Thread: What are THE BEST blades available in Australia?

Buying a good blade is one thing, but a good sharpening service is more important.

Spend $200 on a top blade then get it sharpened to perform like a 40 tooth Irwin rip? Why doesn't anyone talk about sharpening services

I have used a few diff ones.

Irwin Trade, Infinity, Freud and CMT.
IMO the Infinity is the best of these. Ultra sharp and cut like butter! Freud a close second, then CMT and Irwin. I use to think CMT were great, until I got the Infinity blades As always, compare cost vs quality and your intended use and hunt around for any reviews etc.

All my TCT saws get sent to Greg at SAWTEC in Coffs Harbour.

He is the best that I can find anywhere between Newcastle to Brisbane.
Fast turnaround and good pricing. Can also supply new Saws at great prices.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Buying a good blade is one thing, but a good sharpening service is more important.

Spend $200 on a top blade then get it sharpened to perform like a 40 tooth Irwin rip? Why doesn't anyone talk about sharpening services

Good point. Is it reasonable to expect that a good blade is at optimum sharpness when new (as I would a router bit), or is it more like a plane blade that you wouldn't dream of living with it's as-sold condition?

Originally Posted by Wongo

Now that is the first time you say something bad about Triton.

Heh - sometimes it isn't what I say, but what I don't....

Sure noone will suddenly run back through everything I've written in the public domain, but there are certain things that have never been talked about, and the astute observer will wonder why such and such a subject / tool / whatever has always been discretely avoided!

Interesting that noone is mentioning Carb-i-tool blades. Is that because noone has experienced them, or because they don't rate as well as the ones listed?

Originally Posted by Stuart

Good point. Is it reasonable to expect that a good blade is at optimum sharpness when new (as I would a router bit), or is it more like a plane blade that you wouldn't dream of living with it's as-sold condition?

Some yes, some no. I read a thread in an American forum a while ago where a guy bought a crap blade and had it sharpened to his spec (about the same as the Forrest WWII) he said that for $20 plus $20 for the sharpening he got a $100 blade.

Good blades are usually optimally sharp in my experience, it is keeping them that way that is hard, and why I made the earlier post about a decent sharpening service. Buy all the fancy blades you want but if your sharpening service is poor then don't expect the blade to last longer than three sharpenings (or to be as sharp as new ever again).

Fair point Groggy, about a blade only being as good as the bloke sharpening it. I've posted elsewhere, and right now can't remember the business name, I'll post the joint up tomorrow in here.

It's Saw something or other, run by an old bloke and his son in Coolstore Rd, Croydon. Cheap as chips, I feel guilty each time I get something sharpened by him, so much so that I often pay more.

(stuff it, I'll go down to the shed and get it)

Specialty Saws, Factory 13, 3 Coolstore Rd, Croydon. ph: 9725 8068. Talk to Andrew.

Just been following up on some of the companies referred to above - guys - you are not making the job easier!!!! There are a lot of very nice looking blades out there!

Freud Premier Fusion 40 tooth AB$175
Freud Glue Line Rip 30 tooth triple grind
(what is perma shield vs ICE? - some blades you get to choose which coating)
Freud Thick Stock Rip 18 tooth

Then there are stabilisers to go either side of the blade (good idea or not)?

And that is just narrowing down one company's blades!

addendum: 'tis a pity in this day and age some companies still can't use web resources adequately. Some, such as ATS don't even have a web presence. Wonder if they realise that is costing them potential sales?

Only read of glue line rip blades elsewhere this afternoon. I know they give a silky smooth cut, but where in the scheme of things and when would I use one?

There's a couple of brands most people won't have heard of that are used extensively in cabinet and joinery shops. Leuco, Leitz and Gudho, I've used them all and they are far better IMHO than CMT which isn't too bad itself.

Mick

I agreed with Mick, there are a stack of industrial quality blades out there that haven't been mentioned. Ake blades are superb (try Henry Saws in Sydney if you're interested). I have two Ake blades, both 10 inch (30mm arbour) that do all of my hardwood ripping and melamine work. These blades last - and can be sharpened many times over. I read somewhere that Ake blades can be sharpened 20 or 30 times, surely the real test of a blade.

Jeff

I have only used CMT blades and find them quite good but I have nothing to compare with.
On resharpening blades what about a Dado set they would have to be ground to the same diameter even if the blades hadn't been used??
les

Well I decided that the only sure way to get a (semi) conclusive answer on this is to do a bit of a head-to-head with the different blades.

I'm not sure if any other suppliers are going to be interested, but at this stage I'll be comparing Freud, CMT and Linbide (as well the Triple Cut Triton blades, premium (alternate bevel) Triton, and some GMC blades I already have).

If anyone has any suggestions about tests that will show up the strengths and weaknesses of these blades I'd be most interested.

Stuart,

There is no such thing as best of the best. You know what the ones are and you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Just buy the one you can afford.

Sorry mate but I think you are making it hard for yourself.