Stu's Shed

Intended purpose: Crosscut
Tooth count: 100
Price: $? ($8 on eBay)
Source: GMC

Tooth Grind: ATB (alternating top bevel)
Kerf: 2.99mm measured

It is very strange that it is labelled as being a 1.8mm blade (ie thin kerf), when it is absolutely not.  Other than a reflection on the quality of the blade itself, and perhaps decisions about reducing blade thickness etc, the thickness of the blade body is not an indication of whether it is thin kerf or not.  That is simply a function of the width the cut it makes (ie the width of the kerf)

Carbide thickness (measured front face to braze): 1.60mm
Carbide length: 4.67mm
Front face length: 3.01mm

Blade axial runout: 0.007″ (0.18mm)
Expansion slots: 4, straight design
Anti-noise slots: none

Blade body thickness: 1.89mm

A wide, short, negative angled expansion slot which ends in a large slot arrestor.

General Description:

This blade is sold as a budget crosscut blade by GMC. It has small carbide tips affixed to a thin steel body.

The blade has an unusual performance, with an average quality off one side, and a poor quality finish off the other. An indication I surmise due to inconsistent tooth shape and sharpening.

Given it’s lack of performance in all tests, there isn’t anything that recommends this blade. It did an acceptable job with melamine. The low cost (almost free in the scheme of things) may be attractive to some purchasers.

The blade was very noisy during the cuts- most of all the blades tested to date, and also has been the only one to exhibit a noticeable degree of radial runout, which is a shame considering the lateral runout was within acceptable tolerances. The problem with radial runout is that it means only a few teeth are doing all the cutting, which would contribute to the poor surface finishes of the cuts, and would result in the blade presenting as if it is blunt quickly, despite the majority of teeth being effectively unused.

The cuts:

Melamine (Particle Board Backing)

Top Edge

A very good top surface cut, and an ok bottom edge, although you expect almost perfection from a 100 tooth blade.

Bottom Edge

KD Hardwood Rip

Not too bad, given that a 100 tooth blade would really struggle to empty its gullets during a rip. This would be more obvious in the fibrous soft pine rips.

Treated Pine Rip

A very unusual result here – an ok bottom cut, tooth marks obvious although. The top picture is of the other side of the kerf, and shows that one side of the blade cuts ok, the other side is a disaster. Lots of tearout.

Softwood (Pine) Rip

Same as with the treated pine rip – average finish on one side, terrible on the other.

KD Hardwood Crosscut

Closeup of tearout on hardwood crosscut

A pretty good crosscut for a cheap blade. Next to no breakout.

Treated Pine Crosscut

Average crosscut here, although given the blade’s purpose, it should be almost a mirror smooth surface.

Softwood (Pine) Crosscut

Same as with the treated pine crosscut.