Freud saw blade coatings

[Rich P]

Does anyone know the differences (i.e. pros and cons) of their Permashield versus ICE coatings. I'm interested in a FTG rip blade for cutting slots and rabbits and their 24T version seems fine. It's available with both coatings. However, the ICE version is $10 (20%) less than the Pemashield one.

[pecker]

I have Freud blades with both those type coatings. I think the Ice works better...seems slipperier and less likely to get pitch build-up. The red coating also has a tendency to wear off that I don't see happening with the Ice version.

However, if you're only cutting shallow grooves, I don't think any coating would matter much.

[sweensdv]

I'm not sure if it's the only difference or not but the Permashield coating dissipates heat from the blade faster than the ICE coating. Unless your saw sees some pretty heavy continuous usage I doubt if you would notice any difference whichever one you go with.

[Knottscott]

The red coating makes the blade easier to see in your rack! (but I'd save the $10 )

[phi1l]

If your cuts are straight & true, it won't make any difference my understanding is that the red is tougher (like for hand held circular saws), & the ICE is slipperier but more fragile. So for framing a house use the red on your circular saw, & ICE on your precision TS. But I may be wrong.

[phi1l]

OK .. so I had to do some research on the web...

PermaShield basically a Teflon coating very similar to whet is put on cookware, except that the surface is a lot smoother. IT is tough, Corosion resistant & very low friction.


Silver ICE is all about keeping the blade cool to prevent warping. The promotional material implies that this very smooth coating has a low heat transfer coefficient. The result is that less friction generated heat is created, and the heat goes more into the air than into the blade. Here's a link: Silver ICE

So, it looks like PermaShield will take more abuse, but if you are going to be cutting thicker stock the Silver ICE blade will cut cooler & have less tendency to warp and bind in the middle of a cut.

[Rich P]

Thanks to all for the info. I currently have two blades with the Permashield coating so I have an idea how it performs (at least in my uses). Sounds like for my needs for this specific blade the ICE version will be just fine (plus it's $10 less). One of my current Permashield blades is their 30 tooth "glue line rip" TCG which does not give me a flat bottom curf when cutting slots in mitered box corners for splines. When I checked with a Freud tech a while back he suggested their FTG rip blades. They do make a thin curf version but the regular curf version will give me a 1/8" slot (actually a 0.126 curf). Forrest makes a flat bottom curf blade but it's over 2x the cost of the Freud.

[pelligrini]

Holbren carries a couple CMT ripping blades with a FTG for a decent price.

[Rich P]

Erik, thanks for that tip. I run a CMT blade in my RAS and it has performed well. The CMT equivalent of the Freud LM72 series is less than the Freud including shipping.

[Knottscott]

Holbren has the CMT 201.024.10 on sale for $37.50....that's the CMT equivalent of a Freud LM72R010. The CMT 202.024.10 is roughly the TK equivalent of the LU87R010.

[Rich P]

$37.50 was the price I saw plus $2.95 shipping. Amazon has the LM72M010 (ICE) for $50 with free shipping. I think the CMT is a better deal.

[Knottscott]

$37.50 was the price I saw plus $2.95 shipping. Amazon has the LM72M010 (ICE) for $50 with free shipping. I think the CMT is a better deal.

Not sure if the "BT310" discount code is valid on Holbren sale items, but it's worth a try.

[pelligrini]

I believe it is.

I shamelessly used the discount when he did a big closeout on his Holbren router bits a while back. I did buy a bunch of other items that weren't on special though.

[Rich P]

I had already pulled the trigger before I read the discount code post. Turns out it was such a good deal they ran out. Got an email today that they were ordering in more but that even CMT was backordered. It was a nice surprise that they didn't give me the old "so sorry" line. A class act if there ever was one. Fortunately I don't need the blade for an immediate project.

[Tom Slick]

I wouldn't get too hung up on coatings, I think they are mostly marketing although they do provide some benefits. $100+ blades don't usually have coatings and commercial/industrial blades in constant service are not coated. If any blade was going to have pitch build-up and overheating issues it would be a commercial/industrial blade.