Recommend a moderately price CMS blade

[Dewayne Reding]

I'm going to order a 12" miter saw blade today with the Amazon discount. I've spent WAY too much money on my hobby lately, so the Forrest Chopmaster is going to have to wait until next time. Anything will be a big improvement over the 32 teeth construction blade the saw came with. 90% of the time this blade will be used to cut 1/2-3/4 oak, and birch plywood for my workshop furniture. I am building clocks so chip out is no good. I threw on my 10" Freud Diablo 60 tooth. Almost good enough, but not quite. How many teeth do I need on a 12" blade? 80 or even more? I'd like to keep this in the $40-50 range.

[Joe Chritz]

I'm using a Freud 90 tooth on my 12" dewalt.

It does a good job but I was only able to find a thin kerf local and was in a bind for some frames.

If you can find an 80 or 90 tooth Freud regular kerf it should give good service.

Keep it sharp.

Joe

[Jim Becker]

I agree with Joe, something in the 80-90t range is appropriate and also with the "full kerf". I put a TK blade on my 12" CMS originally and found it "wandered" too much. The full kerf blade on it now doesn't have that problem.

[Dewayne Reding]

Perhaps I could help myself better if I asked a few questions about specs. Tooth types I have seen are ATB or Triple Chip. From my searches I think I need a negative hook on the teeth. Saw is not underpowered, so I should rule out thin kerf blades altogether, or not? As original post stated, mostly crosscutting 1/2-3/4 oak stock, and birch plywood.

Edit, I type too slow, Jim has answered the TK question.

[Jeff Weight]

Go buy the Hitachi 12" that's on sale at Amazon. Several have reported getting it for $20 or less with the current promotions.

I bought one before Christmas for $40. I've been very happy with it's performance. I'd say it's as good as the Freud LU85M on my 10" CMS.

[glenn bradley]

My current satisfaction with a 10" model and the cost of 12" blades has kept me where I am. For a 12" x-cut; 80-90T as Jim states. I would not however waste $40 - $50 as opposed to spending $100 for a blade that would provide years of service. In the long run it just doesn't make sense for me.

P.s. I'm not trying to spend your money. I've just spent more in the long run buying 'another' something because I tried to cut costs on the first item. If others can learn from my mistakes, I'm happy to make them first.

[Dewayne Reding]

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW7649-12-Inch-Crosscut-Woodworking/dp/B00008K2TR/sr=1-23/qid=1171216917/ref=sr_1_23/102-8128770-5103332?ie=UTF8&s=hi


Anyone ever use the Dewalt DW7649?

It fits the budget and is not a thin kerf. I understand the better Dewalt blades can be sharpened many times? Hitachi $20 deal is over for the moment. That seems just little bit too cheap to be very good anyway. Unless Amazon is actually losing considerable money on them.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Dewayne,
The Hitachi deal at Amazon is still working . . . .

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=B00006412D%20&tag=wwwemcadjusti-20&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

When you check out you will get 25% Hitachi Discount and 20% Blade Discount making it about $20.

The blade normally sells for $56 so I wouldn't let its current pricing opportunity be a negative. Look at the photos of the Hitachi linked above and the DeWalt you are comapring. Carbide looks as thick as the DW. The DW says that their carbide is C4 and I believe someone said the Hitachi was C3. Not a big difference, if both statements are correct. The Hitachi is using laser cut noise and heat expansion slots which look better than the DW. If you want to put a DW on the saw because you have a DW saw then you can let that be the deciding factor.

[scott spencer]

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW7649-12-Inch-Crosscut-Woodworking/dp/B00008K2TR/sr=1-23/qid=1171216917/ref=sr_1_23/102-8128770-5103332?ie=UTF8&s=hi


Anyone ever use the Dewalt DW7649?

It fits the budget and is not a thin kerf. I understand the better Dewalt blades can be sharpened many times? Hitachi $20 deal is over for the moment. That seems just little bit too cheap to be very good anyway. Unless Amazon is actually losing considerable money on them.

