January 4, 2023
If you are skeptical about using a thin kerf table saw blade, I think it’s time to forgo your skepticism. The truth is the laser-thin table saw blade will cut like a smoldering knife through butter. For example, if you use a table saw blade with 1/16″ kerf, you might be surprised by how it flawlessly cut through wood like a very sharp knife. The cutting result, of course, is excellent.
Moreover, if your table saw seems to belabor the cutting of material, it might be because your table saw blade has a thicker kerf that needs to remove more material. So, it will help to go for a thin kerf saw blade that can remove less material but delivers excellent cutting results.
A thin kerf, of course, in the mind of the experts, may range somewhere between .092” to .10” thick. Besides, with less material taken out by the thin-kerf blade, the motor gets some relief.
Why Should You Go for Thin Kerf Table Saw Blades?
Saw blades have been improving a lot, and nowadays, they have become thinner and thinner. Better engineering has brought about this remarkable reduction in saw blade thickness. With a thinner blade, a table saw will require less power to cut through materials.
Since thinner saw blades remove fewer materials, they require less effort to cut through workpieces. They are cleaner to use and produce minimal sawdust. Hence, with thinner kerf blades, your shop becomes a bit healthier with fewer billows of sawdust.
The advancements in CNC machining and metallurgy have brought about this remarkable reduction in the thickness of the saw blades. The saw blades likewise become lighter but still retain their stiffness and cutting performance. So, if you want better cutting results, it will be best to consider the use of thin-kerf blades.
Having known the significance of kerf in the efficiency and effectiveness of your cuts, you can now consider switching to the use of thin kerf saw blades. Below is a rundown of the most recommended thin kerf saw blades:
Best Table Saw’s Thin Kerf Blades
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1) Freud LU79R012
Freud, as a company, pioneers in producing thin kerf blades. It rolled out the LU79R012, which features a very thin kerf. It can provide you with chip-free cuts in fine moldings, veneered plywood, laminates, and melamine. It can also provide you with clean crosscuts.
The Freud LU79R012 comes with 96 teeth. These teeth feature tips made of Carbide. Moreover, these tips allow this blade to keep the edges of its teeth sharp. Besides, the tungsten carbide makes the tips extra hard.
This blade also comes with anti-corrosion properties. It is likewise heat resistant and impact resistant. Thus, you won’t need to resharpen the teeth of this saw blade more often, saving you money and time.
The LU79R012 also has anti-vibration slots that lessen the noise and vibrations. Moreover, the design of the teeth is of Hi-ATB design for its teeth. This design, together with slots that lessen vibrations, allow this saw blade to cut smoothly. Hence, it no longer needs a stabilizer.
2) Freud D1060X (Diablo)
The Freud D1060X (Diablo) is another excellent thin kerf saw blade rolled out by Freud. It is a saw blade perfect for crosscutting. It features sixty teeth characterized by Hi-ATB teeth. It may not deliver similar glassy cuts produced by a full kerf saw blade, but it will indeed deliver excellent crosscuts. It is likewise less expensive than other options. It also has hi-density carbide tips that enhance its performance.
Moreover, it has a specialized coating (Perma-Shield) that keeps the saw blade clean and prevents overheating or corrosion. Its thin kerf is like a laser that could make clean cuts. It is also durable and cuts fast. Moreover, this blade is an excellent general-purpose blade.
3) DEWALT DW3114
Another thin kerf saw blade worth considering is the DEWALT DW3114. It is a ten-inch saw blade that comes with forty teeth. It also features a 5/8″ arbor. This saw blade can handle tough cutting jobs. Its thin kerf allows for the fast and smooth cutting action.
The DEWALT DW3114 also comes with a plate that exhibits sterling balance. This plate allows for fewer vibrations. Thus, you can expect a more precise cut from this saw blade. With this saw blade, you can cut both softwood and hardwood. You can also cut with ease plywood and molding.
4) Amana Tool MA10050
Another excellent option if you’re looking for a thin kerf saw blade is the Amana Tool MA10050. It is a ten-inch saw blade that comes with fifty teeth. It also comes with a 5/8″ bore. Moreover, it is perfect for contractor’s use.
The Amana Tool MA10050 has a specialized coating (non-stick) that reduces friction. It is also carbide-tipped. Thus, you get assured that this blade is protected against corrosion and buildup of the pitch.
Its plate features a laser-cut design with expansion slots that allow for fewer vibrations. Plus, it features stabilizer vents to lessen vibrations.
5) Kempston 99312
It is a carbide-tipped blade that is perfect for use by serious woodworkers. It makes use of the latest technology in the manufacturing saw blade and utilizes quality materials. Each blade exhibits consistency and accuracy during the cutting process.
The Kempston 99312 doesn’t overheat and comes with a specialized design (chip-limitation) for preventing kickback. It also offers excellent balance and is safe to use. Besides, it features a heat-resistant coating (non-stick) that lessens vibrations and friction. It also keeps this saw blade clean and easy to maintain.
What Other Features of Thin Kerf Should You Consider?
The main story about saw blades is their teeth. More often, when you buy saw blades, you ask the TPI of the prospective saw blade. The TPI, of course, plays a crucial role in the efficiency and effectiveness of the saw blade. But there are also other features you need to consider, like the saw blade coatings. Coatings can be Teflon (PTFE), chrome, powder coating, or other coatings. These coatings can prevent corrosion and keep the saw blade clean.
Another feature is the noise-suppression slots of the saw blade. The noise suppression slots minimize the vibration of the saw blades. They also absorb the noise of the saw blade as it hits the wood. You can select those that come with slots with polymer. These slots can dampen noise more effectively.
If you’re a serious woodworker, you may find your hearing affected by the constant exposure to the saw blade’s noise. So, you need to wear ear protection when engaged in cutting. Moreover, you should choose saw blades with a noise-dampening feature.
Thin Kerf vs. Thick Kerf
Before you can compare thin kerf and thick kerf, it will help to clarify the meaning of the word kerf. The kerf is the blade width, or the cut width created by the saw blade. If you engage in heavy wood projects, it would be best to go for thicker kerf blades. However, if you will only do more manageable woodworking tasks, you might as well go for thin kerf blades. Of course, thicker kerf can provide accurate cuts. But they also necessitate more power out of the motor.
Thin kerf saw blades, on the other hand, require less power. Thus, they can provide smoother cuts. They also last longer. If you don’t want to overwork your saw motor, you might as well go for thin kerf blades. Your saw motor will exhibit bogging if you overwork it. So, in case your saw are bogging down, then use a thin kerf saw blade. In this way, your motor will get a reprieve from the heavy workload, while the saw blade only removes fewer materials.
Another thing is that you can find top-notch thin kerf blades that cut like a regular kerf saw blade. But it will be best to use a stabilizer to get optimum performance from a thin kerf saw blade. On the other hand, full-kerf saw blades come in 1/8-inch thick or more. Plus, it will be best to use this type of blade on three horsepower motors.
Conclusion
The thin kerf saw blades are considered specialty blades. They got created to reduce material waste when cutting expensive wood. Since they got thin kerf, they only cut out materials minimally. They are also perfect for lowering splintering while you cut.
They may come with many advantages, but their use also comes with downsides. Since they are thinner, they are also prone to vibrations, kickbacks, and overheating. With less side clearance, these blades almost got no side clearance. There are always the risks of overheating with lower side clearance, especially when you engage in rip cuts and long cuts.
Jason is a 40-year-old woodworker, carpenter and author who have been involved in the woodworking and woodcraft industry with 17 years of experience. He is expertise in technical aspects, woodcraft and furniture building projects.