Thread: Melamine blade choice

I would go for your second choice (the Ultimate one) and let it do double duty as a fine crosscut blade as well. The main reason is that I don't like the Triple Chip grind; it doesn't cut a sharp corner in the kerf, so you can't use it for rebates, and it leaves furry edges when crosscutting timber.

For best results without a scoring blade, keep the blade fairly low (15-20ish mm above the material) so it has more of a slicing action as it breaks through the bottom

not deliberately setting out to confuse you, but have you considered this option from Freud Amazon.com.au : lu79r010

I don't think you mentioned if you were looking at thin or standard kerf blades

My saw is 2hp and consequently I gave up using combination blades some time ago. For rough breaking down I have cheap 12" rip and crosscut blades. Like you I have an Incra TSLS on the saw.

Finishing cuts are completed with 10" blades. For finish ripping I use the 24 tooth Freud ripping blade, with Crystal Ice finish not Permashield, it's excellent and I highly recommend it. I can't imagine that there is much difference between the Crystal Ice and Permashield finishes. For finish cross cutting I have a Diablo Ultra Finish 80 tooth blade. It's thin kerf and cheaper than the Freud branded alternatives (smaller teeth - not as many sharpens), but does an excellent job. Of the other blades you've linked to the one I'd be going for is the LU80R010, it looks like a great all rounder. They are the two blades I'd be buying and I don't think you need anything else. Like Elan I'm not a fan of triple chip blades for crosscutting, and you can totally forget negative rake blades for cross cutting as far as I'm concerned, they like to burn their way through hardwoods. Have you ever had to sand out burn marks on Blackwood?

get a sawblade with as many teeth as you can. My choice of blades is FLAI. my ply/melamine blade has 96 teeth on a 12" saw. the chipset profile is left bevel, bevelled both sides (flat top), right bevel, repeat. nice and easy. when you cut cut with the face side up so the chipout is reduced.

Thanks all for the collective wisdom, and shortening of the "wish list"

Orders going in for the Ultimate and rip blade - I also figure with crosscut, laminates and rips covered, there's really not much point in buying a general purpose blade, I've got everything covered anyway!

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

Thanks all for the collective wisdom, and shortening of the "wish list"

Orders going in for the Ultimate and rip blade - I also figure with crosscut, laminates and rips covered, there's really not much point in buying a general purpose blade, I've got everything covered anyway!

I'm not sure that Amazon.com.au carries the full range of Freud blades, but here in Canada,

rip blades come as standard rip (24 teeth with a square grind) and glue line rip (30 teeth with a triple chip grind) if you are NOT ripping boards to width to glue up for a table top or case side, you don't need a glue line rip, but if you are ...

Personally, I'd reserve the melamine blade for when you are cutting quality ply or laminate sheet goods, and get two 40 or 50 tooth general purpose blades for other cutting. I recommend you get two GP blades so you can keep working while you send the blunt one out for re-sharpening.


So by my count that is 4 or 5 saw blades, two of which are GP blades.

Originally Posted by ian

So by my count that is 4 or 5 saw blades, two of which are GP blades.

Then why change blades, one of these cuts chip free melamine, cross cuts anything and rips perfectly glue ready joints and it would cost about the same or less but not by much. I have had one for some time now and it is the best blade I have ever used bar none and so quite compared to others.

WhisperCut sawblade| Products | Leitz

Yeah Chris

you're right "one blade to rule them all" ... just not sure that Amazon Australia carries Leitz blades

Originally Posted by ian

Yeah Chris

you're right "one blade to rule them all" ... just not sure that Amazon Australia carries Leitz blades

Leitz are in Melbourne and sell them so I am told. Eye wateringly expensive but will be cheaper than buying 4 or 5 quality brand blades. It is very quite and changing blades is not necessary which is the attraction for me.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Leitz are in Melbourne and sell them so I am told. Eye wateringly expensive but will be cheaper than buying 4 or 5 quality brand blades. It is very quite and changing blades is not necessary which is the attraction for me.

I've gone the other path with my saw
dedicated 24 tooth rip blade -- for cutting 2 x 4s
dedicated 80 tooth fine cross cut blade -- mostly used to cut foam board and baltic ply
one 50 tooth general purpose blade -- used for nearly all my cutting

Those Leitz blades are the scheeit, awesome and stay sharp for ages, what Mr. Parks says makes sense with buying multiple blades. Good German quality gear.

The only downside is that your local saw doctor might not be able to sharpen it (when it eventually needs it) because you need special equipment to do diamond

OK - so considering I still have time to change my mind (i.e. cancel the order), I'm reading that I should be calling Leitz in Melbourne tomorrow instead?

Are they going to have one of these blades in a 10" (250mm) size? I always thought they produced blades only for industrial kit, and 10" was too small for their range? And further, are these going to work on a SawStop (not sure if a more fully defined set of teeth are needed to grab into the brake cartridge in the event of a ooops moment)?

I imagine all the fancy diamond stuff starts at 12" to suit a standard panel saw, but you can always call and ask. Leuco is another option