Crescent NailSlicer Circular Saw Blade Delivers Great Cuts In Tough Conditions

The Crescent NailSlicer circular saw blade impressed us when we got to see some initial demos against Diablo. Now that we have them in our hands, we wanted to decide where it fits as an all-around framing blade.

Crescent NailerSlicer vs Diablo Tracking Point Framing Blade

To get an idea of Crescent’s performance, we decided to run it against the Diablo Tracking Point framing blade. Considering Crescent’s claims of extreme durability, Diablo’s Demo Demon might be a better comparison. However, that blade is 50% more than the two we tested, which are both under $10.

Keeping in mind that we wanted to see Crescent’s potential as our primary framing blade, gauging its performance based on price is what we decided to go with.

By now, you may have seen Crescent’s demo where they run both the NailSlicer and Diablo’s in a rip cut with stainless steel nails. There’s no question Crescent’s design lasts much longer in such an abusive test. Again, that’s a test of $10 blades and Diablo’s Demo Demon would likely have fared better.

Initial Cuts

For this review, we were more interested in the tracking, speed, and smoothness of the cut. So we charged up some batteries and got out our trusty Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2732 circular saw to run both blades through a series of cross, miter, bevel, and compound cuts.

As we cut, both blades were impressive across the board. Cutting freehand, there was very little difference between the two, save for Diablo staying on track slightly better when making long, fast cuts. Their Tracking Point really does make a difference in that scenario.

Compressing the Lifespan

To simulate some wear, we fired 10 galvanized framing nails into the end of a 2 x 10 and made a single cut through them with each blade. Both of them sliced through each nail easily with no hesitation, and I couldn’t see any obvious damage to either blade’s teeth.

When I ran back through the same cuts I did previously, I noticed a slight bit of chatter in the Diablo blade that wasn’t there before and I had to be a little more intentional to keep the teeth right on my cutline. It was still better than cutting with a cheap stock blade by a long shot, though.

On the other hand, the Crescent NailSlicer circular saw blade was as smooth and accurate as it had been before cutting through the nails.

Crescent NailSlicer Circular Saw Blade Price

At the moment, you can get Crescent’s 7 1/4-inch 24T framing blade for $9.98. There’s a 6 1/2-inch 24T that’s a little more at $12.98. If you’re working with other saws, it also comes in 5 1/2 and 8 1/4-inch sizes.

If you need even more durability, there are demolition blades available in 6 1/2, 7 1/4, and 8 1/4-inch sizes. Lowe’s is the best place to get these blades locally. Acme Tools has a full range of sizes and styles online.

The Bottom Line

Crescent’s NailSlicer framing circular saw blade cut just as well as Diablo in our testing. Where it sets itself apart is with its more durable tooth design that lasts longer in tough cutting situations. Considering both 7 1/4-inch blades hit the $10 price point, it’s an easy call for us to recommend Crescent as your primary framing blade.

Learn more at Crescent’s website.

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Lenox’s Wave Edge Blade Design Offers More Cuts And Extends Blade Life

Getting more bang for your buck is important in today’s day and age. Lenox Wave Edge reciprocating saw blades are aiming to give you just that with increased blade life expectancy. Better yet, Lenox tells us that all of these saws are made in the USA with global materials. We took a look at these blades to find show you how they stand out from the rest.

Lenox Wave Edge Reciprocating Saw Blades: The Big Deal

The cutting edge of Lenox Wave Edge blades has light crests and troughs traveling the length along with a 3-stage tooth formation. The benefit is that these bi-metal blades claims up to 50% longer life when you compare it to the prior blade generation of bi-metal blades.

Lenox also has four reciprocating saw blade classes they’re branding in the bi-metal category: MetalWolf, MultiWolf, DemoWolf, and LumberWolf. Three of these feature Wave Edge technology.

The MetalWolf blade is ideal for making quick cuts through a range of metal types and gauges.

MultiWolf blades perform cuts through a variety of materials such as metal, wood, and plastic.

The DemoWolf models are the go-to option for rigorous demolition applications.

Although the LumberWolf saws do not include Wave Edge technology, Lenox says they do provide aggressive cutting through dense nail-embedded wood.

