3D Analyzer Software Wookworking Tip: Crosscut or ripsaw – which blades are best for a woodworker

While both crosscut and ripsaw blades are useful tools in a woodworkers arsenal, both serve specific purposes and it is important to know which blade to choose for a woodworking project.

The crosscut saw blade has been primarily designed to sever the fibres of wood. While one tooth severs the fibres on the left of the kerf the tooth that follows severs the fibres on the right. The waste in the middle is drawn away into the dust extraction. Crosscut blades are designed so that they eliminate breakout on the underside of the wood. The small hook angle of the tooth reduces this breakout and eliminates any grabbing effect. The crosscut saw usually cuts from the top towards the fence, and there is a tendency for the teeth to grab the wood fibres and accelerate the blade towards the woodworker operating the machine. Blunt teeth increase the tendency of this occurrence.

When using a crosscut saw blade, woodworkers should carefully control the movement of the saw blade through the wood rather than try to force the cut. Excessively high feed speeds can lead to injury, and it is also important for woodworkers to never have any part of their body in the line of the cut.

The ripsaw blade is designed for an end to end division of a wooden board. For this purpose the blade must remove a narrow strip of wood called the kerf from the board. This strip is made up of wood fibres that cling together and must be chiseled from the length of the board. The chips must be taken away as waste by the large gullets and emptied into the dust extraction in preparation for the next revolution of the blade. The cut should be clean and allow clearance to the body of the blade.

The teeth of ripsaw blades cut in a downward direction slightly towards the operator and at great speed. A problem with the blade and the machine has the potential to cause a woodworker serious injury. The speed of the saw teeth can potentially create a dangerous projectile of the wood if something goes wrong. When rip sawing solid wood, it is important to make sure guards are in place, and set accurately. The saw blade should be sharp and the riving knife set correctly to stop the wood from closing on the back of the blade. The correct blade should be used and woodworkers should never stand behind the saw blades. If the blade tends to grab the wood, it is important to carefully pull the wood back until it releases, and continue the rip cut.

Crosscut and ripsaw blades are essential tools for a woodworker but can be dangerous in the hands of an amateur. Care must be taken to use these tools safely and maintain them for peak performance.
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For more information on how 3D Analyzer Software can help improve your company please have a look at our website www.3danalyzersoftware.com

3D Analyzer Software was created by woodworkers with a lifetime of experience in the woodworking industry.

Close to the top of every woodworkers wish list is the seamless transition from solid model to CNC program.  3D Analyzer has made this goal a reality. With the ability to import solid models from CAD programs such as AutoCAD, 3D Pytha and Solidworks, 3D Analyzer is ideally suited to help any woodworker.

3D Analyzer Software is a customized woodworking software program that has been evolving since 2000, to enable woodworkers to produce and deliver individual pieces with dramatic time savings and near perfect accuracy. The Idea for the software program began as the owners sought practical solutions for their own woodworking manufacturing problems, needing software that would translate 3D images into specific manufacturing data.

We are proud to say that our software is now being used across the woodworking industry by:

- Architectural joinery companies
- Custom furniture manufactures
- Office fit-out suppliers
- Store fixture companies
- Exhibition companies
- Suppliers of display cabinets and
- High-end kitchen cabinet manufactures

Our Company is based in Sydney, Australia and has customers in Australia, and around the world in New Zealand, Europe / UK and the USA.