What table saw blade should be used for hardwoods?
On One Hand: Hard Wood, More TeethThe more teeth a table saw blade has the smoother the cut and the fewer chips incurred. A table saw uses either a 10- or 12-inch blade. A 10-inch blade with 60 teeth cuts the same as a 12-inch blade with 96 teeth because the teeth are spaced the same distance apart. Both of these will cut hardwood smoothly, with few chips. Cross cut, or rip, hardwood like ash, maple, oak, cedar and cherry with a carbide-tipped blade, which has harder teeth and lasts longer.On the Other: Veneers, Different BladesHardwood veneers require a non-carbide tip, 200-tooth veneer blade. Veneer requires more teeth on the blade. The non-carbine tip is the correct choice for a table saw when cutting softer wood, like a veneer, which is actually multiple layers of wood fused together. Veneer, even if made of hardwood, is softer than a solid piece of hardwood. Veneer should be cut slowly to avoid chips, but not so slowly as to “burn” the wood.Bottom LineWhen cutting hardwood, the ri
