BPM Toolcraft Magazine - Are Premium Saw Blades Worth it - Article - Continued - BPM Toolcraft Magazine - Magazine - Page 21
BPM Toolcraft Magazine - Are Premium Saw Blades Worth it - Article - Continued
Figure 1
Depending on the user, a good-quality
saw blade should return 8 sharpens
before the blade needs to be replaced.
At the time of writing, the cost to
sharpen a Freud blade was 5% to 10%
of the blade's total cost.
THE TIP
The difference in blade quality is
primarily found in the carbide tip
and relates to the materials used
and their combined ratios.
How these ingredients are mixed
and baked is also vitally important
as these processes determine the
consistency, structural integrity and
final density of the tip's quality.
Moreover, the tip's brazing
differentiates quality blades from
budget buys. Premium circular-saw
blades typically use a combination
of copper and silver-solder as the
brazing material, whereas entry-level
blades generally use silver-solder
only.
If you're a DIYer or
occasional saw-blade
user that isn't concerned
about accuracy,
tolerance and a fine
finish, in most cases, a
budget, throw-away saw
blade will meet your
needs.
The added copper increases the
blade's impact resistance and
shock-absorbing qualities that
prevent the tip from chipping.
Finally, the carbide tip's thickness
determines how often the blade can
be sharpened and how much value
can be extracted over its lifetime.
THE BODY
Because most low-cost saw blades
are designed to be thrown away and
not sharpened, they're typically
produced from low-quality steel that
gets stamped out in large numbers.
Of course, lower-quality steel is
more likely to warp when exposed to
heat; however, the stamping process
also imparts stress and tension to
the steel, which can later resurface
as vibrations and warping.
In contrast, most premium-blade
manufacturers source their steel
from Bohle – a supplier renowned
for quality and consistency – and
the blades are laser cut for better
precision.
After cutting, Freud blades go
through a double-sided surface
grinder, improving their accuracy /
tolerance and reducing the chances
of imperfections.
High-quality saw blades are also
individually balanced to guarantee
better harmonics and fewer
vibrations. In most cases, budget
circular saw blades are not
balanced.
That said, the goal of any premium
saw blade is to have the lowest
possible level of vibrations
compared to its competitors. High
vibrations lead to messier cuts, wider
tolerances, heat build-up, and faster
blunting of the carbide tips.
CONCLUSION
However, suppose you're a
contractor, manufacturer, or
dedicated woodworking enthusiast.
In that case, you can take comfort in
knowing that large-scale sawmills
have already determined that
premium blades are worth it – not
just in terms of cost per running
meter, but also the inconvenience
and downtime associated with
frequently replacing cheaper blades.