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Last Updated: , Created: Saturday, December 30th, 2000

Saw Blades -- How many teeth?

It may surprise you to find out, but for an optimum cut in wood, you should have fewer teeth on your saw blade when the wood is thicker. We know that you want fewer, even different types of teeth, for ripping than for cross cutting. But both when ripping or cross cutting, as the material gets thicker, we want fewer teeth. Why? Both drag on the motor and the ability for the dust or chips to clear. Too many teeth and it will burn. Too few teeth and you get a rough cut.

Here is a nifty chart for 10 inch saw blades. Find the thickness of the material on the bottom scale. Then go up to either the ripping or crosscutting part of the chart. Then use a blade with the number of teeth that you find about in the middle of the shaded area for your material thickness. As the examples on the chart show, crosscutting 3/4 inch stock you should use about 80 teeth. Ripping 1-1/2 inch stock would work best with about 24 teeth. But cross cutting that 1-1/2 inch stock you will want from 50 to 60 teeth, not 80.

Thank you Freud for the chart.

 

Blade RPM

Follow this link for information on the proper speed for running your blade.

 

 


Keywords: Saws, Blades, Cutting, Common Questions, Techniques

Article 921