Freud Fusion Blade or Forrest Woodworker II?

Even though the P410 Fusion and the WWII are both general purpose blades, they have different strengths and weaknesses, and aren’t overly similar outside of their general purpose category and tooth count. I saw the Fusion demoed by Jerry Coles for Peachtree when it first came out and was impressed….but there’s never a free lunch. It’s different than most 40T general purpose blades, and does some things better, but there’s also a price to pay to get that performance. The Infinity Super General 010-044 is very similar…both are Hi-ATB grinds with 30° bevels (vs 10° – 20°), and both have a dual side grind and very low side clearance. The plus side is that they’re superior at ply, veneers, fine crosscuts, and polished rip cuts. The downside is that the Hi-ATB tend to abrade more rapidly than teeth with a lower bevel. The high bevel is also not as efficient at ripping as a lower bevel. The dual side grind combined with the low side clearance gives a very highly polished edge….however, if the wood is moist, prone to burning, warped, the saw’s alignment isn’t quite right, or the wood is very thick and the feed rate slows, burning is more likely to occur.

I haven’t yet spun a P410 on my own saw (waiting for a good sale!), but can say that the very similar Super General is the cleanest cutting general purpose/combo blade that I’ve used to date….I’d expect very similar results from the P410. The WWII, Ridge Carbide TS2000, Tenryu Gold Medal, and DeWalt 7657 are similar designs to each other and are more efficient rippers, but will have more tear out in crosscuts and ply than the P410 or Super General. Cleanest cut isn’t necessarily always the best choice though…as with many things, it really boils down to suitability for what you do and what the need is, as opposed to one being clearly superior to the other.

Wood Mag rated the Super General, Fusion, and WWII as their top full kerf picks in the upper price ranges…which doesn’t really help narrow the field for you! (they had originally included the TS2000 but revised their pics!) The WWII and TS2000 are both available in full and thin kerf, the Fusion and SG are only available in full kerf.

Years ago I was told to buy Forrest blades so I did and have had no complaints. Then a couple years ago at a show I saw the Fusion and thought I’d give it a try because as my name suggests, I tend to yearn after the shiny new tools that I don’t already own. After using them both I found that the WWII leaves a cleaner cut when ripping. I don’t know if my Fusion blade has more wobble than my WWII I just know that the wood comes out better with the WWII. I cannot tell a difference in ply or crosscutting.
I now use my WWII for most work and leave the Fusion for the “crap cutting” like MDF.

Hope this helps.

im a freud fan…ive never had a problem with my blades from them….they cut and rip the hardest and densest woods of my with ease….i dont know much about the WWII but when using my freud blades the benefit with them is that if your blade ever gets a little warped in anyway anyhow for example my circular saw just make a few more staright cuts and the blade straightens right back out. Dam italian blades! And on that topic are the WWII made in US, CAN, or else? If you support your economy go with WWII. Uhhhh, you made me think too much first thing in the morning. thx.lol

-- Good, better, best; Never let it rest until your good is better and your better best! Mark, Windsor, Ontario

”...And on that topic are the WWII made in US, CAN, or else?...”

Forrest and Ridge Carbide are American owned and made in the US. Infinity is American owned and engineered, made in Italy. Tenryu is Japanese owned, made in Japan and China depending on which line you get.

Brad, I recently ordered a new Forrest WW II (10×50 T) for rippng on my t.s., and also a 10”x 60 tooth for my RAS. I have always used Freud baldes, although I have never used the Fusion. The Freuds have always served me well, and did a great job. But—- when I put the Forrest blades on—- wow!—big difference in cuts. No chip-out on either side, and cuts smooth as advertized. I’m goning to order a couple more Forrest for spares, but will not give up my Freuds, either. So for my $$, it’s Forrest, but you have to make up your own mind, and what you want to spend for a good blade. Others will post here, and I think you’ll hear——Forrest.

-- Remember--- one good turn-- gets most of the blanket!!!!

the November issue of WOOD mag did a review on saw blades under $50.

-- Smitty!!!