Having worked extensively with miter saws over the years, I can confidently attest to the limitations of stock blades. While they might suffice for basic tasks, they often falter regarding more rigid materials. Selecting the right blade is paramount, not only for the quality of the cut but also for the longevity of your tools. Drawing from my firsthand experience and thorough testing, I’ve compiled a list of the best miter saw blades available.
Reviews of the Top Miter Saw Blades
1. Dewalt 10-Inch Miter Saw Blades
Dewalt is no stranger to my workshop tool reviews, and the brand takes the top spot again with its 10 inches miter saw blades. In this combo pack, you get a 60-tooth count option for fine cuts and a 32-tooth blade for general purposes.
Both blades are tipped with tungsten carbide, which is a durable and robust metal that keeps the teeth sharper for longer. The thin kerf on both Dewalt 10 Inch Miter Saw Blades can accommodate a fast RPM for quick-cut jobs.
Both the 32-tooth and 60-tooth blades are computer-balanced for efficiency to reduce vibration and increase the accuracy in every cut.
What I Like
- The combo pack with dual blades
- Thin kerfs on both blades
- It is computer-balanced
- Increased accuracy
- Tungsten carbide teeth
- ⅝-inch arbor size
- Reduced vibrations
- Ideal for soft, hard, and plywood
- Patent wedge shoulder
What I Don’t Like
- Required sharpening over time
- Have a whistling sound from the teeth
2. Makita A-93681 10-Inch 80 Tooth Micro Polished Miter saw Blade
The Makita A-93681 is my editor’s top pick due to its quality. Makita blades are known for their laser cuts and excellent durability, which is why the A-93681 is no exception. The micro-grain carbide teeth on the blade deliver a fine and smooth finish any woodworker would want.
The rest of the blade is created from tensioned steel professionally crafted material to ensure the perfect cut. The ultra-thin kerf is ideal for fine crosscutting on different types of wood, and the 5-degree hook angle plus mirrored finish allows the blade to move through the material with little effort.
What I Like
- The durable steel construction along the micro-grain teeth with carbide
- It delivers a smooth and fine cut
- Superior efficiency and balance
- 0.91 kerf width
- 5-degree hook angle
- Ideal for plywood, hardwood, and softwood
- Fine crosscutting
- Mirrored finish
What I Don’t Like
- It's not great on laminate
- It can be loud
3. Concord Blades WCB0538T040HP
The Concord WCB0538T040HP Miter Saw Blades is one of the best miter saw blades that are surprisingly affordable. The entire blade is created from sturdy construction-grade steel with reinforced titanium carbide tips that allow the blade to remain sharper for an extended time.
The multi-tool blade can handle RPMs up to 11,000 given the thin kerf and expert engineering. The Concord blades will produce a clean finish and can be used not only on wood, but laminate, and flooring, as well. You can even use it to cut through aluminum using a powerful miter saw.
The lower hook angle can handle more pressure from the power tool and allows the blade plate to handle decking and wood composites with minimal waste.
What I Like
- The ATB grind blade
- It has a thin kerf
- 15-degree hook angle
- It can handle up to 11,000 RPM
- Fine finish blade
- 40 teeth general purpose blade
- Professional construction-grade steel body
- It has carbide tips
What I Don’t Like
- It produces sawdust
- It has a tendency to wobble
4. CRAFTSMAN 10-Inch Miter Saw Blade, Combo Pack (CMAS210CMB)
If you like combo packs, I’ve also selected another slightly more affordable option than the Dewalt option. You get both 60-tooth and 24 teeth count blades for different woodworking projects and cuts. The steel blade exhibits induction-brazed carbide tips for longevity.
The Craftsman CMAS210CMB 10 Inch Blades were heat-treated by the manufacturer to prevent warping at high temperatures. Each blade delivers surgical cuts and has a corrosion-resistant non-stick coating to ensure smooth operation.
