Melamine saw blade?

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  • Anna
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2006
    • 728
    • CA, USA.
    • BT3100
    #1

    Melamine saw blade?

    For cutting up melamine boards for building simple cabinets, should I buy a special saw blade for the BT3 and circular saw, or will my Forrest Woodworker II be okay? I think I might have a 50-tooth Freud blade somewhere, too, but I'll have to clean up my shop to find anything right now.

    Thanks.
    Tags: None
    • HarmsWay
      Senior Member
      • Nov 2003
      • 878
      • Victoria, BC
      • BT3000
      #2
      In my limited experience both the stock Ryobi/Frued blade and a Freud 80 tooth did well with melamine.

      Bob

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        • cabinetman
          Gone but not Forgotten RIP
          • Jun 2006
          • 15216
          • So. Florida
          • Delta
          #3
          Taking for granted that your TS saw is set up properly, and running smoothly, a triple chip carbide tipped blade with negative hook and 80 teeth for a 10" saw will give the cleanest cut. Nothing will cut perfectly without any chipping, but that blade will come close. Next in price would be a 60T.

          In laying out your cut list, just try to cut face up on the TS those edges that will show. You have to keep track of which pieces are cut that way. You may get a good enough cut that it's hard to tell.

          For a circular saw, if you can find a triple chip carbide tipped blade for 7 1/4", a 40T would be a minimum.

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            • Anna
              Senior Member
              • Feb 2006
              • 728
              • CA, USA.
              • BT3100
              #4
              Bob and CM, thanks. I dug out a Freud TK406, which is a 60T, inside my shop. I'll try it out and see if I'll need to get an 80T (hope not).

              Thanks again.

              Anna

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                • guycox
                  Established Member
                  • Dec 2003
                  • 360
                  • Romulak, VA, USA.
                  #5
                  Don't forget to the kickback pawls if you are planning on exposing the upside..

                  Taping the cut line helps a well - and I have had good luck scoring the cut line with a carbide plexiglass cutter.
                  Guy Cox

                  Life isn\'t like a box of chocolates...it\'s more like a jar of jalapenos.
                  What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

                    Comment

                    • Anna
                      Senior Member
                      • Feb 2006
                      • 728
                      • CA, USA.
                      • BT3100
                      #6
                      Originally posted by guycox
                      Don't forget to the kickback pawls if you are planning on exposing the upside..

                      Taping the cut line helps a well - and I have had good luck scoring the cut line with a carbide plexiglass cutter.
                      One of my first posts on this site led me to get rid of the kickback pawls and buy a Shark. I've actually completely forgotten about that would-be problem and made me smile when I read your reply. Having the old riving knife system would really have given me a headache cutting the melamine.

                      I've tried using blue tape on plywood to reduce the splinters, but it really didn't work for me. I guess I can try again with the melamine. Did you score both sides with the cutter, just the top side, or just the bottom side?

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                        • williamr
                          Forum Newbie
                          • Dec 2006
                          • 56
                          • Mazatlan or Toronto
                          • BT3000SX
                          #7
                          Originally posted by Anna
                          For cutting up melamine boards for building simple cabinets, should I buy a special saw blade for the BT3 and circular saw, or will my Forrest Woodworker II be okay? I think I might have a 50-tooth Freud blade somewhere, too, but I'll have to clean up my shop to find anything right now.

                          Thanks.

                          I have a specialty Melamine blade and it cuts much better than any other blade in the shop -- but it is ONLY for Melamine.

                            Comment

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