Standard circular saw blades are those you typically use to cut wood or wood composites. The number of teeth on the blade helps determine the speed, type and finish of the cut. Blades with fewer teeth cut faster but those with more teeth create a finer finish. Gullets between the teeth remove chips from the work pieces. Expansion slots cut into the rim help prevent the blade from warping as it expands and contracts during use. They reduce vibration, creating a straighter cut.
Rip-cut blades, those for cutting with the wood grain (along the length of a board), have fewer teeth (16 to 40). The teeth are designed to cut aggressively and deep gullets provide good chip removal. Crosscut blades, those for cutting across the wood grain (across the face of a board), have between 40 and 80 teeth designed for clean cuts. Smaller gullets separate the teeth. Combination blades can make rip cuts and crosscuts. They have multiple groupings of teeth separated by deep gullets. Each group has one tooth for ripping and four for crosscutting.
