Originally posted by Rifleman1776
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[How many teeth per inch does your blade have? I have found that, even with wood, a 3tpi blade can catch when feeding it wood only about 1" thick. My next resaw blade will be a four tooth.
For general cutting, I prefer a 6 tpi blade.
Bingo!
The right number of teeth-per-inch (tpi) is dependent on the thickness of the material. If the teeth alternate in pitch, then you need a minimum of three teeth in the stock while cutting. For example, a 3tpi blade should be used only for cutting pieces at least 1" thick; a 4tpi blade would be for 3/4" minimum; a 6tpi for 1/2" or larger. This is so the teeth are always cutting evenly on both sides of the blade. If the teeth do not alternate (e.g., if there are rakers or if the teeth are set in a wave pattern), then you need more teeth in the stock when cutting (that is, even more tpi).
If your stock is too thin for your tpi, then at best, you will have a lower quality cut. You will feel more chatter while cutting. You'll have a much greater chance of catching or kickback.
I once tried to cut a piece of antler with a 3tpi blade. I was lazy and didn't want to bother changing the band for just a couple of cuts. Well, instead of cutting, the blade grabbed the antler, ripped it out of my hands, broke the table insert, and flung all the pieces 20 ft. across the shop. I found the antler, put a new insert in the table, and tried again with a firmer grip. The saw did the same thing, except this time the antler gouged and bruised my hands in several places when it wrenched free.
Learn from my mistake. Use a fine-tooth blade when cutting irregularly shaped (like antler) or thin stock.
Sincerely,
Eric