Best Circular Saw Blade for Framing and Ripping (2026)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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Framing and ripping reward the opposite of finish work: a low tooth count with deep gullets that clear chips fast so the saw powers through 2x lumber without bogging down. Finish matters little here, so the real questions are kerf and durability. A thin 0.059 in kerf saves battery on cordless saws, while a premium nail-rated grind survives pressure-treated and demolition wood that shreds a budget blade. We line up three 24-tooth framing blades - a premium nail-rated Diablo, a bargain consumable, and a thin-kerf DeWalt - so you can match the blade to how rough your cuts get.
A 7-1/4 in. 24-tooth framing blade with deep gullets and a Tracking Point grind that rips and crosscuts 2x lumber fast, holding up in nail-embedded demo wood. The thin 0.059 in. kerf keeps saws from bogging down. The coarse edge needs cleanup on finish cuts, it chips veneer plywood and melamine, and it can grab and kick in a pinched cut.
- Framing
- Ripping
- Pressure treated
- Demolition
Pros
- 24 teeth with deep gullets rip and cross-cut 2x lumber fast with a light feed
- Tracking Point grind holds up well in nail-embedded and demolition wood
- Thin kerf and low tooth count keep a corded or cordless saw from bogging down
Cons
- 24T leaves a rougher edge that needs cleanup for any finish-visible cut
- Chips out veneer plywood and melamine badly; wrong blade for those
- Aggressive bite can grab and kick if you bind it in a pinched cut
A budget 7-1/4 in. 24-tooth ATB carbide blade for everyday framing, ripping, and deck cuts, cheap enough to stock several, with a silicone coating that limits pitch in PT and resinous lumber. As a value blade, its standard 0.071 in. kerf draws more power on cordless saws, the carbide dulls faster, and the rough grind makes it a poor finish choice.
- Framing
- Ripping
- General purpose
- Decking
Pros
- One of the cheapest carbide framing blades, easy to keep several on hand
- 24 ATB teeth handle everyday framing, ripping, and deck cuts without fuss
- Silicone coating cuts pitch buildup in pressure-treated and resinous lumber
Cons
- Standard 0.071 in kerf draws more power than a thin-kerf blade on cordless saws
- Carbide dulls faster than premium blades, so it is more of a consumable
- Rough 24T finish and no nail-rated grind make it a poor demolition or finish choice
The DeWalt DW3178 is a 24-tooth, thin-kerf carbide framing blade for 7-1/4 in circular saws. The thin kerf and low tooth count power through 2x lumber, plywood and decking fast while sipping less battery on cordless saws, and ribbed heat vents keep it from flexing on long rips. It is cheap enough to treat as a consumable, but the coarse grind is for rough carpentry, not finish cuts or nail-embedded demolition.
- Framing
- Ripping
- General purpose
- Decking
Pros
- Thin kerf cuts fast and eases the load on cordless and underpowered saws
- Tough tungsten carbide teeth stand up to daily jobsite framing
- Ribbed heat vents reduce blade flex and binding on long rips
Cons
- 24 teeth leave a rough edge unsuited to finish or trim work
- Carbide can chip if it hits hidden nails - it is not a demolition blade
- Friction coating wears with heavy pitch buildup in wet lumber
Still deciding? Compare them
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a thin-kerf framing blade worth it?
- On cordless saws, yes. A thin 0.059 in kerf like the Diablo D0724A removes less material so the motor bogs down less and the battery lasts longer. On a corded saw the difference is smaller.
- Which blade is best for nail-embedded or demolition wood?
- The Diablo D0724A with its Tracking Point grind holds up much better in nail-embedded and pressure-treated wood than a budget blade like the IRWIN 24030, which is better kept for clean lumber.
- How long should a framing blade last?
- A premium blade like the D0724A survives hundreds of cuts including the occasional hidden nail. Budget blades like the IRWIN 24030 or the thin-kerf DeWalt DW3178 are cheap enough to treat as consumables and swap out once dull rather than sharpen.