Stu's Shed

Intended purpose: Combination Rip / Crosscut
Tooth count: 40
Price: $88
Source: Woodworking Warehouse

Tooth Grind: ATB (alternating top bevel)
Kerf: 2.81mm
Carbide thickness (measured front face to braze): 2.49mm
Carbide length: 6.68mm
Front face length: 2.64mm

Blade axial runout: 0.004″ (0.10mm)

Expansion slots: 8, hook design with mini crack limiter – 4 large, 4 small.

Anti-vibration slots: none

Blade body thickness: 1.86mm

General Description:

Its distinctive colour is due to the Perma-Shield coating. To quote from their site:

“Perma-SHIELD™ permanent coating is a superior aluminum alloy coating that helps reduce friction, heat build-up, gumming, and is resistant to rust, which add up to longer blade life.“

This is the only combo blade that still retains any anti-kickback features.  It has a relatively low tooth count, so ripping should still be easily handled, and with a finish that is better than a dedicated ripping blade. It has a curious looking tooth – the small anti-kickback prong being less substantial than on a low tooth count blade.  If it was any larger, it would fill the gullet too much.  Not that you ever would, but it is the only blade that actually looks like it might work mounted backwards!  Ok, getting silly.

Overall, the blade was average – no real outstanding cuts, nor any that were notably below par either.  A blade that does follow the theory that a combination blade is a compromise for all cuts.

The cuts:

Melamine (Particle Board Backing)

Top Edge

Bottom Edge

Typical average result in melamine.  Good top surface, less usable bottom surface.

KD Hardwood Rip

Nothing too good, or bad about the rip cuts.  Some surface scoring, no real impedance to the actual cut, and an average finish.

Treated Pine Rip

Reasonable rip of treated pine – no real tearout of note – some furryness but no worse than other blades

Softwood (Pine) Rip

A pretty reasonable finish in pine – some light surface marks.

KD Hardwood Crosscut

Closeup of tearout on hardwood crosscut

Again, a reasonable crosscut of hardwood.  Seen worse, seen better.

Treated Pine Crosscut

Some tearout, but not overly so, moderate amount of breakout.

Softwood (Pine) Crosscut

Softwood very similar to treated pine – reasonable cut without being outstanding on any points.