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Freud Diablo blades….blo!

JeffBuck | Posted in Tools for Home Building on July 29, 2002 02:05am

Thought I’d try something new……needed 2 new blades for the job I’m now wrapping up……..gluedown hardwood….5/16th thick….2 1/4 wide…strip flooring. Lotsa inset border to flush up against…so lotsa cutting…..but not enough or fast enough to over work or heat the blades.

Instead of the DeWalt……40 series, I think…..the “better one” the comes in the cardboard box…….I picked up the Freud Diablo. 10in for the table saw….12 in for the chop.

From the very first cut…..on the prefinished flooring…..I could tell I’d be a bit disappointed……would be acceptable……but not as crisp as I’ve come to expect from the DeWalt. All the show cuts were made first…….leaving the rooms that didn’t have border for last….and those cut edges will be hidden under the base.

Which is good! That blade dulled pretty quick. Then…on one of the last cuts I’d have to make……..had the workpiece explode! Hate when that happens! Looked at the blade in poor light and didn’t see any missing teeth……..test cut another piece gingerly….made the cut…but real ragged. Made it thru those last few cuts…..

Took the blade off today and checked it……found a slight bend one way then the other…..on each side of an expansion slot.  Put my old abused DeWalt blade I took off at jobs start….did a test cut……and saw that the dull DeWalt…that usually woulda been off to the sharpner by now….cut better than the Freud did fresh outta the package!

I had picked up the Freud at the only place in the area…a Home Depot….so the dull/bent/month old blade’s going back tomorrow…..I’m plenty pissed at the quality from the onset…..we’ll see hwot eh old fighting skills are and if a successful return is to be had. I’ve never even thought of returning a blade….but I expected alot more for the money.

Will take a store credit and he happy with 2 DeWalts as replacements. The 10 inch is going back too….not gonna wait for that one to explode some wood.

Is this typical of the Freud….or did I just get a dull dud? Jeff

   She’s exotic ,but not foreign, like an old Cadillac……she’s a knockout!

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Replies

  1. jeffvermont | Jul 29, 2002 03:19am | #1

    Jeff:

    I bought the 12" Freud Diablo as a back up to my other DeWalt blades and the performance was fine.  As a matter of fact, I just picked up a couple of 71/4's for my circular saw.  I have cut PT, strip flooring and lots of stuff with out the problems that you have described.

    As far as returning it to Home Cheapo, as long as you have the receipt, you will get a full refund.  (Credit to your account or cash depending on your method of payment.  If you have no slip. turn on the charm and they will give you a store credit (gift card) where they pimp you out of the sales tax.  By the way, you may enjoy the thread about Home Depot, I was interested to learn what other people had said about the chain in their part of the country.  IN West Hartford, CT where I live, the HD is terrible, dirty, poorly staffed, out of stock, clueless personnel, yet at other HD's in the area, they are viable contenders.

    Good luck,

    Jeff

  2. calvin | Jul 29, 2002 03:25am | #2

    Jeff, have never used a diablo, and have been happy with freud blades in the past.  Stopped by Pete and Lisa's for a quick visit.  They look good, well Lisa does.  Pete senior shed a cpl pounds.  The kids have grown.  Good Time.

    __________________________________________

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    http://www.quittintime.com/

     

  3. Don | Jul 29, 2002 04:36am | #3

    Jeff:  Don't know which HD you go to, but bring it to store 134 in Cumming, GA, and they wil refund your money.  No receipt?  They'll give you a store credit - tax included.  And they will smile when they do it. No one will run & hide.  They once gave a refund on a Craftsman Lawnmower!   AAaand a bucket of paint that actually came out of someone's trash; my wife witnessed that one.  Now, they drew the line the night I brought in a pocket full of steel electrical box knockouts and claimed they were defective washers - no holes.  That one didn't even work on the woman in the paint dept.  I've taken stuff back that I've had for a year - packages in good condition - and gave me a store credit.  You want scrap 2X4's that were pallet skids? No sweat - grab them out of the trash can.  But - don't try that in Fairfield, CT.  They guard the trash w/ their lives to make sure it goes into the trash, and act insulted when you ask for it.  Fairfield also used to stay open 24 hrs to protect from theft.

    They also tell me where to go to get what they don't have or have what I don't want.  The only thing they have never done is accept my request to pay my mortgage when they ask me "Is there anything I can do for you?"

    Don 

    The GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
  4. sdr25 | Jul 29, 2002 05:14am | #4

    Jeff, the only Diablo blade I've used is the 7 ¼ for my circular saw. Actually I was quite impressed with how well it cut considering how cheap it was.

    Now for the 10" Freud (not a Diablo) currently in my miter saw, its the best blade I've ever had in that saw.

    Scott R.
  5. cheezdic | Jul 29, 2002 05:45am | #5

    just bought a 10'' diablo from hd and was very dissapointed but you get what you pay for-gonna spring 50 bones for a good blade.  Sounds like you do higher end finish- reputation is probably worth 50 or $60.  As for shopping at hd I've found that you always get what you deserve for even going in there! I've been trying to break the habit.

