CMT Orange Chrome Crosscut Ultra Finish Saw Blade 12" x 1" T96 ATB is a premium 96-tooth crosscut blade engineered for ultra-smooth finish cuts in hardwood, softwood, plywood, melamine, and chipboard. Designed for use on miter saws, stationary table saws, and portable table saws, this CMT blade combines an Alternate Top Bevel tooth grind with a slim kerf profile to deliver clean, tearout-free crosscuts in even the most demanding finish woodworking applications.

Key Features

• 96-Tooth ATB 20 deg. Geometry - the high tooth count combined with a 20 deg. Alternate Top Bevel grind produces ultra-smooth crosscut surfaces with minimal tearout, reducing or eliminating the need for sanding after the cut.
• Orange Chrome Coating - a chromium layer electrolytically deposited on the plate increases wear resistance and protects against corrosion, extending blade service life in everyday cutting environments.
• 0.118" Kerf with 0.098" Plate Thickness - the thin kerf removes less material per cut, reducing load on the saw motor and yielding cleaner, more efficient cuts through hardwood, softwood, and sheet goods.
• 10 deg. Hook Angle - a controlled hook angle suited for crosscutting keeps the workpiece stable and prevents the blade from grabbing or self-feeding, improving control and cut quality on miter saws and table saws.
• HW (Hardmetal / Carbide) Tooth Material - carbide-tipped teeth retain their edge longer than standard steel, maintaining cut quality over extended use in hardwood, chipboard, and melamine panels.
• Precision Sharpening - each tooth is sharpened with exacting accuracy to guarantee consistent cut quality and a longer useful lifetime before resharpening is needed.
• Laser-Cut Steel Plate - laser cutting delivers tight tolerances in the body of the blade for stable, accurate cutting performance run after run.
• Filled Sound-Dampening Slots - polymer-filled laser-cut slots reduce vibration and noise during operation, contributing to a smoother cutting experience and less operator fatigue.
• Tri-Metal Silver Brazing - a Silver-Copper-Silver brazing method bonds the carbide teeth to the plate, preventing carbide loss and maintaining structural integrity under repeated cutting loads.
• 1" (25.4 mm) Bore Diameter - fits the standard 1" arbors found on most 12" miter saws and table saws, making mounting straightforward without adapters.
• 6,400 Maximum RPM Rating - rated for the speeds generated by common 12" miter saws and table saws, ensuring safe operation within the typical speed range of compatible machines.

Why This Product

• With 96 ATB teeth on a 12" plate, this blade is purpose-built for finish crosscutting - meaning woodworkers, cabinetmakers, and trim carpenters get cuts that are ready for assembly or finishing without additional cleanup.
• The 0.118" kerf and 0.098" plate thickness strike a balance between cut efficiency and rigidity, making this blade well-suited for both stationary table saws and portable miter saw setups where motor load and material waste matter.
• The Orange Chrome coating and carbide tooth material address two of the most common reasons blades fail early - corrosion and edge wear - so the blade stays productive longer between sharpenings.
• Compatibility with hardwood, softwood, plywood, melamine, and chipboard means this is a single versatile crosscut blade that handles the full range of wood-based sheet goods and dimensional lumber found on most job sites and in most shops.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 285.696.12
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 12"
• Bore Diameter: 25.4 mm (1")
• Number of Teeth: 96
• Tooth Grind: ATB 20
• Kerf Thickness: 0.118"
• Plate Thickness: 0.098"
• Cutting (Hook) Angle: 10 deg.
• Maximum RPM: 6,400
• Tooth Material: HW (Carbide)
• Coating: Orange Chrome

Approved Applications

• Crosscutting hardwood
• Crosscutting softwood
• Cutting plywood
• Cutting melamine panels
• Cutting chipboard

Frequently Asked Questions

What machines is this 12" saw blade compatible with?

This blade is designed for use on miter saws, stationary table saws, and portable table saws equipped with a 1" (25.4 mm) arbor and rated for a 12" blade at up to 6,400 RPM.

What is ATB tooth geometry and why does it matter for crosscutting?

ATB stands for Alternate Top Bevel - a tooth grind where each successive tooth is beveled in the opposite direction. On this blade, the bevel is set at 20 deg. This geometry slices wood fibers cleanly across the grain, which is exactly what crosscutting demands. The result is a smoother cut surface with less tearout compared to flat-top or combination grinds, particularly in hardwood, melamine, and veneered plywood.

Can this blade cut melamine and chipboard without chipping?

Yes. The 96-tooth count, 20 deg. ATB grind, and thin 0.118" kerf are well-suited for cutting melamine-faced panels and chipboard. The high tooth count means more teeth are in contact with the material at any moment, which reduces the chip-out that lower tooth-count blades typically produce on coated or laminated surfaces.

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

The kerf thickness (0.118") is the width of the cut the blade makes through the material - determined by the width of the carbide teeth. The plate thickness (0.098") is the thickness of the steel body of the blade itself, which is thinner than the kerf. This difference - called the "set" - ensures the plate passes freely through the cut without binding, while the carbide tips do the actual cutting.