Best Blade For Cutting Laminate Flooring

Getting the flooring you want can take a lot of expertise to get right, and so you've got all the tools at your disposal, but you might find your saw blade is lacking and needs replacing.

As well as this, you might find that your blade chips and breaks the laminate boards you have, meaning you have to go out and find replacements as if there weren't enough problems of measuring and getting the finish you want.

Your project would be much easier if you had a reliable blade that would give you a clean cut and lasts for those longer projects that require more consistent cuts that are precise, but which one do you go for?

Don't worry, we have you covered. In this guide, we have picked out the best saw blades you can get that you can use for different types of saws and give you some pointers on what you may want to consider before purchasing your blade.

We've also answered some of those burning questions you may have, so if you want an excellent finish on your laminate flooring, then read on to find out more.

How Have We Picked Out These Blades?

We've gone for criteria that select the best saw blades that are the most durable and are suitable for other projects once you finish on your laminate flooring.

We've also picked out blades that are suitable for jigsaws, table saws, or miter saws if you're limited to one of these, so you'll have some options depending on your project and expectations regarding the finish of your flooring.

We've also included blades that are diamond-tipped or made of stronger materials such as tungsten carbide and any high-quality steel, so you want to get a good finish every time, so we've also considered this in our selection.

Concord Blades 5-3/8-Inch 40 Teeth

This blade is great if you want a simple tool that can do pretty much anything you throw at it.

The blade is a Pro-quality, construction-grade steel blade with precision sharp titanium carbide tips that can be used on Miter saws, hand saws, and chop saws.

It can operate with RPMs up to 11,000, so you can get a good finish with your blade that you don't have to compromise on the surface quality of the cut and excess waste that isn't necessary.

Pros

• It is great if you're looking for a general-purpose blade that can be used for ripping, crosscutting, and finishing various materials and products.
• Can clamp and slide off your hand saw without having to use any tools or drawn-out instructions, meaning you can get to the job at hand quicker.

Cons

• Depending on the hand saw you use, you may need to replace the inner and outer flanges, but it may not be necessary for others.
• You might need to apply more pushing effort due to the fact it has a lower amount of teeth than other blades.

Makita A-93681 10-Inch 80 Tooth Mitersaw

Here is a good upgrade option if you're looking for ultra-precise and smooth cutting.

If you're looking for strength, this blade has expertly hand tensioned steel saw plates if you're looking to use it for a little while.

The micro-grain carbide teeth on this blade are honed with up to 600 grit for a mirror finish, with an ultra-thin kerf .091", 5-degree hook angle.

And with a .071 plate thickness that makes for a pleasing result if you're looking to crosscut with this one, it makes for a fine addition to your toolset.

Pros

• The design makes for a blade that has a clean-cut compared to the more popular types of blade, and you don't have to make any adjustments to the saw while you're using it.
• It operates quietly, so you don't have to worry so much about making any adjustments to ear coverings, and it makes your job easier.

Cons

• If you cut too hard or cut with inadequate work holding and the blade is suddenly forced into a new cut line, the paint on the blade might rub off onto the workpiece.
• If you're using this blade for long periods of time, it may not last as long as you'd like it to.

BOSCH T128BHM3 3 Pc. 3.62 In. Carbide Teeth

This jigsaw blade has carbide brazing technology that delivers 10 times the life versus standard bi-metal blades.

It also has an advanced tooth design that provides clean cuts in hard-to-cut, brittle materials on both sides of the cutting surface.

This can reduce material extraction, reduce heat, and add to the performance if you're looking for an alternative to a hand saw blade.

Pros

• You can get them in various styles and materials, including carbon fiber, stainless steel, laminate, and all-purpose.
• If you're unsure what size blade will fit into the jigsaw, these blades range from 3-1/4" 14 TPI to 5-3/16" 5-7 carbide tip, so you have some flexibility to see which ones work best for you.

Cons

• If you're using this blade with laminate flooring, you might encounter an issue where the blade chews up the edges of a board, but proper coverings for them should avoid this issue.
• If you're not used to using a jigsaw, you might find the blade has a tendency to run away from you sometimes, especially at higher speeds, so as these saws don't have guards, you want to be careful where you make the cut.

BOSCH T503 3-Piece Jigsaw Blade Set

Another jigsaw blade on this list, this set includes two T101BF blades for hardwood, and one T101AOF blade that is made to cut laminate, so you can be sure that this blade does precisely what you're looking for.

This is possible through a bi-metal construction that gives you durability and a long-lasting blade optimized for straight and curved cuts in hardwood and laminate flooring.

Pros

• The T-shank design fits over 90 percent of current jigsaw makes and models, which get a big thumbs up from us regarding versatility.
• These blades cut two times faster and last 10 times longer than standard high carbon steel blades, which give you precise, clean cuts.

Cons

• You might have to use masking tape on the laminated side of your piece as there might be some chipping off during cutting which is unavoidable in some scenarios. This might become a bigger problem if this issue is more consistent with precise cuts.
• You might have to buy a few packs of these blades as you might go through them quite quickly, and they might be slower to use than a handsaw.

BOSCH DCB1080 Daredevil10-Inch 80-Tooth Circular Saw Blade

Here is a blade that is ideal if you want an upgraded C3/C4 micro-grain formulation for increased impact damage resistance with a speed coat that leaves an anti-friction finish that allows faster cutting with no burning or melting of your material.

