Are you looking for the best miter saw blades? I can help you to make the best choice! Using my definitive buyer’s guide, you can get all the needed knowledge to understand what kind of blade will work the best for your project. I also provide detailed reviews of the best options that I’ve ever used.
You can use quick links to get the same items and see more user reviews or use the guide to pick what you need in the store later on.
Contents
- 1 Top 7 Best Miter Saw Blades Reviews
- 1.1 1. Makita A-93681 – Best 10-Inch Miter Saw Blade
- 1.2 2. DEWALT DW3128 – Best 12-Inch Miter Saw Blade
- 1.3 3. Luckyway 2-Pack 32T&80T – Best Miter Saw Blade for Hardwood
- 1.4 4. Makita A-94817 100 Tooth – Best Miter Saw Blade for Fine Cuts
- 1.5 5. Freud D1050X Diablo – Excellent Heavy-Duty Compound Miter Saw Blades
- 1.6 6. TWIN-TOWN 8-1/4-Inch – Small Fine Cut Miter Saw Blade
- 1.7 7. Neiko 10768A 12″ – Great Universal-Fit Blade
- 2 Miter Saw Blade Buyer’s Guide
- 3 Miter Saw Blades FAQ
- 4 To the Great Cut
Top 7 Best Miter Saw Blades Reviews
- Makita A-93681 – Best 10-Inch Miter Saw Blade
- DEWALT DW3128 – Best 12-Inch Blade
- Luckyway 2-Pack 32T&80T – Best Miter Saw Blade for Hardwood
- Makita A-94817 100 Tooth – Best for Fine Cuts
- Freud D1050X Diablo – Heavy-Duty Miter Saw Blade
- TWIN-TOWN 8-1/4-Inch – Best Small Blade
- Neiko 10768A 12″ – Universal Fit
Here are my in-depth miter saw blade reviews. I described both the strong sides and weaknesses of each blade so that you can choose quickly. If the topic is new to you, read the guide at the end of the article first. My miter saw blade comparison will help you make a good choice.
1. Makita A-93681 – Best 10-Inch Miter Saw Blade
Specifications:
- Material: Carbide
- Item Dimensions: 12 x 11.8 x 0.2 inches
- Number of Teeth: 80
- Compatible Material: Engineered Wood
- Warranty: 1 Year
Makita is a Japanese power tool manufacturer for professional workers. This company invented the world’s first plane powered by an electric motor. Today, they supply the market with over 1000 models of professional tools.
A-93681 10-inch blade has 80 teeth with micro-grain carbide tips. Such a feature makes this blade perfect for cutting with a very smooth finish. Due to the thin kerf, which is just .091’’, .071’’ plate thickness, and 5° hook angle, you can use it for crosscutting and for average cutting of softwood, hardwood, and plywood.
The arbor diameter is ⅝’’ so that you can use it not only on Makita miter saws but other machines with the same arbor too.
However, you should be careful and keep rotation speed at not more than 5,870 RPM. You should understand that this blade is thin and has many teeth, so it’s easy to overheat it at higher speeds.
What’s included:
- Makita A-93681 10-Inch 80 Tooth Micro Polished Mitersaw Blade
- Lets you make smooth cuts with mirror finish;
- Ultra-thin kerf;
- Sturdy micro-grain carbide tips;
- Japanese quality;
- Works on softwood, hardwood, and plywood.
- Rotation speed is limited to 5,870.
2. DEWALT DW3128 – Best 12-Inch Miter Saw Blade
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 15.1 x 13.3 x 0.5 inches
- Number of Teeth: 80
- Material: Carbide
- Outside Diameter: 12 Inches
- Warranty: Three year warranty, One year service contract, 90 day no-risk trial
DEWALT is an old American manufacturer of power tools and accessories. Today, it’s one of the leading power tool suppliers with a worldwide network. The DW3128 blade has a larger diameter than my favorite blade by Makita, but the number of teeth is the same.
I thought that this would lead to a rougher cutting quality, but it’s actually the same. Due to the thin kerf and patented anti-stick rim, you can use this one to make very smooth cuts on hardwood, plywood, and softwood. The finish quality is also very high due to perfectly sharpened carbide tips.
