Cut Cleanly Through Wood With The Best Circular Saw Blades
A circular saw is one of the most popular and widely used power saws that can help you cut through various kinds of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, etc. It features a toothed or abrasive blade that has to be guided downwards on the workpiece that you have to cut. Usually, circular saws are mounted onto a work table, but they can also be found in handheld variants.
The most important component of the circular saw is its blade, and the type of blade you use for cutting through different materials determines how smooth the operation would be. If the current blade on your circular saw has finally been subjected to many hours of wear and tear, and you are looking for a replacement blade, then we have the right ones for you.
We have picked the best circular saw blades of 2021, so you can take your pick from among them. The list has been curated by evaluating hundreds of options and choosing the best ones by applying certain factors. Let’s review all of the options one by one.
Best Circular Saw Blades Buying Guide
What is a Circular Saw Blade?
A circular saw blade is a special type of blade that works well with circular saws, and is particularly designed to cut through different materials with ease. The different materials that you can cut with a circular saw blade include wood, engineered wood, plastic, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, etc. Different types of circular saw blades vary according to the material they can cut through.
Why Do You Need a Circular Saw Blade?
A circular saw blade is a highly efficient accessory that enables you to cut through various materials smoothly and without leaving any rough edges or splinters. The best part of this blade is that you can use it to cut through the material whenever it is in motion, and you don’t have to worry about a return stroke, as is the case with some other types of power saws.
The circular saw blade is reinforced and strengthened to provide the smooth and optimum performance that you experience from your circular saw, and once the blade inside your saw becomes warped or worn out, you can replace it with a similar one to ensure that you keep getting clean and precise cuts every time you use it.
Moreover, circular saw blades are specially designed to withstand the heat generated by the motor, as well as the friction created when it comes into contact with the material. Most of the other blades often get overheated and warped, but this isn’t something you experience with the circular saw blade.
Lastly, a circular saw blade facilitates you in making angled cuts and bevel cuts as well. This makes it an overall useful accessory to have with your circular saw.
Things to Consider Before Choosing a Circular Saw Blade
Before you go about choosing a circular saw blade to replace your existing one, make sure that you have taken all the factors into account, so that you end up with the right product in your cart. Let’s have a look at the various factors that come into play when you are choosing a circular saw blade.
Number of Teeth
The number of teeth a circular saw blade has plays a major role in your choice of one. Blades that have more teeth tend to provide a cleaner and smoother cut, whereas those with less teeth would have a rougher finish. Mostly, a 24-tooth circular saw blade is preferred by many people, especially if you have to cross cut lumber and sheet materials.
The 24-tooth blade is good enough for you if the diameter is 7¼”. However, as the diameter increases, you should also consider looking for circular saw blades with more teeth.
Hook
The hook refers to the position at which the teeth of the circular saw blade come in contact with the material. Also known as the rake angle, it determines how fast and smooth the cut will be, as well as how quickly the waste material will be removed. If the blade has a positive rake angle, it performs a climb cut and pulls the material in. This can be harmful if you are dealing with a harder material like metal.
On the other hand, a negative rake angle has a smoother performance and doesn’t pull the material towards itself. Although this is much safer, it is rather slow and also removes less waste material from the workpiece.
Kerf
Kerf is another important factor that you must consider while choosing the best circular saw blade, and it refers to the thickness of the tooth, which can also be called the cut width. This also means that the thinner the kerf would be, the smoother and more refined the cutting performance would be. However, thinner kerfs are also prone to vibration or wobbling, which means that it may not cut hardwood precisely.
Type
The type of circular saw blade that you use for your woodworking or other projects also matters when you are exploring different options. This also impacts the performance you get out of your circular saw. The most common type is the standard circular saw blade, which is used to cut wood or composite materials. The speed and finish of the cut is determined by the number of teeth it has.
Similarly, you can also find rip-cut circular saw blades, which have fewer teeth and work more aggressively towards cutting through wood. Crosscut blades have around 40 and 80 teeth and are suitable for clean cutting.
Apart from this, you can also buy continuous rim blades, which are also known as diamond blades and used on tiles and ceramic materials. On the other hand, turbo-rim blades are also diamond blades, but their rim is specially designed to cut through brick and concrete. Apart from these, you can also find segmented blades, abrasive blades, stacked blades, and many others.
