Table Saw Blades
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Table Saw Blades
I've got a 5/8" blade arbor being shipped from SS today but, I was wondering who all out there is using other brand name blades and which brands do you like best? I'm looking for plywood, ripping and crosscutting blades.
Re: Table Saw Blades
Don't cheap out on saw blades. Buy quality and you should be happy. I have been using a DeWalt blade for years that are no longer available. I have had one of them sharpened a few years ago and it is still good and will leave a finished glue line cut.
Bill V
Bill V
Re: Table Saw Blades
Thanks Bill,
I was thinking of blades by Freud (Diablo), Irwin (Marathon) and the German-made blades. Seems to me I remember reading somewhere that SS bought German-made blades.
I was thinking of blades by Freud (Diablo), Irwin (Marathon) and the German-made blades. Seems to me I remember reading somewhere that SS bought German-made blades.
Re: Table Saw Blades
Hi,
Blades, one of our favorite subjects.
Here is my take on the subject. Buy the best blades you can. In my experience the quality of the blade shows up in the cut. I hate sanding so the better the cut the better I like it.
Since money is more then likely going to be an issue with most of us you might want to look at what you can afford and then look at blades in that price range. Sales allow you to get blades that might previously been a bit over the top for you so if you can wait and shop the sales all the better.
If you are just starting out then a comb blade makes since and I normally keep one on my machine as the go to blade. If you get a good quality one then it can and will serve as both a rip and cross cut blade and give good results for both. As time and money allow you can then add other blades. A dedicated rip blade, a high tooth count cross cut and other specialty blades can follow. If you are going to do plywood then I'd move that specialty blade up the list.
Don't discount cheaper blades in your collection. When building a bird feeder or house or garden trellis you can use a cheaper blade and save the best blades for fine woodworking. Now I never go dirt cheap, say $30 or so is a cheap blade to me, and yes you can get pretty good blades in that range.
I'm not sure which shopsmith you have but in general using a thin kerf blade makes life easier as it requires less power and saves you effort when cutting.
Over the years I have used a few types and makes of blades but right now I am buying only Infinty Tool blades. I really like them and have only the best to say about them. Right now they have a sale on some of their blades, in fact I'm going to be ordering a few things from them today. You can check out their collection at:
http://www.infinitytools.com
They have a really nice combo blade:
http://www.infinitytools.com/sawing/tab ... -thin-kerf
Normally $110 now $90. If you find enough to get over $100 the postage is free. I also get most of my quality router bits from them. I have not tried there bandsaw blades but if they are anything like their other blades they would be fine.
When you get the point of needing a dado blade this is also the place to shop.
You will also find it nice to have a few arbors with blades mounted. Having just one arbor gets old fast. I keep a few blades on arbors and a spare arbor for mounting what ever is in my collection that I need to use. You can add them one at a time and if you are watching they might come up on sale from time to time.
Ed
Blades, one of our favorite subjects.
Here is my take on the subject. Buy the best blades you can. In my experience the quality of the blade shows up in the cut. I hate sanding so the better the cut the better I like it.
Since money is more then likely going to be an issue with most of us you might want to look at what you can afford and then look at blades in that price range. Sales allow you to get blades that might previously been a bit over the top for you so if you can wait and shop the sales all the better.
If you are just starting out then a comb blade makes since and I normally keep one on my machine as the go to blade. If you get a good quality one then it can and will serve as both a rip and cross cut blade and give good results for both. As time and money allow you can then add other blades. A dedicated rip blade, a high tooth count cross cut and other specialty blades can follow. If you are going to do plywood then I'd move that specialty blade up the list.
Don't discount cheaper blades in your collection. When building a bird feeder or house or garden trellis you can use a cheaper blade and save the best blades for fine woodworking. Now I never go dirt cheap, say $30 or so is a cheap blade to me, and yes you can get pretty good blades in that range.
