Since its introduction in the early 1980s, Forrest’s Woodworker II blade (model WW 10407125) has become something of a gold standard for general-purpose blades. Delta has recently introduced 16 new sawblades, so I ordered its new 50-tooth combination blade (model 35-1050R) and tested in comparison to the older Woodworker II.

Delta’s new 50-tooth combination blade (model 35-1050R) has four ATB teeth followed by a flat-topped raker. The raker leaves a nearly flat-bottomed kerf, useful for grooves and dadoes. The Delta’s ATB tooth angle looks close to the profile on the old Woodworker II.

I used the blade to rip 8/4 and 4/4 poplar, hard maple, and mahogany, and to crosscut 6/4 maple. I also crosscut some birch plywood and some double-sided melamine particleboard. All cuts were made with a regular throat plate to make tearout more likely. The Delta combo blade is a solid, all-around performer, and while it didn’t quite match the cuts of the old Woodworker II, it represents a good value at $80.

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