Confused by blades...

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Beginner questions, sorry! Never used a table saw before; ever!

I have my first table saw... A Rigid TS3660. I traded a firearm for the saw. The saw has a 5/8" arbor and uses a 10" blade. The blade it came with is not very good, so I was thinking about purchasing some Forest Blades.

Question 1: Dado Blades:
What size Dado Blade do I use? The obvious answer is 10", because it is a 10" saw. I thought that I read that someone was using an 8" DADO blade.

Question 2: Kerf size:
I was thinking a 40 tooth WWII, but unclear if 1/8 or 3/32 is the better width. My guess is 3/32 unless I am running many narrow cuts...

Question 3: Plywood blade:
Should I bother if I have a 40 tooth WWII?

Question 4: Stiffener / Damper:
How much of a difference does this make for noise and cut quality? Any background information on this?

Question 5: Zero clearance
Any reason to NOT use a zero clearance throat plate? (like maybe they only work for 90 degree cuts?)

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I also just purchased a bunch of maple... that I will be ripping and cross-cutting... at about 3/4"

[Cary Falk]

Q1 - 10" dado blades are rare and expensive and would be too big for your saw to swing. The ceneral concensus it that a contractor saw should swing a 6" dado set and a cabinet saw can swing an 8". Many people with contractor saws swing an 8"

Q2 -Thinner blade is easier to spin through thick wood with a smaller motor. Many people dont have a problem with an 1/8" kerf on a contractor saw.

Q3 - I have a WWII and don't have a plywood blade.

Q4 - I never ran a stiffner when I had a thin kerf on my contractor saw.

Q5 - You can use a ZCI for any angle you want. I have several for dados and several common angles

[Dave Anthony]

I have a Delta contactor saw, & use an 8" Freud dado set and a thin kerf WW II blade. I haven't felt the need for a dedicated plywood blade or blade stiffeners. I do have a dedicated rip blade which is very useful when ripping cherry (to prevent burning) or thick stock, ex: 8/4 maple. I have several zero clearence inserts; to make one for use with a 45 degree angle cut start with a 6" or 8" blade, I usedone cutter from my dado set.

[scott spencer]

Most people use a 6" or 8" dado set on their saw. 6" is easier to spin but 8" has more height capacity and more choices...either should be fine. IMHO the best bang for the buck in the $100 range of the sets I've used is the Delta/DeWalt 7670...one sale from Grizzly for $90 plus s/h. I've heard good things about the Oshlun sets for value too but haven't tried one. The Infinity Dadonator is the best overall that I've used...~ $180 shipped.

Some general blade info:
There are number of different factors that should be considered in saw blade selection. Decent quality is essential or you’re sunk from the beginning. The saw’s end performance is largely determined by proper setup and blade selection. You don’t need to spend big bucks to get a good blade, but it can improve your odds. As with many things, there are often a variety of choices that each have merit, so consider what’s best for your situation. A blade that’s perfect for someone else’s circumstances might not be right for you.

Key Decisions:
Blade selection is very much proprietary to your saw and what you cut. The first decision should be to choose which types of blades are best for your situation. You can choose separate task specific blades that perform very well in a narrow operating range, or more of a “do-all” general purpose blade that will give “good” results in most applications but excel at none, or choose a variation that combines both philosophies. These philosophies all have merit depending on the situation, your preference, budget, and cutting objectives. A decent purebred 60-80 tooth crosscut blade will certainly make “cleaner” crosscuts than a 30, 40 or 50 tooth general purpose blade of comparable quality. Inversely, a 24 tooth bulk ripper will certainly be more efficient at ripping thick material than the general purpose (GP) style blade. The key to “better” depends on how you define that term. Better performance in one aspect of cutting doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better choice overall. Consider both sides of the equation before making a decision.

