What You Should Know About Circular Saw Blades

Tooth design is the determining factor in deciding which blade is best for which industrial application.

Here's a quick overview of how subtle changes in bevel, gullet and kerf affect cutting performance.

Circular Saw Blade Design

BEVEL

Teeth can have a single bevel, two bevels or no bevel at all. Types of bevels can alternate from tooth to tooth on a given blade. The bevel is what gives the blade its specific cutting pattern.

GULLET

This is the space between teeth that clears the work piece of chips after the cut. The deeper the gullet, the more efficiently chips are cleared.

KERF

This is the face of the tooth, where the actual cutting takes place. The pattern of alternating kerfs, known as the grind, decides what applications a blade is best for.

GRIND

There are many types of grinds, but the five basic ones are:

FTG

Flat top grind (FTG)

Best for ripping.

ATB

Alternate top bevel (ATB)

For crosscutting, cut-off and trimming.

TCG

Triple chip grind (TCG)

Perfect for hard, abrasive materials like non-ferrous metals, hardwoods and plastics.

MCT

Multi-purpose carbide tipped (MCT)

For ripping and crosscutting, mitre.

TRI)

Tri-grind (TRI)

Combination grind.