Carpentry Tools Sharpening Service

Circular Saw Blade Sharpening Services Near Mobile Alabama

One of the sharpening services finished in the shop today was a freud 11562618 – 50/11, a 12″ inch, 100 tooth rip-cut blade. Freud makes superb blades and when I receive these in the shop I recognize the investment the owner has in the blade and enjoy bringing the blade back to like-new or better-than-new condition.

Circular Saw Blade Anatomy

This blade has a 10 degree hook angle bevel with an ATB grind and from-the-factory side grind polish. Sharpening this type of blade takes quite a bit more time than most of the common home-owner or building contractor type of blades. More time is required because the diamond wheels I use for sharpening must be alternated for every other tooth. And, the side of each tooth should be polished – usually with 4,000 grit diamond stones.

This diagram may help clarify some of the terms I use. Tooth design is the determining factor in deciding which blade is best for any application. Here’s a quick overview of how subtle changes in bevel, gullet and kerf affect cutting performance.

Bevel – Teeth can have a single bevel, two bevels or no bevel at all. Types of bevels can alternate from tooth to tooth on a given blade. The bevel is what gives a blade its specific cutting pattern.

Gullet – This is the space between teeth that clears the work piece of chips after the cut. The deeper the gullet, the more efficiently chips are cleared.

Kerf – This is the face of the tooth, where the actual cutting takes place. The pattern of alternating kerfs, known as the grind, decides what applications a blade is best for.

Circular Saw Blade Grind Types

Circular Saw Blade Anatomy – Tooth Grinds

Flat Top Grind (FTG) – best for ripping

Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) – for cross-cutting, cut-off and trimming

Triple Chip Grind (TCG) – perfect for hard, abrasive materials like non-ferrous metals, hardwoods and plastics

Multi-Purpose Carbide Tipped (MCT) – for ripping and crosscutting, miter

Tri-Grind (TRI) – combination grind

Left Trim Grind (3/1) – good finish, one side only

Right Trim Grind (3/1) – good finish, one side only

Solid Surface Grind (SSG) – for extremely dense man-made materials

High 30 degree ATB (MH) – chip-free cuts on melamine and plywood