Saw blades are removable cutting components that are used in saws and other instruments to cut and shape various materials. These components are known for their toothed design and they are typically made from a single-piece construction. Whether you’re a seasoned woodworker, a DIY enthusiast, or just getting started using power tools, understanding how to select the right saw blade is the key to achieving precision and efficiency in your projects. Dive deeper into the different types of saw blades, and what types of projects and applications they’re each best used for.

Rip Blades

These are the most common type of saw blade, designed to cut wood with the grain. They don’t produce the smoothest or cleanest cuts. However, they can cut quicker than a crosscut blade.

Crosscut Blades

These types of blades are designed to cut perpendicular to the natural grain of wood. They aren’t as quick as rip blades, but they are known for producing smooth and clean cuts.

Finishing Blades

A finishing blade is best for projects where you need to produce a clean and smooth cut. These are fine-toothed blades, which often have a minimum of 40 TPI.

Nail Cutting Blades

These types of saw blades are designed to cut through nails, which makes them a great option for projects where you’re working around the home or with reclaimed wood that may have nails hidden in it.

Metal Cutting Blades

As the name suggests, these types of saw blades are best for cutting metal like aluminum sheets, metal studs, steel pipes, and any other type of metal products. Given how hard metal is, it’s best to use a specialized metal saw blade when you need to cut through it, like the 5-7/8" Metal Cutting Circular Saw Blade from Milwaukee.

Dry Diamond Blades

Cutting ceramic, porcelain, masonry, or other similar materials is best with dry diamond saw blades, like the Dewalt 12” Segmented Diamond Blade. Given the strength of the diamond in the blade construction, these are highly durable and long-lasting, even when cutting abrasive materials.

Dado Cutting Blades

Dado cutting blades are made from cutting dadoes and flat-bottomed grooves into pieces of wood and are often used in table saws. As such, they are commonly used in woodworking applications to create grooves to join two or more pieces of wood.

Band Saw Blades

Band saw blades are used in band saws, as you can gather from the name. These blades are best for cutting irregular shapes and have a unique design of a continuous loop of toothed metal that is stretched between two or more wheels.

Circular Saw Blades

These are highly versatile and common types of saw blades. Circular saw blades, like the 10" 24T Ripping Circular Saw Blade from Milwaukee, are used in circular saws and are best for making straight cuts in wood or metal.

Scroll Saw Blades

Scroll saw blades are designed to make intricate and detailed cuts. These blades are quite thin, which allows for precise maneuvering. Because of its cutting performance and properties, this blade is commonly used in woodworking.

Reciprocating Saw Blades

Reciprocating saw blades are designed to work in a back-and-forth motion. They are mostly used in construction and demolition applications, being effective at cutting through common materials like wood and plastic.

Jig Saw Blades

Jig saw blades are used in jag saws, which feature a reciprocating blade. These are highly versatile and capable of making curved or straight cuts in a variety of materials like wood, metal, or plastic, like the Alfa Tools I 3-1/4" 24TPI Carbide Strip Jig Saw Blade.

Concrete Saw Blades

Concrete saw blades are best for cutting concrete, cement, masonry, and other types of related materials that other types of blades may not be able to handle.

Tile Saw Blades

These blades are specifically designed for cutting ceramic tiles, stone, granite, or other similar materials with precision and without chipping or splintering.

Walk-Behind Saws

These are a specific type of cutting machine, though not exactly a type of saw blade. However, they are highly specialized tools that allow you to horizontally cut larger materials like concrete, stone, or other hard flooring materials while standing behind it.