Five Types of Blades Used in a Stationary Circular Saw

Combination Saw Blade

• Combination saw blades are used for ripping, cutting with the grain and crosscutting, cutting across the grain. The combination blade is a common choice for handymen who are looking to get a job done without expecting a perfect finish. Combination blades have a lower tooth-count; approximately 50 teeth for a 10-inch-diameter blade. The teeth are divided into sections comprising four crosscut teeth and one raker tooth that are separated by spaces on the blade.

Finishing Saw Blade

• A finishing blade has a higher tooth count to provide smoother cuts. A 7 1/4-inch finishing blade has a minimum 40-tooth count. A 10-inch finishing blade has a minimum 60-tooth count. The higher the tooth count, the smoother the cut. The finishing blade is a good choice for making clean cuts on plywood, veneers, particle board and hardwoods.

Crosscut Blade

• The crosscut blade is used for cutting across the grain of wood. With a relatively high tooth count and an alternate-top bevel pattern, the blade is able to cut through construction grade lumber while leaving a relatively smooth finish. The alternate-top bevel pattern, or ATB, describes the tooth positioning on the saw. The tooth points are beveled to the outside of the saw, alternating sides every tooth.

Thin Kerf Saw Blade

• The "kerf" is the width of a cut the saw blade makes. A thin kerf saw blade is thinner than a standard blade. Since thin kerf blades waste less material than standard blades, they are considered to be more cost-effective. Thin kerf blades are a common choice for battery-powered tools as they take less energy to operate.

Ripping Saw Blade

• A ripping saw blade is used to cut with the grain. A ripping blade is especially useful when you need to make numerous ripping cuts. A ripping blade has fewer teeth than a combination blade, averaging 20 to 24 teeth on a 10-inch blade. The teeth are separated by large gullets, or spaces between the teeth. This combination reduces feed resistance and allows for faster cutting.