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Thread: Forrest Chopmaster

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Minnesota
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    Forrest Chopmaster

    Thinking about buying a Forrest Chopmaster blade for my new Bosch 12" slider (miter saw). Worth the money? Is there something better out there that I'm not aware of?

    Jason
    Last edited by Jason White; 01-21-2017 at 2:16 PM.

  2. #2
    Personally, I think there are much better blades out there. Everlast, FS Tool, popular tools, matsushita, etc.

    Never cared for any Forrest blades.

  3. #3
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    Do a search.....

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
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    Havent tried them all, but I have certainly tried my fair share of cheaper options and I love the Forrest ChopMaster. Have had it on a DeWalt DWS780 and now a Bosch GCM12SD. For my table saw, miter saw and soon probably my track saw, Forrest Blades are all I use/own now.
    If at first you don't succeed, redefine success!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
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    Northern California
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    Hi Jason,

    I replaced the original blade with a Forrest Chopmaster on my 10" Makita slider. It leaves a cleaner edge with almost no tearout. Is it worth the money? I guess it depends on what you'll be using it for. I build furniture using hardwood and have my saw fence and blade alignments set up precisely along with a zero clearance insert. If I'm cutting a 90 degree angle, I clean it up and insure squareness with a few passes on a shooting board. If I'm cutting any type of softwood I switch back to the Makita blade, more to save wear and tear on the Forrest than for any other reason. I cut a lot of smaller miters by hand in my Langdon Acme miter box, which I purchased long after the Makita. Hope this helps.

    Steve

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    LA & SC neither one is Cali
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    The one Forrest Chopmaster I find worth the money is the Signature PTB grind. It has the best finish of any MS blade I have used. It uses a 2+1 ATB+ raker grind vs the standard 4+1 ATB+R grind and I use it when I need excellent finish especially on small parts. For general pre-milling and 2x cutting I use a Frued LU73M. I have a Royce Ayr, Popular Tools and Tenryu as well and they are all excellent blades but the two above tend to stay in the miter saw the most. The Royce Ayr has the biggest carbide and the Tenryu is the quietest of all the MS blades I have.
    Of all the laws Brandolini's may be the most universally true.

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
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    So Cal
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    I am very happy with my Forrest blade on my Bosch glide.
    I think it's a great pair for a Amauter woodworker like me.
    Aj

  8. #8
    I have a Chopmaster that makes excellant clean cuts but save iit for special cuts like picture frame or box miters. I use a cheaper blade for run of the mill cuts. That being said almost any blade will make clean cuts when new but I feel that because of the materials used in Forrest blades they keep their edge much longer.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Boston
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    I have one on my RAS. Excellent cuts. Well worth the money.

    i also have a WW2 on my table saw.
    Don

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    I've run the Chopmaster on my CMS for many years now and am totally satisfied with it.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Marquette MI
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    I have used nothing but Forrest blades for years - never had a problem and Forrest sharpens them expertly for very reasonable cost.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Doylestown, Pa
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    20
    I own five Forrest saw blades. I have a woodworker 1 (60tooth) 3/32 kerf on a 12" Dewalt 7790 RAS since 1990. I have a 10" inch woodworker 2 (40 tooth) 1/8 kerf on a Powermatic 66 tablesaw since 1991. After being very impressed with both blades I purchased a 8" dado set from Forrest for $300 in late 1991. No splintering on veneers and the dado/groove is flat. Pricey but worth the money in my view. Purchased a Chopmaster for my Makita LS 1020 chopsaw in mid 90's. I owned the saw since 1988 and used numerous blades. I was reluctant to spend $100 for a saw blade to put on a $200 chopsaw. Concluded I was an idiot because the endgrain of the crosscut boards was as if it was sanded. In 2003 I traded a Bosch hammer drill for a 12" inch Dewalt chopsaw. I used the Dewalt blade that came with the saw for 6 months. Finally broke down and ordered the Chopmaster for about $120 on sale. I could not be happier with the overall performance of all the blades. While ripping on tablesaw I don't have to rip it 1/16 strong than clean up on jointer it eliminates a step. The radial arm saw and tablesaw have small stiffners the chopsaws do not. I don't think you can go wrong with the Chopmaster.
    Last edited by William Bell; 01-25-2017 at 9:18 AM. Reason: Spelling

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Minnesota
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    Thanks for all the input, folks! I bought a Chopmaster and couldn't be happier. I put it on my Bosch axial glide saw and so far I'm getting splinter-free cuts, even without a zero clearance insert. Amazing!

    Jason

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