Combination vs Crosscut Table Saw Blade?
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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Diablo D1040X 10 in. 40-Tooth General Purpose Saw Blade
A 10 in. 40-tooth ATB table saw blade whose combination grind rips and crosscuts well enough that most DIYers leave it mounted year-round. The TiCo carbide holds an edge far longer than budget blades. It leaves a coarser edge than an 80T on trim and veneers, the full 0.098 in. kerf taxes weak saws, and it chips melamine unless you score first.
| Teeth | 40T ATB |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 10 in |
| Arbor | 5/8 in |
| Kerf | 0.098 in (full) |
| Material | TiCo Hi-Density Carbide |
| Best for | One-blade-does-it-all ripping and crosscutting on a table saw |
Diablo D1080X 10 in. 80-Tooth Ultra Finish Saw Blade
A 10 in. 80-tooth Hi-ATB miter saw blade for glass-smooth crosscuts on hardwood, molding, and veneered plywood, cutting melamine and paneling cleanly. The Perma-Shield coating and thin plate reduce grabbing and burning on slow cuts. But it clogs and burns if you rip solid stock, is wrong for framing, and the fine tips chip on hidden nails.
| Teeth | 80T Hi-ATB |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 10 in |
| Arbor | 5/8 in |
| Kerf | 0.098 in |
| Material | TiCo Hi-Density Carbide |
| Best for | Glass-smooth crosscuts on a miter saw for trim, molding and hardwood |
Our verdict
Tooth count is the whole story here. A 40-tooth combination blade like the D1040X is a compromise blade: it rips solid lumber without burning and crosscuts sheet goods acceptably, so it is the right first and only blade for most DIYers. An 80-tooth crosscut blade like the D1080X has too many teeth to rip cleanly but leaves a near-sanded edge on trim, molding and veneered plywood. If you can own one blade, buy the 40-tooth combination. If you do finish carpentry, add the 80-tooth and keep it on the miter saw for crosscutting only.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many teeth should a first table saw blade have?
- Forty. A 40-tooth combination blade like the Diablo D1040X rips solid lumber without burning and crosscuts sheet goods acceptably, which makes it the right one-blade choice for most DIYers before owning anything specialized.
- Can you rip lumber with an 80-tooth blade?
- You should not. Eighty teeth clog and burn when ripping solid stock or feeding thick material, and the cut runs slow and hot. That blade belongs on crosscuts of trim, molding and hardwood.
- What does an 80-tooth blade actually buy you?
- Edge quality. The Hi-ATB grind leaves a near-sanded edge on hardwood, molding and veneered plywood with almost no tearout, and it cuts melamine and paneling cleanly on the show face. That matters on finish work and nowhere else.
- Does kerf width matter on a small saw?
- Yes. Both of these run a full 0.098 in kerf, which wastes more material and asks more of an underpowered contractor saw than a thin-kerf blade. On a lower-power saw a thin-kerf blade cuts noticeably easier.