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Check out audio and video reviews, too:
The Wood Whisperer: Gadget Station #65 (video), Woodtalk Online #39 (audio), Woodtalk Online #41 (audio)
Read article on publisher's website: http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/np_editorpicks/article/0,2623,HPRO_26596_5888388,00.html
The Final Cut Saw Blade
Product Review
A saw-blade that does double duty, and more, by integrating a built-in sanding function.
By Mark Clement
The Final Cut
Here's one from my "Born on the Jobsite File" -- the Final Cut Saw Blade Solution.
It looks ingeniously simple to me, which usually means it'll stand the test of time -- and the laser beam eyes -- of conscientious carpenters. According to Final Cut Blades, their solution delivers installation-ready cross-and rip-cut pieces. To me this means it not only saves money, but can increase production and quality at the same time. This is the triumvirate that always triangulates to win the Clement Award.
The Final Cut solution is so simple too -- it's either the Final Cut Blade itself or Final Cut discs you can adhere to your own blades. And what it does, according to the company, is one of those "greater than the sum of its parts" situations.
When you install the Final Cut sandpaper on the blade plates you essentially add a disc sanding function to its cutting action. What this means, especially for woodworkers and higher-end carpenters, is that you no longer have to send a ripped piece through the jointer to clip off the saw-blade swirls -- which show up like a neon-lit loser-badge if you don't sand or joint them out. If you're book-matching plywoods or solid stock in a woodworking application, you just saved a lot of steps. Primo!
Final Cut Blades also says that miter cuts are also highly tuned and very easy to close. I double love it!
Here's something else: say you've cut a cabinet filler or door casing just a hair too long. Forget about trying to line up the piece in the saw and clip "half a blade" off. Leave the saw blade in the down position, turn it on, then press the work to the paper. This sands -- not cuts -- the 1/16 or 1/32 of an inch off. There's no tear out to worry about either.
And here's another thing: because the paper (its 100 grit) tunes the work so nicely, you don't need to use a hundred dollar plus blade (anybody who buys high quality blades for their tools feels that pinch in the pocket book). This means you can use a blade with fewer teeth, which creates less heat, which means the blade last longer. How great is that?
The Final Cut paper looks simple to install. And you can get various sizes for various saw blades. You can even get a Final Cut Blade with paper already loaded on. Nice.
www.FinalCutBlade.com
Mark Clement is a remodeler and author of The Carpenter's Notebook and The Kid's Carpenter's Workbook, Fun Family Projects! Check out his books and current projects at his new website.
Read article on publisher's website: http://woodworking.about.com/od/woodworkingaccessories/gr/FinalCutBlade.htm
The Final Cut Saw Blade
The Bottom Line
The Final Cut Saw Blade is an idea that I'm surprised nobody thought of before now. The premise is simple: adhesive-backed sandpaper applied to both sides of the saw blade, so that both sides of the stock are sanded at the same time the stock is cut.
When I first learned of the Final Cut, I had a few questions: Does it really work? Does the sandpaper tear off or wear down within a few cuts? What happens when the sandpaper eventually does wear down?
Well, the Final Cut responded to all these questions with flying colors. It worked so well, that it would be hard to go back to a regular blade after using the Final Cut.
Pros
- Makes miter joints nearly invisible, as the sanding perfectly matches the angle of the cut
- Can be used on miter saw, table saw or radial arm saw (with a deep cut)
- Helps reduce kick-back and binding of saw blade
Cons
- Currently only available in 10" sizes - Other popular sizes to be made available soon
- Blade only available as 40-tooth and Sanding disks as 100-grit paper
Description
- Works great for moldings, particularly crown molding. If the cut angle is precise, the finished joint is nearly invisible.
- Sanding disks are on both sides of the blade, so both sides of the cut get sanded.
- Additional sanding disks are available, and can be trimmed to fit any size of saw blade.
