What Do You Use a Table Saw Slitting Blade For?

Slitting Blades

• A slitting blade is fastened onto the spindle of a table saw by tightening the spindle bolt. The blade can only fit one way on the spindle. The blade won't cut if it's put on the table saw upside down with the teeth pointing backwards. Making smaller cuts may prevent the material you're cutting from clamping down on the slitting blade. If the material does clamp down onto the blade, back the blade out and begin the cut again.

Speed

• A slitting blade's diameter is much larger than that of a mill cutter and it has more teeth. Therefore, a slitting blade cuts at a much higher speed even when you have the table saw set to low speed cutting. Using a higher table saw speed will dull and ruin the slitting blades and possibly your saw. A slitting blade may also dull unevenly, with one side duller than the other. This can cause the blade to deflect or slip when cutting through materials.

Coolant

• The friction that's produced when the slitting blade is cutting creates high temperatures. This heat can warp the blade and burn out the table saw. A coolant must be employed every time you use the slitting blade on your table saw. Coolant lubricates and cools the blade's cutting edge. It also lubricates non-cutting surfaces and chips, making it easier to wash the chips away from your table saw and the material you're cutting.

Projects

• A slitting blade on your table saw can cut slits into a piece of metal to create a grating for a window or a grille for a front door. It can also create small grates for your home's heating and cooling vents. This blade can also cut a groove in woodworking projects where a biscuit joiner may be tricky to use, as in joining the pieces of a drawer. The slitting blade creates grooves on the ends of two pieces of wood. Glue and a wooden biscuit are then inserted into the grooves to join the pieces of the drawer together. You can also create a CD holder by milling slots into a wood block with several slitting blades.