Thread: Melamine blade choice

Originally Posted by ian

wow, hang on a minute.
I'm sure that this is the first time you mentioned that the blades were going into a SawStop.

Sorry

Originally Posted by ian

Which "generic 40 tooth blade" do you currently have ??
Is it a genuine SawStop branded blade or something else ?

Yes, it's the original blade that came with the saw. It's not done a huge amount of work so far, and I'm not unhappy with the results from it (though the melamine I have put through does cut with chipping using this blade)

Originally Posted by ian

When you first posted "generic 40 tooth blade" I envisioned a $30 blade purchased through the green shed going into a lower priced table saw. Now that you mention SawStop I've revised my impression of your "generic 40 tooth blade" to SawStop OEM blades that retail for AUD $70 or $115.

If the blade you have is a genuine SawStop you really only need to add the 80 tooth Ultimate Plywood and melamine blade (RU80R010) to your arsenal. and
think about a 24 tooth ripping blade if the material you're ripping is thick enough to warrant using one.
think about adding a second 40 tooth "generic" SawStop blade to use while the other is out for re-sharpening.

Thank you - that was basically almost all that I'd ordered - the LR80R010, and a LM72R010 (Ultimate Plywood, and Rip). I hadn't considered a second generic blade, as I figured between those two and the blade I had, and a reasonable turn around from a sharpening service (the option always exists to buy another blade if it gets too annoying), I'd be set.

Apologies for any confusion or misleading along the way.

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

Thank you - that was basically almost all that I'd ordered - the LR80R010, and a LM72R010 (Ultimate Plywood, and Rip).

I hadn't considered a second generic blade, as I figured between those two and the blade I had, and a reasonable turn around from a sharpening service (the option always exists to buy another blade if it gets too annoying), I'd be set.

Is your "generic" 40 tooth blade coloured silver (AUD $70) or gold (AUD $115) ?

Realistically, you don't need a dedicated ripping blade unless you are ripping a lot of 4 x 2 or thicker hardwood. Several hundred metres doesn't, in my book, count as "a lot" of ripping.

one LR80R010 -- have I got the model number right ? -- ultimate plywood and melamine blade should be all you need to add to your blade arsenal.
If the LR80R010 is used for its intended purpose -- cutting quality ply and melamine board -- it should not need to be sharpened till after you have built about 100 kitchens' worth of cabinetry.

No combination blade will rip as well as a dedicated ripping blade or crosscut as well as a dedicated crosscut blade. I guess if you're never going to rip anything thicker than 25mm you can get by with a combination blade, but if you're planning to make any items of furniture I don't think you would ever regret buying the ripping blade. I have a quality 50 tooth combination blade (Everlast), it's a very good blade but I find that I never use it. As previously stated this is due, at least partly, to my saw being 2HP, but the quality of the rip cut and the ease with which it's achieved with the dedicated blade compared to the combination just makes the choice of which blade to use a no brainer.

Although the WhisperCut Leitz blade is undoubtedly a good thing it would seem to me that it's directed at production workshops with sliding saws and is primarily designed for cutting sheet goods, ie. not the thing for performing crosscuts on thick, hard timbers and certainly not for ripping Australian hardwoods over 25mm. Like you I can't find a size range or indicative pricing anywhere on the web, this indicates to me that they're not targeting the home woodworker with this blade.

Originally Posted by ian

Is your "generic" 40 tooth blade coloured silver (AUD $70) or gold (AUD $115) ?

Realistically, you don't need a dedicated ripping blade unless you are ripping a lot of 4 x 2 or thicker hardwood. Several hundred metres doesn't, in my book, count as "a lot" of ripping.

one LR80R010 -- have I got the model number right ? -- ultimate plywood and melamine blade should be all you need to add to your blade arsenal.
If the LR80R010 is used for its intended purpose -- cutting quality ply and melamine board -- it should not need to be sharpened till after you have built about 100 kitchens' worth of cabinetry.

It's the standard (silver) blade that comes with the saw.

As I didn't get the chance to call Leitz today (work got in the way), I also didn't cancel the order for the LU80R101 or rip blade, and perhaps that's a good thing, reading your and other's comments here

Sorry for the confusion on this thread

Changing blades on your table saw to suit the work should be a normal thing. The same as picking up the correct handsaw would be for the job at hand. Especially if your using a lower horsepower machine. It’s a no brainer.
I probably change blades on the little Woodfast at least twice a day, if not three some days. It only takes a minute, and the blades do the best job for their designed task.