Guide Review - The Final Cut Saw Blade
The Final Cut Saw Blade is a combination of a 40-tooth, .104" kerf carbide tipped blade and a 100-grit adhesive sanding disc on each side of the blade. This actually means that the sanding portion of the blade assembly is thicker than the kerf of the saw blade.
This has some benefits: not only does the sandpaper engage the cut fully and sand effectively, but it helps keep the blade from binding during the cut (which drastically helps reduce dangerous kickback).
It also raised a concern for me: if the sandpaper is wider than the kerf of the cut, wouldn't the sandpaper simply get ripped off the blade by the wood as it's being cut? I was surprised to see that this wasn't an issue. I made a substantial number of cuts using the Final Cut, and didn't see any fraying of the edges of the sanding discs at all.
While the body of the cuts were a lot smoother using the Final Cut, the benefit I didn't expect was that tearout along the edges of the stock appeared to be considerably reduced as well. While I'd like to see some other options available (particularly a finer blade with some finer grit paper for finish work), the results with this current setup was very good.
It appears that the Final Cut Saw Blade is currently only available at their website, www.finalcutblade.com, but they also sell sanding discs that can be used with other sizes of blades (such as 12" or 7-1/4" circular saw blades). These sanding discs can be cut down to fit almost any size of blade. For the best results, try to use on a blade that is as close as possible to the .104" kerf blade offered by Final Cut.
Tool Test: Final Cut Saw Blades
Read article on publisher's website: http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/editorsblog/Tool+Test+Final+Cut+Saw+Blades.aspx
Combination tools are invading the woodworking area. Last year at AWFS, Jet Tools and Grizzly Industrial introduced jointer/planer machines. At the most recent IWF in Atlanta, Grizzly unleashed a machine that will plane a board and sand the piece as it passes through the machine – a helical-head planer and widebelt sander all in one. Sometimes, however, the most effective tool is a simple design change or adaptation. The tool that makes you slap your forehead and wonder why you didn’t think of that. The Final Cut saw blade could be just that tool.
Final Cut has designed and patented a 10", 40-tooth saw blade that’s fitted with a sanding disc (#100 grit is the only available grit) on both sides of the blade. The cost of the blade is $75. I have to admit I was skeptical and had questions when this blade landed in my in box. Gimmicky for sure, was my thought.
According to the company, the blade works because the sanding disc extends beyond the cut of the teeth, so the blade makes the cut and the sandpaper smooths the cut all in one motion. I installed the blade on our table saw and made a cut, fully expecting a less-than-spectacular result. To my surprise, the cut was clean and fully sanded. And I made that cut in 8/4 red oak. I was intrigued.
Then another set of questions came to mind.
- How long would the paper last? According to the company the sandpaper should last as long as the blade is sharp, or a single blade installed on a miter saw should make about 2,000 cuts through 2-1/4" pine casing.
- Can these discs be used on other manufactured saw blades? Yes you can, but this blade and this sanding were specifically designed to work together. The Final Cut blade is a 0.070" plate with a 0.104" kerf carbide tip. The relationship between a sanding disc and a saw blade manufactured by a different company may not yield the same results.
- If I cut to my layout line, how much additional material is removed by the sanding action? I was thinking I would have problems with hitting my mark, however blade sanding removes only an additional .004" after the cut. Working beyond those tolerances, for me, would be a little finicky.
- How costly are replacement discs? Sanding discs (pressure-sensitive and adhesive-backed) are available at the company store (click here) in packs of 10 priced at $60 and four-packs are $27.
- Besides a smooth cut, what are some other benefits? One issue with table saw cutting is the possibility of kickback. Not that this blade will eliminate kickback, but a Final Cut blade may reduce those possibilities by continuously sanding the workpiece even if it begins to pinch the blade, which is the major cause of kickback. Additionally, blade longevity is said to increase due to a reduction in friction, with the teeth no longer continuously rubbing against the cut surface.