Additionally, Lenox extended its Rapid Plunge technology to select LumberWolf and DemoWolf blades. Rapid Plunge uses a front tooth design to let you start plunge cuts easily.

Additional Features

• Several length/TPI configurations for each blade type

Lenox Wave Edge Reciprocating Saw Blades Price

Since these blades all differ in their application, they all have different prices. Here’s a look at the 5-pack prices.

• MetalWolf Wave Edge: $21.99 (6-inch, 18 TPI)
• MultiWolf Wave Edge: $26.99 (8-inch, 10 TPI)
• DemoWolf Wave Edge: $34.99 (9-inch, 6 TPI)
• LumberWolf: $32.97 (9-inch, 6 TPI)

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Diablo Has Improved Masonry Cutting with Turbo Cut-Off Blades

If you’ve ever plunged a grinder or power cutter wheel into stone or masonry, you know how important it is for it to keep cutting well until you finish the work. Just as important as the tool you use is your choice of blade. Diablo’s aim for its Diamond Turbo cut-off blades is for you to receive a longer life and better performance than standard diamond cut-off discs. We’ll examine how these new diamond blades from Diablo stand out from their former cut-off models.

Diablo Diamond Turbo Cut-off Blades – The Big Deal

Diablo uses industrial-grade diamonds and a hardened disc body to produce a durable saw blade for cutting into masonry. This coupled with the strong bond from the diamond edge to the body, lets Diablo claim these have double the life expectancy of standard diamond cut-off discs.

This round of non-segmented Turbo cut-off blades come in 4-inch, 4-1/2-inch, 5-inch, and 7-inch sizes. Diablo tells us that they have an ultra-thin, constant contact turbo rim design to give you precise cuts at high speeds. The three smaller blades have a kerf of 0.08-inch while the 7-inch blade’s kerf is 0.09-inch.

The Turbo discs are built for use on hardened materials like concrete, brick, and masonry. On top of that, you can use it in both dry and wet conditions so there’s no need to worry about getting rained out. The 7-inch blades also come recommended for cutting tile when used with a wet saw.

Each blade includes a 20mm bushing and a 5/8-inch bushing so that it fits a variety of saw arbors.

Additional Features

• Hardened body absorbs vibration
• Impact-resistant

Final Thoughts, Pricing, and Availability

Diablo has made diamond masonry blades for years. In fact, the Turbo line originated years ago. This seems like a rolling change with some minor cosmetic and structural updates. Diablo typically improves their products with these updates—so look for faster cutting over prior models. For the Pro, that’s a win in our book.

Look for the Diablo Diamond Turbo cut-off blades at your favorite Diablo retailer. Keep in mind each size varies in price. Example pricing includes $20.99 for a 4-inch masonry cut-off blade (DMADT0450) to $39.79 for the 7-inch version.

Specifications

• Model: DMADT0400 / DMADT0450 /DMADT0500 / DMADT0700
• Arbor: 7/8 in, 20mm, 5/8 in
• Diameter: 4 in / 4.5 in / 5 in / 7 in
• Kerf: 0.08 in / 0.09 in
• Pack quantity: 1
• Rim design: Turbo
• Pricing: $20.99 – $39.79

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Picking the Right Blade

When trying to determine who makes the best corded reciprocating saw you need good blades. If you remember back to your days in science class, the goal of any good experiment is to control as many variables as possible. Then, only what you want to test actually varies. We first needed to set up a system that would put each saw through a variety of tests. Those tests reflected what each blade could perform. We knew we needed a blade that would cut through nail-embedded wood. We needed another that could handle steel and PVC. With lots of available options, we settled on the Milwaukee Ax and Torch reciprocating SawZall blades.

Editor’s Note: We got to check out Milwaukee SawZall blade manufacturing in Greenwood. Check out that article for a cool behind-the-scenes look!

Why Milwaukee Sawzall Blades?

There is some confusion out there about recip saw blades. Many folks think that because a tool has a branded name, like the Milwaukee Sawzall, you can only use that blade brand. This isn’t true. Recip saw blades fit in any of the major manufacturer’s saws giving you the option to choose both the saw you think is the best and pair it with the blade that you prefer.

