I was doing a bunch of plywood work and I just wasn't happy with the crosscut performance of my basically new Forrest WWII blade when cross cutting the plywood - even with a zero clearance insert. I was getting some small, maybe 1/16 inch chips on the bottom side. I was just building and assembly table/cabinet and another cabinet for some bench top tools so it didn't bother me much but I'm planning on building some built in bookcases so I needed to get another blade. In addition, the bookcase will include mitered doors so I was attemping to cut the 45's with my chop saw and well, the 10 year old stock 32 tooth dewalt blade just wasn't "cutting it".
I looked all over and was considering getting the Forrest Chopmaster 12" for my miter saw and another 60 or 80 tooth Forrest or simliar Freud blade for the plywood work but that was going to run me $200-250 and that just wasn't in the cards right now. I've been reading a lot of great things about the Oshlun blades so I decided I'd give them a try. I ordered the 10" 80 tooth ATB Fine Crosscut blade and the 12" 96 tooth ATB Fine Crosscut blade for the miter saw. I ordered both of them from Holbren along with a set of Jointer blades for my 6" delta for a total including shipping of about $75. There are several ways of getting 10% off - not sure if there is a code for this site or not.
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-10-80t-atb-fine-crosscut-blade-5-8-arbor.html
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-12-96t-fine-crosscut-blade-1-arbor.html
I was skeptical considering the price but nearly everyone that's used them says they are very good. I first put the 12" blade on and noted that it was very sharp right out of the box. Close to being as sharp as my WWII was when new. First cut was very quiet and super smooth. A little chipout did occur on the back side but the bottom was chip free. This was noted in both 3/4" Birch plywood and 5/4 Ambrosia Maple. A backer board would cure that chipout easily. So I was very happy with this blade. Another reason I wanted this blade was because it has a very thick .125" plate and .134" kerf. Thats a lot of material to cut but I should have far less deflection over that junky thin kerf blade I had in there. I may end up cutting the door miters on the table saw but it was not an option to use the miter saw with the old blade.
Next I put the 10" in the table saw (3HP Jet Deluxe). I beleive the blade is .001" wider than my WWII so I did need to recut the zero clearance insert as it was rubbing but I don't feel that will be much of a problem when I go back to the WWII. I then crosscut 3/4" plywood and the maple again. Man was it smooth as butter when making the cut and the finish was like glass with zero chipout. Next was to actually rip the same materials. Both cuts again were like glass with the edges very very close to being as smooth as the WWII. Plywood may have been better but the maple was very close and I would have to say glue up ready.
Overall I'm beyond happy so far with the blades and if they stay sharp, I really would have a hard time justifying buying another top end Forrest or Freud blade. Given their 40 tooth combo blade is only $22 - 10% discount I might not even bother sharpening the WWII but time will tell...I'll definately be getting their 24 tooth ripper when I need to rip stuff thicker than 2".
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-10-24t-atb-ripping-blade-5-8-arbor.html
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-10-40t-atb-general_purpose-blade-5-8-arbor.html
Finally, I will say there was a little but of misinformation re: the 12" blade on the holbren site. The image is of the newer designed C4 carbide blade but the write up says its a C3 blade. I did receive the C3 blade - perhaps old stock but as I said it cuts great! Might not last as long but we'll see. The 10" is the C4 blade.
If you need a new blade, give these Oshlun blades a try and give Holbren some business if you choose...you won't be disappointed on either choice.
I looked all over and was considering getting the Forrest Chopmaster 12" for my miter saw and another 60 or 80 tooth Forrest or simliar Freud blade for the plywood work but that was going to run me $200-250 and that just wasn't in the cards right now. I've been reading a lot of great things about the Oshlun blades so I decided I'd give them a try. I ordered the 10" 80 tooth ATB Fine Crosscut blade and the 12" 96 tooth ATB Fine Crosscut blade for the miter saw. I ordered both of them from Holbren along with a set of Jointer blades for my 6" delta for a total including shipping of about $75. There are several ways of getting 10% off - not sure if there is a code for this site or not.
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-10-80t-atb-fine-crosscut-blade-5-8-arbor.html
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-12-96t-fine-crosscut-blade-1-arbor.html
I was skeptical considering the price but nearly everyone that's used them says they are very good. I first put the 12" blade on and noted that it was very sharp right out of the box. Close to being as sharp as my WWII was when new. First cut was very quiet and super smooth. A little chipout did occur on the back side but the bottom was chip free. This was noted in both 3/4" Birch plywood and 5/4 Ambrosia Maple. A backer board would cure that chipout easily. So I was very happy with this blade. Another reason I wanted this blade was because it has a very thick .125" plate and .134" kerf. Thats a lot of material to cut but I should have far less deflection over that junky thin kerf blade I had in there. I may end up cutting the door miters on the table saw but it was not an option to use the miter saw with the old blade.
Next I put the 10" in the table saw (3HP Jet Deluxe). I beleive the blade is .001" wider than my WWII so I did need to recut the zero clearance insert as it was rubbing but I don't feel that will be much of a problem when I go back to the WWII. I then crosscut 3/4" plywood and the maple again. Man was it smooth as butter when making the cut and the finish was like glass with zero chipout. Next was to actually rip the same materials. Both cuts again were like glass with the edges very very close to being as smooth as the WWII. Plywood may have been better but the maple was very close and I would have to say glue up ready.
Overall I'm beyond happy so far with the blades and if they stay sharp, I really would have a hard time justifying buying another top end Forrest or Freud blade. Given their 40 tooth combo blade is only $22 - 10% discount I might not even bother sharpening the WWII but time will tell...I'll definately be getting their 24 tooth ripper when I need to rip stuff thicker than 2".
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-10-24t-atb-ripping-blade-5-8-arbor.html
http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-10-40t-atb-general_purpose-blade-5-8-arbor.html
Finally, I will say there was a little but of misinformation re: the 12" blade on the holbren site. The image is of the newer designed C4 carbide blade but the write up says its a C3 blade. I did receive the C3 blade - perhaps old stock but as I said it cuts great! Might not last as long but we'll see. The 10" is the C4 blade.
If you need a new blade, give these Oshlun blades a try and give Holbren some business if you choose...you won't be disappointed on either choice.