Taking the approach of using task specific blades requires owning at least two blades that each excel in a limited operating region, and are typically unacceptable for tasks outside of their intended scope. They also require blade changes for each different task for optimum results. Two task-specific blades (typically a 24T ripper and a 60T or 80T crosscutter) will generally stay sharp longer than a single general purpose blade because they share the work load, but will cost more upfront and will also cost more to re-sharpen when the time comes. A general purpose blade will neither rip as efficiently as a true rip blade nor crosscut as cleanly as a dedicated crosscut blade, but you may find that it’s more than acceptable at doing both tasks for most situations. A valid argument in favor of using one high quality general purpose blade is that the GP blade leaves a cleaner edge than the rip blade, crosscuts faster than a crosscut blade, and does so with the convenience and cost of using one blade. Most higher quality general purpose blades will leave a glue ready edge, which is often as good as it needs to be. If you happen to do a lot of specialty cutting of fine veneered plywoods, veneers, melamine, MDF, plastics, etc., a blade made specifically for these materials is definitely recommended. If you tend to rip very thick dense materials regularly, then a dedicated ripping blade is a wise choice for you right from the start. Sooner a later a decent general purpose blade will be useful, so it’s always a reasonable starting point IMO, even if you pursue separates later.

Breaking from convention, it’s also possible to choose separate blades that offer different regions of excellence than the conventional dedicated 24T bulk ripper and 80T fine crosscut blade. Even though the majority of general purpose/combination blades have 40T or 50T, there are some blades with 30T and 60T that offer more versatility than standard 24T and 80T separates, and can be used in a somewhat limited general purpose capacity. A 30T blade with an ATB grind and a steep positive hook angle (like the Forrest 30T WWII & DeWalt DW7653) will rip more efficiently than comparably designed 40T general purpose blade in materials up to 3” (given suitable power), will make cleaner rips than a standard 24T ripper, and may even crosscut acceptably well in many situations. The weakness of the 30T blade is that it won’t perform well for fine crosscut or fine plywood type duties, but it will give “glue line” cuts and more versatility than a standard 24T ripper, which potentially means fewer blade changes and acceptable performance in a wider region. A good blade of this type will be suitable for wide range of tasks that don’t require fine finish cuts. Inversely, a good quality 60T ATB blade with a positive hook angle will make cleaner rips up to ~ 1-1/2”, will make cleaner crosscuts and ply cuts than a conventional 40T ATB general purpose or 50T ATB/R combo blade, and is a good choice where cleaner cuts and lower ripping efficiency are suitable. The weakness of the 60T blade will be loss of efficiency in thicker ripping, causing bogging of the saw and more burning. The combination of the 30T and 60T blades offers increased range over a standard 40T or 50T GP blade, and better versatility than standard 24T and 80T separates. Depending on your situation, a good 30T or 60T blade may be suitable as the only blade you’ll need, and the two blades combined will “tag-team” to cover a very wide range of tasks extremely well, yet can still be left on the saw with little need to be changed for most tasks….sort of a “best of both worlds” scenario.

(For your saw - The combination of the Infinity 010-060 60T Hi-ATB blade and the Forrest 30T WWII TK are nearly a perfect compliment to each other, and offer extremely good performance across a very wide range. These two blades each offer a taste of the dedicated specialty blades but they don't suffer from the limited range that the specialty blades do. Either is suitable for most general purpose applications, but each has it's strength at the opposite extreme. I had this combination on my 22124 and thought the two were wonderful together, and is a combination I've suggested many times in lieu of a standard 3 blade set. My 80T Leitz blade and 24T Freud ripper sat dormant most of the time I had the 30T and 60T blades available. It's unlikely you'll encounter any situations (other than junk wood) where you'll want another blade...keep the stock blade for high risk stuff. Combining these two blades is like taking a typical 40T or 50T general purpose/combo blade and extending it's functional range of excellence into the regions where a dedicated blade is generally used. While a bit on the expensive side, I can't give a higher recommendation than this combo for your saw for the tasks you described. They should cover all your bases with flying colors.

The Infinity 010-060 is a great compliment to the 30T WWII. Where the 30T WWII is weak (ultra fine crosscuts, ply, etc), the 010-060 is at it's best. The Hi-ATB grind offers superior crosscuts, superior plywood cuts, but the geometry also allows it to rip very cleanly to ~ 5/4". It doesn't rip as efficiently as the 30T (or a 40T), but it will rip well in most common thicknesses, so it doesn't need to be changed out most of the time if you don't feel like it. The 010-060 is also very versatile in what type saw it can be used on...it's an excellent CMS, RAS, or SCMS blade as well as being terrific in the table saw.

