Looking for a recommendation on a good all-purpose table saw blade for a 10″ 1-1/2HP Delta Unisaw. I’m in the middle of my kitchen renovation, so it will be used like a job-site table saw needing to perform many duties — once the kitchen is done it will be heading into my shop for furniture making only, at that point I’ll likely upgrade the blade.
Any recommendation would be appreciated. Thanks
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>>>I'm in the middle of my kitchen renovation, so it will be used like a job-site table saw needing to perform many duties
What do you mean by "many duties"? Ripping? Trim? Floor Laminate? The Unisaw is a legendary machine, but you still need to match the blade to the job. If this project is merely transient then I'd just buy whatever el-cheapo blade matches the job, and then settle back into your (hopefully) high-quality woodworking needs.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.â€
Freud is good.
I like Forrest, but you may not want to spend the $$ for that until you get the saw into your shop.
For an all purpose blade on a table saw, get a combination blade. They handle all materials, and they're readily available. I have a medium priced Freud combo along with a few other higher ends and have found that the Freud holds up just fine for what you want.
Believe it or not, have actually had good luck with the 40 tooth C3 carbide blades from HF for $10 when on sale.
The C2 $5 blades are OK for non-finish work.
some more detail on what I expect to be cutting -- ripping some 3/4" floor boards, ripping 3/4" and 1/2" trim, poplar or similar. I will also be making the bases for my cabs - likely 3/4" birch ply or similar. Most if not all cross-cutting will be done on the miter saw.Looks like possibly a 50 tooth Freud combo or similar - hopefully I can find a decent deal. I don't want it to be a "throw-away" but don't want to spend a fortune either.Thanks for the advice.
I had my house remodeled last year and when it got to the trim and kitchen stage I set up my Delta Contractor's saw with my Forrest WW2 and my Miter Saw with a Chopmaster. I worked with a trim carpenter to do the trim. He put in a new Freud Diablo onto his miter saw the same day I installed the Chopmaster on my saw. WOW! the Chopmaster was noticeably smoother, and less tear out for the Doug Fir trim in my office than his Diablo. Anyway, my real point is that the FWW2 is not only a really good all around blade, but it has huge carbide teeth which can be re-sharpened. Since this is your house, my opinion is that you shouldn't be "saving" your good tools for later.
Go ahead and buy a Freud thin kerf rip, and a 60T cross-cut blade for ply. Makes pushing rips a lot easier and faster.
Wood Magazine (May, 08) has a good article comparing TS blades. They looked at several full kerf, thin kerf, expensive, and inexpensive blades and graded them out based on cut quality, etc.
You'll probably need more than one blade and this article should help you decide what you need.
Hmmm, I wonder if this post will survive since it references a FWW competitor? - lol
Edited 3/25/2008 12:51 pm by Dave45
As I remember the last test I saw - they determined the combo blades did a heckuva job and recommended you buy two of them so you had one you could use while you sharpen the other.Shouldn't need a thin kerf with a unisaw though...Either way, a high quality combo blade from Dewalt or Frued should only cost you $55 or so.One thing's for sure, you cannot buy a good blade from Home Depot or Lowes - they don't sell any good blades.Course, we just had a discussion here recently about cheap-#### blades and high quality blades. Some like the craptastics - use em and throw em away - others liked buying good blades and getting them sharpened when needed (cost about $0.25 a tooth).That discussion was a major standoff - neither mindset was gonna be changed.All blades will cut nicely for the first few projects, a good blade will last and last and still be cheaper than a craptastic blade cost new to sharpen.As for HF, I don't know that I've ever been happy with anything I've bought in that store, plus the stores have a horrible oily smell to them.JT
Actually, you can buy Freud at our local HD. And the Rigid branded 50T combo (gold 'titanium' coating) is a Freud combo blade branded for Rigid. I've had gread luck with mine.
I'm with JulianTracy - Can't go wrong with a Freud combo blade.
Forrestt combo blade for multi use.
Use Forrest for your finer work and Freud for everything else. Works well for me. On average the Freuds are half the cost of the Forrest.
Hopefully this is still timely for you - even if it isn't - these are some good prices:
http://www.holbren.com/home.php?cat=654
Amana blades are good stuff.
JT
Hey thanks JT, I haven't purchased yet so I appreciate you sending the link. That 50tooth combo blade looks like a possibility for me.
I've been a Dimar man for years. Never had any problems with them. Thought I would try the Forrest just to see what all the hoopla was about. They are in my opinion worth every nickel. I'm just finishing a fireplace facade in oak and this blade crosscuts the plywood like it was cut with a knife.
Very impressed
Gary