---
title: "Blade — which one for which job"
description: "10 answers on choosing the right blade for the material, with the reason behind each and what fails."
url: https://atoneplace.net/which/blade/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Blade

10 materials and what works on each.

| For | Use | First alternative |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Metal | A bi-metal or carbide-tooth blade with at least three teeth in the cut — that tooth-count rule matters more than the machine. | Carbide-tooth metal cutting circular blade |
| Tile | A continuous-rim diamond blade with water — and cut wet, because dry cutting tile produces respirable silica dust. | Turbo rim |
| Wood | 24 teeth for ripping and framing, 40 for general work, 60-80 for a clean crosscut finish. | 40T combination blade |
| Plywood without tearout | A sharp 60-80 tooth blade, a scoring pass, tape on the line, and the good face oriented for the tool you are using. | Scoring cut |
| Brick | A segmented-rim diamond blade, cut wet or with on-tool extraction — brick and mortar dust is a serious silica hazard. | Turbo rim diamond blade |
| Laminate | A triple-chip or negative-hook blade for worktops, and a reverse-tooth jigsaw blade for laminate flooring cut face up. | Negative hook blade |
| Acrylic | A triple-chip negative-hook blade on a table saw, or score-and-snap for thin sheet — and keep the feed steady so it does not melt. | Scoring knife (score and snap) |
| Glass | None — a tungsten carbide scoring wheel, one firm pass with oil, then snap it. And toughened glass cannot be cut at all. | Oil-fed cutter |
| Plasterboard | A utility knife for straight cuts and a jab saw or multi-tool for cutouts — a circular saw is the wrong tool entirely. | Jab saw (pad saw) |
| Plastic pipe | A fine 24 TPI hacksaw or a proper pipe cutter — and deburr the inside afterwards, which is the step people skip. | Ratchet shear cutter |

- [Which blade cuts metal?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-metal/) — A bi-metal or carbide-tooth blade with at least three teeth in the cut — that tooth-count rule matters more than the machine.
- [Which blade cuts tile?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-tile/) — A continuous-rim diamond blade with water — and cut wet, because dry cutting tile produces respirable silica dust.
- [Which circular saw blade for wood?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-wood/) — 24 teeth for ripping and framing, 40 for general work, 60-80 for a clean crosscut finish.
- [Which blade cuts plywood without tearout?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-plywood/) — A sharp 60-80 tooth blade, a scoring pass, tape on the line, and the good face oriented for the tool you are using.
- [Which blade cuts brick?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-brick/) — A segmented-rim diamond blade, cut wet or with on-tool extraction — brick and mortar dust is a serious silica hazard.
- [Which blade cuts laminate?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-laminate/) — A triple-chip or negative-hook blade for worktops, and a reverse-tooth jigsaw blade for laminate flooring cut face up.
- [Which blade cuts acrylic?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-acrylic/) — A triple-chip negative-hook blade on a table saw, or score-and-snap for thin sheet — and keep the feed steady so it does not melt.
- [Which blade cuts glass?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-glass/) — None — a tungsten carbide scoring wheel, one firm pass with oil, then snap it. And toughened glass cannot be cut at all.
- [Which blade cuts plasterboard?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-plasterboard/) — A utility knife for straight cuts and a jab saw or multi-tool for cutouts — a circular saw is the wrong tool entirely.
- [Which blade cuts plastic pipe?](https://atoneplace.net/which/blade-plastic-pipe/) — A fine 24 TPI hacksaw or a proper pipe cutter — and deburr the inside afterwards, which is the step people skip.