At a recent Woodworking Show, I had the opportunity to see a Final Cut saw blade in action. We’re currently reviewing Final Cut’s 10″ blade on a miter saw, but it was good to see the same blade used in a table saw. Final Cut’s new circular saw blades were also on-scene, but I didn’t stick around long enough to see them in use.
Not only did the Final Cut saw blade leave a buttery smooth finish on a piece of red oak, it left the cut surface cool to the touch. There was no binding, there was no burning, there was only smooth cutting and sanding.
Advertisement
We have seen some good results from the 10″ saw blade in miter/chop saw crosscuts, but its performance in a table saw was perhaps even more impressive.
As part of the demo, Final Cut’s representative ripped an extremely thin piece of oak to show how it could be used as a veneer for MDF, plywood, or particle board edging. No finish sanding was needed, and the thin strip was immediately ready for gluing.
Final Cut Saw Blades (Manufacturer/Distributor)
Advertisement
Blair
I’m glad to hear that this new blade performed admirably, but my initial concerns still apply, those would be the life of the sanding surface at such speeds, and the possibility that it might become loose, and flop around, or worse during an operation. I do wish the company good luck though, and hope that actual field use proves my misgivings unfounded.
Stuart
In terms of durability/longevity, Final Cut says that the blade and sandpaper (at least in regard to the 7-1/4″ version) should endure about 2,000 cuts in 2-1/4″ pine casing before needing the sandpaper replaced and possibly the blade resharpened.
Replacement discs are fairly affordable, and can be used to extend the useful life of a blade.
I did a bit of research online, and it looks as though early initial production blades did suffer from adhesive weakening and sandpaper-blade separation. A few reports indicate that Final Cut then switched to a much stronger adhesive.
Final Cut recommends 3M Super 77 adhesive spray to attach replacement discs, which requires lacquer thinner to remove.
Neither the blade we observed in the Final Cut demo, nor the one in our possession are exhibiting any degree of separation of the sanding disc from the blade.
I use PSA sanding discs in other applications, and once the discs are attached to a backing wheel, they won’t budge.
Once the weather warms up, we’ll setup our miter saw with a 10″ Final Cut blade and turn a 2×4 into splinters and sawdust to see if we can validate or alleviate your concerns as well as our own.
uthscsaedu
That’s pretty sweet that they were able to make veneer with a table saw.
How about instead of adhesive sandpaper, how about just machine the surface of the blade, the same way they might make a file
Stuart
Uthscsaedu, I imagine that files are also hardened and/or heat treated. Machining a filing surfaces into a saw blade would be a LOT costlier and more complex than it is to use easily replaceable sanding discs.
Plus, there could be disadvantageous consequences such as increased friction and excessive heat build-up due to greater mechanical interactions between a “file blade” and workpieces.
Blair
Stuart,
Thanks for the information, and your observations, I guess my thinking was table saw oriented, and considering the heat build up from repetitive rips.