Several thoughts went into deciding on Milwaukee Sawzall blades for our test. Two, in particular, stood out to me. First, Milwaukee is constantly innovating within its company. “Disruptive Innovation” is part of their corporate culture. In fact, t’s nearly impossible to talk to someone at Milwaukee without hearing that term. Second, Milwaukee invented the reciprocating saw. When you’re the one to design anything from the beginning, you are intimately knowledgeable about it. We counted on this combination of innovation and knowledge to produce the best blade for our testing… and we weren’t disappointed.

Editor’s Note: Check out our best SawZall blade article for our top picks.

The Milwaukee Ax Sawzall Blade

As the name would imply, the Ax is designed for wood cutting duties. In our testing, we used nail-embedded wood, which this blade is designed to deal with.

Of the Milwaukee Sawzall blades, the aggressive Ax, with its Fang Tip seems the most aggressive. This tip bites into the wood on contact instead of bouncing up or sliding with the motion and/or vibration of the recip saw. I say “or” vibration because a couple of the saws we tested, including the Milwaukee Sawzall, had very little vibration at all.

A Nail Guard design prevents most nails that you will encounter from slipping between the teeth and causing damage. The blade is thicker to better resist bending and fracturing for greater durability. Also, its 1-inch height helps keep the Milwaukee Sawzall blades more rigid. This makes for straight and accurate cuts. Finishing off the durability features are the Matrix II bi-metal teeth.

The Sawzall Ax Blade is available in either 6-inch, 9-inch, or 12-inch lengths. They feature a 5 TPI design (teeth per inch). They are sold in packs of 5 or in bulk packs of 25 or 100.

The Torch with Double Duty Upgrade

With a name reminiscent of a cutting torch, the Double Duty Torch blades were our metal cutting Sawzall blade of choice. We used the Torch to cut through steel pipes, a U-shaped unistrut piece, and PVC.

The Torch Sawzall Blades have an optimized tooth design that increases the lifespan up to twice the previous generation. Tough Neck ribs strengthen the tang of the blade to improve durability where it is shorter and therefore weaker. The Grid Iron honeycomb pattern increases the rigidity to help keep the blade from buckling.

Double Duty Torch blades are available in lengths of 6″, 9″, or 12″. Tooth options include 10, 14, 18, and 24 TPI. Like the Ax Sawzall blades, these are available in packs of 5 or bulk packages of 25 or 100 blades.

Other Milwaukee SawZall Blades to Consider

• Milwaukee Ax and Wrecker Carbide SawZall Blades
• Milwaukee Torch with Carbide Teeth
• Milwaukee Nitrus Carbide Reciprocating Saw Blades
• Milwaukee Flush Cut Blade and Rough-in SawZall Blade

How Did the Sawzall Blades Perform?

We put each recip saw through 12 inches of nail-embedded wood with the Ax. The Torch was used to cut 4 pieces of PVC pipe followed by that U-shaped unistrut beam. In a separate test, the Torch blade had to make it through 5 steel pipes.

The greatest compliment that we can offer for both the Double Duty Torch and Ax Sawzall Blades is that we didn’t have to think about them during the shootout. We had plenty of spare blades on hand in case they failed during the test for any reason, but that never happened. The blades performed flawlessly, resisting buckling and we experienced no breakage. Even cutting through 5 steel pipes rapidly, there was no noticeable decrease in performance due to dulling or breaking of the teeth.

Considering not only the tasks we required of each blade but also the rapid speed in which we abused them, I came away very impressed. The next time you’re standing in your local Home Depot staring at the multitude of recip saw blades available, don’t hesitate when you see the red packaging of the Milwaukee Sawzall Blades.

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DeWalt announced the arrival of their Elite Series of tool accessories. Designed for strength and durability, the lineup will include the likes of includes saw blades, hole saws, diamond masonry cutting blades, abrasives, and masonry drilling accessories. Select items in this lineup are also made in the USA with global materials. Look for these accessories now and in the coming months at your favorite DeWalt retailer!

DeWalt Elite Series Circular Saw Blades

Available in either 6 1/2-inch or 7 1/4-inch diameters, the Elite Series circular saw blades have a multi-tooth design to ensure smooth cutting and durability. Additionally, welded carbide tips keep the blades stable and enable long-term use. The blades’ heat vents help avoid overheating, which keeps them cool even after you use them all day.

