Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Circular saw blades come in all kinds of tooth configurations, but the number of teeth matters just as much as the shape. When I first started, I figured more teeth meant more cutting power…more sharp points hitting the wood. And yeah…technically that’s true.
But here’s what’s really happening: more teeth means more contact with the wood at once. That creates more friction…more heat…and more resistance during the cut.
Sometimes, a lot of teeth is exactly what you want. If you’re crosscutting…or slicing across the grain…more teeth means each tooth is taking a smaller bite which leads to a cleaner cut with less tear out. That’s why miter saw blades usually have more teeth.
Also because of the chaotic nature of plywood...with layers running in different directions...you’re better off using a higher tooth count blade for sheet goods as well.
But when ripping, or cutting with the grain, on hard or soft wood, everything changes. Having all those teeth packed together means there’s less room to clear material. The blade starts to build heat, it begins to drag, and that’s where burning and motor strain comes from.
That’s when the saw starts fighting you…it’s not aggressive, it’s struggling.
For those cuts, fewer is better…but it does mean you’ll have some cleanup to do afterward.
In my years doing this, unless I’m on a miter saw, I usually reach for the middle option. On a 10” blade, around 40 to 50 teeth gives you a good balance.
It won’t be perfect…but it works for almost everything, and you won’t feel like you’re fighting your saw…or swapping blades for every cut.
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
Circular saw blades come in all kinds of tooth configurations, but the number of teeth matters just as much as the shape. When I first started, I figured more teeth meant more cutting power…more sharp points hitting the wood. And yeah…technically that’s true.
But here’s what’s really happening: more teeth means more contact with the wood at once. That creates more friction…more heat…and more resistance during the cut.
Sometimes, a lot of teeth is exactly what you want. If you’re crosscutting…or slicing across the grain…more teeth means each tooth is taking a smaller bite which leads to a cleaner cut with less tear out. That’s why miter saw blades usually have more teeth.
Also because of the chaotic nature of plywood...with layers running in different directions...you’re better off using a higher tooth count blade for sheet goods as well.
But when ripping, or cutting with the grain, on hard or soft wood, everything changes. Having all those teeth packed together means there’s less room to clear material. The blade starts to build heat, it begins to drag, and that’s where burning and motor strain comes from.
That’s when the saw starts fighting you…it’s not aggressive, it’s struggling.
For those cuts, fewer is better…but it does mean you’ll have some cleanup to do afterward.
In my years doing this, unless I’m on a miter saw, I usually reach for the middle option. On a 10” blade, around 40 to 50 teeth gives you a good balance.
It won’t be perfect…but it works for almost everything, and you won’t feel like you’re fighting your saw…or swapping blades for every cut.
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