This blade has a 1-inch arbor, which is compatible with all standard 12-inch miter saws. The entire plate is computer-cut, so it fits all miter saws without backlash. I tested on a 12’’ Metabo, and everything was fine. If you want to achieve the same quality of cuts as the 10’’ Makita A-93681 provides, but you have a 12’’ saw, this one is a great value for money.
What’s included:
- Blades
- Power Tool Accessories
- Miter Saw Blade
- Excellent finish quality;
- Anti-kickback shoulder;
- Risk-free 90-day trial;
- Wedge shoulder design for higher accuracy;
- 80 strong-welded carbide teeth.
- Dulls after approximately 30 cuts through hardwood.
3. Luckyway 2-Pack 32T&80T – Best Miter Saw Blade for Hardwood
Specifications:
- Adapted Machines: Circular Saw; Miter Saw; Table Saw;
- Compatible Material: Wood
- Number of Pieces: 2
- Application: Ideal for cutting applications in softwood, hardwood, chip board or plywood
- Diameter: 12″
Although Luckyway isn’t a large international brand like DEWALT or Metabo, it offers competitive quality and attractive pricing. This two-pack includes 2 TCT 12-inch blades with 32 and 80 teeth.
The manufacturer says that both blades are TCT, and it’s technically right, but I don’t recommend using 32-tooth for cutting metals. Carbide has good heat resistance, but it doesn’t let you achieve a smooth finish on metals. Another limit is 4500 RPM.
The blade may overheat easily at higher RPMs if you try to use it for tough materials. But if you apply it only on recommended materials, such as MDF, laminates, plywood, chipboard, FRP, softwood, hardwood, wood with nails, etc., everything will be alright. If you need a quality blade to cut wood and plastic without a hurry, this cheap option is good enough.
What’s included:
- Luckyway 2-Pack 12 Inch Miter Saw Blades 32T&80T with 1 Inch Arbor TCT Circular Saw Blade for Cutting Wood
- High-quality cutting for a low price;
- Alternate-top bevel carbide teeth make smooth finish;
- Long-lasting tooth welding;
- Cuts wood with nails.
- Low RPM limit (4500);
- TCT blade, but not recommended for cutting metal.
4. Makita A-94817 100 Tooth – Best Miter Saw Blade for Fine Cuts
Specifications:
- Material: Carbide
- Item Dimensions: 13.39 x 14.96 x 0.2 inches
- Number of Teeth: 100
- Style Miter Saw: Premium Ultra-Coated
- Warranty: 1 Year
Here’s one more excellent blade by Makita. I use this 12-inch miter saw blade to make cuts with an ultimately smooth finish. Micro-grain carbide-tipped teeth along with a resin-coated plate and laser-cut slots reduce vibration significantly and make cutting surprisingly quiet.
Due to the ATAF (Alternate Top and Alternate Face) tooth pattern and thin tip kerf, every cut you make is precise, while material loss and motor drag are minimal. Hook angle is also very low (5°) and provides even better resistance reduction.
What’s included:
- Makita A-94817 12-Inch 100 Tooth Ultra Coated Mitersaw Blade
- Lets you make ultra-precise cuts;
- Low resistance and motor drag;
- 100 teeth with ATAF carbide tips;
- Reduced-noise performance;
- Patented thin kerf.
- It’s rather expensive.
5. Freud D1050X Diablo – Excellent Heavy-Duty Compound Miter Saw Blades
Specifications:
- Material: Blend
- Item Dimensions: 14.7 x 12 x 0.2 inches
- Number of Teeth: 50
- Compatible Material: Engineered Wood, Wood
- Number Of Pieces: 5
Freud is a popular American manufacturer of accessories for power tools. I’ve already had multiple products by the brand when I had decided to test this miter saw blade. The Diablo series is a line of heavy-duty blades. D1050X is not an exclusion.
