Buyer’s Guide
When you’re in the market for a new circular saw blade, it’s really not a good idea to proceed without first knowing a little about the product type. For this reason, it’s a good idea to do a little research before you settle on a particular product for the job that you’re completing.
With some versatility in mind, the products that have been reviewed can be very useful, but what about some other useful features that you should consider before you make a purchase?
Also check our reviews about the top quality blades on the market:
The Main Application
As with anything, the main application of your compact circular saw will certainly be a major consideration. Simply put, not every saw is good for cutting every material, so finding the right cutter for the job is absolutely crucial. Here’s a listing of a few blade types so you know what to look for:
- Cross Cut: Cross cutting circular saw blades are excellent for cutting wood across the grain, which makes them one of the most effective woodcutting saw blades. These blades have a tendency to have a large amount of smaller teeth because the process of cutting across the grain is typically harder due to the fact that you have to cut so many wood fibers.
- Rip Cut: Rip cut blades have a tendency to have a much lower amount of cutting teeth because you’ll be using these to cut along the grain. When you cut this way, you’ll find that it’s much easier to cut because you’re effectively ripping the wood apart as you saw.
- Combo: This type is more of a general use type of circular saw blade. These tend to have more teeth than a rip cut but less than you’d find on a cross cut blade. Effectively, these are fairly versatile saws to use.
- Metal Cutting: You can’t simply use a wood cutting blade on metal because that’s a quick way to wear down and break the teeth. With one of these blades, you’ll easily be able to cut metal like piping and sheet metal.
- Dry-diamond: Dry-diamond blades are excellent for cutting through tile and masonry. When you look at one of these types of circular saw blades, you’ll notice that in many cases, there is a singular cutting surface that really will quickly and easily saw through the types of materials that you’ll find in bathrooms and kitchens.
What are other important features to consider?
The Teeth
While you may have noticed that different types of circular saws have different types of teeth based on the application, teeth quality itself is also very important. When you’re looking for a new circular saw blade, it’s always a good idea to not go too cheap. When you spend a little extra cash, you’ll often find that the teeth strength is a little more robust, which means that the teeth on your saw blade will last through more everyday usage. There’s nothing more annoying or even dangerous than having a blade with flimsy teeth, so invest a little more for a quality product.
Kerf
While this feature may be a bit strange-sounding, the kerf of the blade means how thick it is. As a rule of thumb, the thicker the blade, the longer lasting it’ll be. Additionally, when a blade has a high enough level of kerf, you’ll also note that it will be able to go longer without sharpening, and you’ll rarely have broken teeth issues.
When you’re working with a blade with a thin kerf, you’ll find that there will be a finer edge that will cut through the material at a faster rate, and for those using gas-powered saws, you’ll also use less gas since the blades will cut through the material easier.
The Coating
The coating of your blade is designed to add a layer of protection to its everyday usage. Not only will many manufacturers add a coating to their blades in order to protect the blade from gum up and friction, but many also use the coating to ensure that corrosion doesn’t build up over time. Overall, a good coating will simply lengthen the life of your blade so that you’ll be able to use it for years.
Final Thoughts
When you need to cut into a specific material, a good circular saw blade will be your best friend. The products that we’ve featured in this guide will cut through a wide array of material types and are coated to last for years of use.
In the future, circular saw blades will be constructed of new materials so that the high temperatures that occur during the cutting process will have less of an effect on the tool’s service life and on the cut itself.
As a result, you’ll be able to use one blade for years of constant use. One thing is for certain: a good circular saw blade can definitely be one of the most useful and versatile tools in your toolkit.
Reviews
Freud D1050X Diablo
Best Circular Saw Blade for Reduced Vibration
When you need a product that’s one of the best quality circular saw blades for a wide variety of uses, this particular product from Freud is a great option because it is easy to use and durable. It has 50 teeth, a thin kerf, and a high level of quality.
There are very few out-and-out flaws with this saw blade, but it does have a fairly loud operation that you’ll have to deal with as you work. It is multipurpose, but this particular saw blade is best for when you don’t need a precise cut on hardwood.
Freud has included a coating on this Diablo blade that is very useful. Not only does it protect from vibration damage, but the coating also adds protection to the blades themselves so that they last longer.
In addition to this, the coating also reduces blade warp, which means that you’ll have an easier time when you guide your cut.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a well-rounded blade that can cut most wood types, then this D1050X product is a good option. While it doesn’t rip or cross cut with a high level of accuracy, it’s a good product if you need a more combo-minded saw blade for your cutting needs.
Specifications
Number of Teeth 50
Kerf 098
Diameter 254 millimeters
Arbor 5/8
PROS
- The coating is excellent.
- It is laser cut for accuracy.
- It has laser cut heat expansion slots to protect the blade’s accuracy.
CONS
- It doesn’t have the teeth for good cross cutting.
- The blade is somewhat thin for hardwood.
- Can experience a little drag during work.
Dewalt DW3128P5
Best Circular Saw Blade for Versatility
Dewalt is one of the leaders in the world of tools, which is why this kit of two saw blades is so useful.
In fact, reviews of this product state that it’s an excellent kit for versatility because it comes with an 80 and 32 tooth pair of saw blades. This means that you’ll be able to cut rip and cross-style.
Unfortunately, these blades aren’t laser cut. Instead, Dewalt used a stamping technique, which means that the teeth may be slightly less durable and may need more sharpening over time.
Also, the yellow paint can sometimes transfer to the material that you’re cutting.
Since the teeth are made of tungsten carbide, you can expect these blades to last for years of daily use.