The 30T WWII will cut nearly as cleanly as the 40T WWII...it's very difficult to tell the cuts apart, but when you start ripping thicker materials, it's nearly as efficient as a 24T ripper...and it cuts cleaner than any 24T ripper up to ~ 3". While it's not known as a great crosscutter, it can give respectable crosscuts in many applications, so it's not essential that it be changed out if you don't feel like it either.)

Tastes Great, Less Filling!
You’ll also be faced with a decision of kerf width. Most standard 10” blades fall into two kerf classifications – full kerf or thin kerf, but there are exceptions, and the classifications are ill-defined. There’s no set standard to what constitutes full or thin kerf blade, but I’ll offer a general rule of thumb. Most full kerf blades hover near 1/8” (0.125”, ranging from roughly 0.118” to 0.145”), while most thin kerf blades are about 3/32” (0.094”, ranging from roughly 0.090” to 0.105”). There are also some “mid kerf” blades that fall in between, in the 0.110” range. There are also ultra thin kerfs available from some manufacturers for special applications. Many smaller diameter blades are “UTKs”. Which kerf width to choose can be as easy as following manufacturer’s recommendations of using thin kerf blades for saws under 3hp (ie: most compact, jobsite, contractor, or hybrid saws fall in the 1hp to 2hp range), and full kerf blades for saws with motors 3hp and up (ie: industrial cabinet saws), but that’s where the simplicity ends and the debates begin. There are pros and cons to each. As with many choices, it’ll boil down to a matter of preference and your particular situation, but I’ll try to explain the logic of both philosophies. There are legitimate arguments for both kerf widths. To some folks, it’s just a matter of the math being simpler with a 1/8” blade than a 3/32” blade. It can also be a matter of not knowing any better, or what was available on sale at the time of purchase. Both kerf widths will work with most saws, but note that changing kerf width can skew the zero reference on the measuring tape on a left tilt saw, so you’ll need to address that if you change widths. Even though the width differences appear very small, a full kerf blade is typically 33% thicker than it’s TK counterpart. A wider kerf blade makes a wider cut, thus taking more wood and requiring more power to make the cut at the same speed…a similar principle to a lawn mower’s width of cut. There will also be a proportionately higher amount of sawdust with a full kerf blade, more wood consumed in the process, and even somewhat higher noise levels. Wood savings can be a consideration, though a minor one for most hobbyists. That consideration may become more significant if you handle a lot of expensive wood. You’re likely to encounter situations where a full kerf blade will bog a smaller saw more easily than a TK would, most notably in thicker materials. The wider the kerf, the more power required to pass the blade through the material. Slowing down the feed rate can help compensate somewhat for the additional power requirements, but slower cutting means more of a tendency to burn the wood, and less ability to cut efficiently in thick materials. Full kerf blades tend to be more stable than their TK counterparts due to the increased steel thickness and body mass, but require more power to spin. The heavier mass of a full kerf plate will handle the stresses of heat better than a TK blade, so is often a more suitable choice for high volume applications. If you’re using a saw that’s under 3hp, a TK blade will pose less resistance to your saw. A high quality thin kerf blade with proper tensioning of the body during manufacturing will rival the cut quality and performance of a high quality full kerf blade, and can be a very suitable choice for a home shop, smaller saws, and even in many commercial settings where wood consumption is a concern. Which width to choose depends a lot of your saw and the material being cut. Your splitter or riving knife width should also be part of the consideration. Choosing a blade that’s thinner than the splitter blade can cause the board to stop mid cut if the board binds on the splitter. There are legitimate arguments for both kerf widths, and the choice will come down to your personal preference and circumstances. (Note - the stock blade on the TS3650/3660 is thin kerf and the stock splitter is made to match, but a full kerf blade will also work for you)

Profit Pucks?
Many blade manufacturers recommend the use of blade stabilizers, dampeners, or stiffeners with their blades. Especially with thin kerf blades, but many make the same recommendation for full kerf blades too. From a technical perspective, it’s more right than wrong to make that recommendation. Not much harm in the recommendation, and there’s some possible benefit for both buyer and seller, so why not? First off, be aware that you give up some cutting height capacity with a disk installed. The larger the diameter of the stiffener, the less height capacity that’s available. Secondly, my experience has been that there’s no noticeable difference with or without them when using good blades on a good saw. A high quality modern blade mounted on a properly running table saw while cutting flat straight stock shouldn’t need stabilizers. I’ve read far more responses on internet forums that agreed with my view than opposed it, but as always, there are some exceptions. I vote to save your money and take someone special to lunch with the money saved. If it turns out that you’ve got a runout problem with your blade, then by all means, get yourself a stabilizer to help, but note that it’s usually a $20 band-aid for another problem, and not a cure.

