So, a rip cut is accentual when cutting timber. If you did not already know ripping is splitting the wood parallel to the wood grain. The opposite to a rip cut is a cross cut. This naturally cuts perpendicular the wood grain. Due to the nature of cutting across the wood grain the cross cut shears the wood. However, when ripping the wood, the blades act as a chisel what splinters the wood. This is all down to the blade you use, which is why you need to get it right.

At Number One...

This is a specialist blade; it is extremely well equipped and provide the high quality making up the high price. This blade although the best blade is a professional one. It has Premium Tico Hi-Density carbide crosscutting blend. You may say that you are looking for a ripping blade but in turn maximises the performance of the blade.

The blade is also equipped with an alternate top bevel (ATB) tooth design, and precision tensioning not withstanding computer controlled equipment keeps the blade flat. What this does is not only maximising the performance of the blade but also increasing the life expectancy of the blade. A large problem of saw blades is pitch build-up and corrosion, this is also solved by the Freud LU73M016 by having silver ice coating. All these extra elements allow the blade exceed nearly all others; this is why I chose this blade in front of all the other.

The Festool Panther Circular Saw Blade for TS 75 is specialized to the type rip cut. The saw blade is equipped with a tungsten-carbide ATB saw blade this enables the blade to cut alternately to the left and right, both making the blade more efficient and in all types of woods leaves you with a cleaner cut. Another element that makes this blade stand out from the others is the radical hook angle and deep gullets so the blade cuts through the wood rapidly and easily.

The Festool 495378 shares the feature with the Freud LU773M016 with its Alternating Top Bevel (ATB) off set teeth. However, this blade only contains 16 teeth compared to the 96 teeth the Freud contains. The manufactures of this blade say it was engineered to cut efficiently and of superior finished cut. They also designed it to be long lasting, less resistance against the wood and less waste materials.

This being the same make of my first product, it is smaller than my previous picking at 10” in diameter. However, this does not mean it is lacking in quality, it is very good quality just slightly more affording. It too has for Maximum Performance Premium TiCo HI-Density Carbide Crosscutting Blend. The blade also has High Alternate Top Bevel (HiATB)Tooth. This prevents the splintering of the wood when cutting which can have a nasty effect of the finish of the cut.

The blade is unique from all the other blades I have chosen is the Laser-Cut Anti-Vibration Slot. Many blades suffer from vibrations and movements side to side, not with this blade thanksthe specialised slot. Though not as high spec and the Freud LU73M016 the LU79R010 has a Perma-Shield Perma-Shield Non-Stick, it just the silver ice coating reduces the blade drag, and prevents the build up of pitch and corrosion.

At Number Four...

This is the last Freud I am going to present. It is the least costly blade though compromise in cost is directly proportional to compromise in extras. Extras is not however the same as quality. It just like the other two has Premium TiCo Hi-Density Carbide ripping blend. This blade has an especially heavy-duty plate and kerf. These guaranty the stability of the blade and also keeping the blade flat improves the life expectancy.

It too like the Laser-Cut Anti-Vibration slots substantially prevents the sideways movement and vibrations. Due to the depreciation in price the price you don’t get the Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) Teeth or the coating to prevent pitch build up and corrosion. However, the blade is good enough quality to withstand most things as long as it is well looked after. Though not for professional use would be great blade for diy and occasional projects.

At Number Five...

This is my last Product, it is the cheapest of the five, has the least amount of teeth and is the smallest. It is 8” in diameter and has a thin kerf. This allows the blade to move fast, cleanly and accurately through the wood when cutting. The arbor is laser cut this reduces vibrations. This blade has anti-vibration vents reducing noise and stabilized the blade improving the cut available by making it smoother and cleaner.

This also helps the saw blade a longer life expectancy. When the all blades are being used for long periods at a time heats up. Naturally metal expands, the designers have thought of this and created slots to allow the metal to expand and relax and much as kneaded. If these slots were not in place the blade would just snap. This blade creates a smooth clean finish and leaves no burns or swirl marks.

Type of Blade

The type of blade you need will ultimately depend on the type of materials that you’ll be cutting. The blade that you ultimately buy will determine how deep the cut goes. You will need to take a look at your user manual for more information about the type of blade that you need to use. Chances are that your table saw would have come with a blade as standard, but if it hasn’t or it simply needs replacing, please make sure you only use the recommended type and size of blades.

