Negative hook angle blades feature teeth that angle backward, away from the direction of cut, creating a gentler, more controlled cutting action. With hook angles typically ranging from -5° to -15°, these blades slice through material rather than aggressively pulling it, making them ideal for crosscutting operations and working with delicate or challenging materials.
The backward-angled teeth create a shearing action that cleanly severs wood fibers without the aggressive pull of positive hook blades. This controlled cutting approach significantly reduces tear-out and splintering, making negative hook blades essential for finish carpentry, cabinet work, and any application where cut quality is paramount.
These blades excel when cutting across the grain, through plywood and veneered materials, and when working with brittle or composite materials that might chip with more aggressive cutting actions. The gentler approach also makes them suitable for cutting non-ferrous metals and plastics when used with appropriate speeds and feeds.
The trade-off for this superior finish quality is slower cutting speed and higher feed pressure requirements. Negative hook blades require more effort to push material through the cut, but the results justify this extra effort when precision and finish quality matter.
Ideal Applications: Fine crosscutting, plywood and veneer work, finish carpentry, cabinet making, cutting laminates and composites, and precision work where tear-out must be minimized.
Material Compatibility: Outstanding for plywood, veneered materials, hardwoods, composites, and delicate materials prone to chipping. Also suitable for non-ferrous metals and plastics at appropriate cutting speeds.