Rant: Dropped $80 on a "pro-grade" circular saw blade and it chipped on the first cut

Picked up a Freud Diablo blade at Home Depot in Cleveland last week because I thought I was upgrading from the cheapo one that came with my saw. First cut through some treated lumber for a deck repair and it threw a chunk right out of the carbide tip. Called Freud and they said it's a wear item so no warranty. Anyone else had luck with a different brand that actually holds up on treated wood?

3 comments

3 Comments

wright.kevin2mo ago

Oh man, you're already calling Freud? Give it a rest, it's a saw blade. You hit a knot or a hidden nail in that treated lumber and yeah, a tip can pop off. I've been through a dozen Diablos on framing jobs and they're solid for the price. Treated wood is wet and gnarly, it's gonna be hard on anything. Stop expecting pro grade results from a box store blade and just use it till it's dull, then buy another.

the_karen2mo ago

Also consider that whole pressure treatment process can make the wood slightly more conductive, which messes with blade heat dissipation. @wright.kevin, nobody checks for that but it's a real thing when you're ripping through treated stuff all day.

ericb661mo agoMost Upvoted

Geez, I gotta be honest, I used to think the same way about Diablos being great bang for your buck. But hearing about that tip popping off and Freud blowing you off? That's rough, kind of changes my mind on what counts as "pro grade.