How to choose a circular saw blade. Choosing the right circular saw blade for the materials that you are going to cut is one of the few important steps you need to consider before you start your cutting operation. Woodcutting requires several different types of blades than metal cutting. Metal cutting does not necessarily mean that you will only be using one blade for all the materials you are going to cut.
Circular saw blade for non-ferrous metal cutting
Circular saw blades for non-ferrous metals as it implies, are blades specially designed for cutting soft metals like brass or copper. It can also be used to cut metals that are resistant to corrosion such as aluminum. The rugged design on this type of blade is patterned to accommodate rough and high production cutting operations. This blade type can also be used for cutting plastics so the gullets are designed slightly bigger to accommodate the chips it produce during the cutting process.
Circular saw blade for ferrous metal cutting
Circular saw blades for cutting tough metals employs High-Speed Tool Steel. It would also have Carbide tooth-tips along with a triple chip grind design to accommodate cutting hard and tough metals. These blades include carbide coating on the teeth and are sometimes called as TCT or Tungsten Carbide Tipped saw blades. Tooth tips which are attached with high grade Carbide that stay sharp longer than a regular high-speed steel saw blade. It gives accuracy and precision to deliver maximum performance using the highest carbide grade. The body of the blade itself is hardened and uses high grade brazing techniques which in return yields precise cuts with no sparks, heat or burred edges resulting from using an abrasive blade.
You will have to consider numerous factors in choosing the right type of circular saw blade. One reason that operators need to check is if the blade cuts cool. A circular saw blade that cuts cool is expected to have a longer blade life on any cutting application. One should also check if a saw blade produces an instantly workable finish and produces virtually no heat, burrs or sparks. Another thing to remember, is the teeth count. The greater number of teeth on the blade denotes a finer and more accurate cut. In general, a higher teeth count is recommended for cutting thinner materials and lesser teeth count for thicker materials. In the end, it is important to know what type of materials you will be cutting and match it with the blade type and teeth count you’ll be using.
Contributed by:
James Tonilon
(Sawblade.com Inside Sales)
