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Freud saw blades

2K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  BurlyBob 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have used a Freud industrial 50 tooth thin kerf combination blade for years on my 1.5 hp contractor saw. It worked so well and for so long that until now I had no reason to consider other blades. I now have a 3hp jet xacta saw and that old blade is pretty dull.
So, time for a new blade. I was considering the full kerf version of the same blade until I discovered the fusion 40 tooth combination that (based on the marketing) is even better, albeit higher cost.

Thoughts?
 
#4 ·
Well, I have a Freud glue line rip blade for really critical rips. For general work, switching blades often is just too much hassle. I don't have a miter saw so everything is done on the table saw. The combo blade I have actually cuts pretty nice with just about any material, just sounds like the fusion 40 tooth is even better. Trying to find out if it's true, worth the extra $, or if it's all just marketing.

Buy separate rip and crosscut blades. You ll get better results than a combo. Faster rips, cleaner crosscuts. I use Freud for both blades as well.

- jmartel
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
"Better" is subjective, and there's really never a free lunch. IMO the Fusion has more potential for cleaner cuts than the LU84, but is more sensitive to setup, has more tendency to burn, and will dull faster due to the sharp points of the Hi-ATB grind. If you're meticulous about the setup of your saw, flatten and straighten your wood prior to sawing, and have good technique, the Fusion can be one of the cleanest cutting general purpose blades going.

On the other hand if you're really looking to improve the performance of your saw and saw blades, why go with a jack of all trades blade and not a task specific specialist? General purpose/combo blades are inherently not excellent at anything….they don't rip as efficiently as a 24T bulk rip blade, and they don't cut as cleanly as an 80T crosscut/plywood blade. Their strength is their versatility. If you want to stay with Freud, their LM72 and LU80 or LU85 will offer better performance within their respective scopes.

If you want to explore some other top brands, I've found that Infinity is consistently as good or better than any I've tried, and their prices are pretty reasonable. I consider them state-of-the-art among readily available top consumer brands …their 010-024 and 010-080 would be comparable to the LM72/LU80 by Freud. Ridge Carbide and Forrest are also top shelf blades, but tend to get more expensive without necessarily being better.

If you still want just one all purpose blade, I'd consider the Infinity Super General 010-044 or Combomax 010-050. The Super General is very impressive and is a very similar design to the Fusion, with similar pros and cons. The Combomax is similar in design to the LU84, but I've found it to be better overall than the LU84…it's a great "set it and forget it" blade that's easy to get great results with.

The Delta 35-7657 has got to be the best bang for the buck on the market. It's a classic 40T full kerf ATB grind made in the USA, has large C-4 micrograin carbide, hiqh quality laser cut steel, and good precision manufacturing for a grand total of ~ $30 to your door. It'll rival some of the best, and should easily hold it's own against the LU84.

Tips for Picking Saw Blades
 
#7 ·
Wow! Thanks. You've given me a lot of good suggestions. I'm going to look into the other brands. I just had good luck with freud and didn't know who else to consider. I knew about Forrest but I'm not willing to spend that kind of money, afterall this is just a hobby for me.

Thanks

"Better" is subjective, and there s really never a free lunch. IMO the Fusion has more potential for cleaner cuts than the LU84, but is more sensitive to setup, has more tendency to burn, and will dull faster due to the sharp points of the Hi-ATB grind. If you re meticulous about the setup of your saw, flatten and straighten your wood prior to sawing, and have good technique, the Fusion can be one of the cleanest cutting general purpose blades going.

On the other hand if you re really looking to improve the performance of your saw and saw blades, why go with a jack of all trades blade and not a task specific specialist? General purpose/combo blades are inherently not excellent at anything….they don t rip as efficiently as a 24T bulk rip blade, and they don t cut as cleanly as an 80T crosscut/plywood blade. Their strength is their versatility. If you want to stay with Freud, their LM72 and LU80 or LU85 will offer better performance within their respective scopes.

If you want to explore some other top brands, I ve found that Infinity is consistently as good or better than any I ve tried, and their prices are pretty reasonable. I consider them state-of-the-art among readily available top consumer brands …their 010-024 and 010-080 would be comparable to the LM72/LU80 by Freud. Ridge Carbide and Forrest are also top shelf blades, but tend to get more expensive without necessarily being better.

If you still want just one all purpose blade, I d consider the Infinity Super General 010-044 or Combomax 010-050. The Super General is very impressive and is a very similar design to the Fusion, with similar pros and cons. The Combomax is similar in design to the LU84, but I ve found it to be better overall than the LU84…it s a great "set it and forget it" blade that s easy to get great results with.

