What Type of Circular Saw Blade do you Need to Cut Metal?

For the past few days, a circular saw power tool is leading the market. It has gained popularity due to its excellent performance at cutting through multiple materials like wood, metal, masonry, and ceramic tile. Here, in this article, we will make sure to provide you with the answer to the question of what type of circular saw blade you need to cut metal.

A circular saw also packs some useful features and convenience that made it the go-to option. We will include numerous tips to help you pick the appropriate saw blades for your project.

Circular Saw Basics

A Circular saw makes it possible to achieve both rip and cross cuts. Yes, bevel cutting is also possible with this power tool. The followings are the basic components of a circular saw:

There is a blade guard attached that retracts to reveal the blade if the saw is sitting ideally.
A foot plate is implemented to ensure the saw stays steady throughout the use.
To allow for different work piece thickness, a depth adjustment mechanism is implemented.
Bevel adjustment is included to enable the footplate to tilt with the blade for bevel cuts.

The diameter of a circular saw’s blade is typically used to categorize its sizes. Most frequently, sizes are between 5-1/2 and 7-1/4 inches. Additionally, circular saws offer a wide range of options. Depending on your special needs, pick the best circular saw.

There are two primary styles:

Sidewinders and Inclines are among the most used and traditional circular saw types. The blade and motor axis on them are parallel to each other. The shaft is extended directly from the motor to drive the blade. Sidewinder saws are more compact and lightweight compared to chain drive saws. Also, the majority of circular saw applications are well suited for them.
The motor of a chain drive saw is perpendicular to the blade. It is quite well adapted for heavy-duty work as the motor utilizes gears to boost the torque transmitted to the blade. Chain drive saw is typically lengthier and quieter than sidewinder saws.

Handheld Circular Saw Blades

Blades like standard circular saw blades, table saws, and miter saw blades are usually used for splitting wood and wood composites. Therefore, try to make sure the blade you buy is compatible with your saw and the substance you want to cut.

A blade’s tooth count has a noticeable impact on the cut’s speed, quality, and style. The higher the tooth count, the faster it cuts and the more refined finish it applies to the wood. Additionally, a higher number of teeth reduces vibration and delivers a straighter cut.

Below are a few typical blade types:

There are typically 16 to 40 teeth on a rip-cut cutter for cutting against the grain of the wood. The teeth are designed to deliver a strong cut. Also, the deep gullets ensure good chip removal.
There are somewhere between 40-80 teeth and thus are intended for clean cuts when cutting against the grain of the wood. The teeth are divided by smaller gullets.
Both crosscuts and rip cuts are possible with combination of blades. There are deep gullets between each group of teeth, and each group has one tooth for ripping and four for crosscuts.

Additional designations for blades include:

For tasks where speed is the priority over the accuracy, like carpentry, framing blades come in handy, thanks to the set of 24 teeth.
Plywood blades come in 100 or even more tiny teeth to produce a finish with less splintering.
Thin-Kerf blades with a thin profile are best for quicker, simpler, and less waste of materials.
Tired of blades getting trapped in the work piece? This is where Hollow-Ground blades come to play with a body that is thinner than its teeth.
In addition to wood, plastic and aluminum can also be cut with a multi-purpose circular saw blade. Another useful characteristic to look for in a circular saw blade is Anti-Kickback construction and coatings that reduce friction.

Additional Circular Saw Blade Types

As we know that table saws, miter saws, and handheld circular saws are the most frequently used tools for DIY projects, other power saws such as, tile saws, chop saws, and concrete saws, also use circular saw blades. The design of the blades differs from commonly used circular saw blades.