Thread: positive rake or negative rake angle for saw blades?

Check out this page on the CMT tools website.

http://www.cmtusa.com/store/index1.i..._sawblades.jpg

The negative rake is used on Radial Arm saws because of the direction on cut in relation to the direction of the blade.

as one of the ilustrations in Wood Borer's link shows the rake angle is derived by drawing a line from the centre of the circular blade and measuring the angle of the tooth against that line
if you then rotate the blade in the direction it would be entering the wood a negative rake will have the inner part of the tooth touching that line first and a positive rake will have the outer tip of the tooth touching the line

a positive rake tends to pull the work towards the blade this is desireable in a table saw as that also pulls the work down onto the surface of the table

a negative rake on the other hand tends to push the work away from the blade which is desireable in a radial arm saw because it pushes the work towards where it is being supported

[QUOTE=EMistral]Hi guys,

Timbecon told me that I could use them providing the fact they have a negative rake angle.

Timbecon are wrong ! A table saw requires the use of a positive rake saw blade and generally it is dangerous to use a neg rake blade in a table saw. Only possible exception is maybe if sheet acrylic is being cut. We should actually be seriously concerned if retailers give blatantly incorrect, and possibly dangerous, advice to customers. Sure suggests that they don't use the equipment that they sell.

Hi guys,


timbecon did not make any mistake
I made the mistake when cutting and pasting their email
Timbecon suggested me to use a blade with a positive rake angle to be used in table saw not a negative one
For an unknow reason, I was convinced that it was the other way round until I reread my post and noticed the error

sorry for my mistake
Lucky I have noticed in time

I have no problem using negative rake blades in my saw bench, However the ones I use are quite fine and are for specific work.
I wouldn't use one for general use.
I've spoken to a couple of blokes who work in laminated board & don't have a scribing saw they swear by triple chip reverse rake blades.
It is wise to have more blade thru the work and I always use a riving Knife.
Nex time you are at ant serious timber machine supplier or saw doctor grab a manufacturers cataloge (like the CMT) they usualy have information on all that sort of stuff in them.