What’s In A Name?
To further complicate blade selection, it’s not as simple as just buying a reputable brand name blade either. Some brands have multiple lines aimed at different market niches that are each made to different price points and different objectives. Buy the blade, not the brand!. Brands like Infinity, Forrest, and Ridge Carbide only offer a single line of premium blades with a variety of models for different applications within that line. Companies like Freud, CMT, Amana, Tenryu, Leitz, Delta, DeWalt, Bosch, and Systimatic offer multiple lines often with different intended applications. Some of those blades are premium quality that will rival the performance of Forrest, Infinity, and Ridge Carbide, but some will not so you can’t just select a brand and be confident you’ve got a blade that’s representative of their best blade(s) for fine woodworking uses. While not all are at the “premium” level, you’ll be hard pressed to find a clunker from companies like Freud, CMT, Amana, Systimatic, or Tenryu….just be certain that you’ve chosen a blade that’s appropriate for an intended application and you’re likely to have very good success with it. Companies like DeWalt, Oldham, Bosch, and Delta have some great blades too, but they also have some mediocre blades at the entry level that I prefer to avoid. Don’t dismiss the excellent blades because of the lesser blades of the same name. Learn as much as you can about a blade’s tooth configuration and geometry, and know what series or line the model comes from. Trying to decipher the hierarchy within a brand can be a challenge, but some of the basic clues are things like the price, fit & finish, carbide thickness, packaging, features, and even the labels and descriptors the manufacturer uses can help. Look to see if the plate has fine laser cut expansion slots versus those that are from a cheap stamped steel plate. Large shiny carbide is certainly no guarantee of quality either, but it does indicate that they’re not trying to take the cheapest route. Sloppy brazing doesn’t necessarily impact cut quality, but it can suggest that some corners were cut. Terms such as Premium, Professional, Woodworker, or Industrial tend to indicate higher quality levels than those labeled Construction, Contractor, Value, Bulk Pack, or Economy. Country of origin can also be an indicator but it’s far from a guarantee of quality…however, if a company produces top notch blades made in the USA, Germany, Japan, Israel, England, or Italy, the odds are good that their Chinese imports are not their best line. There are some really good Chinese-made blades, but most brands move manufacturing to China to cut costs, not to improve quality. Also consider the retail circumstances. In general, woodworking specialty stores tend to carry higher end lines than most homecenters, but there are always exceptions.

Teamwork:
It’s important to acknowledge that a saw blade is only one part of more complex cutting system and sequence of events that occurs during cutting. The blade is only one possible cause if cutting results aren’t up to expectations. Proper blade-to-fence alignment is one of the most important steps in setting up your saw. Also, your table saw needs a good throat insert to perform well. A great blade will cut poorly if the throat insert is flexing or isn’t flush and level with the top causing the wood to catch. A zero clearance insert will help improve cut quality…make sure it’s stiff, flat, and flush. The table needs to be reasonably flat too but it typically takes a large deviation to noticeably affect the cut, and is a difficult problem to resolve if one exists. A splitter or riving knife is a recommended safety device…be sure they’re aligned with the blade too. While you’re looking your saw over, check your arbor and arbor flange for runout. If the arbor wobbles even a little, the saw can vibrate excessively and the blade won’t cut well. Pulleys and belts can impact the arbor’s ability to run true so check them too. An improperly tuned saw won’t run well, and will mask the performance of a good blade. (Makes you wonder how many times a premium blade was deemed no better than a modest blade because the saw wasn’t capable of revealing the differences of the better blade…). Most saws spin in a self-tightening rotational direction. The arbor nut only needs to be snug to start. If you over tighten it, you risk bending the blade and diminishing its potential cut performance. To give the blade and the saw a fighting chance at perfection, the material being cut should be flat and straight. A flat straight work piece stands a much greater chance of being cut smoothly and accurately than a work piece that’s rocking, twisting, and/or pulling away from the blade. And finally, if you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your current blade, go take it off the saw, spray it with household degreaser (409, Greased Lightning, Fantastic, Goo Gone, Simple Green, etc.), and hit it with a toothbrush or brass bristle brush to clean it up! (5 minutes from start to finish). If it’s really grungy, and you happen to have some kerosene on hand, give it a good overnight soak. A dirty blade cuts like a dull blade, creates excess heat, leaves burn marks, and eventually causes it to become a dull blade prematurely. Clean your blade(s) often and they’ll perform like new for a much longer time.

