blades are combination blades with an assortment of bevel and flat top-teeth combined to produce precise cuts. However, since more teeth means more cutting action with lesser wear to the material, Freud wins this category with 50 TiCo coated teeth in comparison to Forrest’s 40
Durability
Though the Forrest WW10407125 WWII is virtually hand crafted for flexibility and sturdiness, The Perma-Shield Non-Stick coating on the Freud blade trumps that. It prevents corrosion, prevents binding when used with thick materials and helps Freud win this category.
Additional features
Freud offers laser-cut vibration reduction slots that maintain accuracy even when the blade is faced with high friction. Forrest does not offer any special feature to the same effect and therefore loses this round.
Price
Forrest WW10407125 Woodworker II blade comes at a price almost double as that of the Freud LU83R010. It performs almost the same functions and offers no incentive to justify the price gap. Therefore, Freud becomes the wiser choice.
Warranty
Freud offers a limited lifetime warranty with its blades while Forrest only has a 30-day money back guarantee. Freud certainly wins the vote here.Proving itself on all 5 criteria, Freud LU83R010 10-Inch 50 Tooth ATB Thin Kerf Combination Saw Blade emerged as the best deal for your money as it delivers high performance and versatility while ensuring durability and longevity for the saw too.
If you're looking for some good table saws to use these with, check out our other reviews.