Your built-in circulaw saw blade is not performing as well as it used it to, this is a common problem with old blades. So it’s time to get a new one!
When it comes to selecting a circular saw blade for cutting wood, there are three key factors to consider: tooth count, arbor size, and kerf.
Identify the Type of Wood
The first step is to identify the type of wood that needs to be cut. Is it hardwood, softwood, or plywood? In a previous post, we reviewed the best 7 ¼ blades for cutting plywood.
Blade Selection for Hardwoods
Hardwoods can be cut more rapidly and easily with blades that have 16-24 teeth. For builders who frequently use a circular saw for framing cuts, where the speed of cutting is more important than quality, blades with 24 teeth are the most suitable.
Blade Selection for Softwoods
For softwoods, a blade with a 30-tooth count is required to produce good cuts. A thin kerf also eliminates the need to sand these cuts.
Blade Selection for Precise Cuts
For precise cutting, a blade with a higher tooth count, typically 30-40 teeth, can work with both thick and thin materials. Alternatively, if the goal is to cut quickly rather than precisely, then a blade with fewer teeth is the best option. Blades with fewer teeth are also best suited for cutting wood with embedded nails.
Best 7 1/4 circular saw blade for wood
Circular Saw Blade 7 1/4″
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Brand | GALAX PRO |
| Number of Teeth | 48 |
| Compatible Material | Wood, Plastic |
| Number of Pieces | 2 |
A pair of blades that fit well, whether you are cutting thick or thin wood, might be necessary when you are not sure which blades to use. The Galaxy Pro 7 ¼ offers two blades in one pack, one with 24-tooth and the second is 40-tooth.
Carbide-Tipped
| Material | Plywood, Wood |
| Brand | BEEING |
| LxWxH | 10.23 x 9.44 x 0.2 inches |
| Tooth-count | 24 |
It’s capable of ripping, and cross-cutting thick hardwood to 3-½ thick, and softwood to one inch thick.
FALKENWALD
| Material | Wood, Hardwood |
| Brand | FALKENWALD |
| Compatible Material | Engineered Wood |
A carbide cutting surface ensures long service life. Fewer tooth counts, in numbers 20-teeth, enable faster cutting and with the sharp kerf, the quilty of cuts is further enhanced.
Freud D0740X
| Material | Carbide |
| Brand | Freud |
| LxWxH | 7.2 x 7.2 x 0.3 inches |
| Color | Multi |
| Number of Teeth | 40 |
| Style | 1-Pack |
If you make fine-wood cuts more than framing hardwoods. Consider this 7 ¼ blade from Freud. It describes itself as a finishing cut blade that can equally work for framing.
Diablo D0724A
| Material | Carbide |
| Brand | Diablo |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 8.9 x 8.3 x 1.5 inches |
| Number of Teeth | 24 |
| Item Weight | 0.45 Pound |
So unlike your previous blade, this one keeps going on slicing the nails that come in the way. Although it’s not recommended to use it for nail cutting, it won’t damage the blade if it happens by chance. Made from carbide with expansion slots, 24-tooth counts are ideal to cut through hardwoods of thicker size easily. Overall, for contractors and professional woodworkers, this is the best partner.
Freud D0740A Diablo
| Material | Carbide |
| Brand | Freud |
| LxWxH | 7.25 x 7.25 x 0.31 inches |
| Number of Teeth | 40 |
| Style | Portable |
| Item Weight | 0.3 Pounds |
if you really demand the best possible results. There comes this blade, 40-tooth count with thin kerf, and the blades are sharpened to slice through a 2-by-4 butcher block like butter.
DEWALT DWA171424
| Material | Tungsten Carbide |
| Brand | DEWALT |
| LxWxH | 0.5 x 8.5 x 9.75 inches |
| Number of Teeth | 24 |
| Item Weight | 0.57 Pounds |
if you lack experience in handling circular saws. This is where the Dewalt DWA 171424 comes to help, with 24-tooths the cuts are faster, Also, the blade Features an alternate top bevel with raker (ATBR) grind, yielding good rip cuts.
Freud D0760A Diablo
| Material | Blend |
| Brand | Freud |
| LxWxH | 1 x 7 x 7 inches |
| Color | Multi |
| Number of Teeth | 60 |
| Item Weight | 0.3 Pounds |
Usually grainy and chippy woods can slow down the cutting process, so it might not be the best product for slicing hard or thick woods. For best results, this blade should be used to slice thin woods and plywoods.
