HD - twin pack of avanti thin kerf 60th blades - $29.99

[DeuceLee]

regular price is $29.99 each.

now sure how long the sale is til, but grab a set if u can...i'd probably will never buy one of these for full price but for half price, pretty decent bargain imo

*I meant 60 tooth

[Knottscott]

Hi Deuce - Just wanted to alert/remind folks that the current "Avanti" and "Avanti Pro" lines at HD are not made by Freud, nor are they associated with Freud in anyway. There are many other places I'd suggest spending my blade money than on these.

In June 2009, Freud ceased manufacturing of their well regarded "TK/Avanti" line, citing too much overlap with their similar Diablo and their upper Industrial line. The Avanti line was a quality value oriented blade that were widely distributed. You may still find some inventories of new old stock.

Shortly after, HD began carrying a line of "Avanti" and "Avanti Pro" blades that have a nearly identical font on the Avanti trademark logo. These blades are much lower quality than the former Freud Avanti line, are made in China, and having nothing to do with Freud as far as I know. You'll find smaller inferior carbide, sloppy brazing, cheaper stamped steel bodies, etc. The new Avanti line resembles the Oldham contractor line, and the new Avanti Pro line resembles the DeWalt construction line. I have no idea who's manufacturing them, but they're not made in Italy by Freud. HD may not be doing anything illegal, but I'm a bit chafed at the idea of many unsuspecting consumers buying an inferior imitation while thinking they're getting a quality Freud blade. It seems deceptive to me, and I think the imitations should be avoided. Buyer beware....if it doesn't say "Freud" clearly on the front of the blade, it probably isn't.

Freud Avanti TK406 60T blade:


Imitation "Avanti" 60T blade:

[DeuceLee]

correct, i did hear about them not being made by freud anymore...

but for $15 each, you guys still don't think they're worth it? or is it just "not a bargain, but ok deal"?

if you guys insist, i'll just take it back, i already got a diablo 60th tooth thin kerf, i was just looking for something for my crappier wood...

[woodturner]

This issue was discussed previously in more detail in this thread:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ighlight=freud

[Knottscott]

correct, i did hear about them not being made by freud anymore...

but for $15 each, you guys still don't think they're worth it? or is it just "not a bargain, but ok deal"?

if you guys insist, i'll just take it back, i already got a diablo 60th tooth thin kerf, i was just looking for something for my crappier wood...

It's always a matter of opinion. I tend to use the $5 Big Lots blades for junk cuts, and I'll get years from them....you can also use a cheap 7-1/4" circ saw blade as a cheap blade, and get pretty good performance for them within their height capacity. Even at $15 each, an Avanti two pack sets you back $30 for mediocre blades... $30 puts you well on your way to a good blade like a Freud/CMT/Infinity Combomax, etc.

[duncsuss]

is the Freud TK806 Avanti worth $30?

Rockler have the Freud TK806 Avanti 80 tooth Thin Kerf blade for $29.99 in their latest flyer ... it's on page 2:

LINK

Is this a blade worth having?

Duncan

[Andrew Benedetto]

Freud Avanti is a very good blade, the Rockler is a good deal, the HD fake is poorly made crap from China, really a cheap blade and I feel deceptive in using a Freud name . Another HD corp. decision to further drop their products in quality with no regard for the consumer. They are very poor sellers as most are not falling for the fake blade. If you want a good, made in China blade the Oshlun, 10"60th; $24,85,
I have had good success with their 6 1/2" blades, 40th for $9.77.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[DeuceLee]

sounds good, i'll return mine

[woodturner]

FWIW, I was at HD yesterday and took a look at these blades. Keep in mind I have not actually tried them, just evaluated the design and production by observation.

I'm wondering if these might be made in different factories, or they have changed the production. These blades did not look like the photos in this thread. The blades I inspected were good mid-quality blades. They had reasonable size carbide inserts and good qualilty welds. They were at least comparable if not better quality to the DeWalt blades.

