Rant: Dropped $80 on a "pro-grade" circular saw blade and it chipped on the first cut

Picked up a Freud Diablo blade at Home Depot in Cleveland last week because I thought I was upgrading from the cheapo one that came with my saw. First cut through some treated lumber for a deck repair and it threw a chunk right out of the carbide tip. Called Freud and they said it's a wear item so no warranty. Anyone else had luck with a different brand that actually holds up on treated wood?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.kevin14d ago

Oh man, you're already calling Freud? Give it a rest, it's a saw blade. You hit a knot or a hidden nail in that treated lumber and yeah, a tip can pop off. I've been through a dozen Diablos on framing jobs and they're solid for the price. Treated wood is wet and gnarly, it's gonna be hard on anything. Stop expecting pro grade results from a box store blade and just use it till it's dull, then buy another.

the_karen14d ago

Also consider that whole pressure treatment process can make the wood slightly more conductive, which messes with blade heat dissipation. @wright.kevin, nobody checks for that but it's a real thing when you're ripping through treated stuff all day.