Metal vs Wood Saw Blades: Which Circular Blade Cuts Aluminum, Steel and Wood?
Wood, aluminum (non-ferrous) and steel-cutting circular blades are not interchangeable. See what XinYu Tools supplies, and what to use for ferrous steel.
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A metal saw blade and a wood cutting blade are built for different materials, and they are not interchangeable. A circular blade made for solid wood or furniture panels should not be used to cut steel. A blade made for aluminum profiles should not be treated as a general wood blade, and it is not automatically suitable for ferrous steel either. “Metal” in a search query usually needs one more distinction: aluminum and other non-ferrous metals versus ferrous steel.
XinYu Tools supplies TCT and PCD circular saw blades for wood and furniture panels, panel edge trimming, and aluminum profiles and other non-ferrous metals. The site does not list blades for cutting ferrous steel. For steel, buyers typically look at a different class of tool — a cold saw with a cermet or HSS blade, or an abrasive cutoff wheel — from a supplier that catalogs those products.
Wood, aluminum and steel are three different jobs
| Workpiece | Typical circular-blade approach (general practice) | What XinYu Tools lists |
|---|---|---|
| Solid wood, furniture parts, mixed wood | TCT blade with an ATB or combination grind; tooth count chosen for rip, crosscut or general-purpose work | Furniture Series main blades, 255–400 mm (10–16 in); solid-wood ripping sizes on request |
| MDF, particleboard, laminate, plywood | Higher tooth counts; ATB or TCG; a conical scoring blade on panel saws; ATB blades for edge trimming | Furniture Series, including scoring blades; Panel Trimming Blades at 255–320 mm |
| Aluminum profiles, thermal-break windows and doors, other non-ferrous metals | A blade designed for non-ferrous cutting; in industry this is often a TCG tooth with a lower or negative hook, a stable clamp, and sometimes lubricant | Aluminum Cutting Blades, TCT and PCD, 255–600 mm (about 10–24 in). Tooth grind and maximum RPM are “On request” — confirm them on the RFQ |
| Ferrous steel (mild steel, stainless, structural bar) | Not a wood blade and not a standard aluminum TCT blade. Common options include cermet or HSS cold-saw blades, or abrasive cutoff | Not listed in the XinYu Tools catalog. Do not order a wood or aluminum blade for this work |
The “general practice” column is industry background, not a test report. Where the catalog says “On request,” treat the grind as unconfirmed until it is written into the quotation.
Why a wood blade should not cut metal
A wood blade is designed to shear fibers and throw a relatively large chip. Alternate-top-bevel teeth, a more open gullet, and often a positive hook help that job in timber — and can grab metal, chip on a non-ferrous extrusion, or fail on ferrous steel. An unclamped workpiece can also be thrown, especially on a mitre or chop saw. If the same workshop cuts aluminum profiles, specify a separate aluminum blade. For wood tooth shapes, see ATB vs TCG Teeth and Circular Saw Blade for Wood.
Aluminum is metal — but it is not steel
Aluminum and thermal-break window sections are non-ferrous. They are routinely cut with carbide-tipped or PCD-tipped circular blades on aluminum saws, double-mitre saws and machining lines. That is the job the aluminum series is built for: aluminum profiles, thermal-break windows and doors, and other non-ferrous metals, in diameters from 255 mm to 600 mm.
Representative published TCT models (inch values on these pages are approximate; tooth grind is “On request”):
| Model | Diameter | Kerf | Plate | Bore | Teeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL-T-255-120T | 255 mm (approx. 10 in) | 2.8 mm | 2.2 mm | 25.4 mm | 120 |
| AL-T-305-120T | 305 mm (approx. 12 in) | 3.0 mm | 2.4 mm | 25.4 mm | 120 |
| AL-T-355-120T | 355 mm (approx. 14 in) | 3.2 mm | 2.5 mm | 30 mm | 120 |
| AL-T-450-120T | 450 mm (approx. 18 in) | 4.4 mm | 3.6 mm | 30 mm | 120 |
| AL-T-500-120T | 500 mm (approx. 20 in) | 4.4 mm | 3.6 mm | 30 mm | 120 |
| AL-T-600-144T | 600 mm (approx. 24 in) | 5.0 mm | 4.1 mm | 30 mm | 144 |
The same series also lists AL-T-405-120T, AL-T-450-96-100T (96 / 100T), AL-T-500-100T, AL-T-550-140T, and the 255 mm / 305 mm “B” variants with slightly different kerf or bore options. PCD aluminum models are listed at 450–600 mm, including AL-D-450-96T and AL-D-500-120T. A PCD-tipped version can also be requested on a TCT model. Other sizes, bores and tooth counts are available on request.
In general practice, aluminum circular blades often use a triple-chip (TCG) tooth and a lower or negative hook so the blade is less likely to climb or grab the profile. That is a useful briefing point for an RFQ, but it is not printed as the grind on the current aluminum tables. For TCT versus PCD and the full 255–600 mm range, use How to Choose an Aluminum Cutting Saw Blade. Application context is on Aluminum Profiles & Thermal-Break Windows/Doors.
Ferrous steel needs a different blade — and a different catalog
Mild steel, stainless steel and structural bar are ferrous. A TCT wood blade or a non-ferrous aluminum blade is the wrong tool. Workshops that cut steel with a circular blade usually specify a cold saw (a low-speed, high-torque ferrous saw) with a cermet or HSS blade, or an abrasive cutoff wheel on a chop saw designed for it. Those products are outside the XinYu Tools range as it stands today. If your enquiry is for steel, say so clearly so time is not spent quoting an aluminum or wood blade that will not do the job.
How to choose quickly
- Name the material, not only the machine. Write aluminum, copper, or steel, and include the section size.
- If it is wood or a wood-based panel, choose Furniture Series or Panel Trimming Blades, and add a scorer when you size laminated boards.
- If it is aluminum or another non-ferrous profile, choose Aluminum Cutting Blades and send the profile drawing, machine and bore.
- If it is ferrous steel, look for a ferrous-cutting supplier. XinYu Tools should not be quoted as the source of that blade.
- Match diameter and bore to the machine. Published aluminum rows use 25.4 mm or 30 mm bores; wood blades also use 50 mm, 60 / 75 mm and scoring-specific bores.
Request a quote with the series, model, diameter, bore, teeth, tip type (TCT or PCD), material and quantity. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
FAQ
Can I use a wood circular saw blade to cut aluminum?
You should not treat a wood blade as an aluminum blade. Aluminum profiles need a blade specified for non-ferrous cutting, with the grind, hook and tooth count confirmed for that material. Using a wood ATB blade on aluminum can grab the workpiece and damage the tips. Use a model from the Aluminum Cutting Blades series, or request a custom non-ferrous specification.
Can a XinYu Tools aluminum blade cut steel?
No. The aluminum series is listed for aluminum profiles, thermal-break windows and doors, and other non-ferrous metals. Ferrous steel requires a different blade type, which XinYu Tools does not currently catalog.
What does “metal saw blade” usually mean?
It is an ambiguous phrase. Some buyers mean a circular blade for aluminum; some mean a ferrous cold-saw or abrasive blade for steel; some mean a reciprocating (sabre) saw blade. If you need a circular blade for aluminum or wood, this catalog can be used as a starting point. If you need a steel-cutting circular blade, look for a ferrous specialist.
Are reciprocating saw blades the same as circular saw blades?
No. A reciprocating saw (and its blade) is a different tool: a straight, to-and-fro blade used in demolition, plumbing and metal cut-off work. XinYu Tools does not sell reciprocating saw blades. The products on this site are circular saw blades for wood, panel processing and aluminum.