Replacing a table saw blade: diameter, arbor, kerf and the riving knife, from the makers' manuals

What blade diameter does a table saw take?

WEN's table saw guide says table saws are rated by their blade diameter, that most models use a 10" blade, and that some smaller models use an 8", 8-1/4" or 8-1/2" blade.

DEWALT's DWE7485 manual says to use only 8-1/4" (210 mm) diameter blades with that saw.

Makita's 2705 manual lists a blade diameter of 255 mm (10"), with a maximum of 255 mm (10") and a minimum of 250 mm (9-7/8").

Taikra doesn't rank or test tools; every figure here is from the maker's own manual or page, linked. The blade figures for each catalogued saw are on its page under table saws and jobsite table saws.

Arbor size and rated speed

WEN gives 5/8" as the standard arbor size, the size of the hole in the center of the blade.

DEWALT's DWE7491 manual says the center hole of the supplied blade is 5/8" (16 mm) diameter, and to use only saw blades designed for maximum safe operating speeds of 5,000 rpm or greater.

The DWE7485 manual gives the same 5/8" (16 mm) center hole and sets its figure at 6000 rpm or greater. (DEWALT)

SKIL's TS6307-00 manual lists a 5/8" blade arbor and a no load speed of 4600/min, and Makita's 2705 manual lists an arbor hole of 15.88 mm (5/8") and 4,800/min.

Kerf, body thickness and the riving knife

DEWALT's DWE7491 manual says that if a different blade is used, the blade body (plate) thickness and kerf (cutting) width marked on the blade or its packaging are checked, and the riving knife thickness must be greater than the body thickness and less than the kerf width.

That manual marks the supplied knife as a 0.087" (2.2 mm) thick riving knife, only for 10" (254 mm) blades with a 0.094" (2.4 mm) min. kerf width and 0.067" (1.75 mm) max. body thickness. (DEWALT)

The DWE7485 manual gives the same rule, and says the riving knife provided with that saw is .063" (1.6 mm) thick. (DEWALT)

SKIL's TS6307-00 manual says the supplied blade has a 10" diameter, a kerf width of 0.1" and a plate (body) thickness of 0.071", and asks for a replacement with a kerf width of 0.1" or more and a plate of 0.071" or less.

The same SKIL manual says not to use extra-thin-kerf saw blades on that saw.

Makita's 2705 manual lists the riving knife-related specs as a blade body thickness of 1.8 mm (1/16"), a riving knife thickness of 2.3 mm (3/32") and a kerf width of 2.6 mm (3/32").

Combination, rip and crosscut blades

DEWALT's DWE7491 manual describes the supplied blade as a 10" (254 mm) combination blade, used for crosscutting (across the grain) and ripping (with the grain), and says there are many types of blades for specific jobs, such as cross cut only, rip only, hollow ground, thin plywood and paneling.

Makita's 2705 manual lists a combination general purpose blade for rip, crosscuts and miters, and a fine cross cut blade, among its table saw accessories.

DEWALT's manuals also note that different types of blades make different kerfs, so the rip scale adjustment is checked when changing blades.

For dado sets, which the same manuals treat separately, see dado sets on a table saw. For motor current by saw, see table saw amps.