Ripping thick stock

I was ripping 3" red oak with a another manufacturer's 10", 50 tooth combination blade.  The ripping was going slow and what appeared to be just another saw cut.  When done my small shop was loaded with smoke with was coming from the saw cabinet. I open the saw door and was shocked that it was solid smoke. I felt the motor and it seemed to be cool enough and the belts seemed to be tight enough. The saw blade bore no burn marks. I let the saw discharge the smoke, let it set and started to cut red oak again, only this time it was a 1" cut. No smoke. Is my blade a problem? I do not want to switch to a thin kerf blade as past experience with thin kerks left the cut out of whack. Do you feel that a Amanda blade would be a better choice or would the same happen? I was told to buy a band saw, and would love one but I am still working full time and just do not the available time to enjoy all the tools that I would love to have. Thank you for whatever advice you can give me on this perplexing situation.      


- Ron


Elmhurst, IL

Our Expert

The problem is that there are too many teeth in contact with the stock. This creates a lot of friction and heat. Combination blades, such as the Amana Prestige, are great all purpose blades. I keep one on my tablesaw for almost all rips and crosscuts. However, most of the time I'm ripping stock that is 1-1/2" or less in thickness.


When ripping three inch thick hardwood I suggest that you switch to using the Amana Tool heavy duty rip blade no.710200. With just twenty teeth, you'll find this special purpose rip blade to be much more efficient and have less feed resistance than a fifty tooth combination blade. Also, because there are fewer teeth, the gullets are larger and can more easily remove the sawdust from the kerf. 

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