The ⅝-inch arbor improves the compatibility of these blades with any standard miter saw, and even works as a circular saw blade or table saw blade that can cut through hard granite and even metals.
What I Like
- It has a versatile design
- Heat-treated to prevent warping
- It has a corrosion-resistant non-stick coating
- Smooth cuts
- Induction-brazed carbide-tipped blades
- Combo pack
- 24-tooth is a great ripper blade
What I Don’t Like
- It may come with adhesive on the blades
- It can be loud
5. Freud D12100X 100 Tooth Diablo Ultra Fine Saw Blade
The Freud D12100X Diablo Blade is known for the high number of teeth. The 100-tooth blade produces an ultra-fine finish that is unmatched by any other saw blade. The miter blade has an ultra-thin laser cut kerf with a Parma-Shield protective coating and laser-cut stabilizer vents.
The construction of the Freud D12100X miter saw blade is created with shock-resistant brazing. The Hi-ATB blade is carbide-tipped for sharpness and durability and can handle up to 6000 RPM while still producing excellent cuts on wood and wood composites.
The laser-cut heat slots make room for the blade to expand under higher temperatures while still preserving the integrity of the cut.
What I Like
- It has laser-cut heat expansion slots
- It has laser-cut stabilizer vents
- High number of teeth
- Ultra-fine laser kerf
- It can withstand 6000 RPM, enough for any task
- Shock-resistant brazing
- Anti-corrosion and Perma-Shield coating
What I Don’t Like
- It might vibrate a bit
- It needs sharpening over time
Miter Saw Blade Buying Guide
It is difficult to continue on the quest to find a reliable miter saw blade if you are unaware of what to look out for. I’ve tested each saw blade with different miter saws to help the average woodworker find the best fit. Thus, let’s take a look at what you can’t miss when buying a miter saw blade.
Blade Size
Which blade is compatible with your miter saw and what material a carpenter [1] can cut through is dependent on the blade size. I will describe the material compatibility when I mention the number of teeth on a blade. For now, let’s focus on the measurements you need to pay attention to in order to make sure the saw blade fits your miter saw.
The first consideration is the bore. The bore on miter saws will vary from brand to brand, so I suggest taking a look at your user’s manual to make sure the blade will fit accordingly.
Then look at the diameter of the blade. The larger the diameter, the bigger the blade. Again, each miter saw will require a different blade, but I say a 10-inch blade is the most common compared to high-quality miter saws with 12-inch blade. For this reason, most of the blades selected on this 10 and 12 inch miter saw blade list work with a 10 inches miter saw but you can even find a 12-inch blade for larger designs.
Compatibility
As I’ve said, saw blade sizes dictate the compatibility the saw blades have with your power tool. Miter saws including the powerful Ryobi miter saws come in a variety of types from sliding options to ones that specialize in bevel cuts. Blades can vary from 8, 10, and 12 inches, with 10 being the most common.
Material
Other than the teeth count and the size, the material also impacts the object it can slice through. Look for the one sturdy enough to go head to head with the materials in question and come out on top.
Carbon steel is one of the most common materials a blade comes in because of the low price. It is among the least durable and can dull quite easily, which also contributes to the cheap price. Because it is not as strong as the other options, I only recommend carbon steel for softer materials such as plastic.
We then have HSS blades, which stand for High-Speed Steel. As the name suggests, these saw blades work well at high speeds and are more durable than carbon steel. MDF and harder materials are no match for this blade type and it can withstand high heat even without a speed coat finish.
Cobalt steel blades are different from carbon steel because they contain trace amounts of cobalt. The presence of cobalt makes these blades work well on hard and thick materials which allows your miter saw to cut PVC or melamine materials.
Lastly, we have the carbide-tipped blade design that cuts with superior precision and is the most robust on the list. These blades allow miter saws to cut through almost anything at the job site and are recommended if strength is what you need.