DeWalt Elite Series Abrasives

The DeWalt Elite Series cutting wheels use sharp, crystalline grain to cut through various metal materials like rebar, heavy wall pipe, and sheet metal. DeWalt claims that you can expect to use fewer wheels in extreme applications. These cutting wheels come with either a flat disc type or a depressed center disc type. DeWalt has another item in the abrasives category too— grinding wheels, which will be released in fall 2022. All cutting wheel sizes and styles are available now.

DeWalt Elite Series Flap Discs

The Elite Series flap discs incorporate a ceramic grain that provides aggressive grinding action for fast material removal in tough applications. DeWalt designed the disc to provide the fast removal rate of a grinding wheel with the high-end finish of a fiber resin disc. This line of flap discs will be available in August 2022.

DeWalt Elite Series Carbide Tipped Reciprocating Saw Blades

Two carbide-tipped reciprocating saw blades exist in the DeWalt Elite Series: a metal cutting model and a demolition model. These blades are made in the USA with global materials. They feature carbides along the cutting edge which help withstand nail strikes while ripping through wood or metal. Both blades feature a tall, thick profile designed for durability. The demolition blades also feature a surface enhancement that strengthens the blade to resist fatigue and teeth stripping. 

DeWalt Elite Series Carbide Tipped Hole Saws

The DeWalt Elite Series carbide-tipped hole saws cut through tough and abrasive material, like nail embedded wood. In addition, the metal cutting hole saw cuts through a variety of tough materials such as thick metal and stainless steel. You can expect the multi-material version to cut through things like concrete blocks and cement. These hole saws are another entry in this lineup that’s assembled in the USA using global materials.

DeWalt Elite Series SDS Max and Plus 4C Masonry Drill Bits

DeWalt is so confident in the toughness of these drill bits that they have included a no-break guarantee. If these bits do break, DeWalt will replace them free of charge. For added durability, these bits use Iron Blast technology, which aids in impact readiness. Welding technology secures the carbide, contributing to extended life. Both bits feature unique tip designs that aid in concrete drilling. These tool accessories will be available later this month (May 2022).

DeWalt Elite Diamond Blades

Finally, the last entry on the list of new DeWalt Elite accessories is diamond blades. The blades’ cores incorporate high-alloy steel and aerodynamic vents to keep cool. Laser-welded segments feature twice the diamond concentration compared to the older generation DeWalt HP blade. The blade design, described as “swordfish-shaped,” helps reduce friction and aids with smooth cuts. 

Some of these DeWalt Elite Series accessories are available now, and you can look for the rest of them in the coming months. Find out more at your favorite DeWalt retailer, or use the buttons below to browse more DeWalt products.

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A dozen DeWalt large diameter circular saw blades hit the market during Q1 2022. These include both 10- and 12-inch blades, and they range from 24T framing saw configurations to 100T ultra-fine finish blades. These DWA series blades replace their predecessors and appear to no longer be made in the USA. They are, however, priced considerably lower across the board.

Upgraded DeWalt Large Diameter Saw Blades

These DeWalt large diameter saw blades each deliver up to 3X the life of the former models. Normally, we’d dismiss such claims, but DeWalt did a good job specifying their basic testing parameters. The 3x claims compared, for example, the DeWalt DWA11280 80T fine finish blade to the DeWalt DW3232PT blade. The test had them both ripping double-stacked 3/4″ x 48″ particleboard. They also compared new comparable blades against the legacy 10-inch 60T DW3215PT and 40T DW7140PT as well as the 12-inch 32T DW3123. When comparing the more aggressive 12-inch DWA11240 40T blade, they got 2X the life.

Features

All DeWalt large diameter circular saw blades feature carbide-tipped teeth in an ATB (alternating top bevel) configuration. They also have identical body slots to reduce vibration and noise while cutting. Lastly, DeWalt continues to use its ToughCoat anti-stick coating to reduce friction and gumming. As we’ve learned through extensive use, cleaning your circular saw blades results in better performance and less wear on your saws.

