The Best Miter Saw Blades to Cut Through the Thickest of Materials
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Forrest CM10806105 Chopmaster 10-Inch 80 Tooth ATBR Miter Saw Blade -
Amana Tool - MS12800-5/8 Carbide Tipped Miter Saw Blade -
Tenryu Carbide Miter Saw Blade -
Freud Silver Ice Miter Saw Blade -
Oshlun SBNF-100100 10-Inch 100 Tooth TCG Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor for Aluminum and Non Ferrous Metals -
Buyer's Guide
I still have a radial arm saw in my workshop. When my friends see it, they ask me why bother when their sliding miter saw can do just about everything my radial arm saw can do. Well, what can I say, some of us like the old stuff. I will say if I was in the market for one, miter saws on the market today (especially the sliding miter saws), really make my radial arm look old fashioned in comparison.
Power miter saws started out as a replacement for the old wooden miter box and back saw. They were essentially used just for cutting moldings on houses and maybe the occasional molding in a cabinet shop. Modern miter saws have gone way beyond, allowing precision double angle cuts in much larger and thicker material than ever before.
Since miter saws are used for crosscutting a variety of types of wood, a blade which can handle a variety of materials is important. You need to buy a blade which cuts your toughest material thus ensuring easier materials are a cinch.
It’s a shame to see someone spend hundreds of dollars on a high quality miter saw and use the cheap blade which came with it. The blade handles the actual cutting and ultimately decides the quality, and especially the smoothness, of your final cut. I’d rather have a cheap saw with a good blade than a good saw with a cheap blade any day. You can check out our list of the best miter saw blades in 2022.
Lower quality blades will cause three basic problems:
- Make a more uneven cut with visible blade marks visible.
- Cause more splintering especially as a blade gets older and duller.
- Cheap blades dull faster, damaging material and requiring frequent changes.
So, what’s going to give you the best quality cut in all kinds of woods? Let’s look at these basics:
- You definitively want a carbide-tipped blade. Since wood is highly fibrous, it’s abrasive
on saw blades. A carbide-tipped saw blade will last way longer than a steel blade.
- The more teeth on a blade will ensure a smooth cut. While you might be able to get by with a lower number of teeth, a higher tooth count will really show in cases where extra-smooth cuts are necessary.
- The blade is designed to avoid vibration either through the use of extra-rigid materials to avoid flexing or by laser-cut reliefs in the blade which dissipate vibrations.
- Adequate tooth design to avoid splitting. Manufacturers experiment with different designs in order to come up with a blade which isn’t going to damage your material.
There are a lot of miter saw blades available to choose from, so this was a difficult choice. While most of these probably aren’t available in your local hardware store, they’re worth the wait to order online. I’ve mostly stuck to 12” saw blades with a 5/8 inch arbor for this review, but you should know that the same blades are available in smaller sizes or for 1 inch arbors if you need them.
Oshlun SBNF-100100 10-Inch 100 Tooth TCG Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor for Aluminum and Non Ferrous Metals
Compare The Best Miter Saw Blades Of 2022
Forrest CM10806105 Chopmaster 10-Inch 80 Tooth ATBR Miter Saw Blade - Best Miter Saw Blade Overall
For over 50 years Forrest has put all their of their efforts into making popular blades for fine woodworking of all types . This is a 12 inch, 100 tooth blade, with a 5/8” arbor with a saw kerf at only .105 inches, making for less material waste. The blade “plate” is heavier than normal to insure maximum stability and a negative face hook helps with rigidity reducing the possibility of the blade “grabbing” the workpiece. These blades are hand checked for runout, making them less than .002 off, the best in the industry while the teeth are a combination of 4 point and flat to eliminate bottom splintering. This blade will give the best cuts your miter saw has ever seen.
Amana Tool - MS12800-5/8 Carbide Tipped Miter Saw Blade - Runner Up
This is a 12 inch, 80 tooth blade with a one inch arbor and a saw kerf which is slightly larger than our number one at .122 inches; however, the plate is even thicker than the number one at .110 inch. The five degree negative rake on the teeth is the biggest negative rake of any of our picks, ensuring smooth cuts and won’t grab at your workpiece. Teeth are a combination of 4 point and flat to avoid splitting making this blade an excellent choice for plywood and soft wood moldings.
Tenryu Carbide Miter Saw Blade - Honorable Mention
The heavy duty polished blade plate on this high quality saw blade is fully hardened to insure minimum vibration. This 12” blade has 100 teeth designed to maintain both sharpness and flatness. It’s also laser cut in five spots around the perimeter for vibration elimination. The unique tooth design cuts the center of the saw kerf first, cleaning the corners of the cut out afterwards.
Freud Silver Ice Miter Saw Blade - Consider
Of all the saw blades on this review, Freud blades are the ones you are most likely to find in your local hardware store or lumberyard. While not considered in the same league as the more expensive blades I’ve mentioned, they’re still very high quality blades great for saving costly materials. This 12 inch blade has 72 teeth, an incredibly thin .090 kerf and the blade is laser cut both on the edge and in the body of the plate. Freud is clearly counting on the laser cuts more than stiffness to eliminate vibration but with this thin of a blade you can’t base it on stiffness.
