Forrest 10” x 20T Woodworker II vs. Freud Diablo 10” x 60T
Considering a new table saw blade? Compare the features of the Forrest 10” x 20T Woodworker II and Freud Diablo 10” x 60T in order to make an informed purchase!
We’ll take a look at these two table saw blades: the Forrest 10” x 20T Woodworker II and the Freud Diablo 10” x 60T.
Features & Benefits
You can read more in 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 blades are 10” in diameter and fit on a 5/8” diameter arbor. Most table saws have a 5/8” arbor and can accept blades up to 10” in diameter. Thus, both saw blades should be widely compatible with many saws.
The 10” x 20T Woodworker II cuts a 1/8” (full) kerf. The Diablo 10” x 60T is 0.071” thick and cuts a 0.098” (thin) 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 considered a “full” kerf and should work on most 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 less than 1/8” is termed 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 accept thin-kerf blades. Make sure your riving knife is thinner than the kerf, or dangerous binding can take place.
Teeth
The 10” x 20T Woodworker II has 20 teeth in an ATBR (2+1) configuration. The Diablo 10” x 60T has 60 TiCo high-density carbide teeth in a Hi-ATB configuration.
Blades having fewer than 40 teeth are usually geared towards ripping wood lengthwise. For crosscuts or general-purpose use, you might consider options with more teeth. Blades having between 40 and 60 teeth are typically considered general-purpose blades. They will be adequate for ripping as well as crosscutting, but not quite like a blade specifically made for those cuts.
Alternate top bevel (ATB) teeth are cut on a bevel rather than being straight across. This shape allows them to slice through wood rather than chewing out chunks, resulting in cleaner crosscuts. They do have a tendency to be less durable than flat-top teeth. Hi-ATB teeth have a steeper bevel angle than regular ATB teeth, and perform even better on materials like plywood and melamine. Alternate top bevel/raker (ATBR) blades have flat-top “raker” blades interspersed every few teeth, which helps improve performance when ripping. They also leave a flat bottom on non-through cuts, rather than the parallel grooves of a regular ATB blade.
Pros & Cons
Let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses of these products.
For the 10” x 20T Woodworker II:
Pros
- Forrest’s customer service is very highly regarded
- Factory sharpening service for a reasonable fee
- Easy ripping of difficult materials like 2” oak
- Repair service keeps blade functioning like new for much less than buying a new blade
Cons
- More expensive than similarly-configured blades
- Minor marks require sanding
For the Freud:
Pros
- Minimal tear-out on cuts
- Thin kerf lets lower-powered saws handle more challenging workpieces
- Relatively quiet operation
- Little to no burning of wood
Cons
- Not as clean of cuts as 80-tooth blades will provide
- Thin kerf leads to some flexing; may not cut quite as straight as full-kerf blades
Comparison Chart
Below is a full side-by-side look at these products’ specs. You can view comparisons of the Forrest 10” x 20T Woodworker II with other products