Sawsmith� 10-inch Carbide-Tipped Thin-Kerf Blades Slice Smoothly Through the Hardest Woods with Less Frequent Sharpening than Steel Blades. \n \nThin Kerfs Make the Difference \nSawsmith� carbide-tipped blades deliver a narrower 3/32" kerf, unlike many blades that cut a kerf of 1/8" or more. As a result, Shopsmith blades cut quickly and efficiently and require less horsepower than many competitive blades. \n \nExpansion Slots Reduce Noise and Vibration For a Cleaner Cut \nSawsmith� blades feature expansion slots to minimize vibration giving you a cleaner cut. They'll also reduce noise the blade produces. \n \nThe Trade-Off Between Ripping, Crosscut and Combination Blade Types \nBefore making your blade selection, it's important to know that there are compromises. Although combination blades deliver excellent cuts in most situations, the best cuts are produced by job-specific blades. \n \nRipping's large chip size requires deep gullets that quickly remove lots of waste. With more space consumed by the gullets, ripping blades have fewer teeth, don�t cut as smooth but also cut faster. Smooth Crosscut Blades make fine dust, so more teeth and shallower gullets produce the best results. If your projects frequently require a large volume of continuous crosscutting or ripping, it stands to reason that you'll enjoy faster cutting and smoother results by using a purpose-specific cross-cut or rip blade.