This though 10-inch 50-tooth cutter, can work at up to 7000 RPM but still makes smooth cuts on wood and composite materials. As you can see, the teeth of this blade are split into groups of 5, with large gaps between them. Such a design is effective both for crosscutting and ripping.
While the closely-grouped teeth with .098’’ kerf and 15° hook angle make a smooth finish during cross-cutting, the gaps between the groups remove chips efficiently during ripping. In addition, the blade has low friction, warping, and vibration.
What’s included:
- Freud D1050X Diablo 10-Inch Combination Saw Blade.
- Two-in-one: good for crosscutting and ripping;
- Gaps for effective chip removing;
- Works at up to 7000 RPM;
- ATB teeth.
- Rather a thick kerf;
- Quite expensive.
6. TWIN-TOWN 8-1/4-Inch – Small Fine Cut Miter Saw Blade
Specifications:
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Number of Teeth: 60
- Item Weight: 358 Grams
- Compatible Material: Engineered Wood, Wood
- Kerf: 1.8mm
TWIN-TOWN is a large Chinese blade manufacturer with an official retail network in the US. I never hurry to test Chinese accessories, but this brand has been gathering mostly positive reviews on Amazon since the first year of the marketplace.
The blade is quite small (8-¼’’) but has 50 teeth C4 carbide teeth that make very neat cuts with a smooth finish at up to 7000 RPM. It’s one of the sturdiest small blades for 10-inch miter saws. Despite the small diameter, it can be used on all saws with ⅝’’ arbor. Another positive aspect is ultra-thin .078’’ kerf.
Although it cannot cut as thick boards as 10’’ and 12’’ blades, it’s very convenient to use for making precise cuts. Due to the small diameter, this blade has very low warping and vibration, which makes crosscutting really easy.
What’s included:
- TWIN-TOWN 8-1/4-Inch Saw Blade, 60 Teeth,General Purpose for Soft Wood, Hard Wood, Chipboard & Plywood, 5/8-Inch DMK Arbor
- Excellent small-sized blade;
- Compatible with all 10-inch miter saws;
- 7000 top RPM;
- Reduced blade warp and vibration;
- Ultra-thin kerf.
- Too small for cutting thick boards.
7. Neiko 10768A 12″ – Great Universal-Fit Blade
Specifications:
- Material: Carbide
- Item Dimensions: 11.97 x 11.97 x 0.38 inches
- Number of Teeth: 80
- Item Weight: 2.54 Pounds
- Compatible Material: Wood
Neiko Tools has been selling their tools and power tool accessories on Amazon since 2009. It gathers mostly positive reviews. Its main features are quite similar to DEWALT DW3128. The 12-inch plate has 80 teeth with ATB tungsten carbide tips.
Due to such a number and low hook angle, the blade makes smooth cuts at up to 5000 RPM. It’s not the best option for ripping but works really well for crosscutting, and it’s actually the best miter saw blade for trim that I have.
What’s included:
- 80 Tooth Carbide Saw Blade
- Heat-reducing vents;
- 80 ATB carbide teeth;
- Adjustable arbor size;
- Good for crosscutting;
- Provides a smooth finish.
- May burn wood at top RPMs;
- It could be cheaper.
Miter Saw Blade Buyer’s Guide
If it’s the first time you are shopping for a new blade for your miter saw, I recommend you reading my guide. It will help you to make a considered decision and order the best cutter out there without mistakes. Knowledge about the differences between hardwood and softwood is also needed.
Miter Saw Blade Types
There are 6 main types of miter saw blades, and you should know the differences to be able to match your needs with available products. Here is a brief guide that will help you out.
- Ripping – this type is designed for cutting single pieces of hardwood and even entire stacks. You can use it to make quick cuts with a relatively smooth finish. They usually have fewer teeth than crosscut models, but the resistance is quite low for such a hard task.
- Crosscut – this type is used to make cuts across the wood grains. Such blades guarantee smooth cuts through the grains, which is too difficult to achieve with hand saws.
- Plywood or Laminate – such types of wood and plywood and laminate require specific blade types. If you want to cut laminates without chipping, you should get a blade with many triple-chip teeth and a 10-degree hook angle.