The blade itself is made of an Extra-hard steel blade body that delivers accuracy and resists bending and deflection for true cuts, and produces less waste, saving you having to get smaller pieces to make up for the waste that some traditional blades might leave.

Pros

• It has the feel about it that assures that it's going to last you a while, so you don't need to go swapping out blades to get precise cuts.
• To reduce kickback and extreme heat, these blades feature control cut shoulders and body slots, making them more versatile and easy to slot into your miter saw, so you have more options with this blade.

Cons

• You might experience some flexing of the blade depending on the saw you have and the clamps on the material, so it's best to be sure that everything is tightened when using this blade.
• This blade is best suited for those who are going to use it regularly as it is designed for construction workers in mind, so if you only need it for a simple flooring job, then you might be able to downgrade a bit as this blade might be surplus to your requirements.

Diablo 10X12 PCD Laminate Flooring Blade

If your other blades aren't doing it for you and you find yourself switching them out often, this blade might be worth considering.

With 12 teeth, it may appear that it lacks that cut you're looking for but can make easy work of cutting a few hundred cuts of laminate boards with the quality that you'd expect from any type of blade you invest a lot of time in.

It's also a blade that doesn't wander, so you don't have to worry as much about making the wrong cut as you can easily have the time to correct the mistake to avoid any costly trips to the hardware store.

Pros

• You can install 1200 ft of flooring using just this blade to make the cuts, so if you've got more space you want to cover with laminate, you can't go wrong with this one.
• It can still work months after a lot of punishing use, so that you could expand the use of this blade beyond your laminate flooring project.

Cons

• The blade's kerf is a bit on the thin side, which allows for some chattering, which may be an issue for those who may not be as experienced with saws, but some adjustment should fix this issue.
• It can be a bit confusing on which blade is suitable as this one comes in sizes 12x16 and 10x12, so you may have to try each one out to see which one works best for you, which might not be a viable option for some.

Buyers Guide

Now you have some idea of what sort of blade you could feasibly use and how much looking around you're willing to do, you might want to take a minute to consider some other factors that may affect your purchasing decision.

You might find something here that you missed and could potentially save you the headache of comparing blades yourself and make your decision worthwhile in the long run.

It's a good idea at this point to have an idea of what you want in a blade so you can narrow down your options, as the variety out there can be overwhelming.

Area Of Flooring You're Covering

This is going to affect the blades you look at because if you've got a kitchen floor that isn't too large an area, so something like 2000 ft plus might be a struggle for your traditional jigsaw, as these blades are smaller and more prone to bending and wearing out.

You may want to consider a blade like the Diablo 10X12 PCD laminate flooring blade, which is built to cut laminate flooring of any kind and can extend to jobs like decking or other types of flooring you might lay.

You might want to avoid diamond-tipped blades as these tend to have fewer teeth which means they are less precise but can be good at ripping up your old flooring, so there's a bit of leeway with these choices.

Ideally, you're looking for a blade with 80 to 100 teeth so you can get more precise cuts in your material.

Protective Equipment You'll Need

If you take a look at most saw blades, they tend to advise that you use ear and eye protection because, with some blades, you're going to see a lot of excess chippings and dust appear.

This could irritate your eyesight and hearing, so take the extra time to take these precautions, especially if you go on to cutting materials like aluminum or steel that are going to create a lot of mess in this regard.

It would also be a good idea to invest in some safety shoes or have a steel toe cap in case you're cutting away, and a broken-off piece of material happens to hit your foot.

If you want to take more precautions, it's advised that you ensure the guard on your saw is functional and doesn't have a build-up of waste and chippings in it.

This is important because it's very likely this will happen to most people who get a lot of use out of their saws.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type Of Blade Do You Use To Cut Laminate Flooring?

Carbide-tipped blades are your best option when cutting laminates and harder exotic materials, as these can be re-edged or sharpened several times, saving you time and multiple trips to the store.

Any blade you get that has expansion slots are designed to reduce heat-warping, allowing the metal to cool and thereby extending the use of the blade.

What Type Of Saw Should I Use?

If you're looking for an all-rounder that is easy to use, the best pick is a jigsaw, as it can easily cut out shapes from your flooring.

It's at its best when you have to cut around any pillars or awkward corners, and to get the best result in your cut, it's best to have the saw blade spinning before you touch the board.

You also might want to test the direction of the teeth on the jigsaw, so you can see if you have to cut up or down the board so you can see which direction produces the best finishes, as you want to avoid chipping any of the boards, which can happen quite easily.

Of course, you can use a regular handsaw, where you can make an initial cut as a guide, and you can work from there, and is suitable for shortening laminate boards as long as you put the saw as close to the surface as possible, and you hold the piece you're cutting off firmly.

You could also look at circular saws that produce the same type of cut as a miter saw as they use a similar cutting blade, but they can be difficult for precise cuts without a guide or track.

Conclusion

So we've given you the low-down on how you can get a good result from your next lamination project and the right blades that will get the work done and save you having to wait for the saw to cool down or replace the blade every few boards or so.

You could also test your blade on an unused piece of board to see what the cut looks like and what changes you may need to make in order to stop it wandering or chipping away at your laminate boards unnecessarily.

Of course, it's good practice only to use a saw if you have had time to get used to the tool and have made a few practice cuts, otherwise, you risk injury or even a poor result, and nobody wants that.