If you use a blade that is the wrong size, or the wrong type, you could damage the blade, your table saw, and the quality of the cuts that you make may not be as good as you would have hoped.

Always use the type and size of blade that is recommended by the manufacturer, as the wrong blade could result in serious injury.

Slide Action

Some table saw blades come with a slide action that allows you to cut very wide pieces of wood. If you need to use a slide action saw, you’ll need to make sure that the blade is suitable for this. If the blade you’re using is not suitable for use in a slide action saw, you will need to purchase an additional blade that is. The size of the correct blade and its specifications will tell you whether it is suitable for use in this type of saw. If you aim to cut very wide pieces of wood, you’ll need to use a big blade that has a large width that can be used in a sliding saw. Please take a look at the saw’s packaging for more information about the width of the blade.

Materials You Want to Cut

While different types of blade cut different materials, you may be interested to know that a table saw blade is capable of cutting hard and soft woods, including cherry wood. Table saw blades can also be used for cutting a wide range of other materials too such as sheet aluminum, sheet plastic, and sheet brass. This means that the blade you use will be more versatile than you may have realized, giving you the opportunity to use it for many different projects, meaning you could get a lot more done using just one table saw blade.

How long will it last?

The life of each table saw blade will differ depending on what material you’re cutting, and how well the blade has been made. You can potentially extend the life of your blade if you keep it clean, and only use it with the right materials. Although table saw blades have predominantly been manufactured for use with wood, they can be used with other materials, however, very frequent use with other materials may cause the blade to go blunt a lot quicker than it otherwise would.

You may need to have your blade resharpened from time to time, and doing so could extend its life, which means you could have the same blade for up to 10 years.

Some blades are inevitably better quality than others, meaning some will last a year or two, and others could last 10 times as long. It all depends on how much money you’re willing to spend, and how often you use your saw. Please note that the better quality blades are usually a little more expensive than those of a lesser quality.

How do you attach your blade?

Attaching a blade to a table saw is not that difficult, but the methods you use can depend on the saw’s make and model. However, once you’ve changed one saw blade, you’ll know how to change blades on most other models out there.

To begin with, you need to ensure the saw is turned off. Then remove the blade guard, once you’ve done that stand in the same position that you would usually stand when you’re operating the table saw. Now use a wrench on an arbor nut and another one on the blade locking pin. Pull the wrench to that the nut is loosened. Now insert the blade, making sure it is perfectly straight, and tighten the arbor nut.

It is important that you read your users manual to make sure that you know how to replace the blade. Some makes and models differ in their replacement guide, so please follow the instructions, taking care to follow each step, making sure all nuts and bolts are tightened, and the guard is in place.

Should you buy cheap but often or expensive and long term?

Some table saw blades can be quite expensive and their price could prevent you from buying them, simply because they may seem too pricey. Some cheaper table saw blades are thought to be just as good as some of the more expensive ones, but some simply not as good. If you plan to be using your table saw a lot, you may want to think about buying a more expensive blade, as you could have the same one for many years.

If you’re not going to be using our table saw very often, a cheaper blade may be ideal. Please make sure that you only ever use a blade that is thought to be compatible with your saw, as using the wrong type of blade could cause serious injury.

As we have already seen, some blades are inevitably better quality than others, meaning some will last a year or two, and others could last 10 times as long. It all depends on how much money you’re willing to spend, and how often you use your saw.

Should you buy the same brand as your Table Saw?

The manufacturers of your table saw are likely to state that you should only use the saw blades that they recommend. However, some cheaper saw blades could be compatible with your brand, although the quality of the cut may not be quite as good. If you need to use a blade that has a high quality cut, you may want to stick with using the same brand as your table saw. If you don’t need a high quality cut, a cheaper brand could work just as well. Please note that if an issue with your table saw arises while you're using a cheaper blade, your warranty may no longer be valid. It may, therefore, be wise to keep using the right branded table saws until your warranty expires.

By now you should have a much better idea about the type of table saw blade you need to buy. Think about what you need it for, how often you’re going to use it, and how much you are willing to pay for it. Use the above table saw blades as a guide so you’re that little bit closer to finding the right table saw blade.