Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear Grooving Blades: Clean, Flat-Bottom Cuts
When it comes to cutting grooves and dadoes on the table saw, the blade you choose makes a difference in the finished joint. Some blades leave a relatively flat bottom but create small scoring marks in the corners. Others are designed to produce a clean, square-bottomed cut.
That's where Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear grooving blades come in.
I've used plenty of Woodpeckers jigs and guides over the years, and I've been impressed with the company's cutting tools as well. The Ultra-Shear line includes dedicated grooving blades designed for woodworking tasks where clean, flat-bottom cuts matter.
Let's take a closer look at what makes these blades different and where they can be useful in the shop.
What Are Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear Grooving Blades?
These specialty table saw blades are designed for cutting grooves, dadoes, and other joinery where a flat bottom is important.
The blades come in three cutting widths:
- ⅛" grooving blade
- 3⁄16" grooving blade
- ¼" grooving blade
Unlike a conventional alternate-top-bevel blade, each uses a flat-top grind (FTG) tooth profile.
That difference in tooth geometry is the key to the results these blades produce.
Flat-Top Grind vs. Alternate-Top-Bevel Blades
Most woodworkers are familiar with alternate-top-bevel (ATB) saw blades. On an ATB blade, the teeth alternate between left- and right-hand bevels.
This tooth arrangement works well for many cutting tasks, but it can leave a less-than-perfect bottom when cutting grooves.
Why Some Dado Blades Leave “Bat Ears”
The outside blades of some conventional dado sets use beveled teeth.
Because the outer tips of those teeth extend slightly deeper into the material, they can leave small V-shaped scoring marks at the outside corners of the groove.
These marks are sometimes called bat ears or vampire fangs.
If the joint will be covered by edging or concealed during assembly, the marks may not matter.
But when the bottom of the groove or the joinery itself remains visible, those small cuts can be distracting.
How a Flat-Top Grind Produces Cleaner Grooves
A flat-top grind blade uses teeth with straight cutting edges rather than alternating bevels.
As a result, the blade cuts a groove with a flat bottom and square corners.
The difference is easy to see when comparing the two cuts side by side.
The conventional dado blade leaves small marks at the corners, while the Ultra-Shear grooving blade produces a clean, square-bottomed channel.
For exposed joinery, that cleaner appearance can make a noticeable difference.
Where Are Flat-Bottom Grooving Blades Most Useful?
A dedicated grooving blade is particularly useful for woodworking joints where the bottom of the cut affects the fit or appearance.
Examples include grooves for panels, dadoes for shelves, and other joinery where a consistent, flat-bottomed channel is desirable.
The three available blade widths also provide options for cutting different-sized grooves without assembling a traditional stacked dado set.
And when the joinery will remain visible, the square corners are an added advantage.
How Do the Ultra-Shear Grooving Blades Perform?
The comparison photos tell much of the story.
The groove cut with a conventional ATB-style dado set shows the small corner marks left by the beveled outer teeth.
The groove made with the Ultra-Shear blade has a noticeably cleaner, square-bottomed profile.
That's the primary benefit of these blades.
They aren't intended to replace every blade on your table saw. Instead, they're specialized cutting tools for situations where the shape and quality of the groove matter.
Are Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear Grooving Blades Worth It?
At the time of the original review, the blades were priced between $170 and $200 individually, or approximately $540 for the three-blade set.
That places them in the range of premium specialty table saw blades.
Whether they're worth the investment depends on the kind of woodworking you do.
If most of your grooves and dadoes will be hidden during assembly, a conventional dado set may already meet your needs.
But if you frequently make exposed joinery or want clean, flat-bottom cuts without the small corner marks left by beveled teeth, a dedicated FTG grooving blade is a useful addition to your table saw setup.
Final Thoughts on Woodpeckers Grooving Blades
The Woodpeckers Ultra-Shear grooving blades offer a straightforward solution to a common table saw joinery problem.
Their flat-top tooth grind produces clean, square-cornered grooves, while the three available widths provide options for different joinery tasks.
For woodworkers who pay close attention to the appearance of exposed joints, these specialty blades are worth considering.
Sometimes the difference between an acceptable joint and a great-looking one comes down to using the right blade.
Cutting Grooves and Dadoes
A clean, accurate groove starts with the right blade, but proper setup and technique are just as important.
In Cutting Grooves and Dadoes, we cover practical methods for making these essential woodworking joints. Learn how to set up your table saw, size grooves accurately, and produce better-fitting joints for cabinets, furniture, and other projects.
LEARN TO CUT GROOVES & DADOES → Get Better Results with Your Table Saw
