bade for cutting MDF

[paulhtremblay]

I know this question has been asked before: what is the right blade for cutting MDF? When I searched the forums in the past, I think the consensus was the blade that comes with the saw.

I visited a local Festool dealer, and when I told him I wanted the same blade as came with the saw, he asked me what I was cutting. I told him MDF and he gave me a 12 tooth rip blade. He explained that there is so much "crap" in MDF that you want a blade with a deep gullet to clear out the debris, that a finer tooth blade will heat up, and that I should save my other blade for Plywood.

I am pretty sure I don't want to use the rip blade because it will make quite a rough cut in the MDF. In many cases I will need to finish my MDF with paint.

So, I think I should return the blade? (I won't be ripping any hard wood in the foreseeable future.)

 

[tiralie]

You are right the 12 tooth rip blade is not the best blade for MDF. The Universal 28 tooth (No. 496304) would be better, but the regular 48 tooth blade (No. 495377) works as well.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

Use the 48 tooth. Swap it out when cutting solids or plywood. Means having 2 of the same blades but well worth it.

Tom