Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 14, 2008 08:32am | #1

   I'll suggest trying out a Diablo, Ridgid or Avanti blade.  I use a Diablo on my 12" Bosch, but a different model than what you'd want for that thickness of wood.  You can get any of these blades at Home Depot, give it a try and if it doesn't cut as well as you want, return it.  You may end up with two blades, if you're wanting really clean cuts in thinner stock than 4" x 6"   The 96-tooth and 100-tooth blades are going to struggle in that thick stuff, but cut very nicely in smaller stock. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

   
   

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   Edited 1/14/2008 12:34 am by forestgirl

2. 
   bones | Jan 14, 2008 10:13pm | #2

   If the use is for furniture grade stuff, I would go with the Forrest Chopmaster. You just cant beat a Forrest blade. If its framing grade, go with a constrcution grade blade from freud or other brand.  That's M2CW. 

    

    

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
3. 
   vanderpooch | Jan 15, 2008 04:14am | #3

   Rainman,

   You really want a full kerf blade on a 12"saw, preferably one with a negative hook angle, which makes the blade less "grabby", especially if your saw is a slider. I have a CMT I really like, a Dewalt that I like, too, and some FS Tool blades ($$$$). The CMT and Dewalt are mid-range pricewise. By that I mean in the 60 - 90 dollar range.

   Some people like thin kerf blades, but really they are designed for underpowered machines. Your Makita has plenty of oomph. The thick kerf will stay sharp longer and give you more accurate cuts. This is especially noticeable when shaving just a hair off a piece for that perfect fit.

   Personally, I have a Diablo for my 10" and I remain unimpressed. I guess if you need a blade now and only have a Home Depot around. Freud's industrial blades are excellent and the Diablo is a great blade for a skill saw, just not for a 12'.

   Hope this helps,

   - Kit

   Technique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 15, 2008 08:04am | #4

   We've been 'round with this "negative hook" stuff before, and you don't need that on a non-sliding saw.  Charles from Freud posted about it, but I don't know where, I just remember Sarge humbly apologizing for continuing to perpetuate the myth. <grin>forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   vanderpooch | Jan 15, 2008 08:17am | #5

   Yup, that's why I said "especially if you have a slider." With a sensitive hand, you can feel the difference, even on a non-slider. Not necessary though.- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens

1. 
   Elcoholic | Jan 15, 2008 10:21pm | #6

   The Tenyru thin kerf that came on my Mak 12" slider flexed on compound cuts.  I replaced it with the FS Tools HD mitre blade and couldn't be happier.  I can breakdown a pile of 10" wide 12/4 rough sawn white oak or make a perfect picture frame.  Happy Happy.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   The more things change ...

   We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized.  I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

   Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC

4. 
   RW | Jan 16, 2008 02:14am | #7

   I think the point here is theres a number of very good blades out there in all price ranges. I also have used everything mentioned and another twenty or so others. So, lets see, six people have given their 2 cents, plus mine, you're up to 14 pennies worth now.

   The cheapies that come on saws I dont even use anymore. They just sit around. For work that I know is abusive to a blade I use Systimatics because they're heavy and strong and cheap to buy.

   My favorite TS blade of all time was a FS Tool. They're hard to get here but they make some great wares.

   My favorite all time SCMS blade was a m a t s u s h i t a. I have about 10 of those, and they're all thin kerf, and all hand tuned, and I'd put the cut quality up against anything else, any day. And the length of life between sharpenings. Which isnt to dog or poo poo anyone else; they're just great, end of story.

   Forrests, used a little, liked real well.

   Diablos I think make for good frisbees if you can find one flat enough to catch an air current. Sorry Charles.

   I have a number of specialty blades, i.e. melamine, ferrous, from Amana. The melamine blade is one of their fancy "ditech" types and that thing is amazing, but the ferrous blade, ehh. Its ok. Amanas prestige dado set though, thats what every other dado set ought to want to be when they grow up. Thats a great dado.

    

    

   Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

   
   

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   Edited 1/15/2008 6:15 pm by RW