The CMT ITK Contractor Saw Blade Ultra Finish 4-3/8" x 5/8" T36 ATB is a precision-engineered circular saw blade built for contractors, remodelers, and serious DIYers who demand clean, splinter-free cuts on a wide range of wood-based materials. Featuring a 36-tooth Alternate Top Bevel grind optimized for ultra finishing performance, this blade delivers smooth rip cuts and crosscuts on hardwood, softwood, plywood, OSB, and melamine - all from a compact 4-3/8" diameter designed for portable table saws. With its hardmetal (HW) tooth construction and finely tuned geometry, the CMT K03604 brings professional-grade finishing quality to job site and workshop settings alike.

Key Features

• 36-tooth Alternate Top Bevel (ATB) grind - the high tooth count combined with an 8 deg. ATB configuration slices cleanly across wood grain and face veneers, minimizing tearout and leaving ultra-smooth finished edges.
• 15 deg. cutting angle - this positive hook angle provides an aggressive yet controlled feed rate, helping the blade move efficiently through both hardwood and softwood without binding or burning.
• 4-3/8" blade diameter with 5/8" bore - the compact diameter fits portable table saws while the standard 5/8" arbor bore ensures secure, centered mounting on compatible machines.
• 0.059" kerf thickness - the thin kerf removes less material per pass, reducing strain on the motor and making it well-suited for use on portable and lower-powered saw platforms.
• 0.039" plate thickness - the slim plate design reduces overall blade weight and flexural mass, contributing to stable, vibration-dampened cuts during finish work.
• Hardmetal (HW) tooth material - carbide-tipped teeth stay sharper longer than standard steel, sustaining cut quality through extended use on dense hardwoods, layered plywood, and abrasive sheet goods like melamine and OSB.
• Ultra finishing application class - purpose-built to produce fine, ready-to-finish surfaces in a single pass, eliminating or reducing the need for additional sanding or edge cleanup after cutting.

Why This Product

• The 36-tooth ATB geometry at an 8 deg. bevel angle is specifically configured for ultra finishing cuts - meaning both rip cuts and crosscuts come off the blade with surface quality that is ready for glue-up, assembly, or finishing without additional prep work.
• The 4-3/8" diameter is purpose-matched to portable table saws, giving contractors a blade that travels to the job site without sacrificing the cut quality typically associated with larger stationary shop equipment.
• The thin 0.059" kerf paired with the slim 0.039" plate preserves more material per cut, which is especially valuable when working with expensive hardwoods or precision-dimensioned stock where every millimeter counts.
• Compatibility with hardwood, softwood, plywood, OSB, and melamine makes this a single versatile blade that handles the full range of framing, finish carpentry, and panel cutting tasks commonly encountered on construction and remodeling sites.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: K03604
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 4-3/8"
• Bore Diameter: 15.87mm
• Number of Teeth: 36
• Kerf Thickness: 0.059"
• Plate Thickness: 0.039"
• Cutting Angle: 15 deg.
• Grind Type: 8 ATB (Alternate Top Bevel)
• Tooth Material: HW (Hardmetal)
• Application Class: ITK Contractor Ultra Finish

Approved Applications

• Ultra finishing rip cuts and crosscuts on hardwood
• Ultra finishing rip cuts and crosscuts on softwood
• Cutting plywood with fine, splinter-reduced edges
• Cutting OSB (oriented strand board)
• Cutting melamine-faced panels
• Use with portable table saws

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of saw is this blade designed for?

This blade is designed for use with portable table saws. The 4-3/8" diameter and 5/8" bore are matched to compatible portable table saw machines - always verify your machine's blade diameter and arbor bore specifications before installing.

Can this blade cut both hardwood and softwood?

Yes. The CMT K03604 is rated for rip cuts and crosscuts on hardwood, softwood, plywood, OSB, and melamine. The 36-tooth ATB grind and hardmetal tooth construction handle the varied density and grain structure of these materials while maintaining ultra finish cut quality.

What does the ATB grind mean for cut quality?

ATB stands for Alternate Top Bevel - a tooth grind pattern where adjacent teeth alternate between left and right bevel angles (8 deg. in this case). This geometry creates a shearing action at the cut line rather than a chopping action, which significantly reduces tearout and produces smoother, cleaner edge surfaces on wood and panel materials.

What is the difference between kerf thickness and plate thickness on this blade?

The kerf thickness (0.059") refers to the width of the cut the blade makes through the material - determined by the width of the carbide teeth. The plate thickness (0.039") refers to the thickness of the steel body of the blade itself. The teeth are wider than the plate, which prevents the plate from binding in the cut slot during operation.