I'm not sure which shopsmith you have but in general using a thin kerf blade makes life easier as it requires less power and saves you effort when cutting.
Over the years I have used a few types and makes of blades but right now I am buying only Infinty Tool blades. I really like them and have only the best to say about them. Right now they have a sale on some of their blades, in fact I'm going to be ordering a few things from them today. You can check out their collection at:
http://www.infinitytools.com
They have a really nice combo blade:
http://www.infinitytools.com/sawing/tab ... -thin-kerf
Normally $110 now $90. If you find enough to get over $100 the postage is free. I also get most of my quality router bits from them. I have not tried there bandsaw blades but if they are anything like their other blades they would be fine.
When you get the point of needing a dado blade this is also the place to shop.
You will also find it nice to have a few arbors with blades mounted. Having just one arbor gets old fast. I keep a few blades on arbors and a spare arbor for mounting what ever is in my collection that I need to use. You can add them one at a time and if you are watching they might come up on sale from time to time.
Ed
{Knight of the Shopsmith} [Hero's don't wear capes, they wear dog tags]
Re: Table Saw Blades
I really like the Woodworker II thin kerf blade by Forrest.
http://www.forrestblades.com/10-woodwor ... -kerf.html
You can get it with a 1 1/4" bore for an extra charge so you can use your standard shopsmith arbor. It is expensive but I consider it will last for my life time with occasional resharpening. Mine is still sharp after 5 years used. It is the only blade I ever use whether it is ripping or crosscuts.
http://www.forrestblades.com/10-woodwor ... -kerf.html
You can get it with a 1 1/4" bore for an extra charge so you can use your standard shopsmith arbor. It is expensive but I consider it will last for my life time with occasional resharpening. Mine is still sharp after 5 years used. It is the only blade I ever use whether it is ripping or crosscuts.
Re: Table Saw Blades
+1 Forrest! I got my first Forrest blade 30 years ago. Tried a Freud, Infinity and a couple of others over the years but always went back to the Forrest. If it ain't broke don't fix it
Jack
Jack
Re: Table Saw Blades
You guys that are using blades with only a 5/8" arbor...did you buy the SS arbor or an aftermarket?
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Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 5834
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
Re: Table Saw Blades
The problem with blades is cost is not always the defining factor of quality. I have had very expensive blades that cut like a $9 dollar blade and I have had low cost blades that cut like a million bucks.
Also there is no definitive method to render judgement. What one person might call glue line quality might make another shudder and run for the jointer.
My two favorite blade manufacture are Shopsmith and Infinity. I have used much more pricey blades and a lot cheaper but for me all my needs are met by these two manufactures.
In all truthfulness I have never found a blade that my blade sharpener could not improve upon.
But again that is very subjective and open to debate by others.
My advice stick with Shopsmith blades, if you want to stray check out Infinity blades.
One thing beware of dazzle dazzle wood working show demo's that make their blade look like a godsend for only the cost of an arm and a leg.
Also there is no definitive method to render judgement. What one person might call glue line quality might make another shudder and run for the jointer.
My two favorite blade manufacture are Shopsmith and Infinity. I have used much more pricey blades and a lot cheaper but for me all my needs are met by these two manufactures.
In all truthfulness I have never found a blade that my blade sharpener could not improve upon.
But again that is very subjective and open to debate by others.
My advice stick with Shopsmith blades, if you want to stray check out Infinity blades.
One thing beware of dazzle dazzle wood working show demo's that make their blade look like a godsend for only the cost of an arm and a leg.
Re: Table Saw Blades
Ed, what are you using to sharpen blades? Do you have any pictures or videos of the sharpener?
Re: Table Saw Blades
Use the Shopsmith blade arbor ALWAYS. The universal or after market arbors are not for use with a sawblade. The problem with the 5/8" arbor is that they almost never show up on E-Bay and when they do they sell for almost as much as new.
Bill V
Bill V