The table saw is one of the most-used tools in the shop. From dimensioning workpieces to cutting joinery, there’s a wide array of tasks for which it’s the most accurate and efficient tool of choice. And, the biggest factor that affects the quality of your work is the blade you use.
For this issue, we’ll take a dive into two table saw blades offered by Grizzly.
GRIZZLY BLADES
The first blades I’d like to discuss are two sets from Grizzly. You can see their “Pro Series” at left and their tooth rip “Extreme Series” on the next page.
PRO SERIES.
The “Pro” blades are priced from $30 (for the ripping and combination blades) to $40 (for the crosscut blade). The ripping blade features 24 teeth and is considered thin-kerf, with a thickness of 5⁄64".
The crosscut blade has 80 teeth, and the combination blade strikes the mid-ground with 60. Like most modern table saw blades, the teeth on these are carbide with an alternating top bevel (or ATB). All in all, these are what I expect of a standard table saw blade: they do the job well and at a price that won’t break the bank.
EXTREME SERIES.
Things get a bit interesting with the “Extreme Series.” These are marketed as the high-end option, running you $60, $70, and $90—but there’s a reason for that.
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|The pro crosscut blade has a typical alternate top bevel (ATB) grind|whereas the extreme crosscut blade possesses a triple chip grind (TCG).|
Primarily, that reason is materials. Just holding the two blades, you can feel a difference in the weight; the Extreme blades are notably heavier. This is because they’re made from thicker steel, which keeps them more stable and more durable over time.
Additionally, a different carbide alloy is used on the teeth of the Extreme series and the Pro series. The Pro blades have C4 carbide teeth, which is the common form of carbide used on cutters due to its high wear resistance, allowing it to hold an edge very well.
By contrast, the Extreme blades have C9 carbide teeth. This alloy contains a higher degree of cobalt, maintaining the wear resistance of C4 while also making it significantly tougher. This means the blades are less likely to chip in hard material or through constant use.
One final difference between these sets is on the tooth grind of the crosscut blades. You can see what I’m talking about in the upper right photo. The Pro crosscut blade has a typical ATB grind, like you’ll find on most blades.
The Extreme blade has a triple chip grind (or TCG), which is made up of the trapezoidal teeth in the photo alternating between different bevel grind teeth. The intent is for the trapezoidal teeth to remove the center waste while the beveled teeth remove the corners to create a smoother cut.
THE RESULTS.
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| Here you can see the difference on crosscuts between the pro and extreme series. Both cuts are clean, but the extreme series was notably smoother. | Shown above are rip cuts using the Pro and Extreme series blades respectively. Though the difference is less pronounced than the crosscut, the extreme series leaves a cleaner edge. |
To show you how these blades actually work, I’ve included the photos. It should be noted that these blades are fresh out of the package, so each is plenty sharp and cuts well. The true test will come with time, as I expect the thicker blades and tougher carbide of the Extreme series will hold up longer. Grizzly claims the Extreme Series has nearly twice the durability of their Pro Series, and if that’s true then they’ll be worth their cost and more.
