How to choose the suitable TCT saw blade for your sliding table saw?

You might meet some problems when choosing a suitable TCT saw blade to cut and size different wood and wood composite panels. In this article, I will tell you how to choose a suitable saw blade for your sliding table saw and panel sizing machine. Hope it will help you.

The specification of saw blade

1. Main Saw Blade

Firstly, you need to know the capable maximum diameter of the saw blade and the diameter of the arbor bore of your panel sizing machine. 300mm*30mm is the most widely used specification of saw blade.

2. Scoring Saw Blade

The application of scoring saw blade is to avoid chipping when cutting laminate or melamine panel. The outer diameter and the diameter of bore also depends on different machine. The most widely used specification is 120*20 and 120*22. There are two kinds of scoring saw blade, they are adjustable scoring saw blade and conical scoring saw blade. The adjustable scoring saw blade is consist of 2 pieces of single blade. The cutting width can be adjusted by adding and removing the spacer between the two pieces of the single blade. The conical scoring saw blade is consist of one single blade, the cutting width can be adjusted by adjust the height of the saw blade when it amounting the machine. The conical scoring saw blade are applied in most cases. Because it is more convenient and more economic. But if the panel are uneven and easy to deform, the adjustable scoring blade would be more suitable. It can avoid producing the step when cutting too deep.

How to choose the teeth type of saw blade

Wood panels are generally divided into laminate, bi-laminate or melamine wood composite panel and solid wood.

1. Laminate, bi-laminate or melamine panel

This kind of panel are wood composites like chipboard, MDF, HDF and OSB covered by a plastic sheet or paper from one or both sides. In order to avoid chipping and produce a smooth cutting surface, we recommend to choose the TP (TCG) teeth shape.

2. Solid wood

The solid wood timber and lumber are contained lots of fibers. So, the ZY (ATB) are more recommended to cut this kind of board. Because the teeth are sharper and the cutting effect is better and easier.

How to choose the number of saw blade teeth

1. The size and thickness of the work pieces determine the thickness and number of teeth of the carbide saw blade. If the work piece is thin, the saw blade should be thin and the number of teeth should be large to avoid material deformation and burrs; if the material is thick, the saw blade should be thick, and the number of teeth should be small, which is conducive to chip removal and avoids saw blade deflection, sticking, and teeth chipping. The thickness of the saw blade and the number of teeth should be selected according to the thickness of the material to be cut and the cutting requirements.

2. The more teeth, the smoother the cutting surface, but the greater the resistance to push up. Conversely, the less the number of teeth, the rougher the cut surface, the more labor-saving and easier it will be to push up.

In most cases, 96 teeth saw blade is ideal for cutting the laminate and melamine panel. The 60 teeth and 72 teeth saw blade is ideal for cutting solid wood panel. For cutting fine wood panel, the 100 and 120 teeth would be more perfect.

In general, choosing a suitable saw blade depends on the material you cut. Different material chooses different saw blades. For more question about how to choose a suitable saw blade, welcome to contact our wood working tool experts.