Getting Technical:

Tooth count is one of the more important considerations of a saw blade. Number of teeth should be based on the intended application along with the other design parameters of the blade. If all other parameters are equal, more teeth will equate to a cleaner cut, but it’s not as simple as that. There are several other factors that influence cutting performance in addition to tooth count, and more teeth is not always better. More teeth also means more resistance to the saw, slower feed rates, more friction & heat, and a higher chance of burning. Fewer teeth equates to a faster more efficient cut, but typically also means a rougher cut. Depending on thickness, it’s recommended to have 5 to 7 teeth in the material for crosscutting and finish cuts in hard wood, and 3 to 5 teeth for ripping operations. Depending on blade diameter, it’s common to see between 10 and 30 teeth on a specialized ripping blade, and 60 to 100 teeth for crosscut blades and blades used for plywood, veneers, melamine. laminates, and other sheet goods. Note that more teeth cost more to make, more to buy, and more to sharpen when the time comes, but more teeth also tend to hold an edge longer because they share the work load.

Side Clearance:
The side clearance is another important feature that is essentially the amount of overhang a tooth has relative to the blade’s body. The tangential and radial side clearance angles are the geometry of the sides of the teeth. These features all combine to determine how much “polish” or “burnishing” characteristics the teeth will contribute to the edge of the wood. Tight side clearances and tight angles mean that more tooth makes contact with the edge of the cut, and thus gives a more polished look. The same characteristic can also increase burning if the feed rate slows too much, and/or if the wood is naturally more prone to burning.

Gullet:
A gullet is the trough between the teeth. A larger gullet allows for more efficient chip removal, which is one of the reasons that a blade with fewer teeth will cut faster…there’s simply more gullet space on a lower tooth count blade. Ripping operations have larger chip size than crosscutting operations, which makes lower tooth count blades more conducive to ripping operations. Crosscutting operations tend to have smaller chip sizes, so a dedicated crosscut blade can have more teeth around the perimeter of the blade, which allows for a cleaner cut.

Hook Angle:
Hook angle (or rake) is the amount of forward or backward lean of the teeth on a blade. The hook angle can range from roughly -7° to as much as + 22°. The steeper the hook angle, the more aggressive and faster the feed rate will be. A steep, or positive hook angle, will have more pull on the material than a low or negative hook blade, which is a feature well suited for ripping operations on a table saw. A low to negative hook blade is well suited for use on a sliding compound miter saw (SCMS) or radial arm saw (RAS) to prevent “climb” or self feeding of the material, and is highly recommended when cutting metals on any type of saw. The steeper hook angles will feed faster but can also increase tear out characteristics at the exit of the cut. A lower hook angle will have less tear out, but will require more feed pressure and may have a higher tendency for burning to occur if the saw bogs down.

Anti-vibration slots:
Laser cut anti-vibration slots help channel heat buildup during the cutting process, allowing the blade to expand and contract without distorting and destroying the tension of blade’s body. Ultimately, they help the blade run true with low noise and vibration for a cleaner cut. Filling the slots with silicone can further reduce noise. Some blades will have copper silencers in the “keyhole” of the slot.

Tooth Grinds:

ATB – Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) is a very versatile grind that features a bevel across the top of the tooth that angles from the outside in, alternating between left side and right side. The angle of the bevel can vary from about 10° to approximately 20°. The versatility of the ATB grind makes it a very common grind on many types of blades, especially woodworking blades. The bevel helps reduce tear out on cross grain and plywood cuts, is reasonably durable, and can still be fairly efficient at ripping with the grain. Essentially the steeper the bevel angle, the less tear out the teeth will cause, but also becomes increasing less efficient at ripping as the bevel increases. The ATB grind is very well suited in a configuration as a higher tooth count dedicated crosscut blade, and as a versatile medium tooth count general purpose blade.

