What is Rake? Are Positive or Negative Rake saw blades best?

What is Rake? Are Positive or Negative Rake saw blades best?

The rake or hook angle is the amount of forward or backward lean each tooth has. A hook angle can be thought of as the angle at which the tip enters the material. If the saw tip enters the material at an angle it will be more efficient than if it slaps down flat.

For cutting timber, a 20 degree positive hook angle is used on rip blades to pull the wood into the blade. Standard hook angles range from 5 to 15 degrees positive. Steeper angles, from 18 to 22 degrees, are most effective for ripping and cutting softer materials. Harder materials require a shallow angle such as 6 degrees. Cross-cutting is often best accomplished using with 5° to 10° hook.

Using a saw blade with a positive hook angle to cut metal, such as aluminum sheet & extrusion as well as steel sheet, can be dangerous unless the stock is clamped both sides of the cut because the blade will have a strong tendency to grab the material causing the operator to lose control; therefore hook angles of 5° - 6° negative hook and between 0° and 5° positive hook are commonly used. However, if it is clamped both sides of the cut, the positive rake blade will give you a clean and fast cut. To prevent self-feeding, sliding miter saws and radial-arm saws require a blade with a negative tooth angle.

In general, a blade with a positive hook angle is a faster-feeding blade and one with a negative hook is less aggressive. 

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