Iv'e tried the 10" version of the 7649...the 7647. All of the series 60 DW blades that I've tried have impressed...typically exceeding expectations. Made in the UK.

Here's my review of the DW7647:
http://www.epinions.com/content_245518143108

[Dewayne Reding]

"If you want to put a DW on the saw because you have a DW saw then you can let that be the deciding factor."

Jeff

Somebody please stop me if I ever start acting all eccentric and matching blade brands to saws. :) The link you posted is for a 10" blade, but it also worked for a 12". I sure I can get $21.99 worth out of the Hitachi even if I later decide to use it for baseboard.

Thanks for the link Scott, I'll jump on the Dewalt if the Hitachi really takes over a month to arrive.

[Jim McCarty]

The Amazon and Hitachi deals don't seem to be happening right now. Jim

[Jim McCarty]

The Amazon and Hitachi deals don't seem to be happening right now. Jim
When I went through the check-out program the discounts never showed up. I stopped just short of final check-out. Does the discount only show after final checkout? Thanks, Jim:confused:

[Jeffrey Schronce]

When I went through the check-out program the discounts never showed up. I stopped just short of final check-out. Does the discount only show after final checkout? Thanks, Jim:confused:

Here is the link for the 12"

http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-726101-12-Inch-Tooth-Circular/dp/B0006HKB42/sr=1-1/qid=1171240907/ref=sr_1_1/002-2704846-0142401?ie=UTF8&s=hi

The 25% off Hitachi will automatically apply. If you are having problems with the 20% code check this out . . . .

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/promotions/terms-conditions.html?ie=UTF8&promo=A1JJ1WEXODK7FQ&merchantID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag2=wwwemcadjusti-20

[Jeffrey Schronce]

"If you want to put a DW on the saw because you have a DW saw then you can let that be the deciding factor."

Jeff

Somebody please stop me if I ever start acting all eccentric and matching blade brands to saws. :) The link you posted is for a 10" blade, but it also worked for a 12". I sure I can get $21.99 worth out of the Hitachi even if I later decide to use it for baseboard.

Thanks for the link Scott, I'll jump on the Dewalt if the Hitachi really takes over a month to arrive.

Please understand that I didn't mean anything negative by my statement. It's just that some folks do this and I am a live and let live type of guy! :)

Did anyone check out the top selling power tool accessories rright now? In the top 100 there are like 15 saw blades with the Forrest and Hitachi products being right up there!

[Jim McCarty]

Thanks for the links. Got a 12" ordered. Won't ship until March or April but I'm not in a hurry. Just need a backup and at this price, why not?

[Dewayne Reding]

"Please understand that I didn't mean anything negative by my statement. It's just that some folks do this and I am a live and let live type of guy! :)"

No problem Jeff. I just got a chuckle out of it, because as a rule, I am indeed brand conscious. But I figured out fairly quick that it would cost me considerable money, as well as quality if I limited myself to a single brand for all my wood working tools. No single tool manufacturer makes the best of everything IMO. And certainly not in my price range. I'd bet 50% plus of the tools come with blades from another company. (in spite of the brand that might be painted on the blade).

Thanks again. Anxious to see what I get for $22 delivered.

[Dewayne Reding]

I received the 12" 90 tooth Hitachi today. Although it said it would ship in one to two months at time of order, it only took a bit over a week. Haven't used it much of course, but it seems to cut very nice as a miter saw blade. I've cut birch plywood, solid oak and pine with zero chip out. I'm very pleased. It still appears to be a $22 blade after the two discounts with free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006HKB42/ref=ord_cart_shr/102-8128770-5103332?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[Joe Chritz]

As a related note...

I just built a zero clearance insert for my dewalt SCMS. It made a huge difference in any chipout I was getting. I know get none on the front, top and bottom edges and if I don't push fast almost none on the back.

Well worth the 20 minutes to put together.

Joe

[Kelly C. Hanna]

I use the 12" Diablo by Freud....you can't go wrong for the price and the coating resists pitch and gum buildup.