- Melamine – melamine wood is a real challenge for your miter saw. This wood type has a coating on both sides, which makes it a good choice for making cabinets. On the other hand, it very difficult to cut. It chips easily because of the brittle. Melamine blades need to have many teeth to achieve a smooth finish.
- Non-ferrous – this type is made for cutting copper, aluminum, brass, and similar metals. Similar rough materials can also be cut with non-ferrous blades.
- Steel – this one is used to cut steel and items made of steel, such as pipes, studs, rods, etc.
Things to consider before buying miter saw blades
Here are the things that you should consider to match the blade with your actual needs:
- Number of teeth – the higher tooth count results in smoother cuts. It also reduces the probability of tear-outs when you cut through the grain.
- Diameter – the diameter you need depends on the size of your saw. The larger the diameter of the blade is, the thicker boards you can cut. Standard sizes vary from 7.5” to 12”. Larger diameters require a higher tooth count.
- Kerf – this word defines the thickness of the cut a blade can make. Some users call it the thickness of the blade, but it’s not the right use of the term. Thinner blades waste less material and make more precise cuts. Thicker blades require more energy, produce more heat, and can even burn up the wood.
- Tooth style – Use FTG (flat-top grind) with 24 teeth or ATB (alternative-top bevel) with 40-50 teeth for ripping; ATB with 40-80 or ATBR (alternative top bevel w/raker) for miter and bevel cuts; ATB 40-80 or 50-teeth TCG (triple chip grind) for melamine, particleboard, and MDF; 80-teeth TCG for non-ferrous metal, laminate, and plastic; TCT (tungsten carbide-tipped) for cutting metal tubing, pipes, rails, zirconium, cobalt, nickel, and titanium-based metals.
How to replace a miter saw blade
You can split the whole process into a few uncomplicated steps:
- Remove the spindle cover – when the blade guard is in the top position, and you have to unscrew the spindle cover. Let it hang on the back screw;
- Removing the blade – use the spindle lock to block the spindle rotation. Hold it until you remove the bolt with a wrench;
- Remove the washer and the blade;
- Place the new blade – look at the direction arrows of the blade to install it properly, then place the washer back and tighten the bolt counterclockwise;
- Put the spindle cover screw back tighten it too.
Miter Saw Blades FAQ
Readers have been asking these questions about miter saws quite often, which means that you may have them too. Here are the brief answers so that you can get deeper into the topic and feel more fluent.
What saw blade to use for ripping?
Ironically, the best option for ripping is a rip blade. This type of table saw blade is designed specifically for cutting through hardwood fibers so that you can cut through easily and achieve a clean edge. Such blades usually have fewer teeth (10-30 on 10” and up to 40 on 12”) than other models, but this makes them so effective.
Are more teeth on a saw blade better?
This depends on your needs. If you want to make smoother cuts with better finish quality, then you should be looking for blades with more teeth. If you need to cut through wood faster and you don’t mind the rougher quality of the cuts, a ripping blade with fewer teeth is a good option for your project.
Can you use a miter saw to cut metal?
Short answer – yes, you can. If your miter saw is powerful enough to provide the needed RPM, you need to purchase a blade that is designed for cutting non-ferrous metals. Don’t try to do it with standard woodcutting blades as it’s not safe.
Is it possible to sharpen a miter saw blade?
You can do it yourself, and it won’t take too much time. You need special tools for that, though. They include a workbench with mounting clamps, a crayon file, and a diamond file. Before you start, mark one of the teeth with a marker to avoid sharpening twice.
To the Great Cut
Thank you for reading! Now your knowledge about miter saw blades is comprehensive, and you can make the right choice without guesswork. Save it to the bookmarks, in order not to forget about important tips. Don’t neglect your safety and use your saw following the safety rules.
Did this article help you to solve the problem? I appreciate your feedback! If you have any questions about blades, you’re welcome to ask them in the comments as well. For more useful information and detailed product reviews, keep clicking through the blog!
“A good tool stays with you for many years and choosing carefully ensures the job is done right, your work is neat, and the tool is always a pleasure to use”
