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Saw blades for laminate flooring

rcsr | Posted in General Discussion on July 13, 2009 12:08pm

Has anyone found a good blade for table and miter saws that will cut laminate flooring and still be usable after. I have been using blades that I had been used for cutting wood and had a lot of cuts knowing that after the laminate flooring job they would be toast. No plunge cuts.
On a small kitchen remodel and laminate flooring job (About 125 sf) I saw a 12″ and 10″ Freud Diablo blade that say they are for laminate flooring and spent the extra money. The D1296N listed laminate flooring and fine woodworking. The D1084 in a big sticker on the front said made especially for laminate flooring. Both were TCG and the 12″ crosscut perfectly while the 10″ on the table ripped the same and with mot much effort to rip a piece of maple.

The 12″ on my slide miter made about 25 – 30 cuts. The 10″ about 20′.
The 12″ would not crosscut a piece of 2-1/4 pine base without burning. The 10 did a little better but still smoked and I had to use a lot more effort to push the piece through the rip.

So anybody know of a good blade for this task and still usable?


Edited 7/12/2009 5:40 pm ET by rcsr

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  1. User avater
    IMERC | Jul 13, 2009 12:16am | #1

    http://www.freudtools.com/p-23-single-sided-laminatemelaminebr-nbsp.aspx

    http://www.freudtools.com/p-24-double-sided-laminatemelaminebr-nbsp.aspx

    http://www.freudtools.com/p-26-thick-stock-laminatebr-nbsp.aspx

    http://www.freudtools.com/p-25-thin-kerf-double-sided-laminatemelamine.aspx

    or one stop shoping...

    http://www.freudtools.com/c-8-industrial-blades.aspx

     

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  2. DanT | Jul 13, 2009 12:44am | #2

    I never found one.  But then I would rarely spend $90 on a blade either.  I just included a $30 Dewalt 60 tooth blade (or whatever was on sale) in the price of each laminate job and threw it away afterwards. DanT

  3. KenHill3 | Jul 13, 2009 12:56am | #3

    There are few if any cuts in laminate flooring that show, so I usually just do the job using 7 1/4" blades- my worm drive.

    Laminate flooring is a natural born blade killer- the wear layer is made with aluminum oxide, an abrasive. Use expendable blades.

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    1. rcsr | Jul 13, 2009 06:43am | #4

      That is the direction I am leaning.

      1. Shoemaker1 | Jul 13, 2009 06:55am | #5

        So how about not putting it in!Frankin floor, landfill in progress

      2. Scott | Jul 14, 2009 03:13am | #8

        After I dulled my beloved Tenryu blade with flooring, I did what Dino does... the Exchange-a-blade thing. In our area most hardware stores have a rack full of various sizes and styles. It's a good deal if you go through lots of blades.Scott.

  4. jnsn | Jul 13, 2009 07:09am | #6

    after going through blades as you mention I settled on using a jigsaw for cross cutting and even length cuts if it isn't too many. I keep older, used or cheap 7 1/4 " blades in the table saw for laminate flooring. Also I eventually found that if you attach a block of wood to the base of the jig saw, you can utilize all of the blade, and not just the teeth nearest the base.

  5. User avater
    Dinosaur | Jul 13, 2009 06:13pm | #7

    I use Exchange-a-Blade¯ blades; they are industrial-duty blades and come in all different sizes and tooth configurations. You pay one price when you buy a blade the first time--say, $90 for a 12" TCG or ATB--then when it's blunt, you take it back to the store and swap it for another of the same class (doesn't have to be exactly the same size or grind; just the same quality) for a much lower price--about $28 for a $90 blade. About the same as paying to have the blade resharpened, and you don't have to wait. It's a pretty good deal.

    If your local supplier doesn't carry Exchange-a-Blade, I suggest you try using the Freud chrome-plated thin-kerf blades; they seem to last better than anything else I've used.

     

    BTW, on all laminate flooring jobs, I put a flat $100 'cutting tool wear/replacement' charge in the estimate. Never had anyone question that....

    Dinosaur

    How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
    low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
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    1. rcsr | Jul 14, 2009 02:13pm | #9

      Thanks for the advice. I will mention it to my supplier. Sounds like a good deal.

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