Also, even though the blade with fewer teeth will cut somewhat slower since the kerf of these blades is on the thinner side, both blades cut fairly quickly and accurately.
Verdict
Overall, these blades live up to the Dewalt brand name, and if you’re looking for all-around good cutting versatility, then this two-pack is a good option. They are easy to guide into the cut and work both for rip and cross cutting purposes.
Specifications
Number of Teeth 80/30
Kerf N/A (thin)
Diameter 304 millimeters
Maximum RPM 7000
PROS
- The two-pack of blades with two different tooth counts is very useful.
- The speed of both blades will help you finish projects quickly.
- In comparison to other blade packages, this product is very versatile.
CONS
- These blades are stamped rather than laser-cut.
- There’s not much of a coating on the blades themselves.
- The blades have a bit of deflection when cutting bevels.
Freud D1060X Diablo
Best Circular Saw Blade for a Clean Cut
Another Freud product in the Diablo series, the D1060X is a great blade for a fine finish.
It’s constructed of TiCo hi-density carbide, which means that this blade will last for years. It has 60 teeth, so it will cut fast and even grant some cross cut capabilities.
With a 60T (60 teeth) construction, this blade isn’t great for precision; you can expect to do some decent cross cutting, but for detailed carpentry, you may want more teeth. Also, it can run a little too thin for some types of hardwood.
One of the best features of this particular saw blade is its carbide makeup. This material makes the blade more shock resistant than many products of the same type, which means that you can expect better durability.
Also, rather than stamping the blade, Freud opted for laser cut, so the teeth are sharper and the blade is more durable.
Verdict
If you’re looking to cut materials like plywood, melamine, oak, or pine, this blade has the cutting features to complete the job. It also features a non-stick coating that makes the blades slide through the material that you’re cutting, which is why this is a fine finish product that is very well reviewed.
Specifications
Number of Teeth 60
Kerf 098
Diameter 254 millimeters
Arbor 5/8
PROS
- This is a laser-cut saw blade that is very sharp.
- It is one of the best circular saw blade options for durability.
- Due to the carbide construction, the product is very shock resistant.
CONS
- For tougher-to-cut hardwood, this thinner blade lacks cutting quality.
- These aren’t the best circular saw blades for finer woodworking.
- These blades have a louder operation than others.
Irwin Metal-Cutting Circular Saw Blade 4935560
Best Circular Saw Blade for Slicing Metal
This blade, which is from Irwin, has a great all-around design that performs well in comparison with many of the circular blades on the market. Not only does it sport 68 laser-cut teeth, but it also is designed specifically for cutting through metal with relative ease.
In fact, these are great blades for folks looking to cut through thinner steel.
Despite being a metal-cutting blade, this product from Irwin isn’t that great at cutting through tougher sheets of the material.
In fact, if you’re cutting anything thicker than sheet metal, then the teeth may start to become damaged over time. Also, over time, the smaller laser-cut teeth can start to develop faults.
The fact that Irwin used laser cutting on this blade is a key indicator of how sharp it is. Due to the sharply-cut keen edging of this product, you will be able to get some very high RPM on the product.
Also, as it has a thinner kerf and 68 teeth, you’ll get a fast cut during your projects.
Verdict
Sometimes you need to cut into metal, and the Irwin 4935560 is a good quality metal-cutting saw blade that is more than adequate to cut through thin material and piping.
It has features like anti-kickback, carbide teeth, and wobble-reducing vents that make it a good option for just about anyone looking to do some cutting work.
Specifications
Number of Teeth 68
Kerf 079
Diameter 184 millimeters
Arbor 7-1/4
PROS
- The 68 teeth are carbide and are good for slicing through thin metal less than 1/8 inches thick.
- Due to the anti-vibration vents, this product is comfortable to use for extended periods.
- These blades are laser-cut, which means that they are very sharp and cut very quickly.
CONS
- If you’re going to cut metal that’s thicker than 1/8 inches, the teeth can become damaged.
- The teeth will degrade over time.
- The blade can move a little too quickly when you need to exercise more control.
Freud LU87R006M20
No products found.
Best Circular Saw Blade for Ripping Wood
The final product in our guide is another saw blade from Freud, but this one isn’t part of their Diablo line of work tools.
In fact, this blade is exclusively designed for rip cutting and also has a thinner kerf that will allow the blade to move very quickly and provide good cutting action along the wood grain.
As a purely designed rip blade, this product is almost exclusively designed for the type of rip cutting that you’d need for framing with wood, but not for the more intricate work that you’d need a cross cutting blade for.
If you’re going to be framing, then you’ll need to get a blade with more teeth, as this one only has 14.
If you’re a framer and only need to cut wood for more generalized framing usage this is an excellent product.
The teeth are very tough, high-performing, and also feature a Perma-Shield non-stick coating that makes the blade cut fairly easily through most hardwood types. Additionally, the positive hook angles on the teeth provide a very smooth cut.
Verdict
When you’re looking for the best circular saw blade for framing that also has a fine kerf for a fairly easy-to-use design, you can’t go wrong with this Freud rip cutter. It even has features that make it an excellent product for those that have saws with limited horsepower.
Specifications
Number of Teeth 14
Kerf 1.87
Diameter 160 millimeters
Arbor 20 millimeters
PROS
- Freud designed this product to utilize anti-vibration technology.
- The coating makes this blade a very durable option for everyday use.
- Each tooth is hooked in order to cut through the wood with minimal effort.
CONS
- This is a blade whose primary purpose is to only cut with the wood grain.
- When cutting, you may notice that it kicks back a lot of fine sawdust.
- If you use this for non-standard purposes like glue line rips, then the product may struggle due to low tooth count.