The Delta 35-7657 has got to be the best bang for the buck on the market. It s a classic 40T full kerf ATB grind made in the USA, has large C-4 micrograin carbide, hiqh quality laser cut steel, and good precision manufacturing for a grand total of ~ $30 to your door. It ll rival some of the best, and should easily hold it s own against the LU84.

Tips for Picking Saw Blades

- knotscott
 
#10 ·
If you go to Freuds site and look at the blades they have a cutting rating I us the 24t rip, it is rated excellent for ripping and very good for cross cuts, which I have found to be true. If you look at the fussion and combo they are just rated very good for cross cuts and ripping. Since I do most of my cross cuts on a fine tooth CPMS I go with the rip blade every time since my TS is only 1HP I also use the thin kerf.
 
#12 ·
Well, I have a Freud glue line rip blade for really critical rips. For general work, switching blades often is just too much hassle. I don t have a miter saw so everything is done on the table saw. The combo blade I have actually cuts pretty nice with just about any material, just sounds like the fusion 40 tooth is even better. Trying to find out if it s true, worth the extra $, or if it s all just marketing.

Buy separate rip and crosscut blades. You ll get better results than a combo. Faster rips, cleaner crosscuts. I use Freud for both blades as well.

- jmartel

- JustLikeJames
Using only a TS is more of a reason to have multiple blades. Blade changes should be pretty quick. Mine takes me about 1 min. Just plan your cuts to have as little changes as possible. You will never get as clean of a crosscut off of a combo blade as you will with a 60T or 80T blade. And you will never get as fast or as clean of a rip cut as you will with a rip blade.

Plus, if you get a rip blade with a flat top grind, it can be used for cutting joinery. Square bottomed grooves.
 
#14 ·
Freud LU86 thin kerf is my blade. You could choose thin or standard kerf on a 3hp saw.
For $39 I don't think any other blade can really compete at that price point.
I was using a Freud 50 tooth before switching to the LU86, and I won't be going back.
It crosscuts just as well, and rips with less effort.
 
#15 ·
FWIW…. Using my 3HP Unisaw I've straightened and ripped to width several hundred BF of rough cut 4/4 Ash with a 50T LU84R011 and have also used it for miscellaneous cross cuts on Ash, plywood, and other woods. Cuts are nice and smooth and the blade still cuts well. I'm not at all saying a dedicated ripper and or dedicated cross cutter would not be better. Just say'n the blade has been a very good performer overall.
 
#16 ·
Well said. My blade is the same one, except it's the thin kerf version. I've have gotten an incredible amount of mileage out of it. I rarely feel the need to use my dedicated rip blade. To each his own though.

FWIW…. Using my 3HP Unisaw I ve straightened and ripped to width several hundred BF of rough cut 4/4 Ash with a 50T LU84R011 and have also used it for miscellaneous cross cuts on Ash, plywood, and other woods. Cuts are nice and smooth and the blade still cuts well. I m not at all saying a dedicated ripper and or dedicated cross cutter would not be better. Just say n the blade has been a very good performer overall.

- bbc557ci
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
I m kinda surprised that one doesn t have the fancy looking laser cut expansion slots like most. But I trust knotscott s recommendation that it s a good blade.

- waho6o9

- JustLikeJames
The Combomax is the cleanest cutting of the 50T ATB/R's I've used to date….others I've used are the LU84, DeWalt DW7240 Series 60, DW7150 Precision Trim, Leitz 50T, Amana Tool 610504, and Tenryu RS25550…there might be others but I can't recall. All were solid performers. The Tenryu and Amana Tool blades don't have laser cut slots either….I trust their engineering judgement. Good tensioning, steel quality, and body thickness can go along way to help the stability of a blade…it also helps that these blades don't heat up much due to their side clearance geometry.

True story - "Matt" is a good friend of mine who has close to 40 years wwing experience, and has been a mentor to me over the years. Several years ago we got him a WWII 40T as a birthday present because he'd never had a true top shelf blade. Shortly after I picked the Combomax to try out, and was so impressed I loaned it to Matt to try so he could compare to his new WWII…..he loved it too, and informed me a few weeks later that I wasn't getting it back! He's done many things over the years to make it up to me , but I never did get that blade back, so I'm stuck with the 22 or 23 blades I have left! ;-)
 
#18 ·
"I'm kinda surprised that one doesn't have the fancy looking laser cut expansion slots like most. But I trust knotscott's recommendation that it's a good blade."

That's what I did and it turned out to be a great blade as you get a lot of blade for your money.

The lack of laser cuts isn't a bother YMMV
 
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