Saws blades have been used for centuries around the globe. If we look back at the history of Egypt, we can see that saw blades were extensively used in ancient times. The development of accurate saw blades began in the Egyptian era, where small blades were used as a tool for cutting wood and stone.
As far as we know, Egyptians were the first people to develop blades for use in tomb wall construction and woodworking. With the advancement of technology over the centuries saws blades now come with many advanced features we take for granted.
In addition to tomb building, saw blades today are extensively used in forestry, construction, demolition, industrial design, plumbing and other areas as well. There is only one drawback and concern with the use of saw blades and that is the danger and risk involved. Always use caution and follow the safety protocol that is advised for your specific tool and procedure. Safety goggles are a must and don't cut yourself! Never take your eye off the work at hand and be sure to eliminate any distractions that might cost you a finger!
Types of saw blades
There are many types of saw blades designed for different usage and with different functions. Be sure to carefully read the descriptions of each blade to be sure you are purchasing the correct item before placing your order.
Remember to replace your blade when it becomes dull as this presents a safety hazard as well as slowing down your work considerably. If you have to PUSH hard to make a wood cut with your circular saw, chances are your blade is dull. Keep your tools sharp and it might prevent a serious injury but it also might get you home for dinner sooner, with all your fingers intact!
Circular saw blades are used for circular saws, table saws, miter saws, tile saws and chop saws. There are 3 main types of circular saw blades.
Diamond saw blades
Diamond saw blades are specifically designed for tile, granite, marble, concrete, and asphalt. . If you are cutting these types of materials be SURE that your blade is a diamond saw blade. Typically used on circular saws and tile saws.
Carbide saw blades
These blades are especially made for wood, wood with nails, plastic, and metal.. Frequently used for pallet dismantling, these types of blades are the most common for carpentry as well. Be sure to use the right tool for the job. Commonly used on table saws, circular saws, chop saws, miter saws and tile saws.
Ring Saw Blades
A ring saw blade is well suited for hard surface materials. It uses an abrasive coating, unlike most saw blades that use “blade teeth” for all the action. An abrasive blade such as this is typically used to cut into concrete or for making cuts into brick walls for windows or doors, for example. They are particularly useful for confined spaces and for areas that are hard to reach.
Bandsaw Blades
Then there's the bandsaw blades, a whole book could be written about those. Our Founder Frank always had valuable insight into bandsaw blades and his wisdom was often sought on this topic. He was our bandsaw expert and he is missed. Bandsaw blades can be used for wood, metal and plastic. The number one rule for cutting with this type of tool is to go slow, don't try to push hard and fast or you will possibly break the blade and injure yourself in the process. Slow and steady wins the race! McGIlls specializes in bandsaw blades for pallet dismantling which are quite long to fit these specialized machines used by pallet dismantlers. We do NOT sell the normal bandsaw blades you might see in a woodshop, which are much shorter in length and are not typically designed for wood with nails.
Some interesting bandsaw blade facts:
The blade of your bandsaw has a back, which is the side with no teeth. It has a tooth face, the side with teeth. You measure your blade in thickness or the dimension of the blade from side to side. Also measure the blade width, which is the dimension from the front of the blade to the back.
Camber
This is the arch or bend of the cutting edge of your bandsaw blade.
Cutting Rate
This is the speed at which the material is cut, which is measured in square inches per minute.
Feed Rate
Measured in inches per minute, the feed rate is the speed that the material is pushed through the blade.
Gullet
Your bandsaw blade’s gullet is the curved area at the base of the blade tooth. Gullets are measured in ‘gullet depth,’ which refers to the distance from the tooth tip to the bottom of the gullet.
Kerf
This is the amount of material (side to side) removed by the blade. For example, the sawdust or plastic dust created when the cut is made.
Pitch
On a bandsaw, the distance from the tip of one tooth to the next is called the pitch. This is equivalent to the TPI or teeth per inch. The larger the tooth, the greater ability to move large amounts of sawdust throughout the job, and therefore the faster the cut. Likewise, a smaller TPI will have a slower cut, as it won’t be able to clear as much sawdust.