Oshlun SBNF-100100 10-Inch 100 Tooth TCG Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor for Aluminum and Non Ferrous Metals - Best Miter Saw Blade
Even though this blade is a 10 inch blade, I wanted to add it to this review for the simple reason that it’s specifically designed for cutting aluminum and other non-ferrous metals. While carbide-tipped blades will cut aluminum, the soft metal tends to stick to the teeth of the blade. This blade has 100 teeth with a negative hook angle and a triple chip tooth grind around its 10 inch diameter plate. It will last longer for cutting aluminum than other carbide blades and leave a clean cut, without burrs. The expansion slots are copper plugged for reduced noise and vibration.
Buyer's Guide
One of the main advantages of using a miter saw is the efficiency of the process. The cut is clean and fast and so hassle free that you’re never going to want to get back. But all of those wonderful perks are erased if your blade is dull. Things become cumbersome and clumsy.
One of the things you’ll start observing when the blade becomes dull is that the speed of the cut will be reduced. Additionally, you’ll start seeing much more wood chipping that you would normally. Once you notice any of these two problems, remove your blade and give it a good look. If it’s in need of replacing you’ll likely see some rounding on the teeth and you’ll know it’s time to replace it.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing A Miter Saw Blade?
In order to choose the right miter saw blade you first must know what you’re trying to do with it. This determines what type of blade you’ll be going for.
Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself.
- What material will you be cutting? - Wood, plastic or metal will require different types of plates.
- What finish will you need? - This will determine the number of teeth you will need on the blade. The more teeth, the smoother the finish.
- What depth of cut will you need? This will determine the diameter of the blade you will choose.
How to Choose the Material>
The material that the blade is made from is going to be a telling point when it comes to the quality that you can expect and how long the blade will hold an edge. The most common options in this department include:
Carbon Steel - This is the most affordable option but it’s also the least durable. This blade will dull pretty easily and you will only be able to use it on softer material like wood and plastic.
High Speed Steel - A great budget solution, high speed steel is not as expensive as some of the other options on the list but it holds an edge quite well. It cuts through hardwood without a glitch and it will be able to take temperatures of up to 538 Celsius while maintaining hardness.
Carbide - these blades are great for extensive hardcore use. They’re ideal for cutting through any kind of material from softwood to steel.
Cobalt Steel - More expensive and durable than the HSS but not as pricey as the carbide, cobalt steel blades will likely have between 5-8% cobalt in the blade itself. These blades will maintain hardness up to 900 degrees centigrade or 1650 Fahrenheit.
How many teeth do you need?
Another important feature to consider is the number of teeth on the blade. This refers to the number of teeth you can find around the blade. A good rule of thumb is to look for at least 60 on a 10 inch blade. The higher the tooth count, the smoother the cut. Less teeth means a rougher cut but it will work quickly and effectively if a rough construction type cut is all you need.
How deep is the cut?
The depth of the cut is going to be determined by the diameter of the blade and there the two most common sizes are the 10-inch and the 12-inch blade. The 12-inch one can cut deep enough to cover a 4x4 piece of wood while the 10-inch one should be enough for a 2x4. Of course, you will be able to adjust your depth using the depth stop.
Check the Bore of the Blade
The bore is the hole inside the diameter of the blade that you use to fix it to your miter saw. It’s imperative that this hole be compatible with your miter saw. Check the fixed attachment on your power tool and go for a blade that has a bore of the same size. Alternatively, you can go for blades that have adjustable bores. These can fit a 16, 20 or 30 mm attachment.
If you already purchased a blade and the bore on it is larger than what your saw can support, you can fix it using an adapter ring.
What brand should you go for?
Despite what some manufacturers like to claim, it really makes no difference if you use a miter saw of one brand with a blade from another. However, brand name blades might hold an edge for longer and be made from better quality material.
Keep in mind, though, that circular saw blades should never be used in miter saws.
FAQ
Can you put a 10-inch blade on a 12-inch miter saw?
Yes, you can put a 10-inch blade on a 12-inch miter saw but not the other way around. The 12 inch blade is better for rough work that requires power, while the 10 inch one is more of a precision tool.
Is it worth getting a sliding miter saw?
That depends on the type of work you anticipate doing. The sliding miter saw is ideal for cutting longer pieces of wood down their length. If this is the sort of activity you see yourself doing frequently, it might be worth taking a look at the sliding miter saw.
Can I cut a 4x4 with a 10 inch miter saw?
Yes, you will be able to cut through a 4x4 with a 10-inch miter saw but you won’t be able to do it in one clean go. You will need to flip the workpiece over and cut on the other side as well. If you’re really looking to cut through it in one go, you might be better served by the 12 inch miter saw.
What's the difference between a miter saw and a sliding miter saw?
A miter saw will usually be stationary while a sliding one will be fixed on rails and allow for more freedom of movement. This means that you’ll be able to slide the saw back and forth and cut longer pieces of wood.
