What is the Best Blade for a Miter Saw: 10 & 12 inch Models Reviewed
- Has 60 teeth
- Computer balanced plate
- Has an anti stick rim
- Thin kerf
- Long life span
- Laser cut kerf
- Perma Shield coating
- Carbide teeth
- Cuts through hardwoods
- Does not get too hot
- Positive hook angles
- Has an anti vibration design
- Carbide tipped teeth
- 80 teeth
- Accurate cuts
In this review we will answer the much asked question of what is the best best blade for a mitre saw? In order to be able to do this, we have done much research and presented the findings in the below list of Our Top Picks. For each of the blades featured here, we take an in depth look into the various features that it has, the pros, and then the cons.
From this, we will make our recommendation as to which of them is the best miter saw blade of them all. In addition to this, we also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about them.
The Best Blade for a Miter Saw: Our Top Picks
Table of Contents
#1 Dewalt DW3106 10 in 60 Tooth Carbide Saw Blade
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Has 60 teeth
- Computer balanced plate
- Has an anti stick rim
Perfect for cutting through materials such as plywood, chip board, hardwood and softwood, the Dewalt DW3106 10 in 60 Tooth Carbide 10 in Saw Blade can not only be used in miter saws, but in table saws also. Because the kerf on it is do thin, cutting through these best materials can be done really fast and super smoothly. The computer balanced plate that it has works to reduce the amount of vibrations that are produced when the saw is in operation, thus resulting in a better quality finish and a greater level of accuracy.
Boasting an innovative wedged shoulder design that works to put a great amount of steel behind every tip of the miter saw blades, it improves the level of accuracy and durability that it has. In order to stop burring from taking place, the blade has an anti stick rim. This also works to improve the life span of the best 10 inch best 10 inch miter saw blade blade as it is less likely to get stuck and become damaged or even snap. The life span of the blade is also improve thanks to the fact that the teeth are covered in carbide, a compound that is stronger than both titanium and steel.
PROS
- Has 60 teeth
- Computer balanced plate
- Has an anti stick rim
CONS
- Made in China
#2 Dewalt DW3128 12 In 80T Saw Blade
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Has a thin kerf
- Has carbide tipped teeth
- Computer balanced plate
For miter saws, stationary circular saws, and benchtop saws, the Dewalt DW3128 12 In 80T Saw Blade is a good choice. Its thin kerf and carbide tipped teeth help to ensure that it delivers cuts that are both fast and smooth through a range of different materials, including plywood, chip board, softwood, and hardwood. With the plate being computer balanced, it minimizes the amount of vibrations produced and thanks to the unique wedge shoulder design that it has, a great amount of steel is put behind each of the 80 teeth tips.
Thanks to the none stick coating that the blade has it reduces the chance of it getting caught and burring the material that you are working on. For this reason, this best best 12 inch miter saw blade should only be used for dry cutting applications. At full speed, the blade will spin at 7,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), which is way in excess of most power tools. Despite it being made in China, this is a robust and high quality blade that is tough enough to handle most jobs that come its way without incurring any damage.
PROS
- Has a thin kerf
- Has carbide tipped teeth
- Computer balanced plate
CONS
- For dry cutting only
- Made in China
#3 Freud D12100X 100 Tooth Diablo Ultra Fine Circular Saw Blade
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Laser cut kerf
- Perma Shield coating
- Carbide teeth
Boasting 100 teeth, the Freud D12100X 100 Tooth Diablo Ultra Fine Circular Miter Saw Blades is able to cut through most hardwoods with ease. The kerf is laser cut so that it produces cuts that are super smooth, leaving a finish that feels like it has been sanded with 120 grit sandpaper. Thanks to the one of a kind best Perma Shield coating that covers the blade, it stops corrosion and rusting from occurring. Similarly, it also prevents the blade from getting too hot and stops gumming from happening.
