Do you change blades for ripping/crosscutting?

[Bugsysiegals]

I’ve whatever stock blade comes with the TS55 and use it to rip and crosscut sheet goods. Do you change your blades to the smaller # of teeth for ripping versus crosscutting?

 

[manuc]

I use the universal 28-Tooth Saw Blade to do both.

 

[rmhinden]

I’ve whatever stock blade comes with the TS55 and use it to rip and crosscut sheet goods. Do you change your blades to the smaller # of teeth for ripping versus crosscutting?

For sheet goods, I just use the stock blade.  Ripping hardwood, I have a panther rip blade for my TS75.

Bob

 

[CeeJay]

I mostly use the TS55 for sheet goods and leave the 48T blade on.

If I happen to be ripping hardwood (rare - usually use table saw for this) I change to a 20T blade.

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[RussellS]

For plywood, I don't think there is such a thing as ripping and crosscutting.  Because the plys are perpendicular, you are always doing both whenever you cut plywood.  So using the Universal blade makes perfect sense.  And 3/4" plywood isn't thick enough to cause any strength issues with the 55.  For cutting real, solid wood, I do switch between the ripping and Universal blade for ripping and crosscutting.  Universal is the crosscut blade.  Panther is the rip blade.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I’ve only used the TS55 on plywood and hardwood in the table saw ... I’m not sure I’d ever cut hardwood on the TS55 unless I was doing some side project on site someday but good to know these facts, thanks guys!!

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[ear3]

While there is no real difference between ripping and crosscutting for sheet goods when it comes to the load on the machine (because of the alternating grain of the plys), changing to the finer blade for crosscutting may reduce some of the tearout and splintering on certain veneers.  The best prophylactic for tearout on plywood regardless of blade is the green splinterguard, though.

For crosscutting hardwood, the finer blade can make a huge difference for the cut quality on that endgrain, and save a boatload of edge sanding.

 

[Birdhunter]

I normally use my Festool track saw for cutting Baltic Birch plywood so leave the stock blade in all the time. If I’m cutting hardwood with the track saw, it’s usually only short cuts. If I was ripping lots of hard wood, I’d definitely switch to a rip blade. Lots less stress on the saw ripping with fewer teeth in the wood.

On my SawStop Industrial table saw, I leave the Forrestt all purpose blade in unless I’m doing a lot of ripping.

 

[bertv]

Don’t forget that often it is more important that the blade is sharp, than which type you use. IMO you need to always have a fresh blade as backup.

 

[cpw]

I found that the panther rip blade made a noticeable difference straight line ripping 8/4 white oak with my TS75.  With the stock blade, the saw would bog down.  With the panther it would not.  The stock blade did have 3 years of hobbiest use on it, so it isn't a totally fair comparison.

 

[RussellS]

I’ve only used the TS55 on plywood and hardwood in the table saw ... I’m not sure I’d ever cut hardwood on the TS55 unless I was doing some side project on site someday

I work mainly with 3/4 and 4/4.  And sometimes 6/4 and 8/4.  Hardwood.  3/4 plywood.  Table saw does most of the work with hardwood and the smaller pieces of plywood.  But for ripping hardwood, you need to get one edge straight first.  Track saw, the 55, is used to straight line rip one edge.  I have the 3 meter track to rip long hardwoods.  And cut plywood lengthwise.  Then the table saw rips the hardwood to the correct width.  And if working with doors, you may need to rip a little off the bottom to make it fit after putting in new carpet.  Track saw, the 55, would get the job instead of trying to rip/cross a 30" wide door on the table saw.

 

[ear3]

Here, here. And clean from pitch.  I can no longer count the times I thought I was due to take a blade for resharpening, only to find it still cut perfectly well after a good cleaning.

Don’t forget that often it is more important that the blade is sharp, than which type you use. IMO you need to always have a fresh blade as backup.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

Excellent advice I'll remember to change to a rip blade if I'm ever ripping hardwood.

 

[promark747]

A little off topic, but if I’m using the dado stack on my Sawstop, and need to make a cut with a single blade, I’ll just use the single blade on my dado instead of taking the time to switch cartridges.