Hi-ATB – Teeth with a top bevel of roughly 25° or higher are commonly referred to as High Alternate Top Bevel grinds. Hi-ATB grinds are a variation of the ATB grind, and have the lowest tear out characteristics of any other grind. They’re extremely well suited for ultra clean cuts in plywood, laminates, melamine, veneers, and ultra fine crosscuts in hardwood. The sharp points of the higher bevels give up some durability and some ripping efficiency compared to some grinds, but are still capable of good ripping efficiency when combined with a lower tooth count and positive hook angle.

ATB/R – The ATB/R grind is a combination of two different tooth grinds in one blade. It typically features groupings of five teeth that consist of four ATB ground teeth and one flat top “raker” tooth with large gullets between the groupings. Common configurations are found in a 10” blade with 50 teeth and a moderately steep hook angle of 10° to 15°. The ATB/R combination grind is well suited for both ripping and crosscuts, and general purpose woodworking applications on a table saw or compound miter saw.

FTG – Flat top teeth are used on blades intended primarily for ripping wood with the grain. A flat top grind (FTG) is very efficient at removing large chips from the kerf, and is a very durable grind that tends to have very good edge life. A flat top grind is the only grind that will leave a truly flat bottom kerf, which also makes it a good choice for cutting grooves and splines. The FTG is commonly found on ripping blades with a steep positive hook angle and lower tooth count, typically 10 to 30 teeth.

TCG – The triple chip grind (TCG) also combines two different tooth grinds in one blade – a flat top grind and a trapezoidal grind, which is essentially a flat top tooth with chamfered top. The TCG alternates between a flat top “raker” and a trapezoidal tooth which protrudes slightly higher than the raker tooth. The TCG is extremely durable, and exhibits low chip out characteristics in brittle materials, which makes it well suited for cutting metals, laminate flooring, very hard woods, abrasive materials like MDF and teak, and sheet goods like melamine. Its durability also lends itself to high volume applications where edge life is important.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Dado - 6" or 8". Unlikely you will ever see an application on that saw that will require dadoes that cannot be done with a 6".

Forrest WW II - fine for the plywood. Only time you would really need a panel blade (Forrest 80t ATB) is if you are doing some carcass work with high-end veneered plywood, or with countertop-type material, where the cuts would be exposed.

Blade width - 1/8" (= 4/32") will do fine on your saw with 3/4" stock. NBD. 3/32" means you will save some sawdust on multiple cuts. I do not have any of the 3/32" blades for one simple reason - I have a number of blades, and if I ran the thin-kerf, that means I would have to recalibrate the TS rail lense when I switched blades. PITA. I have a 3hp cabinet saw, so I can plow throught most stuff, but on things like > 6/4 hard maple, I switch to the 30t rip.

Stiffener - I would recommend it IF you go with the 3/32".

Whooooaaa - Before I hit submit, I see Scott S just posted a dissertation . I'm not that smart or detailed, I guess.

[Derek Noel]

I agree with Cary but will add a few bits if my own.

Q5:
to change angle on a ZCI you need to cut a new slot, so you either increase the clearance by cutting a new angle into the insert or you need a ZCIs for every angle you plan to cut.
If yo are changing angles a lot and your parts don't need the support of a ZCI it may be easier to just use a standard insert for some projects.

Q2 and Q4I
if you get a high quality blade the thickness and a stiffener shouldn't make much difference. a poorly balanced cheep blade will vibrate and can be helped with a stiffener but still probably wont be as good and a good blade like the wwii.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Wow, lots of great information.... I was disturbed by one item:

1. Kent and Scott, you mentioned that you use the same width for all of your blades so that you do not need recalibrate zero. This disturbs me a wee bit. Never thought of that.
2. Scott mentioned that my saw shipped with a thin kerf blade. What was that original size? Is it 3/32?
3. I am glad that I asked about the Dado size. I would have blindly purchased the 10" set.
4. I have some 1.5" Ash to rip, as well as some Cherry. Two blades seems like a good idea.

I must read the posts a few more time to see what else I can digest...

