Saw Blade Recommendations

[Bob Betker]

I recently purchased a second BT3000. I'll be using it primarily for ripping; while the original will be set up with a combination blade. I have heard good things about the Infinity blades so I have been focusing on them. For ripping, I have been looking at the Infinity 010-124 (TK) blade; and the Infinity 010-150 (TK) as the combination blade. Anyone have any experience with these blades or other recommendations? Price isn't that critical, I don't mind spending an extra $10 or $20 to get a quality item. Knottscott mentioned a Freud P410 in another threat, how does that stack up against the Infinity Combo? Great place to get ideas and advice.
Thanks.

Oops! Forgot to mention that I will be cutting a number of templates in the near future using MDF, hardboard, and polycarbonate sheets, probably good piece of information to provide.

[LCHIEN]

if you are using the second for ripping, then the first must be for crosscutting. Why don't you get a good fine finish blade (60 or 80 tooth) instead of a combo blade? A combo is a compromise, if you are both ripping and crosscutting. A dedicated blade will be slightly better, but given you are dedicating the machines so to speak, why not get the best blade?

[Knottscott]

Bob - The P410 Fusion is a full kerf Hi-ATB Blade, which is ~ 33% wider than a typical TK, which means it's harder for your saw to spin...ironically, the only blade I know of that's similar is the Infinity Super General....also full kerf only. These are both very clean cutting general purpose blades but are a bit fussier than some...they're not as efficient rippers as a standard ATB 40T blade, are a bit more prone to burning if the saw bogs due to the double side grind that gives the highly polished edge, and are more prone to wear on the tips. That said, the Super General is the cleanest cutting 40T general purpose blade I've tried to date. The 50T Combomax is available in a full or thin kerf (I'd suggest thin kerf with your saw), is a more efficient ripper, less prone to burning, and should wear better....it's a very easy blade to get good results from, though ultimately doesn't cut quite as cleanly. It'll still cut clean enough to give glue ready edges, and is suitable for the majority of tasks.

Loring's suggestion to get a blade to compliment the 24T ripper is a valid idea....note that if you get a pure crosscut blade that you'll need to change blades frequently for crosscuts and rip cuts. If you consider this approach, I'd suggest taking a look at the Infinity 010-060...that's a 60T Hi-ATB thin kerf blade with a 5° hook angle. It's actually a fairly versatile blade...the hook angle gives it reasonable ability to rip efficiently to ~ 5/4" so it can do most general purpose work, plus the hook is low enough to work well on a RAS or a sliding CMS. The tooth count gives it very clean edges, helps with wear, and the Hi-ATB grind is excellent for splinter free crosscuts, plywood, and veneers, etc. It also doesn't have the double side grind of the Fusion or Super General so it's not quite as prone to burning. It's one of my favorites, and is excellent match for your saw as well as a great compliment to a good 24T TK rip blade. You won't need a specialty plywood blade with this one!

[Bob Betker]

In response to Loring's comment, force of habit primarily. I've used a combination blade almost exclusively and that's what I'm used to. The second saw is back in the corner and won't be easily accessible, so I was thinking to use a combo blade as my primary blade when I just have a few rips and not really concerned about the cut, when I needed to do a lot of ripping or wanted to have a really fine rip cut then I'd bring out the second saw with the rip blade. I think Scott understands where I'm heading, I'm definitely going to take a hard look at the Combo-max. Is the Infinity Ripper of the same caliber quality-wise?

[Knottscott]

In response to Loring's comment, force of habit primarily. I've used a combination blade almost exclusively and that's what I'm used to. The second saw is back in the corner and won't be easily accessible, so I was thinking to use a combo blade as my primary blade when I just have a few rips and not really concerned about the cut, when I needed to do a lot of ripping or wanted to have a really fine rip cut then I'd bring out the second saw with the rip blade. I think Scott understands where I'm heading, I'm definitely going to take a hard look at the Combo-max. Is the Infinity Ripper of the same caliber quality-wise?

The Infinity ripper is as well made as any...likely better, but a 24T ripper is really a bulk ripper not a fine ripper, and won't cut as cleanly as a good 40T or 60T blade. If all other parameters are equal, more teeth equates to smoother cut, but the downside is more resistance to the saw, and greater chance of burning in thicker materials. Fewer teeth tends to mean less resistance and more efficient cuts, though not as smooth. In this case, 24T Infinity ripper, is capable of glue ready cuts but they won't have a highly polished edge like the Super General or Fusion. The Combomax 010-150 or the 60T Hi-ATB 010-060 will leave nice smooth edges with minimal burning when ripping up to ~ 5/4" , which is most common stock. The Combomax will likely do ok in the 6/4" range but it's going to tax your saw a bit more. As you're learning, there is no free lunch...for every strength there is reciprical weakness.

One other possibility that comes close to covering the range of a 24T ripper, but cuts nearly as cleanly as the best of the 40T general purpose blades, is the Forrest WWII 30T...available in a TK, same configuration as their popular 40T model, but is notably more efficient when ripping thick stock. It's kind of a cross between a 24T ripper and a 40T general purpose blade, and is an amazing compliment to the Infinity 010-060, which is really a crosscut/ply blade that can rip to moderate thicknesses. You'd have superior performance from thicker ripping to ultra fine plywood, and wouldn't really need to change from either blade until you approach one extreme or the other (bulk ripping or fine finish cuts). Having these two blades is similar to having dedicated specialty blades, but both are versatile enough to cover most of the typical "general purpose" range so they don't need to be changed out the way dedicated blades do. The downside? ... cost is ~ $150-$175 for the two, but they really let you have your cake and eat it too.

[Bob Betker]

Scott: Thanks for the suggestionm of the Combo-max and the WWII 30T, it makes a lot of sense for what I hope to do. The price is in the ballpark that I was expecting to pay, so that isn't a problem. Are the Forrest ever offered on sale? Otherwise, it'll go on the Christmas wish list that I'll be passing on to SWMBO. I managed to pick up a new Freud SD206 Dado set for $35 last month at a yard sale. When I get these blades we've discussed, I'll be in pretty good shape. Thanks for the help.

[Knottscott]

Scott: Thanks for the suggestionm of the Combo-max and the WWII 30T, it makes a lot of sense for what I hope to do. The price is in the ballpark that I was expecting to pay, so that isn't a problem. Are the Forrest ever offered on sale? Otherwise, it'll go on the Christmas wish list that I'll be passing on to SWMBO. I managed to pick up a new Freud SD206 Dado set for $35 last month at a yard sale. When I get these blades we've discussed, I'll be in pretty good shape. Thanks for the help.

Bob - I'm suggesting the 60T Hi-ATB 010-060 combined with the WWII 30T....the Combomax (010-150) would be fine, but I think there are some advantages with the 60T if you mate it with the 30T. Namely that you'd still have adequate versatility but would have cleaner cuts in general, and less tearout in ply and crosscuts with the 60T Hi-ATB blade.

[Bob Betker]

Oh okay, I misunderstood. That's fine the 60T is cheaper anyway. Again, thanks for the advice.

[Knottscott]

...you're welcome.