  6. User avater
    BossHog | Jul 29, 2002 02:58pm | #6

    I've never had anything with the Freud name on it that I was disappointed with. I currently have 7 differnt Freud saw blades, and virtually never buy another brand.

    I still have one of their cordless drills that I can't get batteries for - Would have never bought another one if I could get batteries for it at a reasonable price.

    BTW - Try Freud's "remodelling blade" sometime - It has special teeth that can cut through hidden nails. Really like that sucker.

    Cancer cures smoking.

    1. bill_1010 | Jul 29, 2002 05:28pm | #7

      great blades for a great price. Go to your local grinding and sharpening center. They have high quality industrial blades that are just as good as advertised blades but for less.  They dont advertise and put lots o money in packaging. 

      1. wysedav | Jul 29, 2002 07:24pm | #8

        I have a couple of 40 tooth thin kerf blades for my table saw, they work excellent.  I bought a diablow for my CMS and it cuts like garbage,  lots of splintering and burns when I cut Oak.

        David

        1. JohnSprung | Jul 29, 2002 07:51pm | #9

          I haven't tried their saw blades, but I'm using three different Freud Diablo router bits at the moment.  They cut well enough, but the cutting radius of the ones with the ball bearings is usually a tad bit larger than the bearing, so you get a little ridge to sand out.  The one I measured was 0.011" by my machine shop vernier caliper.  You'd think they could do better than that....

          -- J.S.

          1. User avater
            JeffBuck | Jul 30, 2002 01:48am | #10

            The return went right thru. Actually felt like I was pushing it a bit.....by taking back the 10" from the table saw......as it cut fine.....but the DeWalt 40 series does cut nicer....so they went back as a set. Made sure I told the girl twice they go in the garbage...not back on the shelf!

            The blades we of the $50 variety.......the DeWalt 10" 40 series was a bit more....and they didn't have the 12"...so I picked up a comparable 12" DeWalt 20 series...also about $50....I think the 12" 40's run closer to $80 or $90. Will need to grab one of them next time I'm at the woodworkers store...but a new 20 series will get me thru.

            The new 12" blade I picked up is a thin kerf.....which I'm trying to stay away from....especially on the chop saw.........I think thin kerf is just a marketing gimic....only use for them I see is in the cordless circular saw. Jeff   She's exotic ,but not foreign, like an old Cadillac......she's a knockout!

          2. jimblodgett | Jul 30, 2002 03:54am | #11

            I don't know anything about those "Diablo" blades, but that old black teflon LU85 by Freud is the absolute best value in a crosscutting saw I've ever seen.  The last time I bought new ones was a couple, maybe three, years ago and they were about $65.00 mail order.  Glass smooth cuts, in softwoods, or hardwoods. 

            I have been using them for crosscutting pine in my radial arm saw for over ten years now.  When I say crosscutting, I mean setting up and running the saw for hours on end, cutting thousands of wooden blocks a day for two, sometimes three days running and there's nothing stands up like those danged Freud.  I must have a dozen of them or more, since I've still never had one come back from any sharpening place sharp enough for cutting those blocks. 

            That's fine, though.  We just rotate those resharpened into service for crosscutting cabinet parts and other millwork, the oldest relegated to melamine cutting.  Great blades for the money.  You guys can keep those Tenyru and Makita you're gonna start mentioning.

            Several years ago I broke down and invested about $120.00 in the same blade for my 14" miter box, and I couldn't be happier.

            You guys with those compound sliders, aren't you supposed to use a blade with a negative hook on those things for best results?  I don't own one, but I could swear I'd read that somewhere, not? 

            Check it out, Jeff.  LU85.  You won't be disappointed.

            Brinkmann for president in '04

          3. jc21 | Aug 04, 2002 08:01am | #12

            Ditto to what you said ..........had a LU 85 (black teflon, 80 teeth) in my old Hitachi CF 10 miter saw - cut really smooth- no splinters, no sanding required and stayed sharp a good long time. Their LU 84M combo blade is the best all around blade I've used in a tablesaw. I've heard good things about Forrest blades but the price has scared me away.

          4. jimblodgett | Aug 04, 2002 08:02pm | #13

            I have a Forrest for my table saw.  I rotate it with a couple other blades I own.  It's "okay", nothing special.  I won't be ordering another one.  My sharpener told me he thought they are great blades, but that my saw probably isn't smooth enough to take advantage of the quality of that blade.  Seemed a logical explanation.

            I think FWW just published a blade comparison test a couple issues ago.  I don't subscribe anymore, but I bought the latest issue and saw a letter to the editor referring to their conclusions.  Maybe someone will come along who's read it.  Brinkmann for president in '04

  7. 1Woodtick | Aug 15, 2002 10:37am | #14

    the only Freud blade that is any good is one of there 10" rip blade,  its easy to sharpenand it stays sharp for quite a few rips, its also a smooth cutter.  the best blade that I've found, thats not pricey is the Oldhamm blades anyone of them and I believe that they make some of the blades for Dewalt.  Also another good blade is the Sysmatic,  I have used the same blade for the last 10 to 12 years and its a Sysmatic triple chip for non ferris metal.  I just sharpen it when it gets dull and am very happy with it.  good cuts and I've yet to loose a tooth, can't say that for the Fraud line,

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