What does TPI stand for on saw blades?
What does TPI stand for on saw blades? The number of teeth per inch (TPI), along with gullet size, width and depth of the space between the teeth determines the material the blade can cut. Blades with a low TPI deliver faster cuts with rougher edges and are ideal for cutting wood.
What does TPI mean in saws?
What does TPI mean on scroll saw blades? TPI or teeth per inch is exactly what it says, the number of teeth per inch along the cutting edge of the scroll saw blade. It is an important number to know and to understand. When selecting the proper scroll saw blade, there are several factors to consider, and TPI is one of them. ...
What saw blades are best for wood, plastic and metal?
- Carbide-tip
- Best for ferrous/non-ferrous metals, wood, and plastic
- Six high-quality blades with different TPI
What is the best TPI for cutting metal?
- Always begin the TPI measurement in the center of the gullet.
- Measure left to right one inch along blade, from the center of the gullet.
- Count the number of teeth in that one-inch space. That number of teeth is the blade's TPI.
Is higher TPI better saw?
Woodworkers quickly learn that the number of teeth-per-inch (TPI) on the blade has a big impact on the quality of a cut. The general rule of thumb is "the more TPI, the smoother the cut." The true answer, however, is just a little more complicated than that, as you'll learn once you understand how saw teeth work.
What is the best TPI for cutting metal?
Cutting thinner metals, including sheet metal, requires a finer cut. Use 18-24 TPI bi-metal blades. For thicker metals such as steel pipe, angle irons, or tubing, use 14-18 TPI bi-metal blades. For aluminum, an 8-10 TPI blade is best.
What TPI is best for cutting wood?
TPI is the number of teeth the blade has per inch. If you're looking to cut wood or other soft materials, you'll need a blade with a TPI of 6 up to 20. For harder materials like metal, a TPI between 14 up to 36 is more suitable. The number of teeth can be found on the blade.
What does 32 TPI mean?
Blades are also described by the number of teeth per inch (TPI). Blades have 14, 18, 24, 32 teeth per 25mm (inch). A blade with 14 TPI is coarse whilst a blade with 32 TPI is very fine.
What is the best blade to cut metal?
diamond bladeFerrous blades are ideal for cutting metals that contain iron, such as stainless steel or cast iron. Choose a non-ferrous blade when cutting softer metals, like aluminum or copper. For the best results, use a diamond blade that's rated to cut the type of metal you are working with.
Can you use a metal Sawzall blade to cut wood?
With the right blade, your sawzall can cut through wood, nails, fiberglass, branches, plaster, masonry, and metals including aluminum, cast iron, steel, and even high-strength alloys. But how do you choose the proper blade for the material you need to cut?
How many TPI do I need for a rip saw?
5 tpiRipsaw teeth are big, widely spaced—about 5 tpi—and have a straight rake on their leading edges, all the better for cutting boards lengthwise with the grain by quickly scooping out wood fibers.
How many teeth should my saw blade have?
Combination: 10-inch blades with 50 teeth and 12-inch with 60 teeth. Ripping: 10-inch blades with 24-30 teeth and 12-inch blades with 40 or fewer teeth. Crosscutting: 10-inch blades with 60 teeth and 12-inch with 80 teeth.
Why does my circular saw burn the wood?
Make sure that the blade is sharp, clean and free of pitch. A dull blade will make it hard to cut quickly, and the slower the feed rate of the saw, the more friction against the wood and the greater the likelihood of scorch marks. Pushing the stock through the saw too slowly is a common cause of saw blade burn.
When should a blade with 32 teeth per inch be used?
For a job that requires medium-duty cutting, like a thin wall electrical conduit, a 24-teeth per inch blade would do a better job. When cutting light metals like aluminum, a 32-teeth per inch blade should easily do the trick.
How can you tell the difference between fine thread and coarse thread?
To be classified as coarse, the threading must be deep set and wide. On the other hand, fine threaded fasteners will have narrower, shallow ridges and a smaller pitch, with a higher number of threads per axial distance than coarse threaded bolts.
How many TPI is a fine tooth saw?
Blades with 12 or more TPI are typically labelled as fine-toothed saws.
A closer look at TPI
We know that TPI stands for “teeth per inch”. However, how do we measure that on a blade? To answer that, we need to mention what a “gullet” is. Essentially, the gullet is the curved part of the blade between two blade teeth.
Is more TPI better?
TPI affects how much material is removed with each cut. As TPI decreases, the teeth grow in size. So, the teeth tear out more material as they cut. As a result, the cut can be rougher. However, it takes less time and effort to slice through the material.
Which TPI value should you use?
Tooth per inch (TPI) is a term used to describe the number of teeth a jigsaw blade has in one inch of its cutting edge. The higher the TPI value, the finer and smoother the cut will be. In general, high TPI blades are better for cutting fine details and intricate cuts than low TPI blades, which leave rougher edges and require more sanding.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article has been able to give you additional insight into the world of jigsaw blades, as well as help you select the best blade for your needs. My main takeaway is that there’s a huge variety in the market, and each one requires its own set of specifications to meet the need of its respective niche.

A Closer Look at TPI
- We know that TPI stands for “teeth per inch”. However, how do we measure that on a blade? To answer that, we need to mention what a “gullet” is. Essentially, the gullet is the curved part of the blade between two blade teeth. Start at one gullet and then travel down the blade 1 inch to another gullet. If you then count the number of teeth between those two gullets, you will come up with the TPI for that blade. The acronym TPI is also commonly use…
Is More TPI Better?
- TPI affects how much material is removed with each cut. As TPI decreases, the teeth grow in size. So, the teeth tear out more material as they cut. As a result, the cut can be rougher. However, it takes less time and effort to slice through the material. When the TPI increases, the teeth are finer, and less is cut out as the blade moves up and down. This results in a smoother cut. Also, having more teeth is appropriate when cutting denser materials li…
Which TPI Value Should You use?
- Tooth per inch (TPI) is a term used to describe the number of teeth a jigsaw blade has in one inch of its cutting edge. The higher the TPI value, the finer and smoother the cut will be. In general, high TPI blades are better for cutting fine details and intricate cuts than low TPI blades, which leave rougher edges and require more sanding. There is...
Final Thoughts
- I hope this article has been able to give you additional insight into the world of jigsaw blades, as well as help you select the best blade for your needs. My main takeaway is that there’s a huge variety in the market, and each one requires its own set of specifications to meet the need of its respective niche. For example, a blade meant for fine joinery might not be ideal for cutting plywood. With this reality in mind, consider what types of projects you work …