What is a 60-tooth miter saw blade used for?

A 60-tooth miter saw blade is a type of circular saw blade that is designed for making precise crosscuts and miter cuts in woodworking. As the name suggests, it has 60 teeth around the periphery of the blade. The large number of teeth enables the blade to make very smooth and splinter-free cuts in wood. 60-tooth miter saw blades are commonly used with miter saws and compound miter saws.

Key Features of a 60-Tooth Miter Saw Blade

Here are some of the key features of a typical 60-tooth miter saw blade:

• 60 teeth – More teeth means a finer cut and smoother finish.
• 10-12 inches diameter – Common sizes for miter saw blades.
• 5/8 inches arbor hole – Standard arbor size to fit most miter saws.
• Alternate top bevel grind – Teeth are sharpened alternatingly to prevent leaving marks.
• Thin kerf – Removes less material allowing faster and smoother cuts.
• Carbide tipped – Carbide tips stay sharper longer than steel.
• Laser cut – Precision cutting of the teeth.

Advantages of a 60-Tooth Blade

Here are some of the advantages of using a 60-tooth miter saw blade over one with fewer teeth:

• Makes cleaner cuts – More teeth mean less tear-out splintering.
• Cuts more smoothly – Each tooth removes less material for a finer finish.
• Great for fine woodworking – Good for furniture making, trim carpentry, etc.
• Works with hardwoods – Can cut hardwoods like oak, maple cleanly.
• Leaves a smooth edge – Requires less sanding and finishing work.
• Produces accurate cuts – Thin kerf removes less material.
• Stays sharp longer – Carbide tips have greater wear resistance.

Types of Cuts

Here are the main types of cuts that a 60-tooth miter saw blade is designed to make:

Crosscuts

Crosscuts involve cutting across the grain of the wood at a 90 degree angle. 60-tooth blades leave smooth splinter-free edges on crosscuts.

Miter Cuts

Miter cuts are angled crosscuts. The 60 teeth allow for accurate clean miter cuts for joints and frames.

Bevel Cuts

Bevel cuts involve tilting the saw blade to cut angles other than 90 degrees. A 60-tooth blade can handle compound miter cuts.

Rip Cuts

Rip cuts are made parallel to the wood grain. While not ideal, a 60-tooth blade can make short rip cuts if needed.

Materials it Can Cut

A 60-tooth miter saw blade is designed for cutting the following materials:

• Softwoods like pine, fir, cedar
• Hardwoods like oak, maple, walnut, mahogany
• Plywood, MDF
• Trim and molding

It can cut man-made boards like MDF cleanly. It may struggle with masonry and metals.

Thickness Capacity

The cutting capacity depends on the power and size of the miter saw model. But commonly a 10-12 inch 60-tooth blade can cut material up to 3-4 inches thick.

Thinner 60-tooth blades around 8 inches diameter are made for smaller miter saws and have lower depth capacities.

Safety Tips

Some important safety tips when working with a 60-tooth miter saw blade:

• Use a miter saw blade guard for protection
• Wear eye protection to prevent injury from flying debris
• Make sure workpiece is secure and stable before cutting
• Don’t cut pieces that are too small
• Avoid awkward hand positions
• Pay attention to the spinning blade direction
• Unplug when changing blade or servicing the saw

When to Replace the Blade

Here are some signs that indicate it’s time to replace a worn 60-tooth miter saw blade:

• Cuts are rough and splintery
• Teeth are visibly damaged, worn or broken
• Blade burns or scorches the wood during cuts
• Saw requires more effort to cut
• Heavier tear-out on the bottom of cuts
• Cuts are not straight or accurate
• Excessive pitch buildup on blade

Replacing worn blades helps maintain cutting performance and safety.

Steps to Replace the Blade

Follow these steps to replace a 60-tooth miter saw blade safely:

1. Disconnect miter saw from power source
2. Lower the blade guard over the blade for safety
3. Lock the arm in the down position to prevent sudden movement
4. Use a screwdriver to loosen and remove the arbor bolt
5. Remove the old blade from the arbor shaft
6. Clean any debris from the arbor
7. Install new blade making sure teeth are pointing down and in the right direction
8. Tighten the arbor bolt securely
9. Test-run the saw to make sure blade spins smoothly

Matching Blade to Miter Saw

To choose the right 60-tooth blade for your miter saw, match the following criteria:

• Blade diameter – Consult miter saw manual for recommended sizes
• Arbor size – Get the same arbor hole diameter as the saw arbor
• Blade body thickness – Must fit saw motor capacity
• Speed rating – Get a blade rated for the saw’s no-load RPM
• Kerf size – Thin kerf blades improve cutting capacity

Using a compatible blade improves performance and safety.

Top Brands for Miter Saw Blades

Some of the top brands that manufacture quality 60-tooth miter saw blades include:

• Freud
• Diablo
• Irwin
• DeWalt
• Makita
• Milwaukee
• Bosch
• Hitachi
• Avanti Pro
• Forrest

These companies make miter saw blades with precise carbide cutting tips ideal for smooth cuts.

Prices of 60-Tooth Miter Saw Blades

60-tooth miter saw blades range in price from about $15 to $100. Here are some approximate price ranges:

• Basic blades – $15 to $30
• Decent quality blades – $30 to $60
• High-end carbide-tipped blades – $60 to $100

Higher prices bring better carbide, coating, quietness, and durability. But decent mid-range blades balance price and performance.

Conclusion

In summary, a 60-tooth miter saw blade is designed to make ultra-smooth crosscuts and miter cuts in finish carpentry and woodworking. The large tooth count allows cleanly slicing through wood grain with minimal tear-out. 60-tooth blades are ideal for moldings, frames, trim, furniture, and any project requiring precise angles and a splinter-free mirror finish. Matching the blade diameter, arbor size, kerf, and speed to your miter saw model allows you to get the full benefit of upgraded performance.