Table saw blade kerf - tough lesson

[ryanjg117]

I should have examined the fine print, but I just learned the hard way that a 1/8" kerf table saw blade isn't always .125".

I've been using two Freud blades, the Freud LU85R010 crosscut blade and the Freud LM72R010 ripping blade.

I usually run the crosscut blade with my crosscut sled, obviously. But yesterday, I forgot to swap the ripping blade out and loaded in my brand-spanking new crosscut sled to make a cut. I was surprised to see the tight zero clearance kerf was expanding!

Upon close examination, I've learned the ripping blade is "full kerf" meaning .126" and the cross-cut blade is apparently .116".

I'm getting a bit of tear-out now when using my cross-cut blade. I think I'm going to have to spring for a "full kerf" crosscut blade which is perfectly .126" - any recommendations?

Pics of the sled for your viewing entertainment:

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[ear3]

[member=51886]ryanjg117[/member] Beautiful sled!

Question: is there a reason you are operating with a full kerf blade at .126, rather than an exact 1/8".  Is it for box joint work?  My preference for table saw is Forrest, but I don't believe they make a full kerf version of a 10" saw blade.

I would check out Carbide Processors, where you can dial in filters for .126.  CMT also makes a few according to those specs.

 

[jeffinsgf]

A couple of options.

Quick and dirty option: fill the slot with epoxy, let it cure, recut the slot with your crosscut blade and move on.

Option 2--worthy of the beautiful sled you've built: Cut a dovetail slot about 1/4" deep and 1-ish inch wide over the slot and make replaceable filler strips you can slide in whenever your groove wears a little.

 

[ryanjg117]

Question: is there a reason you are operating with a full kerf blade at .126, rather than an exact 1/8".  Is it for box joint work? 
I would check out Carbide Processors, where you can dial in filters for .126.  CMT also makes a few according to those specs.

Can't remember why I went with .126 - it might have been for eventual box joints, but I also could have just made a mistake while ordering.

I checked our Carbide Processors and their filtering looks great, but it seems a bit bugged as I can't scroll the full list of kerf options. Tried it on Chrome and Firefox, then gave up.