Saw Blades and Router Bits: 5 Tips for Better Woodworking

Surprisingly enough, this rather coarse-toothed blade makes exceptionally smooth cuts, both crosscutting and ripping, in hardwood, softwood and sheet goods, but only if kept clean.

Video#1 Watch Time = 3 3/4 minutes
Video#2 Watch Time = 5 minutes
Video#3 Watch Time = 4 1/4

Good woodworking often comes down to small details that are easy to overlook. Saw blades and router bits are a perfect example. Even a very good saw or router can perform poorly with a dirty blade, a dull cutter, or a poor-quality accessory. On the other hand, the right blade or bit can make an average tool perform far better than many people expect. That is why paying attention to these small cutting details can improve both safety and finished results.

Key Takeaways

Clean saw blades and router bits cut better, run cooler, and last longer.
Anti-kickback shoulders are one of the most important saw blade safety features.
Some modern wood-cutting blades can survive occasional contact with nails or screws during renovation work.
Better blades and bits often improve results more than upgrading the tool itself.
Low-friction coatings reduce heat, improve performance, and resist resin buildup.

Tip#1: Clean Saw Blades and Router Bits Regularly

Even the best saw blades and router bits lose performance when resin builds up on the cutting edges. This is especially common when working with softwoods such as pine and spruce. A dirty blade creates more drag, more heat, and rougher cuts. Regular cleaning restores cutting power and helps extend the life of the tool.The best products are liquids that eat away resins easily, they’re pleasant to use and they work fast. A clean blade is a happy blade.

Household ammonia is a cheap, effective, water-washable option for cleaning saw blades and router bits, but the fumes are pretty extreme. Use it outside or use one of the dedicated blade cleaner products. I’ve had good results with a product I bought from Lee Valley Tools years ago. They’ve updated the formula and you can see it here.

Tip#2: Choose Safest Saw Blades With Anti-Kickback Features

Both these blades have anti-kickback features. The bumps to the right of each tooth limits the depth of bite that teeth can take, greatly reducing the chance of dangerous kickbacks.

Safety should matter just as much as finish quality, and blade design plays a role. Anti-kickback shoulders are one of the biggest reasons some blades are safer than others. These metal extensions limit how much wood each tooth can grab, reducing the chance of a sudden, dangerous catch. That makes them especially valuable on hand-held circular saws and table saws, where kickback can be serious.

Tip#3: Use Tough Blades for Renovation and Reclaimed Wood

No one sets out to cut nails with a hand-held circular saw, but sometimes it happens. Renovations, reclaimed lumber and salvage work often involve cutting nail-embedded wood, and that’s the reason for metal-tolerant wood blades. Look for them when tooling up for renovation work. Metallurgy has advanced to the point where today’s carbide saw teeth are exceptionally good. Watch the video above to see a blade chew through multiple deck screws with no trouble.

Tip#4: Better Blade and Bit Quality Means Better Results

A saw is only as good as the blade it spins. Same goes for routers and router bits. The thing is, new saws don’t usually come from the factory with great blades, and routers never come with bits at all. Not that the best bits and blades cost a lot. Most hand-held circular saw blades cost less than twenty-five bucks these days and last a long time. Larger tablesaw blades are cheaper than ever and better than ever, too. With the explosion in quality and variety it’s more affordable than ever to build a nice collection of bits and blades. Watch the video above to learn about my favourite router bits and the kind of details you can create with them. I made this video back in 2010, but all the information still applies.

Woodworking Tip#5: Blades & Bits Cut Better With Less Friction

As saw blades and router bits pass through wood, friction generated as the metal rubs against the side of the cut robs power and builds damaging heat. That’s why the best blades use low-friction coatings. They let blades run cooler, resist resin build-up better, and deliver more power to cutting teeth, where it counts. Not all blades have low-friction coatings on the sides, so look for it.