Four checks before a blade goes on
| Check | What to compare | From the manuals |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | The blade size on the saw's nameplate | 7-1/4 in on DEWALT's DWE575 and Milwaukee's 2732; 6-1/2 in (165 mm) on the plunge saws |
| Arbor hole | Round or diamond, and its size | 5/8 in round with a diamond knock-out is common on 7-1/4 in blades; the plunge saws here use 20 mm; DEWALT's worm-drive saw takes diamond only |
| Speed rating | The rpm printed on the blade against the saw's | DEWALT: the blade's rating must meet or exceed the saw's; its track saw needs 6,000 rpm or more |
| Rotation | The arrow on the blade against the arrow on the guard | Teeth at the bottom point forward, in the direction of the cut |
A blade that fails any of these does not go on the saw, whatever its teeth.
The arbor matters more than it looks. DEWALT's corded manual warns against blades with the wrong arbor hole, because a blade that does not match the mounting hardware runs off-centre, and against damaged or incorrect washers and bolts. Many 7-1/4 in blades have a round 5/8 in hole with a diamond knock-out around it, so one blade fits both kinds of saw: DEWALT's worm-drive manual says to knock out the diamond first on its diamond-arbor saw. Never ream or force a hole to fit.
Kerf, plate and the riving knife
The kerf is the width the teeth cut; the plate, or body, is the steel disc, and it is thinner, so the blade does not rub in the cut. A riving knife behind the blade has to sit between the two — thicker than the plate so it holds the kerf open, thinner than the kerf so it does not drag. DEWALT states that rule for its plunge saw. Milwaukee's 2831 manual turns it into numbers: a kerf of at least 0.063 in, a body no more than 0.051 in, against a knife 0.055 in thick. A thin-kerf blade too narrow for the knife will jam on it, so the limit in your saw's manual decides which blades are usable.
- Thin kerf. Less wood removed and less effort for the motor, which is why blade makers pitch them at cordless saws. Milwaukee's 48-40-0720 is a 24-tooth thin-kerf framing blade.
- Thick kerf. A stiffer plate; Milwaukee's 48-40-0740 is described by Milwaukee as 'optimized for the most powerful cordless saws', with a straighter-cut claim that is the maker's own and untested here.
- The saw decides. On a saw without a riving knife, kerf is a trade-off; on one with a knife, it is a limit.
Equipment notePaid link
7-1/4-in 24T framing circular saw blade, 3-pack
Milwaukee 48-40-0720, 3-pack
Milwaukee's 48-40-0720, here as a three-pack: a 7-1/4 in, 24-tooth thin-kerf framing blade with a 5/8 in arbor and diamond knock-out, by Milwaukee's page.
Paid link — BenchRoot may earn a commission if you buy through this link.
Teeth: count and purpose
| Teeth (7-1/4 in) | What it is for | In the documents |
|---|---|---|
| About 24 | Fast rips and crosscuts in framing lumber; a rougher edge | Milwaukee's 24T framing blades, thin and thick kerf |
| About 40 | Cleaner cuts in plywood and finish work, more slowly | Milwaukee's 40T ATB finish blade, 'to minimise tear-out' |
| 48 on a 6-1/2 in blade | Finish cuts on a plunge saw | DEWALT's DWS520 kit blade, an ultra fine finishing blade on the kit page |
| Fine-tooth | Plywood and veneered sheet | DEWALT's DWS520 manual: a fine-tooth blade for plywood |
Tooth counts scale with diameter: a 6-1/2 in blade with the same spacing has fewer teeth than a 7-1/4 in one.
ATB — alternate top bevel — means the teeth are ground at alternating angles, so each one slices the fibres at the edge of the kerf rather than chopping them; it is the usual grind for crosscuts and veneered sheet. Carbide tips stay sharp far longer than plain steel teeth and can be resharpened; DEWALT's track-saw manual tells owners to examine them visually for damage. Table-saw and miter-saw blade types are compared in saw blades, which shares the same vocabulary.
Only blades for wood
DEWALT's corded manual says to use only blades designed for cutting wood in its saw, never abrasive wheels, and not to cut metal, plastic, concrete, masonry or fibre cement with it. Blades for metal, masonry or fibre cement exist for handheld saws designed for them; whether a particular saw accepts one is in that saw's manual, not on the blade's packet. DEWALT's track saw is for wood and not for solid-surface countertops.
Fitting, care and choosing
Changing the blade, cleaning pitch off it, spotting when it is dull and sending it for sharpening are in blade care. The tooth count to pick for the work in front of you, with the blades named here side by side, is in choosing a blade. Saws themselves are covered in the pillar guide and track saws.
Before fitting a blade
- Diameter matches the nameplate
- Arbor hole matches the saw, knock-out removed if the saw is diamond
- Blade rpm rating at or above the saw's
- Kerf and plate within the riving knife's limits
- No cracked plate or missing, loose or chipped teeth
- Rotation arrow matches the saw
Sources
Fit rules come from the saw makers' manuals for their own saws; blade descriptions are the blade maker's own. Kerf limits differ between saws, so check the one in your manual.
- 1.
DWE574, DWE575 7-1/4" (184 mm) Circular Saws, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: Round and diamond arbor holes and using the correct one for the saw; never damaged or incorrect washers or bolt; only blades designed for cutting wood; the rotation arrow; a 7-1/4 in blade.
- 2.
DWS535B Heavy-Duty 7-1/4" (184 mm) Worm Drive Circular Saw, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: Diamond-arbor blades only on the worm-drive saw, the knock-out removed first; the blade's rated maximum speed meeting or exceeding the saw's.
- 3.
DWS520 Heavy-Duty Track Saw, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The track saw's blade: 6-1/2 in (165 mm), 20 mm bore, rated 6,000 rpm or higher; the riving knife thinner than the kerf and thicker than the blade body; a combination blade supplied, a fine-tooth blade for plywood; inspecting carbide teeth.
- 4.
M18 FUEL 6-1/2" Plunge Track Saw, Cat. No. 2831-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: Blade limits on the plunge saw: kerf at least 0.063 in, body no more than 0.051 in, riving knife 0.055 in; 6-1/2 in blade on a 20 mm arbor.
- 5.
DWS520CK 6-1/2 in. (165 mm) TrackSaw Kit with 59 in. and 102 in. Track. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWS520 kit's 48-tooth ultra fine finishing blade.
- 6.
M18 FUEL 7-1/4" Circular Saw, Cat. No. 2732-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: A 7-1/4 in saw with a 5/8 in arbor running at 5,800 rpm.
- 7.
48-40-0720 7-1/4" 24T Framing Circular Saw Blade. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: A 7-1/4 in, 24-tooth thin-kerf framing blade with a 5/8 in arbor and diamond knock-out.
- 8.
48-40-0740 7-1/4" 24T Thick Kerf Framing Circular Saw Blade. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: A 7-1/4 in, 24-tooth thick-kerf framing blade, which Milwaukee describes as 'optimized for the most powerful cordless saws'.
- 9.
48-40-0725 7-1/4" 24T and 40T Framing and Fine Finish Circular Saw Blades (2 pack). Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: A pack pairing a 24-tooth framing blade with a 40-tooth ATB finish blade meant to minimise tear-out.
About this guide
Written by BenchRoot Editorial. How BenchRoot sources, checks and corrects its pages is set out in the Editorial Policy. If something here is wrong or unclear, the contact page explains how to tell us.