Designed for improved finish quality when cutting material like maple and other hardwoods, the blades are specifically designed by tooth count to increase performance and life.

Available Sizes and Configurations

Most of the new large diameter circular saw blades can be found now from DeWalt retailers. The 10-inch 24T DWA11024 hits shelves in April of 2022. They come in the following sizes and tooth configurations:

• DWA11024 10″ 24T Framing Saw Blade
• DWA11040 10″ 40T General Purpose Saw Blade
• DWA11060 10″ 60T Finish Saw Blade
• DWA11080 10″ 80T Fine Finish Saw Blade
• DWA11240 12″ 40T General Purpose Saw Blade
• DWA11260 12″ 60T Finish Saw Blade
• DWA11280 12″ 80T Fine Finish Saw Blade
• DWA112100 12″ 100T Ultra Finish Saw Blade
• DWA110CMB 10″ 40T / 40T 2pk Saw Blades
• DWA112CMB 12″ 40T / 40T 2pk Saw Blades
• DWA1040CMB 10″ 40T / 60T 2pk Saw Blades
• DWA1240CMB 12″ 40T / 60T 2pk Saw Blades

For more information on DeWalt products and accessories, visit the DeWalt website.

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Unless you’re whittling a piece that you chopped from a tree, all the wood in carpentry projects came into contact with a circular saw blade at some point. Even the best circular saw blades can suffer from neglect. We know when the blade gets dull but how are you caring for circular saw blades between the time you buy it and when you throw it in the trash?

As it turns out, there are several ways to keep the blade in good condition and even extend its life. This article presents Pro tips on how to care for circular saw blades—including table saw blades. Be sure to check out our table saw safety tips and thoughts on the blade height debate.

Store Circular Saw Blades in a Dry Area

Although the blade is idle the vast majority of its useful life, it doesn’t mean it can’t get worn when not in use. Steel corrodes, so moisture and humidity will degrade it. Particularly on more expensive blades, consider removing them and keeping them dry when not in use. This goes for the workshop and especially on job sites. Any time you can remove a blade from excess humidity and store it in a dry area, you win. This increases the length of time your carbide teeth will retain their optimal edge.

Circular Saw Blades Last Longer When You Use the Right One

Many circular saw blades are billed as the one to rule them all, but different blades are truly suited to different applications. Preserve the blade’s life and make it last longer by using it appropriately. Don’t cut steel with a standard carbide blade. Don’t take a fine-tooth blade and cut laminate when you can get a specialty blade that will do the job for less (by not trashing your $150 finish blade).

Hang Circular Saw Blades Through the Center Hole

Don’t let the blade’s kerf rest on the ground but hang a blade through its center hole for temporary storage. This can be as simple as a nail or screw in the wall, but at least the blade won’t be dulled by the floor or a shelf. This may seem minor, but all those scrapes and dings eventually take their toll.

Confirm the Blade Guard Works

Many floors have been damaged, cords cut, and toes endangered when a circular saw’s blade guard failed to cover the spinning blade after a cut. It’s another good reason to inspect your tools. It also pays to consider a circular saw that includes an electric brake. Most electric brakes stop the blade from spinning in 2 seconds or less.

Clean Blades with a Nylon Brush and Solvent

Grime can accumulate on a blade. This slows down the cut noticeably and also promotes burning. Clean it every so often with a nylon brush and gentle solvent to refresh the carbide teeth and expose gullets. Try the solvent on a small area first though – some blades have a coating that can come off if you use too harsh a chemical.

Keep Your Saw Blades Cooler While Cutting

As we mentioned in our table saw blade height article, using a blade at a tool-low setting can cause the blade to get hotter. This holds especially true with harder woods. Keep it higher out of the material when cutting hardwood. You also might want to give it a “cool-down” break when making a series of longer cuts or during extended use.

Wrapping It Up

We hope you’ve benefited from our Pro tips on caring for circular saw blades. If you’re a Pro and you have circular saw blade care tips, add them in the comments below or shout out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The post How to Make Circular Saw Blades Last Longer appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

If you’re still using bi-metal blades in your reciprocating saw, it’s time to step up to carbide-tipped blades. With three LENOX CT blade options available for the toughest jobs, well…we’ve crunched the numbers. In our opinion, you’re going to save time and money using LENOX carbide tipped reciprocating saw blades.

