Ridgid 12" Ultimate CMS Saw Blade

After careful deliberation, reading all the reviews I could lay eyes to, chunking out a thread on the Sawdusters group, consulting the Ojai board and my favorite medicine man, I decided to go for a Freud Fine Crosscut.   That decision made, I gathered up my Christmas loot and all the spare change on my dresser and between the cushions of the couch and set out for the big orange box....

Upon arrival at the Bossier City Home Depot I located in quick order the blade I had chosen to adorn my big honker Delta 12" CMS...It's beautiful red coating and 96 carbide teeth was a beautiful sight to behold behind it's thick plastic packing..  Smirking at my woodworking acumen, I snatched the very last one on the peg board hook, tucked it under my arm and headed for the checkout lane.

After taking a couple of steps, I was greeted by one of the HD tool guys wearing the bright red vest.  "Howyadoin?" he sez.

"Fine. How'bout yew?" sez I.. 

"I see ya got a good blade there under yer wing." he sez... 

"Yup. Old Freud makes some dandy woodworking blades." I sez...

"Yep, they shore do for a fact, but have you tried the Rigid blades?"  he inquires.

"Nope, suppose I will stick to what I know is the best." I reply,  thinking  I got me a Home Depot bubba on my hands.  But he seems to be a nice guy, so I decide to give him a minute for his pitch.

"I got me one  on my saw." Handing me one of the big gold Titanium coated Rigid 12" blades. "It is the best blade I have ever owned in my 25 years or so of woodworking."

"Iszat a fact!!" I sez.   H mmmm...I think this guy has got a good line if I ever heard one!!  But I take the blade and give it a good eyeing over.  Damn!!  This blade looks pretty good!  It has got all the bells and whistles a premium quality blade should have.

Glancing down I see it is selling for $74.95!!!!! Good price!!!!

Sensing my interest, the guy sets the hook at just the right moment!!  "Yep...These blades are made by Freud in Italy to Ridgids specifications.  And ya know you can try it for 30 days and if you don't like it, bring it back."

Yep...He had me hooked and netted just that fast.  I replace the Freud on the hook and stick the Ridgid under my arm.

After arriving back at the shop, I installed it on my CMS.  The very first thing I noticed was the extreme sharpness of the carbide teeth...  I'd seriously recommend a pair of leather gloves for handling this puppy...It IS that sharp!!

After mounting and double checking to make sure nothing was rubbing or touching anything, I squeezed the trigger and listened to her hum for a bit.  Then picking up a piece of scrap 2x4 cherry I made my first cut.

This was my biggest surprise since someone told me years ago that there wasn't a real Santa Claus.  The blade cut through the cherry as if it were paper.. Absolutely NO burn or tear out on either side.  The cut was silky, quiet as a whisper and without any effort whatsoever!

The face was unbelievably smooth..I wouldn't go near a sander with it..  PERFECT is an understatement.

I flipped the saw over to 45 degrees and did an angle cut through the cherry.  Once again it came out perfect and not a hint of burning or tearout.

Today I tried it on several different types of hard and softwood, all the same excellent results.  I'd recommend this blade highly to anyone who wants to listen.

Maybe the Freud Fine Cross Cut works equally as well.  I don't know as I've not tried one, but I do know that it cant work any better.

I'm going to make a special trip back to the Bossier Home Depot to shake the tool guys hand and tell him thanks!