Best 12" Miter Saw Blade?

[WoodWrangler]

Looking for recommendations on 12" miter saw blades. What's good?

 

[Joe Scharle]

I replaced my stock Rigid blade with a Freud based upon a recommendation from Charles M. It made the saw cut a 100% better. Cleaner cuts, less resistance.

 

[WoodWrangler]

What tooth count/configuration do you use?

 

[Joe Scharle]

This one is a 72 ATB, or (LU91M012 - whatever that's supposed to mean to a woodworker).
Joe

 

[jglord]

Do you have a sliding miter saw?

If so, there are blades made for these saws and in my experience, they do make a difference. Sliders are supposed to have a -5 degree rake on the tooth. The Freud Sliding miter saw blade does have this.

The 72 tooth is avail. at Woodcraft in Raleigh for half price - about $47.00.

 

[McRabbet]

Jeremy,

As far as I'm concerned, there is only one saw blade that clearly makes the "Best" in the 12" Miter Saw category. It is the Freud LU85R012 12" x 96 tooth ATB Industrial Ultimate Cutoff Blade 1" arbor with Freud's Tico Hi-Density Carbide, currently available from Amazon.com for $114.99 with free shipping. It works equally well on Sliding and non-sliding saws and cuts like a knife through butter and leaves a glass smooth edge. I crosscut all of the Bubinga angle bracket members with this blade in my Porter Cable 12" MS and the cut is absolutely pure. I've had the blade since late May of last year and it still is as sharp as ever thanks to the micro-grain carbide. The bright red Perma-Shield coating is still like new as the blade plate never contacts the stock being cut. I got lucky and got mine for under $70 when I bought my miter saw...

And no, Charles M did not pay me to say any of this! :lol:

Rob

 

[WoodWrangler]

Thanks for the feedback guys ... I'm going shopping online!

PS - My miter saw isn't a slider.

 

[Travis Porter]

I bought a Forrest specifically for the CMS and it is a good blade. My recommendation is to not use thin kerf due to deflection.