When you’re cutting metal or mixed materials, carbide-tipped blades give you a major advantage thanks to a blend that’s much tougher than standard bi-metal blades.

Carbide 101

Going back to Chemistry class, the term “carbide” typically refers to a compound that includes carbon and metal. Tungsten carbide is very popular among blades and manufacturers can tweak the metallurgy to get specific blends for each application.

When you’re cutting through tough materials, carbide-tipped blades are faster than bi-metal blades. That’s not to say bi-metal blades are a poor choice—they have their place and can cut very well when you use an optimal speed. The blades are also really inexpensive compared to carbide. But, most guys and gals in the field try to cut everything at full speed and bi-metal simply reaches the end of its life much faster in those situations.

LENOX Carbide Reciprocating Saw Blades Overview

All of the carbide-tipped blades from LENOX start with a tall, thick design. That seems the opposite of what you want for a cordless saw, but it’s actually very beneficial. It makes for a durable blade that resists breaking and wobbling while cutting straight.

These blades feature a unique carbide blend and LENOX makes them in the USA with globally sourced materials. The stiffness of the blades, tooth pitch, and precise TPI for the various “flavors” of the blade makes them extremely effective.

On that last note, one thing LENOX excels at is options. Not content to have a single carbide metal-cutting blade, they give you options for Medium-Thick and Thick Metal. Then you have the DEMOLITION CT solution designed for nail-embedded wood and demo.

LENOX DEMOLITION CT Carbide Tipped Reciprocating Saw Blades

With an aggressive design, LENOX Demolition CT carbide tipped reciprocating saw blades have a 6 TPI tooth count for cutting nail-embedded wood.

Compared to the previous generation of LENOX 6 TPI bi-metal blades, you can expect up to 50 times the blade life when you’re cutting wood with nails.

LENOX LAZER CT Medium-Thick Carbide Tipped Reciprocating Saw Blades

Increasing the tooth count, LENOX has a 10 TPI LAZER CT carbide tipped blade for cutting medium to thick metals. Optimized for 3/16” to 1/2″ metal, these blades also have up to 50 times the life of the LENOX 10 TPI bi-metal blades in cast iron and rebar.

LENOX LAZER CT Thick Metal Recip Blades

Then you have the LENOX LAZER CT carbide thick metal blades. We’ve used these 8 TPI LAZER CT recip saw blades with impressive results on metal over 3/16” thick. Any guesses on the blade life? It’s up to 50 times what you can expect from using a LENOX 10 TPI bi-metal blade on cast iron or rebar.

Pricing and Value

All three carbide-tipped blades are available in 6”, 9”, and 12” lengths, and you can also get the medium metal blade in a 4” length.

Price varies by style, length, and quantity, but let’s take a look at the 9” blades for the sake of comparison. One LENOX DEMOLITION CT nail-embedded wood blade costs $10.99. What about the fifty bi-metal blades it replaces? That would be $145—IF you buy in bulk.

The 8TPI LENOX LAZER CT blade runs $13.99 each and we found the LENOX LAZER CT 10 TPI carbide tipped blades for $23.99. To get 50 of the bi-metal blades that each one replaces will set you back around $135.

With one blade replacing 50, you’re cutting your consumables cost by 80% – 90%, spending less time changing blades, and getting through your cuts faster. The numbers add up, so we say it’s time to make the switch to carbide tipped blades.

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What if there was a way to improve your table or circular saw’s performance, extend the life of the blade, and save some bucks by delaying replacement or re-sharpening costs? That sounds like an infomercial. Well, it’s not, but you still should “act now!” as they say. To accomplish those things, make routine blade cleaning part of your maintenance schedule. But how does cleaning your circular saw blade help?

Why Clean a Circular Saw Blade

Look closely at a blade that’s done a fair amount of cutting. You’ll see pitch, glues, resins, sawdust, and dirt caked around the teeth. For reasons we’ll discuss in a moment, it’s good to remove this pitch from your blade. Ultimately, you can get a lot of bang for your blade-cleaning buck if you take a few short minutes every so many cuts. These tips on how to clean a circular saw blade should help them last longer.

