The circular saw is a versatile tool that can cut a wide variety of materials from wood to plastic to sandwich panels. But in order for the cut to be smooth and without nicks, a well-chosen circular saw blade is required. Note that there is no universal disc suitable for all materials, since each product solves its own problems. Also, do not save money by buying products of an unknown brand - it is not safe in the first place.
Types of saw blades
All saw blades are divided into two types:
- Monolithic are made from solid metal and are distinguished by sharply sharpened teeth. They are popular due to their affordable price, the possibility of recovery, that is, re-sharpening. On the other hand, monolithic products wear out faster.
- Carbide blades for hand-held circular saws are more reliable and durable, as they are equipped with sharp tips made of cob alt or tungsten carbide on the teeth. Thanks to the use of carbide materials, the products are more durable and reliable, however, if the discs become dull,restoring them will not be easy.
Tooth shape matters
When choosing a saw blade, you should pay attention to the design features of the products, the location of the teeth, their shape:
- straight identical teeth suitable for cutting chipboard, wood, plywood or aluminum;
- variable alternating teeth handle soft and hard textured wood or plywood, as well as cross cuts;
- Circular saw blade with trapezoidal teeth can be used when working with chipboard, soft non-ferrous metals, plastic. Due to the special shape of the teeth, the material does not split, and the cut itself is carried out in two stages - first a rough cut is made, then the edges are trimmed;
- teeth can have a positive or negative slope: the first is needed when sawing workpieces with thick walls, the second - with thin walls;
- sparse teeth with deep cavities between them provide a good longitudinal cut of the wood, while sawdust is easily removed;
- Small, closely spaced teeth allow cross-cutting of materials. The most convenient among these types is a circular saw blade, each tooth of which has a special ledge behind. Due to this design, the cut is made quickly and evenly.
Before you choose a particular disc, you need to decide for yourself a few questions.
Are the specifications correct?
Each saw bladeis selected for a certain type of circular saw. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth considering the power of its engine, and the speed of rotation of the spindle, and the diameter of the landing pin. A circular saw blade with a high number of revolutions and teeth at a negative angle of inclination will put a greater load on the engine. Therefore, you should definitely find out what the capabilities of your saw are. It is worth remembering that each saw has a bore diameter, so the blade must match its size. The choice of a saw blade requires attention to such details as the series of the blade, its design and external size, bore diameter.
How will you saw?
The saw blade for a circular saw should be chosen taking into account the type of cut - it can be transverse or longitudinal. In addition, the materials you plan to cut also play an important role - wood, plastic, chipboard, non-ferrous metals, pipes … We note one thing - each series of discs is designed specifically for certain types of work.
The quality of the blade blade directly affects the sawing efficiency. A good canvas is created by laser cutting, and the balancing is done on a computer. Grinding of each disk is carried out separately. A high-quality canvas in the light will reflect the marks from the grinding tool. If the blade is rough and looks rough, this circular saw blade will not work efficiently and will dull faster.
Taking into account the diameter
Each saw has its owndimensions, and therefore the equipment for it must be chosen taking into account this parameter. The diameter of the disks is important, because if the diameters are different, this will lead to losses. So, the depth of sawing depends on the outer diameter. Experts say that the depth of sawing over the workpiece should be minimal: in this case, the cut will be better, the heat will decrease, and the load on the engine will be minimal. It is important that the disc is firmly seated on the seat pin.
Counting teeth
Among the most popular tools in the arsenal of a home master is a circular saw. The metal disc for it should be selected taking into account the number of teeth, on which the speed and cleanliness of cutting depend. If there are a lot of teeth, then the cut will be clean, however, the load on the engine will increase, and the chips will be more difficult to carry out. With a small number of teeth, the cut is rough and rough, but the chips are easily removed, and the cut is faster. A large number of teeth is considered 80-90, a small number - 10-40.
How to sharpen?
Like any other tool, the saw needs timely care. The most crucial moment is the sharpening of disks for a circular saw. Experts note that the carbide tooth wears out along the main upper except, and if massive workpieces are sawn, then the side edges also wear out quickly. Excessive blunting of the saw should not be allowed, as it will be less productive, and it is not a fact that it will be possible to sharpen the discs.
Proper sharpening involves ensuring proper sharpness at the same timecutting edge. If you sharpen them along one front plane, then the number of sharpenings will be less. Many owners of such tools are interested in how to sharpen a circular saw blade. And it depends on the material of the teeth. Sharpening is most often performed on a CBN or green carbide wheel or based on diamond wheels. Elborovye circles are advisable to use when sharpening saws made of high-speed steel, and diamond - for cutters made of hard alloys. To sharpen quickly, but less affect the degree of wear, it is worth choosing diamond wheels with the highest grit.
For sharpening, you can use machines that have different functionality. The most complex and expensive models are ways to provide automated sharpening. When sharpening, the teeth should be set apart: if this is done incorrectly, then during the cut there will be a smell of burning, extraneous noise, and the material itself will move jerkily, which is not very convenient.
In general, the condition of the disks should be constantly monitored, as their wear will affect the increased load on the mechanisms and sooner or later lead to its complete failure. Regular sharpening can extend the life of the equipment, improve productivity and reduce the time for the sawing process itself. If after sharpening the cut remains sloppy, and the material moves unevenly, then more attention should be paid to the location of the teeth.
Conclusions
How to choose saw blades?This is easy to do if you follow a few rules:
- Find out on the label the diameter of the bore and the outer diameter of the blade - they must correspond to the requirements of the characteristics of your saw.
- Pay attention to the thickness of the disc: thin ones provide a good and clean cut and are used when working with valuable wood species, and thick ones are advisable to use when rough cutting materials.
- The disc must be marked with the RPM limit. A low speed will allow you to develop a high cutting speed, but will lead to deformation of the blade and a poor-quality saw.
- Evaluate the quality of the blade of the saw blade: if it is good, then the cutting plane will be smooth, without roughness and flaws.
Most importantly, stay safe and choose saw blades that are designed for a specific type of saw. Also think about where to sharpen your circular saw blade if you can't do it yourself.