You can choose the type you want according to the material that you need to cut, and the number of teeth will determine how smooth or rough the cut will be. Make sure to factor this in while choosing the best circular saw blade for your projects.
What are the best circular saw blade in 2021?
Freud Diablo Finish Saw Blade
– Best Overall
The Freud D0740A Diablo Saw Blade has a high-quality and durable finish, and consists of 40 carbide-tipped teeth that are suitable for making razor-sharp cuts in wood and other materials. It has a laser-cut kerf and clean-cutting design that has a smooth and quiet operation, and also ensures ease of use. The circular saw blade also has shock-resistant capabilities, which reduces vibration while you are cutting through different materials.
- Has a diameter of 7¼”
- Suitable for arbor of ⅝”
- Suitable for cutting through plywood and hardwood
- Doesn’t work with speeds greater than 10,000 RPM
DEWALT 10-Inch Miter Table Saw Blades
– Runner Up
The DEWALT 10-Inch Miter Saw Blades come in a 2-pack and are made from durable tungsten carbide material. Both the blades consist of 60 teeth, which makes them suitable to cut various materials, including wood, plastic, etc. They have a thin kerf, which makes it easier to cut through materials smoother and faster. Moreover, they have a ⅝” arbor that enhances the cutting performance.
- Comes in set of 2 blades
- Made from highly durable tungsten carbide
- Can cut through various hard materials easily
- Can’t be used to cut ferrous and non-ferrous metals
IRWIN Tools Circular Saw Blade
– Honorable Mention
The IRWIN Tools MARATHON Carbide Corded Circular Saw Blade is a heavy-duty and premium quality circular saw blade that you can use for cutting through different kinds of wood, including hardwood and plywood. It has a diameter of 7¼” and 24 spaced and razor-sharp construction-grade carbide-tipped teeth. Moreover, the entire circular saw blade is coated with silicone to ensure clean cutting and also prevent pitch and resin buildup whenever you are trying to cut through pressure-treated lumber.
- Suitable for framing and ripping projects
- Features 24 carbide-tipped and silicone coated teeth
- Highly durable and heat-resistant construction
- Not suitable for thicker materials
Oshlun Tooth Saw Blade
– Contender
The Oshlun 36 Tooth Circular Saw Blade is a specialized and durable tungsten carbide blade that cuts through engineered wood pieces smoothly and cleanly. It has an ultra-thin kerf that enables you to cut through workpieces faster, and its 5½” diameter makes it suitable for achieving a greater cutting depth easily. It also contains 36 razor-sharp carbide-tipped and precision ground blades that help you achieve a clean cut without any rough edges.
- Compatible with all models and brands
- Features precision ground carbide teeth for clean cutting
- Also comes with a reduction ring to fit onto smaller circular saws
- Only works well for engineered wood
Makita Tipped Circular Saw Blade
– Also Consider
The Makita Carbide-Tipped Circular Saw Blade is a premium quality and high-strength circular saw blade that has the ability to cut through all types of wood cleanly and quickly. Its tungsten carbide-tipped sharp blades enables you to cut 70% faster than other blades, and its super-thin kerf takes the load away from the circular saw. Moreover, the circular saw blade contains heat vents to prevent overheating and warping
- Cuts 70% faster than other blades
- Compatible with all models and brands
- Takes the load away from the circular saw
- Suitable for cutting wood only
Circular Saw Blade FAQ
A: No, there isn't. You will find different types of blades for each material, because one single blade can’t provide you with the functionality and features that you need to cut through all types of materials.
A: The cleanest cut, at least on wood or composite materials, is made with the help of a crosscut blade, which removes less material and provides a smoother cut. As precise as it is, it also takes more time to cut through wood.
A: A circular saw blade lasts anywhere between 12 to 120 hours of continuous usage, and the duration depends on its quality and the materials from which it is made.
A: It can be incredibly dangerous and harmful if you install a circular saw blade in the reverse position, except for a few select materials where it can actually be beneficial. However, it is quite risky and you should avoid it.
A: You may choose to replace the circular saw blade in your power tool if it has become blunt due to excessive wear and tear. You may also choose to replace it if it has gotten damaged or rusty.