[woodturner]

HD fake is poorly made crap from China, really a cheap blade and I feel deceptive in using a Freud name .

Have you seen examples of this blade labelled deceptively with the Freud brand? I've only seen them labelled "Avanti", which is not a Freud-owned brand but was apparently previously licensed to Freud.

Nearly everything manufactured today has parts that were made in China. Country of origin is not a reliable indicator of quality. China, for example, makes some products that are higher quality than any other country in the world, including the US, can manufacture. I'm not convinced that a Freud brand blade assembled in Italy with Chinese-made carbide is inherently better or worse than a blade made entirely in China.

[Andrew Benedetto]

Have you seen examples of this blade labelled deceptively with the Freud brand? I've only seen them labelled "Avanti", which is not a Freud-owned brand but was apparently previously licensed to Freud.

Nearly everything manufactured today has parts that were made in China. Country of origin is not a reliable indicator of quality. China, for example, makes some products that are higher quality than any other country in the world, including the US, can manufacture. I'm not convinced that a Freud brand blade assembled in Italy with Chinese-made carbide is inherently better or worse than a blade made entirely in China.

First , I stand by what I said . These blades that I have seen are not only poor quality, at regular price not a good buy and it is obvious what HD is doing. I nearly bought some before I realized what they were. Where have you seen the Avanti name on an non Freud blade before? No where. Why else would they have bought the rights to use that name?
I also gave you an example of a good quality blade from China, that I bought and have used, so your argument about me being biased just because it is made in China is wrong.
Do I try to buy products made in the USA? Yes I sure do but we all know how hard that is.
Please read my first post again.

[woodturner]

Where have you seen the Avanti name on an non Freud blade before? No where. Why else would they have bought the rights to use that name?

It appears that HD owns the Avanti brand and previously licensed it to Freud. Some say prior to that it was licensed to a different manufacturer, but I have not been able to confirm or refute that information. HD has now decided to use a different manufacturer, so the HD Avanti brand blades are no longer manufactured by Freud (according to the tool manager at my local store).

In addition, it appears that HD is no longer selling this brand through other sales channels, but rather is using it exclusively as a house brand, based on what others have posted in the prior thread.

I don't think Freud was being deceptive when they put their name on HD's Avanti brand blades - my understanding is that there was a licensing agreement for that arrangement.

I did go back and read your first post in this thread, as requested, and that prompted a question. In that post, you said these blades had been poor sellers for HD. I'm wondering what led to that conclusion - I had to try several HDs in my area before I found one that had them in stock. Apparently they have been selling well in this area, but obviously that doesn't mean they are selling well everywhere.

[Knottscott]

It appears that HD owns the Avanti brand and previously licensed it to Freud.....

This is news to me, and I'm puzzled by the prospect. I've always had the impression that Freud owned the Avanti and Diablo name. In previous years HD only sold the Freud Diablo line, and didn't even carry the Freud TK/Avanti series. It was carried by Lowes and other retailers. It's only been since Freud discontinued their TK/Avanti series that I've even seen Avanti blades available at HD. If it had been owned by HD all along, I'd have thought they'd carry the Avanti line previously.

[woodturner]

I've always had the impression that Freud owned the Avanti abd Diablo name. In previous years HD only sold the Freud Diablo line, and didn't even carry the Freud TK/Avanti series.

Could be regional differences in what HD stocks - they have been available here for a while.

The ownership information came from posts on another forum and the tool department manager at one of my local HDs. I'll dig around a bit and see if I can find a better source to either confirm or refute those claims.

[glenns5900]

I was in HD tonight and happened to talk to the guy in the tool department. He said he has a contractor that comes in once a month to buy a new dado set for his TS. He always buys the 8" Diablo (Freud) set $99 and runs the carp out of it till it wears out. He said that this guy tried the 8" Avanti set once (China made) $49 and was back in a week. I looked over the package and nowhere did it say anything about being made by Freud.