I doubt I would use this blade on my saws full time (most of my ripping cuts are not the last step prior to assembly, and a lot of my miter saw cuts are to crosscut stock before milling), but I can see applications where the blade would be useful, such as mitered corners for frames or cabinet mouldings. The company's web site has additional information, click here. Also, I suggest a dust collector be used when cutting with this blade. The amount of generated dust is substantial.
What do you think? Leave a comment with your thoughts or ways in which you could see a final cut saw blade being used. Or, if you think this is a gimmick, tell me why.
Final Cut Saw Blade
Read article on publisher's website: http://canadianwoodworking.com/Newsletters/NL_reviews/Final%20Cut/Final%20Cut.htm
This really is a no brainer - apply adhesive backed sandpaper to both sides of a saw blade and do your cutting and sanding in one fell swoop. If it's so effective then why hasn't someone thought of it before?
That's exactly what I though when I first heard about the Final Cut Saw Blade. But after trying it in the shop for the better part of two weeks, I'm converted.
The concept came to Dave Perrey, a full-time contractor when building a free-standing helix bend hard maple staircase. In order to make the rail, newel posts and balusters appear not to have joints, Perrey took two identical miter saws, calibrated them, and put a sanding disc on one of the saws. He then cut the stock with one saw and used the second saw to final sand the cut the same way a bench sander is used, but with the option of all the degrees that a miter box offers. Experiencing an epiphany of sorts, Perry applied sanding discs to a saw blade, and the rest, as they say, is history.
According to Perry, "The Final Cut blade does not rely on the teeth to finish the cut so the number of teeth can be greatly reduced. The abrasive disc is actually wider than the blade kerf, therefore the stock is cut by the blade and sanded by the disc."
Perry claims that on softwood you can expect to make around 2,000 cuts before you need to re-sharpen the blade or replace the sandpaper. I didn't make that many cuts, so I can't verify his claim. However the Final Cut blade has been in constant use in the shop on both solid stock and sheet goods for the past two weeks, and it continues to perform exceptionally well.
The Final Cut blade is designed for cross cutting and ripping on soft and hard material with either a table saw or miter saw. Currently it is available as a thin kerf (3/32") 40 tooth 10" blade. The carbide teeth are smaller (3/16" face) than most of the higher end blades I use. I wouldn't expect to get more than two or three sharpenings from this blade. However, it's fairly well priced at just under $75, considering it comes with the Final Cut sanding discs already attached.
If you don't have much in the way of saw blades, then you can't go wrong adding the Final Cut blade to your shop inventory. If you've already got a lot of investment in saw blades, then consider purchasing a pack of Final Cut discs and install them on a spare blade or two. Installation is a piece of cake, and you can try it out for $25 (which gives you 4 discs).
I think that the Final Cut will be a boon for the DIYer and home hobbyist. It will give a superior finish and simplify milling project pieces, while relieving the need to invest in a disc sander (in fact it will do away with 90% of project sanding).
For home renovators, carpenters, cabinet makers and the like, the Final Cut is bound to be a sound business decision, primarily as it will undoubtedly increase worker productivity. Installing a set of Final Cut discs on a miter saw will play for itself in no time flat.
A highly recommended product that definitely lives up to its name. |
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Final Cut Blade
$74.95 - 10" blade and 2 discs
$25.00 - pack of 4 discs
$60.00 - pack of 10 discs
Final Cut
Final Cut
Blade
- 10" x 40 teeth (carbide)
- 5/8" bore
- .07" plate
- .104" kerf
100 Grit Discs
- 7 7/8" (for 8 1/2" blades), 9 1/2" (for 10" Blades), 10 5/8" (for 10 5/8" blades), 11 1/2" (for 12" blades)
- Available in 4 or 10 disc packs
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Read article on publisher's website: http://toolmonger.com/2008/06/05/final-cut-blades/
Final Cut Blades
By Sean O'Hara
To cut wood fast, you normally want to go with a circular or table saw, but the blades often leave rough spots and can also rip out tiny chunks of material, which makes your edge look like crap. Then you spend lots of time sanding the piece to make it nice and smooth. The Final Cut system claims to eliminate that post-cut sanding completely — a pair of sanding discs, one on each side of the blade, allows it to cut and sand the workpiece at the same time.