The blade features a number of vents that have been laser cut into it and work to minimize vibrations, as well as noise. These results in a smoother finish and thanks to the teeth being made from a highly dense carbide, they stay sharper for much longer. However, all of these features mean that it comes with an expensive price tag that may put it out of the reach of some individuals who are on a tight budget.
PROS
- Laser cut kerf
- Perma Shield coating
- Carbide teeth
CONS
- Expensive price tag
#4 Freud D1080X Diablo ATB Fine Finish Saw Blade
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Positive hook angles
- Has an anti vibration design
- Carbide tipped teeth
The Freud D1080X Diablo ATB Fine Finish Miter Saw Blade has 80 teeth that are coated in carbide and is perfect for making crosscuts. Thanks to it having a very thin kerf, you are able to make highly accurate cuts that result in best very little waste. With the blade having positive hook angles, it allows for much smoother cuts and so a better quality finish. Very few vibrations and not much noise is produced as a result of the balanced and anti vibration design that the blade has.
The blade has a special Perma Shield none stick coating on it that works to protect the material that you are cutting through from heat, whilst also reducing buildup. Because the blade is 12 inches in size and has 80 teeth, it does not produce as smooth of a cut than a 10 inch one would with the best same amount of teeth. It also means that, over time, the cuts that the blade makes can become rather rough. Also, when at a low speed, the blade has a tendency to burn the material that it is cutting through.
However, if it spins at a speed that is too high, then it is prone to binding up the wood. With the Freud D1080X Diablo ATB Fine Finish Miter Saw Blades having an expensive price tag, it may be out of the reach of those individuals who are on a tight or for novice DIYers who do not want to spend a large amount of money.
PROS
- Positive hook angles
- Has an anti vibration design
- Carbide tipped teeth
CONS
- Has a tendency to cause burning
- Can bind up the wood
- Expensive price tag
FAQS – A Buyer’s Guide
Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about mitre saw blades for best miter saws using the expert advice of industry professionals and individuals who have extensive experience of using these types of power tools. By arming you with this information, you will have a greater amount of knowledge about these products and so be in a better position to be able to determine which one of the ones featured above is the right one for what you need.
What is the best blade for a mitre saw?
When performing a cut with a best best miter saw, it is completely made by the teeth on the blade rather than the actual disk. For this reason, the type and number of teeth on it are the most important thing to consider. Getting the blade right for the quality of cut that you require and for you own personal safety are very important factors. If you require a more accurate and finer finish, then you should go with a blade that as a high number of teeth. This, along with the thickness of the blade, make it ideal for cutting through laminate flooring.
With most best best miter saw blades having teeth that are either made from or tipped with tungsten carbide, they are super hard wearing and can even be re ground in order to get even more life out of them. The shape of these teeth have a bearing on the quality of the cut that it produces. A best popular and highly effective shape is the alternate top bevel. With this shape, one tooth is sloped in one direction, where the next one is sloped in the opposite direction. This shape is great for performing fast cuts through rough pieces of wood.
Is more teeth on a saw blade better?
As a general rule of thumb, the more teeth that a blade has, the smoother the cut. Miter saw blades with fewer teeth cut through materials much faster than those with lots of them. The number of teeth that a single blade has is solely dependent on what it is designed to be used for and will likely vary best depending on the type of material that it will be cutting through, whether it will be ripping or making crosscuts, the finish quality, or the feed speed. Strength is also an important factor.
Where the quality of the finish cut is of importance, then you should go for a blade that has anywhere between 80 teeth and 100 teeth. These miter saw blades are ideal for use in cutting window blinds or picture frames where a perfectly smooth and clean cut is of paramount importance. The direction of the cut is also important in determining how many teeth you need. For ripping through pieces of wood, where you are cutting along the direction of the grain, then a blade with fewer teeth is what you need.
