On 3/29/2011 5:06 PM, Existential Angst wrote:
Awl --

I do some alum cutting on my RAS, using mostly 60 tooth 10" blades --
everything from 1/8" material, to 3" material, with 1" flat and round bar
being typical.

How significant is chipped/missing carbide on a tooth or two (non-adjacent)?

If a chipped/missing tooth is ok for 60 tooth, how coarse can the blade get
before missing/chipped carbide is not OK?

If dicey on alum, can these chipped blades be used safely on wood?

I will switch to new or unchipped blades awaiting Group Advice.

Also, I have a 10" 80 tooth Morse Metal Devil specifically for alum, which
doesn't look much different than other non-specific 60 tooth carbide
blades -- except the price sticker, $90 !! It was given to me.

I just bought an Avanti two-pack of 10" 60 tooth from HD, for $29. Just
wondering what diffs between the two blades to expect, if any.

Any nifty uses for worn-out RAS blades? Frisbee?? Just scrap'em?



I use a 10" blade table saw for aluminum all the time. I just replaced
a 60T carbide blade that I have been using for about 3 years for mixed
wood and aluminum work. It had started throwing the work and doing
weird things. It was missing a couple teeth for quite some time, but
when I broke out the magnifying glass the rest of the teeth were looking
pretty bad. I don't think a missing tooth or two is all that bad, but
when it just starts to get worn out it gets dangerous. It will throw a
work piece back at you with enough force to cut you up pretty bad.


I was wondering if the blades would make decent knife steel, but other
than that I can't think of a use for them.