Best 12 Inch Miter Saw blade?

[Mike Henderson]

I recently bought the Bosch 4212L non-slider 12 inch miter saw. Now I need recommendations as to what's the best blade to put in it. The best two I've found so far are the Freud LU85R012 (96 teeth) and the Forrest CM12806115 Chopmaster (80 teeth). The Freud is a bit more expensive but not enough to really make a difference.

Which would you purchase? Or is there another blade that you'd prefer? Any help, advice, or opinions will be appreciated.

Mike

BTW, I don't have much time on it yet, but I am pleased with the Bosch 4212 so far.

[Alan DuBoff]

Mike,

I have the Chopmaster, it's a good blade and leaves a clean, smooth cut. I use it for all decent lumber I cut. I use another blade when I cut wet 2x4 lumber, since the pitch usually gets all over it. I use the stock DeWALT blade that came on my saw. I have a 12" DeWALT slider.

Even though the Chopmaster is a fine blade, I think it's overpriced. If $$$s are not an issue, just get it and be done with it, IMO.

I've been using Leitz blades which I'm pleased with at a fraction of the price. Leitz Tooling, one of the Leitz distributers had some 12" 80 ATB negative hook blades recentely:

35-654 12" z80 ATB -Negative Hook- 1" bore $37

This was a Delta branded Leitz blade, being closed out by Delta. If you're interested, send me an email and I'll give you the contact info, I don't think Mike Jackson posts to SMC, he's the owner of Leitz Tooling. I recently bought some 14" z24 rip blades, which I'm going to use on my 16" table saw. They were only $12, amazing, good quality blades. Looks the same as the Leitz Pro 10" z24 I use on my old Ridgid 3612 ($29, regular retail for Leitz Tooling), and what a deal for a 14" blade. I also got a 16" 80 ATB blade, but had to pay $45 for it. But go look up the price of Forrest 16" blades...:eek: I find the margins smaller on larger blades by Forrest though, so their 16" prices are not bad...just not as good as Mike give me.;)

I also have a 10" WWII for my old Ridgid, it cuts well also, just that it's not a rip blade specific (although works fine) and I find the z24 works well for that as I mostly rip on my table saw. So, I do believe Forrest makes excellent blades, just priced at a point that exceeds some hobbyist like myself. Either way, it's only a blade...and it's not gonna break the bank to spend even $200 on one for most folks.

However, if you want the top of line for miter saws, and have cash to burn, I highly reccomend the Forrest Chopmaster. Next time I need a blade for my miter saw, I'll see what Leitz Tooling is offering and try to get something Leitz, but the Chopmaster is a fine blade that I'm very happy with and still using. Mine is still sharp after cutting up close to 1200bf of lumber, but it was mostly 1"x6" knotty pine which is really soft.

You don't need to buy blades that often, under normal conditions, so even spending $125 on a blade that will last several years for most hobbyist is not that big of a deal. OTOH, I find Leitz blades are quite a good deal for a hobbyist, and from that perspective I'm a convert as there's no reason for me to spend more than I need to, I'd rather invest in nice wood, and the Leitz blades give me a nice cut also.

[tod evans]

mike, i like to run nonferrous metal blades on my chopsaw. try one you`ll be impressed....02 tod

[Matt Meiser]

I've got a 96 tooth Freud blade in my non-slider 12" miter saw and am happy with it. I also have a Dewalt blade which dulled quickly, but most likely that was my fault since I used it to cut laminate flooring.

[Frank Fusco]

mike, i like to run nonferrous metal blades on my chopsaw. try one you`ll be impressed....02 tod

Please explain, this is a new one to me, nonferrous means no steel or iron. What are they made of?

