Pros, Cons of Thin-Kerf Blades?

[LarryG]

What are the addvantages and disadvantages of thin-kerf saw blades? For those who have used them, do you prefer them to regular-kerf blades?

A few things come to mind; please correct me if my thinking is wrong:

Pro
Less material lost per cut, although I wouldn't think this would be meaningful unless you were ripping a lot of very narrow pieces, when the wider kerf of a normal blade would really start to add up.

Easier to spin the blade up to speed (less mass), and less load on the motor during the cut since the cut isn't as wide.

Less heat generated? I'm guessing on this one.

Con
Thinner blade would be more prone to runout, possibly requiring the use of a stabilizer (which could limit the depth of cut).

Those are all that jump to mind. Are my assumptions correct? Anything else?

[LCHIEN]

quote:Originally posted by LarryG

What are the addvantages and disadvantages of thin-kerf saw blades? For those who have used them, do you prefer them to regular-kerf blades?

A few things come to mind; please correct me if my thinking is wrong:

Pro
Less material lost per cut, although I wouldn't think this would be meaningful unless you were ripping a lot of very narrow pieces, when the wider kerf of a normal blade would really start to add up.

Easier to spin the blade up to speed (less mass), and less load on the motor during the cut since the cut isn't as wide.

Less heat generated? I'm guessing on this one.

Con
Thinner blade would be more prone to runout, possibly requiring the use of a stabilizer (which could limit the depth of cut).

Those are all that jump to mind. Are my assumptions correct? Anything else?

I think you about covered it. All theoretically valid.

My comments:
Although you only save 1/32" per cut in material, there have been one or two times my material was stretched down to the last inch and a lot of crosscuts, the thin kerf made it fit.

Assuming all the cutting is done on the tips then the thin kerf would used a third less power to make the same cut or groove. But I suspect a certain amount of energy is lost in side friction which is the same with either blade (assuming they're both true) so the power savings is probably less than a 1/3. Maybe a 1/6th or about 16%?

I think a well made thin kerf blade does not need a stabilizer - its just worthless. I can't tell the difference. Want to buy mine?

[leehljp]

My primary usage is for less material lost in cut. I made some walnut and oak baskets a few years ago and lost more wood to blade kerf than I used. I am not stingy but I hate wasting beautiful wood to kerfs. Just one of my quirks.

[bmyers]

That 32th of an inch saved my bacon on the chessboard I was making. I wouldn't have had enough material to do the crosscuts if I didn't use a thin kerf blade. Handy to keep two around, a 24T and a 60T (give or take a few teeth).

Bill

[Tool Fool]

Larry - You about covered the pros and cons, but keep in mind that not all blade bodies are made equally. I have a decent full kerf blade that has more runout than my thin kerf Forrest.