Tom Walz
03-25-2013, 11:59 AM
Kinds of Kerf (Thought some of you might find this interesting)
Kerf (http://www.woodproductsonlineexpo.com/glossary.php/k.html)
1. Width of the cut made by a saw blade.
2. The width of the saw tooth at its outermost widest point.
Nominal Kerf – calculated kerf – possible if everything works perfectly
Cut Kerf – width of the cut
Saw Tip Kerf – width of the saw tooth at its widest point
Saw Blade Kerf (nominal) – specified cutting width of the saw blade
Saw Blade Kerf (actual) – The true cutting width of the saw blade. The nominal or specified width of the saw blade plus variations in the saw plate and ground tips. Saw blades can be ground so that side clearance variation can be as little as -0.0000” / +0.0005”. If the nominal kerf is 0.100” and you add 0.0005” for each side then actual saw blade kerf becomes 0.101”. Variations in side clearance as high as 0.005” to 0.008” are more common. Then you must account for warping of the plate if any. (Often the tips immediately after the expansion slots will show the most side clearance variation.)
Running Kerf or Cutting Kerf – This is the actual saw blade kerf plus any wobble from bearings, guides, collars, feeding problems and plate harmonics (running too close to a critical speed.
Kerf as Cut – the actual width of the cut including material removed by cutting plus material pullout from the sides if any.
Final Kerf – the measured kerf after cutting which includes any material springback from material compressed during cutting.
Kerf (http://www.woodproductsonlineexpo.com/glossary.php/k.html)
1. Width of the cut made by a saw blade.
2. The width of the saw tooth at its outermost widest point.
Nominal Kerf – calculated kerf – possible if everything works perfectly
Cut Kerf – width of the cut
Saw Tip Kerf – width of the saw tooth at its widest point
Saw Blade Kerf (nominal) – specified cutting width of the saw blade
Saw Blade Kerf (actual) – The true cutting width of the saw blade. The nominal or specified width of the saw blade plus variations in the saw plate and ground tips. Saw blades can be ground so that side clearance variation can be as little as -0.0000” / +0.0005”. If the nominal kerf is 0.100” and you add 0.0005” for each side then actual saw blade kerf becomes 0.101”. Variations in side clearance as high as 0.005” to 0.008” are more common. Then you must account for warping of the plate if any. (Often the tips immediately after the expansion slots will show the most side clearance variation.)
Running Kerf or Cutting Kerf – This is the actual saw blade kerf plus any wobble from bearings, guides, collars, feeding problems and plate harmonics (running too close to a critical speed.
Kerf as Cut – the actual width of the cut including material removed by cutting plus material pullout from the sides if any.
Final Kerf – the measured kerf after cutting which includes any material springback from material compressed during cutting.