You can opt for the 40-tooth Final Cut blade with the discs or just the discs themselves. We’re not yet sure how well it works, but anything that claims to cut down on sanding time has our attention. It’s a bit on the steep side at $74 for the blade and the discs or $73 for six pairs of discs, but we’re still tempted by the prospect of less sanding.
Final Cut Blade System [Official Site]
Blade and Discs [Final Cut]
Toologics
New: Final Cut Saw Blade
Written by Jude Herr
Hot off the presses:
THE FINAL CUT SAW BLADE MAKES THE ULTIMATE CUT
And Sands For A Fine Finish With One Pass
Jefferson City, MO (May 2008) –
Nothing new in saw blades? Think again. The Final Cut Saw Blade’s patented design has been called the ultimate cutting blade, and it’s ideal for woodworkers, carpenters, cabinetmakers, contractors and the serious do-it-yourselfer.
Here's how it was invented by David Perrey of Jefferson City, Missouri:
"My name is David Perrey. I have been in the Construction industry for more than 30 years. I own a construction business and we do the unusual high-end work. The concept came in the winter of 1999 when building a free-standing helix bend hard maple staircase. We had to make our bending rail and newel posts and balusters appear not to have joints. We took two identical miter boxes and calibrated them, cut with one and appliced a sanding disc to the blade on the other and used it to final sand the cut the same way a bench sander is used but with the option of all the degrees that a miter box has, the jointers were nonexistent. Taking this to the next step, I knew that the sandpaper extended past the teeth of the bladed but I had to try to cut the stock with the blade that the sandpaper was applied to. I was certain that once the paper entered the stock it would sling it right off, but I was shocked, the paper stayed on the blade and the cut was as good as the rest with one step not two. I have installed this on all of my equipment and my crew would hate to go back to using a standard blade."
The 10-inch, 40-tooth Final Cut Saw Blade (www.finalcutblade.com) features sanding discs on each side of the blade that allow it to cut and sand the work piece at the same time. Each cut produces a fine, double-sided finish that eliminates the need for sanding. The Final Cut Saw Blade has been a hit with the woodworkers and contractors who have tried it. And everyone appreciates that, due to its unique design, it reduces kick back, and eliminates binding and heat build up for longer blade life. “
Everyone in this industry has been taught that the more teeth a blade has the better the cut is,” said Dave Perrey, a full-time contractor and inventor of the Final Cut Saw Blade. “The Final Cut blade does not rely on the teeth to finish the cut so the number of teeth can be greatly reduced. The abrasive disc is actually wider than the blade Kerf, therefore the stock is cut by the blade and sanded by the disc.”
Designed for cross cuts and rips on soft and hard materials with a table saw or Miter saw, the Final Cut Saw Blade produces precision cut joints and fine finished edges every time. The user can even make minor length adjustments by simply sliding the work piece towards the rotating blade, using it just like a Disc sander.
How long will the Final Cut Saw Blade last? It all depends on the material being cut. For example, if you are cutting 2-1/4" pine casing, the blade and sandpaper will make about 2,000 cuts before you need to resharpen the blade or replace the sandpaper, and in many cases by just changing the sandpaper disc you can continue to make fine finish cuts even with a dull blade.
Available at FinalCutBlade.com the Final Cut Saw Blade, Model FCB1040 currently comes in a 10” size with 40 carbide-tipped teeth and 5/8-inch bore, and costs $74.95 (12” blades will be available soon). Replacement sanding discs are also available and easy to install. |
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