Blade Size-Speed Chart:                                              

# 2/0     800-1100 Speed
         This blade is good for very fine detail in corners and tight curves because smaller
         blades will turn tighter radius cuts. Faster than 1200 will usually shorten blade life
         from the heat buildup causing premature breakage. Will have some fine tear out on
         the bottom of the work piece.
         1/8" Baltic Plywood and hardwoods
         1/4" Baltic Plywood and hardwoods

# 2/0R     800-1200
         This blade is used the same as the 2/0 but will eliminate the bottom tear out. When
         cutting less than 1/4" thick material, check that the reverse teeth are not cutting
         through the top of piece , leaving tear out on the top instead of the bottom. The
         bottom of the blade can be trimmed off to lower blade in the clamps to fix this
         problem, just don't lower it to where the reverse teeth do not contact the wood.

 # 2           800-1200 Speed
         This blade will not cut as tight of radius as the 2/0, so not as much fine detail can be
         done with this blade. It has a longer blade life than the 2/0.
         3/8" Baltic Plywood             3/8" Hardwoods

 #2R     800-1200 Speed
         Will do the same as the 2, but with the reverse teeth the bottom tear out is
         eliminated.

 #5R        1000-1850 Speed
         This is my favorite blade. Because of the reverse tooth there is not any bottom tear
         out. It will cut fast and leaves a good smooth surface ready to paint. Over 1850
         speed the heat build up reduces blade life considerably.
         1/8" (6 layers stacked) Baltic Plywood
         1/4" ( 3 layers stacked) Baltic Plywood
         3/4" (2 layers 1/2") (3 layers 1/4") Pine
         1/4" to 3/4" Hardwoods ( Test cut all hardwoods because some, due to density, will
         leave a burn mark on the cut edge, due to the reverse tooth design of the blade)

#5           1000-1850 Speed
        When the cut edge is burned, switch to this blade to eliminate the burning. There
        will be bottom tear out with this blade that will need to be sanded after cutting. Will
        cut faster than the reverse tooth blades , so on some of the 3/4" pine it may be
        better to cut simple designs with this blade for speed ( sanding on a stationary belt
        sander  after cutting).

 #9R     1200-2000 Speed
         Good for cutting thicker materials. Does not have the tight turning radius of the
         smaller size blades.
         1 1/2" Pine
         Thicker hardwoods

 #9      1200-2000 Speed
         Use when edge burning occurs as described for the #5 blades.

  # 12R       1400-2000 Speed
         A good cutoff blade. Will cut about as fast as the bandsaw. Good for cutting off
         lumber and plywood's to the desired shapes and sizes. Can cut some of the 1 1/2
         pine but the edges will not be as smooth as when using the smaller blades.

        This chart is given as a good starting reference point. You may want to try some of
        the other brands and types of blades available but  this should get you started in
        the area of what each blade is used for.
        I use only the Olson blades. I do not like the Crown tooth blades. And I feel the
        PGT blades are overpriced for what the do compared to the skip tooth blades. I
        have tried the double tooth blades and find them better in only a few applications.
        Hope this helps you get started.