Most amateur carpenters or hobbyists worry a lot about size and not enough about blade design and purpose. This is why you need a circular saw blade size guide.
The good news is that not all guides are minimalistic. Even if the blade size may seem low on the list of concerns for professionals, there are important connections between the size, features, and purpose of the blade.
This article will tell you what you should expect to find on the market in terms of circular saw blade sizes. It will also show you why size matters and it’s probably not the reason you were thinking of.
Types of Blades
Circular saw blades come in two main types: rip and crosscut blades. These are used for very specific cuts, either with or against the grain. The differences between them are usually very clear as rip blades come with deeper teeth.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
There is also a third type of circular saw blade which is for general use. This is known as a combination blade as it has features of both rip and crosscut blades and can handle both types of cuts. Combination blades also come with a higher tooth count, up to 80 teeth on some of the larger blades.
They have a good balance between quickness and fine finishing, but they still underperform when compared to a specially designed blade for crosscutting or ripping.
4.5” Blades
These blades used to be quite common attachments for circular saw blades. These days most circular saws will have at least a 5 inch blade attachment as it allows you to work with thicker materials and cut through them faster.
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5” Blades
The 5 inch blade is the most common size for circular saws. They can be found on cheap power tools as well as on high-end models because of how versatile these blades are. 5 inch blades usually don’t have more than 24 teeth, so you wouldn’t want to use them on very thin materials like plexiglass or sheet metal.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
7.25” Blades
Circular saw blades that are above 7.25 inches are generally used for woodworking, but depending on additional design features they can work on a variety of materials. Tile and aluminum can be cut with 7.25 inch blades that have more teeth, preferably diamond-tipped.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
10” Blades
10 inch blades will let you tackle a wide variety of projects. They are sought after by woodworkers that work on large projects or want to also be able to cut tiles or metal.
Other Considerations
Following a circular saw blade size guide is not enough if you want to make sure you’re always using the right blade for the job. Here are a few extra features to keep in mind besides the blade size.
Most circular saw blades such as the 4.5 inch, 5 inch, and 7.25 inch come with carbide-tipped teeth. These are good enough for cutting wood and even some thin sheets of metal but they’re nothing compared to diamond-tipped blades.
These are called specialty blades. In the same category, you can find dado blades even though they’re not your most common choice for handheld circular saws. Even so, certain models will support a stacked dado set. Wobble dado blades usually aren’t compatible with circular saws, nor are they recommended as the vibrations they create make it hard to control the saw.
When to Get a Certain Blade
When the time comes to buy or sharpen a circular saw blade there’s more to take into account than a circular saw blade size guide. First, you have to make sure the arbor on your saw can support the new blade. Also, you have to know what type of material you plan on working with the most: wood, aluminum, plexiglass, sheet metal, etc.
Circular saws are versatile tools, but you wouldn’t really want to work on any piece of wood that needs a 10 inch or 12 inch blade to cut through it. This means that you’ll have to exert much more pressure and control over the saw and chances are the feedback from the wood will be too tough to handle.
While most circular saws will come with combination blades that have anywhere between 24 and 60 teeth, if you’re looking for smooth finishes and precise cuts you might want to consider having multiple blades ready for different tasks.
FINAL VERDICT
It’s important to remember that size isn’t everything when it comes to circular saw blades. It is just one of the features that make the blade good for a specific task but only average for other tasks and materials.
Whenever you’re purchasing your first saw blade or a replacement blade, you should also consider the number of teeth, the tips, the design of the teeth, and of course, whether or not it will fit on your circular saw.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API