[tod evans]

Please explain, this is a new one to me, nonferrous means no steel or iron. What are they made of?

frank, most blade manufacturers make blades for cutting nonferrous metals. these blades are generally of a negitive rake design with the carbide ground in a tripple chip configuration. these blades have proven to give glass smooth cuts far longer than the standard atbr positive hook design most folks use. but the drawback is that the saw works slightly harder during the cut.. i generally get about year between sharpenings in light industrial use....02 tod

[Russ Massery]

I have a Dewalt Slider (DW705). I've have the Forrest Chopmaster on it now. Which after using several other blades. I can say that this is by far the best blade I've had. Here's a link to a great deal on it.http://www.forrestsawbladesonline.com/index.html

[Brian Gumpper]

For those that want to see a nice chart showing different tooth geometries, I have one from Tenryu on my website.

http://www.holbren.com/catalogs/toothgeometry.pdf

I've never used a non-ferous metal blade but can understand why they would work well. Not only the negative rake but the TCG. The TCG is the equivalent of using a straight bit to clean out the waste in a dovetail and then using the dovetail bit to do the finishing cut. The center kerf cut teeth remove the mass of material and raker comes in and cleans it up.

My understanding though was that something like an ATAFR is the best for miters because of the shearing action of the ATAF tooth then the raker to come in and clean it out.

Forest knows what they are doing so I'm sure you can't go wrong with their blade. I use a Ridge Carbide on my 10" saw only because I sell them and it works well.

[Mike Henderson]

Thanks for your comments and advice. One more question - which do your prefer in a 12 inch miter saw - a thin kerf or a full width blade?

The thin kerf would cut faster but might deflect, while the full width will cut slower, require more power, but won't deflect as easily, especially when trimming a tiny bit off the end.

Mike

[scott spencer]

Thanks for your comments and advice. One more question - which do your prefer in a 12 inch miter saw - a thin kerf or a full width blade?

The thin kerf would cut faster but might deflect, while the full width will cut slower, require more power, but won't deflect as easily, especially when trimming a tiny bit off the end.

Mike I've had great results from high quality 10" TK's in <3hp table saws, but there should be less need and less noticeable benefit for crosscutting with a CMS, therefore I'd lean towards full kerf....especially with a 12" blade.

[Per Swenson]

Hello,

Thin kerf works fine if you only cut straight down 90 deg to the table.

Once you start leaning the saw over however, I am not enthusiastic

about the results. Full kerf is blade of choice.

Per

[Terry Flowers]

If you decide on the Chopmaster, Amazon has the best deal I have seen on the 12". $101, free shipping, and if you need other stuff you get a $25 gift cert. for future purchases.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000223VX/qid=1152400045/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-4740928-6619209?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=hi&v=glance&n=228013

Terry

[Bret Olmsted]

I have had a great experience with the 12" Chopmaster. It had a slightly wider kerf than the blade that came with my saw. The cuts have been very smooth and I would not hesitate to buy one again.

The price of $101 is a great price; I think I paid around $112.

[Jim Becker]

Regarding kerf...I used to use a "thin kerf" blade and found it really wandered too much for my taste. As to the blade, I bought a Forrest ChopMaster about a year a go to replace a different manufacturer's blade and it was "wows-ville".

[Sam Chambers]

I have a DeWalt DW705 CMS, and love my 12" Forrest Chopmaster. But I get pretty good results with a 12" Dewalt 80 tooth, too.

[Mike Henderson]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. It seems that many of you have had good experience with the Forrest Chopmaster.

I appreciate you sharing your experience and suggestions.

Mike

[Steve Evans]

Another vote for the Chopmaster, and a negative for thin kerf. I found that a Freud thin kerf was cutting a nice arc on some hardwoods even on a 90deg cut.

Steve

[Ted Jay]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. It seems that many of you have had good experience with the Forrest Chopmaster.

I appreciate you sharing your experience and suggestions.

Mike

Wait a minute.... didn't you say this was NEW? What blade came with it? Did you wear it out already?:p
(I bought the Bosch 10" laser slider during the last Wood show and the blade that came with it is excellent so far for what I've been cutting.)
Ted

[Mike Henderson]

Ted, the Bosch 4212 comes from the factory with a 40 tooth blade (didn't check who made it). For fine cross cuts, I think a blade with more teeth will produce a better cut - that's why I was asking.

I may not buy a new blade immediately but I want to know which one to pounce on when it goes on sale - or when Amazon offers some discount.

Mike

[troy havard]

i have the freud and like it. it is all that i have had. not really a chopsaw guy so i hardly ever use it.