Study Up On Saw Blades!
Saw Blades 101
Expert Die, Inc. wants you to be fully informed about the product you’re investing in. You can count on our team stationed in Whitfield County, GA, to provide exceptional products and grade-A customer service. We serve commercial markets across North Georgia, East Tennessee, North Alabama, and North Mississippi.
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Terminology
What is a…
- Heel is the end nearest to the handle.
- Toe is the end furthest from the handle.
- Teeth are tiny, pointy protrusions you’ll find on the cutting side of the saw.
- Gullet is the space between the teeth.
- Rake is the angle of the front face of a tooth that can be found by looking at it from an angled perpendicular to the length.
- The arbor or mandrel is the saw motor shaft that spins the blade.
Saw Blade Basics
- TPI or teeth per inch is a system that measures the amount of teeth found on a saw blade.
- Crosscutting is the act of cutting or sawing against the grain of wood.
- Combination saw blades are utilized to rip and crosscut wood.
- Dado is a flat-bottomed recessed cutting method used to create an edge with precise grooves.
- General purpose saw blades have a lower tooth count and are ideal for quick cross cutting and ripping.
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Saw Blades 102
Flat Top Grounds
Flat top grinds (FTG) are found on blades that rip wood with the grain. A flat-top ground blade usually has a steep positive hook and low tooth count, typically 10-30 teeth.
Combination Tooth (4-1)
The teeth on 4 ATB and one flat ground tooth are divided by a large gullet. Combo models use this design that is best for ripping or cross cutting solid wood, composites, manufactured panels.
High Alternate Top Bevel
High Alternate Top Bevel (H-ATB) is the name for teeth with a top bevel of roughly 25° or higher. These are commonly referred to as H-ATBs, and they excel at clean cuts in plywood, laminates, melamine veneers, and ultra-fine crosscuts in hardwoods.
Triple Chip Grind
The triple chip grind (TCG) also combines two different tooth grinds in one blade – a flat top grind and a trapezoidal top grind, which is essentially a flat top tooth with a chamfered top. The TCG alternates between a flat top “raker” and a trapezoidal top tooth which is slightly higher than the raker tooth. The TCG is durable and has a low chip out in brittle materials, making it suitable for cutting metals, laminate flooring, tough hardwoods, abrasive materials, and teak.
Alternate Top Bevel
Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) is a grind that features an alternating bevel across the top of each tooth, which angles from outside to inside. This blade type has been shown to reduce tear-out on cross-grain and plywood cuts while still being useful for ripping with the grain. ATBs are commonly used as general-purpose blades because they can handle most cutting jobs.
Positive/Negative Hook Angle
The hook angle measures the cutting power of a saw blade that it has. Positive angles (0° to 20°) are aggressive blades because they bite into the wood at an extreme and steep angle. In comparison, negative angles (-5° to 0º) offer fewer aggression cutters, giving you more control over how your cuts turn out if you’re trying for finesse or not as much aggressiveness in general.
Contact Expert Die, Inc. For Hassle-Free Service
Expert Die, Inc.
733 Cavender Rd SE,
Dalton, GA, 30721
Phone: 706-277-4854
Call Toll Free: 855-265-8011
Email: customercare@expertdie.com
Business Hours
Monday — Thursday:
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday:
8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday:
Closed