[Keith Westfall]

Almost hate to say on my Ridged saw, that I use a thin kerf 7 1/4" blade. Works great for me as I don't cut much thick stuff.

I can cut a full 2" straight up which has covered 99.9% of what I do.

I don't worry about the "saw tape measure" as I always measure from fence to blade for each cut.

With the small blade, I have lots of power and get a good cut.

Works for me, though others may disagree...

[Tom Adger]

I too have a 3660. First I got a ZCI. There are several supplier sites which carry them.

I got a Forrest WWII, with the 1/8" kerf. I found that the splitter was pretty thick, and the 1/8 helps in keeping the wood from catching on the splitter. The splitter on this saw takes some fiddling to get exactly right. I wish it had a riving knife. Since Ridgid has discontinued the 4511, maybe they will come out with an upgrade of the 3660 with one.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Wow, lots of great information.... I was disturbed by one item:

1. Kent and Scott, you mentioned that you use the same width for all of your blades so that you do not need recalibrate zero. This disturbs me a wee bit. Never thought of that.
2. Scott mentioned that my saw shipped with a thin kerf blade. What was that original size? Is it 3/32?
3. I am glad that I asked about the Dado size. I would have blindly purchased the 10" set.
4. I have some 1.5" Ash to rip, as well as some Cherry. Two blades seems like a good idea.

I must read the posts a few more time to see what else I can digest...

Heh-heh-heh - no reason to be disturbed - it may well be that I'm just lazy. To be honest, the WW II 40t (have 2) is on the saw 90% of the time, so wouldn't have to recalibrate that often.

"Thin kerf" generally refers to 3/32", but could be also something thinner - AFAIK that label definitely means "thinner than the standard 1/8" blade"

Whe I bought my dado 10 yrs ago set from forrest - I was talking to the guy and said I wanted ther 10" set. He asked me "what in the world do you plan on running that you would need 10? 2-inch-deep dadoes in 12/4?" "Ummmm....well...I dunno." "I'll sell you whatever you want, but I'd rather sell you what you need, and you don't need anything bigger than 8"". Won my loyalty right there.

Everyone has at least one opinion on the topic of TS blades - and here's mine: If you are going to get new blade, get the WW II 40t standard (1/8") kerf. Try out your 1.5" ash, see how it goes. If you have a hard time getting it through, then get a WW II 30t. On the other hand, the thin kerf would likely work well wih the ash - I have no experience with that blade, so you could just run that one. As I said - at least one opinion.

[Prashun Patel]

To add some icing to an already excessively topped cake:

I read a recent article that said newer thin kerf blades are negligibly less stable than their thick kerf counterparts - even on thick stock.

Thinner kerf blades leave more usable stock on repetitive cuts - like resawing, require less power to get through big wood (which is good for sub-cabinet saws like your Ridgid and my Jet Proshop).

I use an Avanti 50t combo blade and cheap ripping blades from HD (Oldham I think). The spendier rippers only buy you cleanness of cut and longer life. I replace the Oldham after a couple projects for less than the price of resharpening the mighty WWII or Freud LM's. If u don't own a jointer, I'd rather invest $$ in getting the Ridgid than in buying a spendy blade.

[scott spencer]

...I read a recent article that said newer thin kerf blades are negligibly less stable than their thick kerf counterparts - even on thick stock....

Andrew - To elaborate a bit more, IIRC FWW was the latest of the mainstream mags to write an article highlighting the benefit and improvements of modern thin kerf blades. American WWer and Wood also ran similar articles within the past couple of years. For a hobbyist, a high quality thin kerf blade will perform well and will be easier for your saw to spin.

Sorry I don't know the exact thickness of the blade that came with your saw. Most were standard 3/32" AFAIK, but there were a few saws that came with an ultra thin kerf blades that didn't match properly with the splitter causing the work piece to hang up mid cut.

A good 40T or 50T TK blade should handle 1-1/2" ash reasonably well...a blade like the 30T WWII TK will definitely handle it well. I wouldn't suggest using a 40T or 50T blade to handle more than 1-1/2" very often with that saw though.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Thanks for the clarification...

[Bill LaPointe]

Since you have just gotten your saw and it is used, it would be time well spent to "tune up" your saw before using your new blade. Even the best blade won't cut very well with a saw that is not properly set up.