Saw Blades: A Practical Guide to Types, Tooth Count, and Choosing the Right Blade for the Job

Using the wrong blade doesn’t just produce a bad cut, it burns the material, overloads the motor, wears out the blade prematurely, and creates safety hazards. A 24-tooth framing blade in a circular saw will rip through 2x lumber fast and clean, but run it across a sheet of laminate and it’ll blow out the face. A fine-tooth jigsaw blade that excels at scroll cuts in trim will stall and snap the moment you push it through 2x material.

Getting the right blade for the job is as important as having the right tool. This guide covers every major blade type, how to read the specs that actually matter, and which blades hold up under production use. Browse blades at Polar Tool & Supply where we carry Diablo, Lenox, Irwin, and Milwaukee.

Understanding Blade Specifications Before You Buy

Before getting into blade types, a few specs appear on almost every blade and are worth understanding:

TPI (Teeth Per Inch) — measures tooth density. Lower TPI removes material faster with a rougher cut. Higher TPI cuts more slowly with a finer finish. TPI is most commonly referenced for reciprocating saw and jigsaw blades.

Tooth count — the total number of teeth on a circular or table saw blade. Lower tooth count = faster, rougher cuts. Higher tooth count = slower, cleaner cuts. Not the same as TPI.

Kerf — the width of the cut the blade makes. Thin-kerf blades (typically .087” vs. standard .100”) remove less material, produce less sawdust, and require less motor power which is useful on lower-amp saws or battery-powered circular saws.

Hook angle — the angle of each tooth relative to the blade’s center. A positive hook angle is more aggressive, biting into material faster (used in framing blades). A negative hook angle is more controlled, better for finish cuts and sliding miter saws where a grabby blade would be dangerous.

Carbide grade — the quality of the carbide tips on the teeth. Not all carbide is equal. Premium blades like Diablo use micro-grain carbide formulations that hold an edge longer under production use. Budget blades use coarser, less durable carbide that dulls faster.

Circular Saw Blades

The circular saw blade is defined primarily by tooth count. Here’s how to choose:

Tooth Count	Best For	Cut Quality
16–24 teeth	Framing lumber, rough ripping	Fast, rough
40 teeth	General purpose, dimensional lumber, crosscuts	Medium
60 teeth	Plywood, OSB, sheet goods	Smooth
80 teeth	Melamine, laminate, finish cuts	Very smooth

 

For framing and production cutting: A 24-tooth blade is the standard. It rips through 2x lumber quickly, sheds sawdust well, and holds up to volume cutting. Diablo’s framing blades use their TiCo Hi-Density Carbide which is a specific carbide formulation designed to stay sharp through thousands of cuts in dimensional lumber, including lumber with embedded nails during demo.

For plywood and sheet goods: Step up to a 60-tooth blade. The finer teeth prevent blow-out on the face veneer of plywood and produce a cut clean enough that you’re not spending time sanding or filling tear-out.

For finish cuts and trim: 80-tooth blades produce cabinet-grade cuts in laminate, melamine, and hardwood. Too fine for production framing but essential when the cut will be visible in a finished surface.

Blade diameter and arbor size: Most circular saws use a 7-1/4” blade with a 5/8” arbor. Confirm both specs before buying because the wrong arbor size means the blade won’t mount to your saw.

Reciprocating Saw Blades

Reciprocating saw blades are chosen primarily by TPI and material:

TPI	Material	Application
3–6 TPI	Wood (demo)	Fast cuts through dimensional lumber, rough demolition
8–10 TPI	Wood with nails	Demo cuts through nail-embedded lumber
14–18 TPI	Wood/metal combo	General purpose, mixed material
18–24 TPI	Thin metal	Pipe, conduit, angle iron
24–32 TPI	Sheet metal	HVAC, thin gauge metal

 

Blade length also matters. Longer blades (9–12”) give more reach for deep cuts and overhead work. Shorter blades (6”) are more controlled for precise cuts in tight spaces.

Bi-metal vs. carbide: Most reciprocating saw blades are bi-metal which has a high-speed steel body with hardened teeth that flex without breaking. Carbide-tipped reciprocating blades cost more but last significantly longer in abrasive materials like fiber cement, cast iron, and nail-embedded demo lumber. Lenox’s carbide blades are the benchmark for longevity in hard-use demo applications.

Demolition blades are a specific category because they are thicker, wider, designed for cutting through walls and floors where you’re hitting nails, screws, and hidden fasteners. A standard wood-cutting blade will fold or snap; a demo blade handles it.

Jigsaw Blades

Jigsaw blades are selected by TPI, shank type, and cut direction:

Shank type: Most professional jigsaws use T-shank blades (also called bayonet shank), which insert and lock without tools. Older saws use U-shank blades. T-shank is the current standard, but confirm which system your jigsaw accepts before buying.

TPI	Material	Application
6 TPI	Softwood	Fast cuts, rough finish
8–10 TPI	Hardwood, plywood	General purpose
12–14 TPI	Plywood, laminate	Clean cuts in sheet goods
18–24 TPI	Metal	Thin metal cutting
32 TPI	Sheet metal	Thin-gauge metal, precision

 

Reverse-tooth blades cut on the downstroke rather than the upstroke, which prevents tear-out on the top face of laminates and finished surfaces. Use them when the cut face needs to stay clean.

Scroll blades are narrower and designed for tight radius curves like cabinet work, inlays, and detailed cuts where a standard blade would require too wide a turning radius.

