Canadian Woodworking Magazine eNewsletter

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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Specifications:

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