Common Saw Blades Reference

Why this matters

Wrong saw blade = ruined material + ruined blade + lost time. Wood blade in metal = teeth strip. Metal blade in wood = burn marks + slow cut. Tile blade in lumber = wandering cut. The tech with the right blade for the job works faster + cleaner. This is the field card.

Tooth count (TPI = teeth per inch)

Low TPI (3 - 6 TPI): aggressive, fast-cutting, rough edge. Framing lumber, demo, fast cuts.

Medium TPI (7 - 14 TPI): general purpose. Most everyday work.

High TPI (18 - 32 TPI): smooth finish, slow cut. Sheet metal, thin materials, fine cuts.

Rule: minimum 3 teeth in the workpiece at any time; too few = chatter; too many = clogged + slow.

Circular saw blades (7-1/4" residential standard)

Framing / rip (24-tooth carbide): the default blade on a framing saw. Fast, aggressive, rough edge. Dimensional lumber, plywood decking, rough openings. This is the one that lives on the saw and the one the truck stock list below carries three of.

Combination (50-tooth): balances rip + crosscut.

Plywood / paneling (60-80 tooth): minimizes splintering.

Diamond grit edge (no teeth): hard tile, masonry, concrete (with appropriate saw).

Demo blade (low-tooth carbide, typically 24-tooth on a 7-1/4"): built to survive embedded nails and screws in tear-out. Rough cuts only; it will not leave a finish edge. Note this is a toothed carbide blade, not an abrasive wheel. Abrasive cutoff wheels have no teeth at all and are a separate product with their own guarding and RPM rules.

Sizes: 6-1/2" (cordless) + 7-1/4" (standard) + 8-1/4" (worm-drive) + 10-1/4"+ for beam saws.

Miter / chop saw blades (10" - 12" common)

Crosscut (60-80 tooth ATB): clean crosscut in lumber + finished material.

Finish trim (80-100 tooth): very clean cut on crown molding + trim.

Negative-hook tooth: required for steel + non-ferrous metal cutting on mitering saws.

Reciprocating saw (Sawzall) blades

Wood (6 TPI): framing demo, fast rough cut, pruning.

Wood + nails (5 - 8 TPI bi-metal): cuts through hidden nails without dulling.

Metal (14 - 18 TPI bi-metal): pipe, conduit, sheet metal, light steel.

Fine metal (24 - 32 TPI): thin sheet metal, thin tubing.

Demolition (special carbide-tipped): cuts nails, screws, light masonry, plaster.

Plaster cutting: dedicated abrasive blade for plaster + lath.

Common length: 4" (tight spots), 6" (general), 8 - 12" (deep cuts).

Jigsaw blades

Wood (6 - 10 TPI): standard cutting in plywood, lumber.

Metal (14 - 32 TPI bi-metal): thin steel, aluminum.

Tile (carbide grit): ceramic + porcelain (slow).

Down-cut / up-cut: down-cut prevents tear-out on top surface (laminate, finished work).

Scrolling (narrow blade): tight curves.

Hacksaw blades (manual)

Wood-cut (4 - 10 TPI): lumber.

Metal (18 - 32 TPI): steel pipe + bar stock.

Pipe-cutting (32 TPI standard): standard plumbing.

Always cut on the push stroke (pull on backstroke); blade installed teeth-forward.

Tile + masonry blades

Wet tile saw (10" diamond): porcelain + ceramic + glass tile. Cools with water.

Dry-cut diamond (4-1/2" angle grinder): concrete, masonry, tile in field.

Continuous rim (no segments): tile + glass; cleanest cut.

Segmented rim: concrete, brick, masonry; faster.

Turbo rim (jagged segments): middle ground between continuous + segmented.

Hole saws (bi-metal)

Wood + thin metal: standard bi-metal hole saw. 3/4" - 6" common.

Carbide-tipped: thicker metal + cast iron.

Diamond hole saw: porcelain tile, glass, concrete (wet-cut).

Common blade applications by trade

HVAC: sheet metal - bi-metal recip 18 TPI OR snips; ductwork - high-tooth metal blade; refrigerant copper - tubing cutter (not saw). Plumbing: PVC - standard recip OR PVC saw 8 - 14 TPI; copper - tubing cutter (preferred), recip 24 TPI if needed; cast iron - chain pipe cutter OR diamond blade; nipple - hacksaw OR tubing cutter. Electrical: EMT/IMC - tubing cutter OR hacksaw; cable raceway - recip metal blade; drywall - drywall OR keyhole saw; cable tray - bi-metal recip. Roofing/framing: lumber - 24-tooth circular OR 6 TPI recip; plywood deck - 24-tooth circular; shingle - utility knife OR roofing snips; metal flashing - sheet metal snips. Painting: trim removal - pull saw OR multi-tool; wall opening - drywall saw OR oscillating multi-tool.

Carbide tipped vs HSS

Carbide-tipped (TCT): harder; longer life; 3 - 10x life of HSS; brittle if dropped.

HSS (High-Speed Steel): tougher; more flexible; sharpens; doesn't chip on impact.

For service tech: carbide on materials, HSS where versatility + durability needed.

Speed (RPM) + feed rate

Wood cutting: 3,500 - 5,000 RPM circular saw; high feed rate.

Metal cutting: 1,200 - 2,500 RPM; moderate feed; cooling fluid for stainless.

Masonry / tile: 3,000 - 5,000 RPM; slow feed; water cooling.

Don't force: let the blade do the work; force = chatter + dull + injury.

Common saw blade mistakes

Wood blade in metal (teeth strip). Metal blade in wood (slow + burns). Forcing dull blade (broken blade + injury). Wrong speed for material (overheating; warped blade). Skipping kickback safety (binding circular saw + kickback). Using damaged blade. Skipping safety glasses + hearing protection. Cutting toward body. Working without push stick (table saw narrow cuts).

Blade life + replacement

Carbide-tipped: 200 - 500 cuts in lumber; 50 - 200 in metal. Sharpen 1 - 2 times before retirement.

Bi-metal recip: 20 - 100 cuts per blade depending on material.

Diamond: 100s of cuts; lasts months to years.

Replace when:

• Visible damage (chipped teeth)
• Heavy resistance during cutting
• Burning material instead of cutting
• Cuts wandering

Safety

PPE: safety glasses ALWAYS; hearing protection on power saws; cut-resistant gloves for material handling (NOT for moving blade; can grab glove).

Kickback prevention (circular saw): blade guard functional; align cut; don't pinch blade in cut.

Stable workpiece: clamped OR secured; not held by hand alone.

Power cord: kept clear of cutting line.

Body position: not in line of blade kickback path.

Truck stock (common service trades)

7-1/4" 24-tooth carbide circular (3); 7-1/4" 60-tooth carbide finish (1); recip 6" + 8" wood 6 TPI; recip 6" + 8" wood-with-nails 5 TPI; recip 6" metal 18 TPI; bi-metal hole saw assortment (1" - 4"); jigsaw blades wood + metal assortment; hacksaw + 18 TPI blade; tubing cutter (1/4" - 1-1/4").

References

• ANSI B7.1, Safety Requirements for the Use, Care and Protection of Abrasive Wheels (covers abrasive wheels only; it is not a toothed-saw-blade standard)
• Manufacturer technical data (Diablo, Bosch, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Lenox)
• OSHA 1926.300 series (Power Tools)
• Manuall internal: Common Drill Bits, PPE Selection by Task