Hi
I am shopping a blade for my DeWalt Radial Arm Saw that would be used for cutting clean miter joints in hardwood. I ordered a Freud 14 inch, 108 tooth ultimate blade but it got lost in transit and this got me to look deeper in circular saw blades. The industrial suppliers seem to offer low rake angles , even negative while the commercially available blades such as Freud and Forrest are set on 10 degrees positive rake. What is your take on the best blade for my needs.
Thks
Replies
I have had a Craftsman RAS for many years. At one time, I took the advice of many and purchased a negative rake (50 tooth, I think) blade. I used it a few times, took it off, and it has never been back on. I did not like the quality of the cut or the slow feed rate required. The negative rake is supposed to prevent the tendency to climb, but I found that it didn't help. I typically use an ordinary (+- 5-10 deg. pos rake) combo. blade and it works just fine. I have recently discovered HATB blades for the table saw and love them for smooth cross cuts with almost no tear-out or fuzzy edges. I haven't yet tried it on the RAS, but would bet that it will do well.
You want an all-purpose or crosscut blade. Miter cuts aren't really rip cuts, they are crosscuts. If you have the coin look at Ridge Carbide or Forrest. Blade quality means more to a cut than tooth count.
Those industrial blades are tough to find online, to date this is the only offering that comes close to what I was looking for short of having 20 more tooth and being not being their more durable carbide. https://www.normand.ca/en/14-80-teeth-crosscut-blade-fs-tool-l04350.html
Finally I gave up the keyboard and called the manufacturer directly, Royce Ayr. Had a nice talk on the carbide, hook angle, kerf etc and they suggested I use the Industrial grade of the saw blade I wanted to order instead of the Ultima grade. Being my main saw, it will cut through some nice and not so nice wood and the higher price tag carbide althrough more wear resistant is also more brittle and may chip at the first piece of dirt or loose knot . Could have been a zero angle hook but being used to ten degrees, I opted for he 5 degree positive. Getting on the courrier today for a good price overall. Blade model is the 02141001H, will let you know how it cuts soon.
Well I got the saw blade from Royce Ayr this morning, I missed the courier yesterday so I had to pick it up at the Purolator site. The saw arrived within 36 hours with my name engraved on it ! What a nice touch. So how does it cut ? I did my trials on a 6/4 beech 8 inches wide board and I have to convince myself that I am actually going through something as I feel nothing as it is cutting, it is completely effortless and there is no chip in sight, not even on the underside, it is like magic ! The saw is a 14 inch diameter blade with a 0,150'' kerf and 100 tooth at a +5 hook angle, truly amazing and for the price of an equivalent Freud blade. I have its equivalent Freud on the Tablesaw and there is no comparison between them both, the Industrial saw blade is head and shoulder above .
Congrats! Is your plan to go with these for your TS going forward?
I wish I could but I have so many 10 inches blades and such a good sharpening service that I don’t really need new blades.
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