Replacement circular saw blade

[jziegler]

Hello everyone.

I'm just starting to do some serious woodworking, and home improvement projects. I have a circular saw, but really dulled the stock blade on it a couple days ago, so I'm looking for suggestions for a replacement blade. I managed to hit some nails cutting through a tongue and groove floor to create a trap door to get in a previously inaccessable crawl space.

So, what brands and types of blades work well? I can see having a couple different blades around, one for the rough work (like what I just did) and one for cutting good plywood (I'm building kitchen cabinets).

Thanks,
Jim

[crokett]

I have 3 blades. I have a plywood blade, a good quality blade for general use and a cheap blade for cutting like you describe in your post. For general use, I am happy with DeWalt and Porter Cable blades. Oldham makes their own brand as well as the Porter Cables.

[Doug Jones]

I have a Bosch blade that came with the saw, it seems to be pretty good. I have three Porter Cable blades (bought as a three pack) that I have yet to use. However, I have heard nothing but good about them.

[Pappy]

I bought a Freud TK303 7 1/4" blade for some cuts on the BT where I needed a thinner kerf. I haven't used it on the circular saw yet, but the cut qualilty from it on the BT is great.

[jziegler]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll start looking when I get to Home Depot or Lowes.

On the plywood blades, are there any carbide tipped plywood blades? The only ones I have seen are steel only. Or, is a fine tooth finishing blade better for plywood?

Thanks,
Jim

[vaking]

40T blade or more designed for fine crosscutting will work well for construction grade plywood projects. For furniture grade plywood you want more teeth - 80 teeth or more. You will find plenty of carbide blades for construction type work. For furniture type work with circular saw all blades I know of are steel without carbide. If you want something better - get a table saw and then you will have lots of choices. Making furniture with circular saw is not a common practice.

[jziegler]

I am planning to get a table saw, probably a BT3100, in the near future. The circular saw is anly for rough work and sheet goods. I can use my dad's table saw when I need to, and cutting plywood on it is no fun. Hence the question about a plywood blade. I already have a good 4 foot sawing guide for it, and will probably be making an 8 foot guide soon.

Jim

[JimD]

Jim,

A steel plywood blade will cut OK for a little while. A carbide toothed blade with around 30 teeth minimum (for a 7 1/4 inch blade) will cut better for a lot longer. I am still using the blade that came with my Milwaukee to cut up sheet goods - it has about 24 teeth and normally cuts well enough for me.

Jim

[Jim-Iowa]

I put a 40? tooth carbide blade on my Porter Cable, I picked up at Walmart. I don`t even know what brand, will check tonight. It cuts real nice. I break down the sheet into managable pieces then true to diminsion on the BT which I have a Freud Avanti 60 tooth blade.

I picked up one of Danny Priloux`s books last week and he had a 54 tooth blade on his circular saw to cut melamine. I don`t remember the make but will check ou that tonight as well.

[Jim-Iowa]

Ok I checked last night, the blade in my PC is Black & Decker Piranna. The blade in that book was from Tenryu.

[jziegler]

Thanks again for the advice. Last night, when I went to HD to purchase my BT, I picked up 2 blades. I got a Dewalt 24 tooth, and an Oldham 60T. I was surprised to see the 60, but hope it will work well for the plywood. It is listed as an ultra-finishing blade. Just trying to sound fancy, I think.