CMT Single Sided Laminate and Melamine Saw Blade by CMT is a 10 in. x 5/8 in. bore circular saw blade purpose-built for producing clean, chip-free cuts on single-sided melamine, laminate, chipboard, MDF, plywood, and hardwood. With 80 precision-ground teeth arranged in a Triple Chip Grind (TCG) geometry and a 5 deg. cutting angle, this blade is engineered to protect the coated face of single-sided laminate and melamine panels - making it a go-to choice for cabinetmakers, furniture fabricators, and millwork shops running miter saws, radial arm saws, stationary table saws, and vertical panel saws.

Key Features

• 80-Tooth High-Density Configuration: The elevated tooth count distributes cutting load across more teeth per pass, reducing the force applied at each contact point and delivering ultra-clean edges on fragile melamine and laminate surfaces - critical when one side must remain chip-free.
• Triple Chip Grind (TCG) Tooth Geometry: TCG alternates a flat-top tooth with a chamfered raker tooth, a geometry specifically designed to score and clear material from coated panels without lifting or tearing the surface coating - ideal for laminate, melamine, chipboard, and MDF applications.
• 5 deg. Cutting Angle: The low 5 deg. hook angle reduces the aggressive bite of each tooth, giving the blade a smoother, more controlled entry into hard laminate surfaces and minimizing the risk of chipping on the finished face.
• 0.126 in. Kerf with 0.087 in. Plate: The generous kerf-to-plate ratio provides lateral stability and reduces blade flex during demanding crosscuts and rip cuts in panel processing, supporting consistent cut quality throughout the workpiece.
• 5/8 in. Bore (15.88mm) Compatibility: The standard 5/8 in. arbor bore fits a wide range of miter saws, radial arm saws, stationary table saws, and vertical panel saws without the need for reducing bushings in most applications.
• Tungsten Carbide (HW) Cutting Material: Hard metal (HW) carbide tips retain sharpness longer than standard steel teeth when cutting abrasive materials like MDF, chipboard, and laminate - extending the productive service life of the blade between sharpenings.
• 7,600 RPM Rating: The blade is rated up to 7,600 RPM, making it compatible with the full operating speed range of most stationary and sliding miter saws used in cabinet and furniture production environments.

Why This Product

• Engineered specifically for single-sided melamine and laminate panels: Unlike general-purpose saw blades, this blade pairs an 80-tooth count with TCG geometry and a 5 deg. cutting angle - a combination targeted at protecting the finished face of single-sided coated panels where tearout on the visible surface is unacceptable.
• Versatile machine compatibility across the shop: The 5/8 in. bore and 7,600 RPM rating allow this blade to move between miter saws, radial arm saws, stationary table saws, and vertical panel saws, reducing the need to stock separate blades for each machine in a production environment.
• Broad material compatibility beyond melamine and laminate: The TCG tooth profile and hard metal carbide tips also handle hardwood, plywood, chipboard, and MDF - making this a practical single blade choice for shops that process a variety of panel and solid-wood materials.
• Stable cutting geometry with a defined kerf-to-plate relationship: The 0.126 in. kerf over a 0.087 in. plate provides structural rigidity during the cut, reducing blade wander and helping maintain straight, consistent cuts across full-length panel stock.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 281.680.10
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 10 in.
• Bore Diameter: 5/8 in. (15.88mm)
• Number of Teeth: 80
• Tooth Grind Type: TCG (Triple Chip Grind)
• Cutting Angle: 5 deg.
• Kerf Thickness: 0.126 in.
• Plate Thickness: 0.087 in.
• Maximum RPM: 7,600
• Tooth Material: HW (Hard Metal Carbide)
• Application: Single-sided Laminate and Melamine

Approved Applications

• Single-sided laminate panel cutting
• Single-sided melamine board processing
• Chipboard and particle board cutting
• MDF (medium-density fiberboard) cutting
• Plywood crosscuts and rip cuts
• Hardwood cutting
• Cabinetry component production
• Furniture panel fabrication

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between TCG and ATB tooth geometry, and why does it matter for laminate cutting?

TCG (Triple Chip Grind) alternates a flat-top tooth with a chamfered "raker" tooth. This geometry is specifically suited to cutting brittle, hard-coated materials like laminate, melamine, and chipboard because the chamfered tooth scores a relief channel ahead of the flat-top tooth, preventing the coating from lifting or chipping at the cut edge. ATB (Alternate Top Bevel) geometry, by contrast, is better suited to clean crosscuts in solid wood but can cause chipping in laminated panels. The TCG configuration on this blade makes it the appropriate choice when chip-free results on the coated face are required.

Which machines is this blade compatible with?

This blade is compatible with miter saws, radial arm saws, stationary table saws, and vertical panel saws equipped with a 5/8 in. arbor. The 7,600 RPM maximum speed rating accommodates the typical operating speeds of these machine types. Always verify that your specific machine's arbor diameter and maximum blade RPM rating are consistent with these specifications before installing.

Is this blade designed for cutting both sides of a melamine or laminate panel cleanly?

No. This blade is designed specifically for single-sided laminate and melamine applications, meaning it is optimized to protect one coated face during the cut. If your panels have a finished coating on both faces and both sides must remain chip-free, a different blade configuration designed for double-sided panels would be more appropriate for that application.

What materials can this blade cut in addition to melamine and laminate?

In addition to single-sided melamine and laminate, this blade is suitable for cutting hardwood, plywood, chipboard, and MDF. The hard metal (HW) carbide teeth maintain their edge effectively across these abrasive and composite materials, making this blade practical for shops that process a variety of panel types and solid-wood components on the same machine.