Miter Saw Blades | Tool Lab | Ask This Old House
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 Published On Feb 7, 2022

In this video, Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert discuses the main features of miter saw blades.

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Carpenter Nathan Gilbert goes on a house call as he helps a homeowner dealing with a dated kitchen floor. After explaining to Kevin what goes into planning a floor, such as materials and subflooring, he heads to the home to lend a hand.

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert takes us through the ins and outs of miter saw blades. Nathan tells us all about the different sizes of miter saw blades, explaining the most common (and most accurate) ones. He even explains the other parts that make a miter saw blade, the teeth styles, and which are the best for specific projects.

Miter Saw Blades: An Overview
Most stock blades with new miter saws in the box are general-purpose blades. These blades are fine for cutting a wide variety of materials, but they might not be as accurate or easy to use as a material- or project-specific blade. Having the right blade for a particular saw can significantly impact the quality of the cuts you make and your safety while performing those cuts.

These blades come in different sizes
Miter saws and their blades come in a variety of sizes. On the smaller end of the spectrum, there are 7 ¼-inch blades, and they’re typically used by DIYers who don’t need a large saw or pros for cutting moldings or flooring. On the other end, there are 12-inch blades used for heavy-duty construction or finish work, but these blades will often deflect a bit while cutting denser materials. When it comes to ability and variety of selection, 10-inch blades are usually best.

Parts of a miter saw blade
A miter saw blade might look like one solid piece, but it’s actually made up of several parts:
* The steel plate: The main body of the saw
* Laser etches: Small designs cut to reduce noise and vibration
* Carbide teeth: The sharp teeth that actually contact and cut the wood
* Gullets: The spaces between the teeth
* Arbor: The hole in the middle of the blade used to attach the blade to the saw

Types of blade widths
The term “kerf” refers to the width of the cut left behind by the saw, and there are two main sizes. Full kerf saws have carbide teeth that are about ⅛-inch wide, resulting in a ⅛-inch kerf. Due to their wider width, these blades are generally more stable and smooth and defect less during a cut. For a thinner kerf, some saws have 3/32-inch wide teeth, reducing the amount of wood removed with each cut and creating less resistance while cutting (a benefit for cordless saws), but they can deflect more.

Investing in quality miter saw blades
Many manufacturers offer a variety of blades meant for different uses. While it’s more affordable to purchase one blade that can handle all of those tasks, they’re typically not high quality. A quality blade will cost more, but it’s money well spent.

But, as an expensive item, it’s best to take care of those blades. Be sure to clean off any pitch buildup and sharpen the blade when it feels dull or cuts with more resistance than it used to. After all, a clean, sharp blade is a safe and accurate blade.

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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Miter Saw Blades | Tool Lab | Ask This Old House
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