Choosing and Using the Right Saw Blade

CHOOSING AND USING THERIGHT SAW BLADE Match tooth style to application-and keep the blade sharp. The latest production machinery still cannot replace the skilled craftsman who exercises final judgement on trueness and the anvil tensioning. by John Schultz Circular sawblades come in many styles. What are these and how should you choose the right blade for a particular application? Some technical background is helpful: Steel or Carbide? First, consider what material is used for the cutting edge. The two materials commonly used in blades for home building are standard steel and carbide. There are also high-speed steel blades (for cutting brass), semi-highspeed steel (for friction sawing), highcarbon, high-chrome (best for many aluminum cutting jobs), Stellitetipped (for some sawmill applications), and diamond-tipped