Hey folks, I've recently picked up a table saw and I'm trying to find the best blade for my projects. I've read about the differences between cross-cut, rip-cut, and finishing blades. Ideally, I want to minimize how often I switch blades. I came across the idea of using a combination blade for this purpose. My main materials will be MDF panels, pine, and laminated countertops, similar to what you'd find in IKEA furniture. Occasionally, I might also cut some tougher woods like Jarrah or Merbau. I'm after the cleanest cut possible, so I'm curious if an 80-tooth carbide blade would be suitable for my needs. I've linked a couple of options below for reference. Any suggestions?
2 Answers
Just a heads up, that 80T blade is mainly designed for cross-cutting, and you might find it struggles with ripping. It’s tough to find a single blade that does everything well. Generally, a good combo blade would be around 40T, but remember that different materials like laminate and softwood need specific types for the cleanest cuts.
Changing out blades isn’t that tough, honestly. I’ve got a CMT 24T for ripping and a 60T for most finishing jobs. I've used a Dewalt set before, but I'd say CMT definitely performs better. If you're planning on cutting dense exotic woods, I'd recommend going with thinner kerf blades. Check out this video on table saws—it’s got a ton of info!