Favorite 160mm Saw Blades for Plywood

RustE

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Messages
617
Looking for opinions on 160mm blades that are best suited for cutting plywood, typically 0.25-0.75 inch (6,4-19,0 mm) thickness.  A blade with minimal edge tear-out is preferred since this will be for nicer work.

Some options that I have found:
- Festool 48t (p/n 495377)
- Forest Woodworker I 50t
- Freud 48t (p/n LU79R006M20)
- Infinity Track Master 160mm 48t
- Mafell 162mm 48t (p/n 092584)

I have used a lot of Freud blades on different sizes of saws and find these work well.  I do not have experience with the other brands listed above.
 
I liked the Tenryu a lot, and it's not too expensive.  Whatever you get, I would recommend getting the same kerf and plate thickness for all of your blades, so your splinter guard has the same zero clearance.

Tenryu also has a thin-kerf blade, and I have wondered if that would work a lot better for when the saw struggles (in very long cuts in deeper wood).  That blade of course would not have the same kerf as the others.
 
Interesting.  I usually do not give the Tenryu blades much attention because of where they are manufactured.

This blade will be used in the HK55EQ, which can use a blade with 1.8-2.2 mm (0.071-0.086 inch) kerf.
 
Gold Medal on my TS and i love it. Just that slightly that much nicer than a Forrest. I will never but a Forrest general purpose blade for the TS again. Unless i try something else and its better than the Gold Medal i dont see the need.

Fyi im fine with spendimg top dollar on a blade so cost has nothing to do with it.
 
I have a Freud on my Dewalt TS, it does okay. My Festool still has it's original blade but I haven't been happy with the splintered off cuts in plywood. I use Forrest blades in my table saw and miter saw so I was going to upgrade to the Forrest for my TS.
Now I may have to try out this Gold Metal.
I couldn't fathom putting a cheap blade on my $700.00 saw.
 
Getmaverick said:
...
I couldn't fathom putting a cheap blade on my $700.00 saw.

Find some board you suspect could have a nail...
 
I know it’s 2 yrs late.  Nonetheless I love my thin kerf Tenryu.  It’s been in my 55REQ for years.  The edges are beyond smooth.  As in beyond smooth!

Here’s the rub.  The riving knife. Stock is too thick.  They give you one for what they say is a Festool saw.  It doesn’t fit anything.  I had to jimmy rig the stock splitter    I wouldn’t do this  if the edge weren’t so damn smooth.

One more thing to note. It been a while but I believe I’ve  ripped 4/4 soft maple and crosscut 8/4 oak
 
Back
Top