Freud LU79R007 vs. Makita D-45989

Looking for a new circular saw blade? Compare the benefits of the Freud LU79R007 and Makita D-45989 and make a smart purchase!

Let’s compare these two circular saw blades: the Freud LU79R007 and the Makita D-45989.

Features & Benefits

Size

Both products have a diameter of 7 1/4” and have a 5/8” arbor hole. Typical circular saws have a 5/8” arbor and take 7 1/4” diameter blades. So both circular saw blades are widely usable with most circular saws. If you’re unsure, refer to the manual for your saw to determine what size of blade your saw can take.

The LU79R007 is 0.063” thick and cuts a 0.079” (thin) kerf. The D-45989 is 0.047” thick and cuts a 0.071” (thin) kerf. (The term “kerf” is the width of the cut that the blade leaves in the material being cut.)

Teeth

Both saw blades have carbide teeth. The LU79R007 has 60 teeth in a Hi-ATB configuration. The D-45989 has 24 teeth in an ATAF configuration.

Alternate top bevel (ATB) teeth are cut on a bevel instead of being straight across. This design lets them slice through wood instead of tearing out chunks, which results in smoother 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 do a better job on materials like plywood and melamine.

Pros & Cons

Let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses of these products.

For the Freud:

Pros

Leaves extremely smooth cuts in laminate, melamine, and other chip-prone materials

Cons

Quite expensive, best saved for jobs where it really excels rather than general-purpose use

For the D-45989:

Pros

Value priced blade from a reputable brand
Works well on framing and treated lumber

Cons

Less durable than more expensive blades
Leaves fairly rough cut, mostly suitable for framing

Comparison Chart

Below is a full side-by-side look at these products’ specs. You can view comparisons of the Freud LU79R007 with other products

and comparisons of the Makita D-45989 with other products

	Freud LU79R007	Makita D-45989

Brand	Freud	Makita
Blade Diameter	7 1/4”	7 1/4”
Arbor Size	5/8” (round)	5/8” (round)
Weight	0.7 lbs
Thickness	0.063”	0.047”
Kerf	0.079”	0.071”
Tooth Count	60	24
Tooth Config	Hi-ATB	ATAF
Tooth Material	carbide	carbide
Rake		20°
Expansion Slots
Pros	Leaves extremely smooth cuts in laminate, melamine, and other chip-prone materials	Value priced blade from a reputable brand Works well on framing and treated lumber
Cons	Quite expensive, best saved for jobs where it really excels rather than general-purpose use	Less durable than more expensive blades Leaves fairly rough cut, mostly suitable for framing
	Check Price	Check Price