One of the aspects of doing our head to head comparisons among tools is trying to control as many variables as possible so that it’s just the performance of each model we compare. When it came to our recent portable jobsite table saw shootout, that meant putting the same blade on each one. It didn’t take long to settle on the Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth General Purpose Saw Blade.
Diablo’s D1040X is a pretty good mix for what we needed to accomplish. The reality for jobsite table saws is that they have to walk a line between framers and finish carpenters tool while satisfying the needs of both when it comes to the general contractor or remodeler.
We chose a 40-tooth blade for a balance of cutting speed and finish quality to produce a happy medium between the two sectors. Realistically, a dedicated trim carpenter would likely go for a 60-tooth blade while a framer would prefer the speed of a 24-tooth model.
We could have gone with anyone’s 40-tooth blade once we decided what cutting characteristics we wanted. So why did we choose Diablo?
Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth General Purpose Saw Blade Notable Features
Visiting the Dentist
It’s awfully hard to cut through wood with no teeth (or dull ones for that matter) so it’s no surprise that Diablo spends a lot of effort on them. The teeth are made from Diablo’s TiCo high density carbide. This cutting edge technology (I just couldn’t help myself) is directly responsible for the long blade life thanks to its ability to hold an edge longer.
Finding an Angle
Beyond the tooth material is the arrangement. The ATB (alternate top bevel) design leaves a telltale point in as it cuts through material. This arrangement helps reduce tearout. ATB teeth are known for for chipping easier than raking teeth, but the TiCo material counters it.
A Rather Brazen Attitude
Sharp, long lasting teeth mean nothing if they’re not attached to the blade. Often, striking hard materials like nails or a bolt left in the material will rip the teeth right off the blade. Diablo works to reduce the possibility of having your teeth knocked out with a tri-metal shock resistant brazing method.
Let’s Go Kerfin’ Now
It makes sense that the wider the blade is, the more material you have to remove, and the tougher the task. The Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth General Purpose Saw Blade is a relatively thin 0.098-inch kerf – pretty standard for this class of blade.
Good Vibrations
Those funny looking lines cut into the side of the blade aren’t for decoration or branding, they absorb any vibration the blade begins to experience. This can come from the blade being twisted or simply striking harder materials during the cut. These vibration-reducing slits are laser cut and have the added benefit of reducing noise.
Time to Put Your Coat On
Coating is almost a requirement on blades these days. It definitely is near the coast where salt begins to work on metal just by just its mere presence in the air. The problem with some non-corrosive coatings is that it begins to gum up and increase friction as heat builds up. Diablo’s PermaShield non-stick coating is designed to reduce friction, avoid gumming up, and help dissipate heat.
Performance
Like anything, all those features sound great, but do they really come together to make a better cutting experience?
With plenty of wood to rip for the shootout, we had more than enough time to form an opinion. It went beyond ripping as we also used the Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth General Purpose Saw Blade on our Ridgid MS255SR 10-Inch Miter Saw.
In both types of saws (11 different models when it was all said and done), several things stood out. Cutting speed was solid for a 40-tooth blade and the finish was excellent in this class as well. The typical ringing you’ll hear after a miter saw cross cut wasn’t present – evidence of the vibration reducing characteristics.
We also noticed the coating really did hang on better than other blades we’ve used. Many times, it only take a cut or two for it to start blurring and gumming up. We didn’t have that problem. All things considered, we didn’t have any complaints.
Final Thoughts
You know, a lot of times we get to the end of a Diablo blade review and start talking about value. We bring in the cost per cut because the blades seem to have a pretty high premium on the price. That’s not the case with this model. Acme Tools has these for $26.97 – just a couple dollars more than the big box store bargain brand. Even at that competitive a price, you still get the outstandingly long life and performance of a Diablo blade.
It’s no accident that we turned to the Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth General Purpose Blade. Cut after cut, we got consistent, repeatable results. We just didn’t have to think about the blade as we were focused on evaluating each saw – and that’s a pretty high compliment to any accessory. Nearly two months after we finished testing, we still haven’t had to replace any of the blades.
I can heartily recommend Diablo’s D1040X blade for most of your standard miter saw and table saw needs. Finish carpenters will likely want to move up to a 60-tooth blade (or even more). If all you’re doing is ripping or cross cutting rough lumber, you can get more speed by moving down to the 24-tooth model.
Buy your Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth General Purpose Saw Blade from out friends at Acme Tools!
