Recommended Saw Blades?

[billkatz]

Does anybody have a recommendation for a table saw blade that works well cutting Baltic Birch?

[DJPhatman]

Stay away from Harbor Freight/CHEEP Chinese saw blades. There are a bunch of really good blade manufacturers, just get a blade with 40 teeth or more. My personal preference is Irwin and Freud. They are high quality with a budget price.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Freud Diablo.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-10-in ... jW4aJ3D_rc

[LelandCrooks]

Freud Diablo.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-10-in ... jW4aJ3D_rc

What he said. Get them resharpened as needed. Usually 10 or $15 bucks. I have 4 that I keep in rotation.

[Ian Westwood]

I have a collection of blades that need sharpening... where do you get yours done?

[billkatz]

Freud Diablo.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-10-in ... jW4aJ3D_rc

What he said. Get them resharpened as needed. Usually 10 or $15 bucks. I have 4 that I keep in rotation.

Well, with that sort of agreement, it's off to Home Depot I go!

I know you do a bunch of cutting - how many sheets of plywood can be reduced to speaker parts before a blade needs to be sent out?

[Bruce Weldy]

I know you do a bunch of cutting - how many sheets of plywood can be reduced to speaker parts before a blade needs to be sent out?

Probably more than you'll ever build.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

If you have a Lowes close by, the Irwin Marathon 80 tooth blades are good too.

http://www.lowes.com/Search=irwin+80+to ... 80+tooth#!

[LelandCrooks]

http://www.ballewsawandtool.com/index.php

I don't know how many actually. When it starts leaving fuzz on the edges I replace it

[rbarone]

The Woodworker 2 is probably the best blade going. For what it's worth, I own a woodworking business, I've tried many, & the WW 2 is all I use on my table saw. Nice thin kerf, excellent & lasting performance. Yes, they are comparatively expensive, but the old adage is very true - you get what you pay for. I get them re-sharpened here - http://www.dynamic-saw-blade-sharpening.com They're very reasonable & the blades are like new upon they're return. Get 2 & you'll always have a blade in your machine while the other is off being sharpened.

[LelandCrooks]

I've seen that blade recommended several times. One of the few I've never tried. Does it live longer? One of the things I really like about the Freuds is they don't spray sawdust off the top of the blade like many of the others. It throws it straight out, a small amount of dust right in front of the cut.

[rbarone]

Again, this is only my opinion... I have a few Freuds in the shop.. picked up at the local big box in a pinch, but they just aren't in the same class as the WW2. I've also used other high-end blades like CMT etc. & the WW2 comes out as the best all-around every time. Woodworking is my livelihood, & I am very interested in over-all value... given both cost & performance to consider, I haven't found a better blade for my use.

As far as spray off the top of the cut goes, I don't experience any. My set-up is nothing special or elaborate... a 3hp unisaw with a 5hp dust collection system on the cabinet. No top guard or dust collection.

If you are working on a contractor or job site saw, the benefits of the WW2 are magnified. It's thinner kerf & better edge take less "motor" to make the cut. A sharp WW@ is considered a to make a "glue joint" rip.

Along with a zero clearance plate ( to help reduce tear out at the bottom of the cut ), a WW2 will provide excellent results on sheet goods for both rips & cross cuts.

Take all this chatter for what it's worth... but I hope it helps in some way.

Happy woodworking -

[LelandCrooks]

Interesting. I buy directly from Freud, they have many blades you'll never find in the bb's. I occasionally have seen the 60t I use the most.

Thanks! I'll give one a go.