Your Circular Saw Blade May Not Be Dull

Many immediately assume they have dull circular saw blades too early. You may jump to this conclusion when you notice raggedy cuts or increased tear-out. Other times, the wood gives increasing resistance and cuts take longer. However, the blade sharpness might not be the issue. Pitch buildup could be the likely culprit.

Editor’s Note on Pitch: Think of pitch as a cross between honey and sap. Found in wood, it can come in crystallized form and gums up any available nook or cranny—including the teeth on saw blades.

Pitch increases the friction of the blade’s action—and friction causes more heat. Heat, in conjunction with normal wear, dulls blades quicker than you can say “kickback pawls.” Well, almost. Plus, the harder your blade works, the harder the motor works. Removing pitch will give you better results and save you some money.

The Solution: Clean Your Circular Saw Blade

You could scour the Internet for quite some time before you exhausted all of the ways tradesmen and woodworkings clean their circular saw blades. Some have sophisticated bathtubs with a bolt through the arbor hole so the blades can soak. Others use caustic products like oven cleaner. Some of these products might degrade the carbide or remove special coatings, however. Also, keep in mind that improper disposal of some chemicals can get you in some hot water.

Just as many folks find that soaking their circular saw blades in Simple Green or a household citrus cleaner for five to ten minutes works great. Use a large pan to minimize waste. A few manufacturers also make cleaning solutions, but non-caustic homemade or general cleaners seem to really do the trick.

Brush Your Teeth!

After you’ve given your circular saw blade a spa day, use a stiff but gentle (non-metallic) brush to remove the remaining pitch. Then, being careful not to come in contact with the teeth, wipe the blade surface with a towel or rag. There will likely still be moisture around the teeth and in the gullets, so use an air compressor and blow gun to dry the remaining moisture.

How to Prevent Rust When Cleaning Saw Blades

There’s one final step to ensure you’re extending blade life to the maximum. A metal lubricant resists corrosion and gives your blade many more spins around the ol’ arbor.  In this simple way, you can put the odds of a great result in your favor!

We hope you’ve found this How to Clean a Circular Saw Blade article helpful! If you’re a Pro and you have some circular saw blade cleaning tips, add them in the comments below!

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Bosch Carbide Brazing Tech Delivers 10x Longer Life Than Bi-Metal

For handling a variety of materials other than clean wood, you’ll likely want a jigsaw blade with a bit more of a “backbone” than the usual. Bosch Carbide jigsaw blades use carbide brazing technology to stand up to tough materials while still delivering clean cuts.

What’s the Big Deal?

As somewhat specialized tools, jigsaws don’t often see tons of groundbreaking innovation. That goes double for their blades. That’s why we find the Bosch Carbide Jigsaw Blades so interesting: as much of a no-brainer as you’d think throwing some carbide tips on a jigsaw blade would be, we don’t see many manufacturers providing this option.

Bosch has a dedicated carbide jigsaw blade for ceramic, fiber or plaster, carbon fiber, laminate, stainless steel, and plastic composites. They’ve also come up with a carbide-tipped all-purpose line of blades.

Like you’d expect, all of the Bosch Carbide Edge Jigsaw Blades deliver longer lifespans than their bi-metal counterparts. Advanced tooth designs provide clean cuts on both sides of the cutting surface, even in brittle materials that are generally prone to chipping.

A Look at the Lineup

What We Think

It wasn’t too long ago that the only carbon you saw on jigsaw blades was carbide grit. Now, it looks like companies such as Bosch and their sister company, Diablo Tools, are not only bringing carbide teeth to jigsaw blades—they offer specialized options for various materials. We have enough experience to know that one size blade does not fit all—so this makes a lot of sense. It should provide a lot of performance gains for everything from laminate-cutting to those working with plastics and carbon-fiber.

Pricing

You can pick up any of the Bosch Carbide Edge Jigsaw Blades online or at any major hardware store. Most blades in the line come in 1- and 3-piece packs with prices ranging anywhere between $9.45 and $22.21 for a single blade and between $19.06 and $43.99 for a 3-pack.

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