Saw blades

Blades for the plunge and circular saws, 160 to 230 mm, and the shelf worth spending five minutes on — the blade decides the cut far more than the saw does. Alternating-bevel patterns at 18 to 48 teeth cover timber, more teeth for a finer face. The 12 to 18 tooth patterns rip fast where the edge will be hidden. Trapezoidal-flat blades from 48 to 76 teeth are for laminate, melamine and coated board — the trapezoid cuts and the flat tooth cleans up, which is what stops the face chipping. Flat-tooth blades handle steel and hard material. Fine-cut versions are ground for finished faces.