Oscillating Tool Blades

Oscillating multi-tool blades vary more by shape and material than by tooth count. The blade shape determines the cut type:

Blade Type	Shape	Best For
Semi-circle (segment)	Half-moon	General plunge cuts, flush cuts in wood
Full-circle	Round	Circular cutouts in drywall, plywood
Plunge cut	Pointed/narrow	Starting cuts in the middle of material
Scraper	Flat, no teeth	Removing adhesive, thin flooring, caulk
Grout removal	Carbide-grit	Removing tile grout
Metal-cutting	Bi-metal segment	Cutting nails, screws, pipe in tight spaces

 

Bi-metal blades are the most versatile, they cut both wood and metal, which matters when you’re cutting through walls and framing that may have nails or screws in the way.

Carbide grit blades are for materials that destroy conventional teeth: grout, tile, hardened adhesive, and fiber cement. They abrade rather than cut.

Arbor compatibility: Oscillating tool blades use either brand-specific or universal fit systems. Fein’s Starlock system is popular; most other brands use a universal fit that works across saws from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch. Confirm compatibility before buying accessories for a new tool.

Table Saw Blades

Table saw blades are specified by tooth geometry as much as tooth count:

ATB (Alternate Top Bevel) — teeth alternate between left and right angles. Standard for crosscutting and general woodworking. Produces clean cuts across the grain.

FTG (Flat Top Grind / Rip) — flat-topped teeth for ripping along the grain. Removes material fast in ripping applications.

Combination blade — alternates groups of ATB teeth with a single flat-top raker tooth. A true all-purpose blade that handles both ripping and crosscutting reasonably well, though not as efficiently as dedicated blades.

Blade diameter: Most contractor and jobsite table saws use a 10” blade. Some benchtop models use 8-1/4”. Arbor size is 5/8” on most professional saws.

For framing and construction, a 24-tooth ripping blade handles structural lumber efficiently. A 40-tooth combination blade is a strong general-purpose choice when you’re doing both rips and crosscuts. For finish work and sheet goods, 60–80 teeth.

Blade Brands at Polar Tool

Diablo (Freud) — the dominant brand in circular saw blades for production contractors. Diablo’s TiCo carbide formulations are engineered by application — their framing blades are different from their finish blades and their demo blades, not just relabeled product. Consistently rated among the longest-lasting carbide blades available.

Lenox — the standard for reciprocating saw blades in demolition and metal cutting. Lenox bi-metal and carbide-tipped reciprocating blades are built for volume demo work. Their Demolition CT (carbide-tipped) blades last dramatically longer than standard bi-metal in hard-use applications.

Irwin — broad blade lineup covering circular saw, jigsaw, and reciprocating applications. A reliable mid-tier option for contractors who want professional-grade blades at a competitive price.

Milwaukee — SAWZALL blades (reciprocating) and circular saw blades built specifically for Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL and FUEL SURGE platforms. Milwaukee’s blades are engineered around the performance profiles of their cordless tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TPI and why does it matter for saw blades?

TPI stands for Teeth Per Inch. It determines how fast a blade cuts and how smooth the cut surface is. Lower TPI (3–6) removes material quickly with a rougher finish, best for demolition and rough framing. Higher TPI (18–32) cuts more slowly with a much finer finish, best for metal cutting and finish carpentry. TPI is most commonly referenced for reciprocating saw and jigsaw blades.

What circular saw blade should I use for framing lumber?

A 24-tooth carbide-tipped circular saw blade is the standard for framing lumber. It cuts fast, handles 2x material efficiently, and holds up to volume cutting. Diablo’s 24-tooth framing blades are a top choice for production framing because of the carbide quality and cut life.

What’s the difference between a ripping blade and a crosscut blade for table saws?

A ripping blade (flat-top grind, 24–30 teeth) cuts efficiently along the grain of the wood. A crosscut blade (ATB grind, 60–80 teeth) cuts cleanly across the grain. A combination blade does both adequately. For production construction work, a ripping blade handles structural lumber efficiently; a combination blade is more versatile for finish work.

How do I know when a saw blade needs replacing?

Signs a blade needs replacement: burning or scorching on the cut edge, the saw requires noticeably more feed pressure than normal, chipping or tear-out on clean materials that didn’t have that problem before, visible rounding or chipping on carbide teeth when inspected closely. A dull blade is also a safety hazard — it requires more force, increases kickback risk, and overloads the motor.

Are Diablo blades worth the price?

For contractors doing volume cutting, yes. Diablo blades cost more per blade but last significantly longer than budget alternatives. In production framing or heavy construction use, the cost-per-cut calculation typically favors Diablo over lower-priced blades that need more frequent replacement.

Where can I buy Diablo, Lenox, and Irwin blades in Minnesota or Wisconsin?

Polar Tool & Supply stocks saw blades from Diablo, Lenox, Irwin, and Milwaukee at locations in Gem Lake, MN; Superior, WI; and Altoona, WI. Browse the full blade collection at polartool.us.

Shop Saw Blades at Polar Tool & Supply

Whether you’re stocking up on framing blades for a production run, replacing a reciprocating blade mid-demo, or upgrading to a finish blade for a cabinet job, Polar Tool carries the blades you need from the brands that hold up under real use.

Browse circular saw blades, reciprocating blades, jigsaw blades, oscillating tool blades, and table saw blades at polartool.us, or stop into any of our three locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.