I’ve been woodworking for over 40 years, successfully resolving all kinds of problems, usually by quizzing other fellow woodworkers on the forums. But this one is driving me nuts! For years, I’ve used my trusty Craftsman contractor’s table saw equipped with a 3 hp motor and a 40 tooth carbide tooth blade (usually a Freud and I don’t buy the cheapies). I recently replaced the blade with a DeWalt 40 tooth carbide tooth blade with 4 relief openings and was told by the DeWalt salesman that they were laser reliefs (???) which would create a better cut. Since the install, the cut is great — but the whining sound is driving me out of the shop. In all honesty, if I do a quick cut, I seldom use the hearing protectors — but with this situation there’s no alternative. I did try a blade stabilizer and there was little or no difference. No doubt, I should have stuck with another Freud blade, but that’s hind-sight. Can anybody help me out on this one?
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Replies
Sounds to me like the blade is out of balance despite those laser cut holes, but this is really a question for John White, our shop machine guru, so I'm forwarding your post to his folder.
- Matt
You are getting a siren effect which occurs when a slotted disc, like a saw blade, runs close to a fixed surface like the edge of a zero clearance insert, although some blades are noisy even when the insert is removed.
So start out by running the saw with the insert removed, if it still makes noise the shape of the teeth or the slots are at fault. You can't do anything about the teeth, but you can try to fill the slots with a silicone sealant to see if that quiets things down.
If the noise is caused by the insert try opening up the slot a little bit with a file or make a new insert, often a small change will have a dramatic effect.
John White
John:
Guess I'm so wrapped up in woodworking that I forgot about the physics! Your expert advice solved the problem. Instead of filing the opening on the phenolic Z/C insert, I just re-cut the opening with a wider kerf blade. I re-installed the original blade and the whining is history. Not really a zero clearance anymore, but it's close enough. Many thanks to you (and Matt Berger for his input) for sharing your expertise.
- Bob
I had the same problem drove me crazy
Turns out the cut out where causing the issue I tested by putting masking tape over the holes and the noise was gone .
These silicone will work
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