Diablo D1012LF vs. Forrest 10” x 40T Woodworker II
Considering a new table saw blade? Compare the benefits of the Diablo D1012LF and Forrest 10” x 40T Woodworker II and make a smart purchase!
Let’s compare these two table saw blades: the Diablo D1012LF and the Forrest 10” x 40T Woodworker II. To get more detailed information, read our full review of the Forrest 10” x 40T Woodworker II.
Features & Benefits
You can read our complete guide to buying a table saw blade.
Related: Choosing the Right Table Saw Blade
We’ve also got a roundup of the best 10” table saw blades.
Size
Both saw blades have a 10” diameter and fit on a 5/8” diameter arbor. Typical table saws have a 5/8” arbor and can take blades up to 10” in diameter. This means both blades should be generally usable on many saws.
The D1012LF cuts a 0.087” (thin) kerf. The 10” x 40T Woodworker II is 0.09” thick and cuts a 1/8” (full) kerf. (The term “kerf” refers to the width of the cut that the blade leaves in the material being cut.)
A 1/8” kerf is called a “full” kerf and ought to work on a wide range of table saws. On saws with less power, a full-kerf blade might cause the saw to have trouble with thicker or harder material, when compared with a thin-kerf blade.
A kerf under 1/8” is referred to as a “thin” kerf. Thin kerfs waste less material than full-kerf blades and make it easier for saws to cut through thick or hard wood. Most, but not all, table saws can take thin-kerf blades. Ensure that your riving knife is thinner than the kerf, or dangerous binding can take place.
Teeth
The D1012LF has 12 polycrystalline diamond teeth. The 10” x 40T Woodworker II has 40 C4 carbide teeth in an ATB configuration.
Blades having a tooth count under 40 are typically meant for ripping wood lengthwise. For crosscuts or general-purpose use, you should consider options with more teeth. Blades having 40 to 60 teeth are usually considered general-purpose blades. They will do an adequate job at rip cuts as well as crosscuts, but not quite as well as a blade designed for those cuts.
Alternate top bevel (ATB) teeth have a sloped shape rather than being straight across. This design allows them to slice through wood rather than chewing out chunks, leading to cleaner crosscuts. ATB teeth do have a tendency to break more frequently than flat-top teeth.
Pros & Cons
Let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses of these products.
For the D1012LF:
Pros
- Diamond teeth are highly durable even when cutting laminates
- Leaves very smooth cuts in laminate flooring
Cons
- More expensive than carbide-toothed blades
- Not useful for cutting wood or other materials
For the Forrest:
Pros
- Clean rip and crosscuts on hardwood as well as plywood, with little to no sanding needed
- Cuts easily with no burning even on hardwoods
- Factory sharpening service at reasonable rates, including replacing broken teeth
- Good customer service to handle any problems with blades
- Very quiet with little vibration
Cons
- Some customers report chipped or misaligned teeth on arrival
- Might be more prone to burning wood than some other blades
- Difficult to have sharpened locally due to proprietary construction process
Comparison Chart
Here’s a full side-by-side look at these products’ specs. To get more details, read our full review of the Forrest 10” x 40T Woodworker II. You can view comparisons of the Diablo D1012LF with other products