anyone used a Flai lama U ?

**Arron** · 6th January 2013, 08:18 AM

Hi. I need help selecting a table saw blade. I'm looking for a blade to do fine detail cuts - but along the grain. I hesitate to call this ripping because it brings to mind breaking down large boards with a big-tooth ripping blade. Instead, this is the sort of thing one would do using a grr-ripper. I want a nice smooth finish straight off the saw because I need to minimize the amount of clean-up work I do, especially sanding (pre-existing repetitive strain injuries mean I have a limited and declining ability to do that sort of thing).

When it comes to crosscutting, I dont need it to be anything special as I dont often leave exposed end grain.

I already have a 12inch 24 tooth ripping blade which is brilliant for breaking down larger boards but does not leave a smooth edge. I'll leave this for the rough stuff.

I would prefer 10 inch but 12 inch would be OK.

So far I"ve tried:
a CMT cross cutting blade - disappointing.
a CMT triple cut blade - OK, but I feel there should be something better.
a Bosch cross cut blade - 120 tooth on a 10 inch blade ! - no better then the CMT.
a trade-range Irwin blade - mediocre.

Now I'm doing some research to find something better. I'm wondering about Flai, Forrest and Freud. All seem to have one blade in their range which they boast 'leaves a mirror smooth finish'. The Flai blade is the Flai Lama Type U 10 inch 40 tooth. They claim it is a 'hyper finish' blade with 'splinter free performance and virtually no saw marks. Glass like finish!'.

My question is has anyone used the Flai blade ? Is this a credible claim or just marketing talk that should be ignored ?

And of course I do realise that a perfect finish is only going to come off a perfectly tuned tablesaw, which I'm working on as well.

cheers
Arron

**fubar** · 6th January 2013, 08:46 AM

stu at Stu's Shed did a review on flai blades might be worth a look

**Arron** · 9th January 2013, 09:10 PM

Well Stu seems to like them so I went out and bought me one. Pretty good actually. When I hold a cut piece up to glancing light there is slight evidence of teeth marks, so not really 'mirror finish' as advertised but I think there are limits to what I can expect with my lower-end table saw (gpw 10/12) and this is probably at that limit.

cheers
Arron

**Arron** · 17th January 2013, 03:15 PM

OK, maybe no-one is interested in this thread but I'll put some comments here just for the record. After spending a bit of time further tuning the tablesaw, I find my last post underrated this blade. At its best, it cuts so smooth that sanding with 400 grit would make things worse.

The main thing is that you tend to get a lot of burning at first. I believe this occurs because the kerf it cuts is so close to the specified width of the blade that any drift left or right while cutting will produce rubbing. My other blades presumably had enough straggly teeth to make sure that the kerf was slightly wider then the specified width of the blade. I control the burning by backing the rear of the rip fence out a tiny amount (until now I"ve always had it perfectly aligned with the sawblade), and just by using much better, more careful technique.

All in all its $150 well spent.

(Disclaimer: I have no connection with maker or seller).

cheers
Arron

**Kidbee** · 17th January 2013, 09:12 PM

Aaron, I am always interested in quality saw blades and believe they are worth every cent. So keep posting.

**simops** · 18th January 2013, 12:33 PM

I personally think that reviews on any woodworking product should go into the Reviews forum column. That's why it's there for but few seem to use it for that purpose???

cheers

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