I recently bought a 10" miter saw on Amazon to help with some DIY home projects, particularly for cutting baseboards. So far, I've cut a few pieces, but I just watched a video that suggested using a finishing blade instead of the standard blade that came with the saw, which is a 24-tooth blade. I'm wondering:
1. Do I really need a blade with up to 80 teeth for my projects, or is my 24-tooth blade sufficient for a home DIYer?
2. Can I use any 10-inch blade with my miter saw?
3 Answers
If you want decent results, consider a 40-tooth blade for cutting trim stuff. Those are a solid middle ground. Just remember, any standard 10" blade will fit your saw, but don’t skimp on quality. Cheap blades can ruin your cuts!
It really depends on how happy you are with your current cuts. If you notice splintering or rough edges, upgrading to a 60 or 80-tooth blade will help a ton. It'll give you that ultra-clean finish that’s great for trim work.
Using a finishing blade will definitely give you cleaner cuts, especially for trim work. I usually use a fine blade for laminate flooring and similar projects. If you’re doing smaller projects, sticking with the 24-tooth blade is fine, but switching to a higher tooth count can improve your results significantly.