Metal Cutting Circular Saw Blades

It's important to remember that each blade type is designed to make certain types of cuts, and may not work well to make other kinds of cuts in different materials. It can be unsafe to use a blade for an incorrect task, as the blade teeth and thickness may not be sufficient to cut certain materials and could cause problems, like warping of material or blade damage. Always use the appropriate blade for each type of material.

How thick a blade is. The thicker the blade is, the longer it lasts and the more it can be resharpened. Blades with a thin kerf tend to be sharper and cut faster. Thinner kerf blades require less work from your motor since they cut less wood. If your saw doesn’t pack a large amount of power, thinner kerf blades are the best choice. However, thin kerf blades tend to cut rougher edges than thicker kerf blades.

The sharp points on the blade. The more teeth a blade has, the cleaner the cut. Fewer teeth make for a rougher cut. The number of teeth depends on the blade. Some blades have only 24 teeth while others can contain up to 60 to 80 teeth.

The curved area between two saw teeth. Serves as an area for chip removal while you are cutting. Ripping blades tend to have deeper gullets to accommodate the bigger chips that are produced while cutting. Crosscutting blades have a smaller gullet because they produce smaller and fewer chips.

A grooved area of the blade (typically on larger blades) designed to create an avenue for built-up heat on the blade.

The part of the blade behind the teeth that provides added support to the teeth.

Angle of the saw tooth in relation to the center of the blade. Blades can have a negative, positive or zero degree hook angle:

Saw teeth tip away from the direction of the blade rotation. Blades with a negative hook angle slow the feed rate during the cut

Saw teeth tip toward the direction of the blade rotation. Blades with a high positive hook angle cut aggressively and have a fast feed rate.

Heat-resistant, composite material made from ceramic and metal.

There are several things to consider before buying a metal cutting saw blade. Pay attention to the diameter, kerf and arbor size. For instance, it's important to make sure that you have the correct blade diameter for the type of saw you are using. Each blade is designed for a specific use, so using a blade that's too small for the saw you have could cause kickback cut or even damage the saw. The type of material you are cutting is also important (see the types of blades list above). Also think about if you need a blade with coating. Many blades are coated to prevent corrosion and wear while maximizing blade performance. Coated blades can cost more, so think about whether you truly need a coated one. If you do, it will likely last longer than uncoated ones. But if you just need a regular saw blade for standard cutting, uncoated ones work fine.