How to Choose a Circular Saw Blade

When it comes to circular saw blades, you have a lot of options. There's no need to feel overwhelmed, though. Here's the "buzz" on choosing the right circular saw blade for your job.

Smaller, 5-inch diameter to 7.25-inch diameter blades are usually used on handheld circular saws.

Larger, 10-inch diameter and 12-inch diameter blades are typically for table saws and power miter saws.

Once you know which size you need, there are two important factors to consider when choosing a blade for your circular saw: the size of the blade, and the number of teeth.

A 40-tooth blade would be a good choice for ripping or making rough crosscuts in heavy wood.

A 60-tooth blade, on the other hand, is a good all-around blade. It'd be good for ripping or for giving semi-smooth crosscuts.

Finally, there are 80-, 90-, or 100-tooth blades. These give increasingly finer cuts as the blade count goes up. They're ideal for finish work and for cutting cabinet-grade plywood.

Keep these basics in mind, and you'll be able to choose the right blade for the job.