For making crosscuts, where you are going across the grain of the wood, you need a miter saw blades that has lots of teeth in order to get a smooth finish. When you are cutting through materials that are man made best, such as kitchen countertops, that have the potential to chip quite easily, then you want to use a blade that has a large number of teeth. However, depending on the size of the blade, it can only accommodate a certain number of teeth on it. This is because space needs to be left for the gullet to be able to collect sawdust on these miter saw blades.
For the gullet to be able to do this effectively, there needs to be enough space so that the debris does not pack down. If the sawdust does in fact get packed in it, it will not come out of the gullet and result in a very poor quality cut. This is why the space of the gullet cannot be compromised for the sake of an increased number of teeth on the blade. Some newer and better quality miter saw blades will still be able to give you good quality finishes even though they have very few teeth on them.
How many teeth should a miter saw blade have?
On the whole, a miter saw blades that has more teeth will produce a smoother finish, whereas a blade with a fewer amount of teeth will cut through material faster but will leave a rougher finish. If you simply need to rip through a piece of lumber then a 10 inch blade with just 24 teeth is best more than sufficient and will do so really fast along the grain of the wood. However, this type of blade is not what you want to use if you are wanting to produce a finish that is super smooth.
If you need to cut across the grain of a piece of wood and have a smooth finish, then a specialist crosscut miter saw blades is what you need. These miter saw blades typically have either 60 or 80 teeth, with each of these removing less material as they cut through the piece of wood. This is because it makes a large amount of individualized cuts in comparison to a ripping blade. As a result of this, it has a much slower feed rate. A much cleaner and smoother cut finish is the result of this.
What is the best 12 miter saw blade?
As featured in the above list of Our Top Picks, the Dewalt DW3128 12 In 80T Miter Saw Blades, the Freud D12100X 100 Tooth Diablo Ultra Fine Circular Miter Saw Blades, and the Freud D1080X Diablo ATB Fine Finish Miter Saw Blades are all great 12 inch miter saw blades for a miter saw. However, there are many other 12 inch blades out there should you think that they are not suitable for your specific requirements or not compatible with your particular make or model of miter saw.
Some other great 12 inch best miter saw blades include the Dewalt DWAFV31260 FLEXVOLT 12 In. 60T Miter Saw Blades, the Freud LU91M012 12 In. x 72T Thin Kerf Sliding Compound Miter Saw Blades, the Makita A-94801 12 In. x 1 In. 80T Miter Saw Blade, the Tenryu IA-305100DN 12 In. Miter Saw Blades, the Trend U*PSB/CC30596A 12 In x 96T Slide Compound Miter Saw Blades, the Dewalt DW7666 12 In. 80T Aluminum Thin Plate Metal Cutting, and the Irwin 14082 12” x 72T Trim & Finish Mitre Saw Blade.
Our favorite from these is the Makita A-94801 12 In. x 1 In. 80T Miter Saw Blades. This is because it has been specially coated so that it reduces the chance of pitch build up. Also because it has a number of laser cut slots in it, the miter saw blades is really quiet when it is in operation. Boasting a really thin kerf, the miter saw blades is able to make highly smooth cuts, as well as being precise thanks to the special Alternate Top and Alternate Face (ATAF) tooth design that it has.
The Best Blade for a Miter Saw
So there you have it, we have looked at some of the best best blades for miter saws in great detail, detailing their good points and their not so good points, and then answered some of the most frequently asked questions about them. Armed with all of this information you should now be in a position to decide which one of these miter saw blades is the right one for you to purchase. However, for those individuals who are still unsure, then we have below made our own recommendation as to which one you should purchase.
This is the Freud D12100X 100 Tooth Diablo Ultra Fine Circular Saw Blade Blade. What we like best best miter saw blade about this model is that is has a laser cut kerf for smooth cuts, features Perma Shield coating that stops corrosion and rusting, and has 100 carbide teeth so that it can cut through most hardwoods. The only downside to this blade blade is that it comes with an expensive price tag that puts it our of reach of many individuals. Other than that though, this is a great blade blade to use on any make or model of miter saw.