Teeth
When looking for the best miter saw blade, always consider the number of teeth. Think about the cut you want to perform; is it miter cuts, fine-finish cuts, or cross cuts? There are 3 classifications of miter saw blades: a coarse blade, a medium blade, and a fine blade. Most manufacturers list the total teeth count from 24 all the way up to 120.
A blade with 24 to around 60 teeth is considered a coarse blade. 60 to 80 is a medium blade and anything above 80 is classified as a fine-tooth blade. A coarse blade is excellent for lumber, different types of wood, and MDF, while a medium blade can also cut MDF but also plywood and other sheet metals. A fine-tooth blade can work well on all the above plus non-ferrous metals. It means depending on the blade type, your miter saw has the power to cut robust metal accordingly.
Kerf
This term is often seen when describing saw blades, so what exactly is the kerf?
The kerf pertains to the width of the cut made by the blade. The thinner the blade, the smaller the kerf on the material. A full-kerf blade measures around 0.125 inches and a thin kerf is anything under 0.094 inches.
I say a powerful motor is required to run a full-kerf blade, so make sure your saw can take the strain.
Other Features
I also suggest looking for blades with a protective coating. The coating can have non-stick properties or anti-corrosion that will protect you and the blade. A sticking blade is a safety hazard and one that does not rust will have a longer lifespan.
Heat vents and expansion slots can also help decrease the chances of the miter saw blade warping under high temperatures.
Type of Miter Saw Blade
You might have seen terms such as ATB or TCG blade and are wondering what these mean.
ATB or alternate top bevel, are blades that have every alternating tooth pitching in the opposite direction. An ATB blade is ideal for crosscuts, rip cuts, and finishes nicely with no tear-outs. Medium ATB blades are the best for general use.
Hi-ATB blades are ATB blades with an alternating tooth design at a 25-degree elevation. Hi-ATB blades are what I suggest for the cleanest cuts on easily marred material.
ATBR blades have 5-tooth patterns that repeat all around the blade, one of which includes a raker tooth. This type of blade is excellent for crosscuts and rip cuts on wood material.
Then there are the TCG and FTB blades. TCG stands for triple chip grind, which has a raker tooth as every other tooth. It’s a very durable type of blade and does not present any tear-outs on brittler material. TCG blades work on a variety of materials including melamine.
FTB stands for the flat-top grind, which makes them the best choice for rips. Due to this, the FTB blades may produce unclean cuts.
How to Change Miter Saw Blade
To begin, ensure that the miter saw is unplugged before proceeding. Then, remove the spindle cover by adjusting the blade guard to its top position and rotating the spindle to expose the blade.
Press the spindle lock, remove the bolt and washer, then take the blade off. Be careful when doing so and always make sure to hold the blade through the center hole to avoid nicking the teeth.
To replace the old blade with a new one, just invert the steps I laid out above but make sure the teeth are facing the right direction before you start the saw.
FAQ
How many teeth should a miter saw blade have?
A miter saw blade should have 40 teeth for a general-purpose blade. The more teeth it has, the finer the cut. A coarse blade with 24-60 teeth is great for wood, a medium blade with 60-80 teeth is excellent for wood and sheet metal, while fine-toothed blades of 80-120 teeth are used for all of the above and non-ferrous metals.
How do I choose a miter saw blade?
You choose a miter saw blade by identifying the type of cut you want to make, the materials you work with, and the size of your saw. Additionally, sturdy construction will also make the blade last longer against tougher materials, and blades with a protective coating are also recommended.
Top Pick For a Miter Saw Blade: Dewalt 10-inch Miter Saw Blade Combo Pack
My top choice for the best miter saw blade is the combo pack from Dewalt. Both the Dewalt 10 Inches Miter Saw Blades are tipped with tungsten carbide for long-lasting durability. The blades are computer-balanced to reduce vibrations and enhance cut accuracy. The thin kerf will also produce clean cuts each time.
You've probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
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