Kapex capacity

[bevans]

Hi Guys
I have a question about the depth of cut the Kapex can make cleanly without tear out. I have almost always have used my saw to cut 4/4 hardwood and 3/4 plywood. Today I doubled up cross cutting some birch ply making drawers and noticed quite a bit of tear out on the top edge of the top pieces. Bottom pieces are nice. I do have a zero clearance fence and insert. Is this typical for plywood or perhaps my blade needs to be sharpened? The saw does not get used a lot a few times a month and is about 2 years old.

Thanks in advance for comments/advice.

 

[leakyroof]

I can't see where doubling it up matters for your cut to be affected. try this, use a sharp knife to cut a line across the top veneer of some of your plywood.  Next, cut right at your line with the Kapex. Did the tearout lessen quite a bit?  [huh]
Might also just be time to clean the blade. It can work wonders with that tiny bit of gum or pitch removed from the teeth of the blade.

 

[bevans]

When I scored a piece of plywood there was a very small amount of tear out at the beginning of the cut on the left side of the score. More tear out is noticed on the right side of the cut. What are you thinking? It does look like the blade could use a little cleaning also.

 

[leakyroof]

I can have trouble with Birch depending on the plywood, was what I was FIRST thinking . [embarassed]
I have much better cuts with my Forrest blades in either my Table Saw or my SCMS since switching to them, but try cleaning that blade as it's the next cheap thing to do.

 

[bevans]

Yea,might also be the birch ply. It is not very good and I will not use it again. It is the UV type with a type of
Film coating on one side and a cardboard type backing. No wonder it was on sale. You live and learn! Blade will get cleaned this weekend.

Thanks for responding.