Today I figured I’d finally replace that old wobbly circular saw blade while remodeling my shed workspace. Grabbed the Diablo 7 1/4 inch because folks swear by these red blades. Here’s exactly what went down after I slapped it on my saw:
First Up: Trimming Those Ugly Shelf Boards
Had these leftover 2x4s from last summer’s failed treehouse project. Fired up the saw – whoa, this thing chewed through pine like butter. Zero splintering on the top side, but the bottom? Not so pretty. Learned real quick to score the cut line first with a knife when looks matter.
Ripping Down Plywood Like a Madman
Needed thinner strips for drawer bottoms. Cranked the saw to full depth and went for it. Huge mistake. Blade started screaming halfway through the 3/4-inch ply. Sawdust packed tight around the blade guard. Shut everything off, cussed at the saw, then made three shallow passes instead. Lesson: Diablo’s great but ain’t magic.
Battle With the Nail-Infested Beam
Forgot about the hidden nails in an old support beam. Blade hit metal – BRRRRRRTT! – sounded like a machine gun. Sparks flew everywhere. Inspected the blade after: teeth were fine! Didn’t even wobble. Big win over my last blade which chipped instantly.
Cutting PVC Pipe for Wiring Runs
Got cocky and tried slicing plastic conduit. Blade gulped the pipe like spaghetti but melted the edges. Stunk up the whole workshop. Pro tip: Go slow with plastic or it’ll weld itself back together behind the cut.
Surprise Tile Encounter
Found old floor tiles under some rotted ply. Thought “what the heck” and sliced through. Dust was unreal – choked me even with a mask. Blade survived, but never doing that again without proper ventilation. Felt like breathing chalk.
Final Thoughts
- Raw power: Eats wood, even sneaky nails.
- Depth matters: Thin cuts only for thick stuff.
- Melty plastic: Patience prevents globby messes.
- Goggles mandatory: Spits chips like a mad woodpecker.
For basic workshop carnage? 10/10 blade. Would buy again just for the nail-destruction factor.