Below are some key terms related to toothed straight blades.
If you don’t know what a toothed blade is, don’t worry. “Toothed” is one of the terms we define. In fact, it’s our first definition (then we continue in alphabetical order).
Tooth Blades or Toothed Straight Blades – These blades have “teeth.” These teeth come in a variety of angles, pitches, and shapes. Different sizes and shapes do different things. Pointed teeth are good for slick or stretchy material. Shallower teeth are better for soft, spongy materials. Tooth blades are sometimes called “notched blades.”
Chip – In the parlance of toothed blades, a chip is a small bit of material removed by a tooth.
Chip Clearance – Chip clearance refers to the space, or gullet, between two teeth.
Fleam Ground – Fleam Ground refers to the angle of the faces of a straight blades’ teeth that are ground relative to a line that’s perpendicular to the face of the tool.
Gullet – Mentioned earlier, the gullet is the curved area between two consecutive teeth.
Gullet Depth – Gullet depth refers to the distance from a tooth’s tip to the bottom of the curved area that separates it from the next tooth.
Points – In the world of straight blades, points refer to the tips of the teeth.
Rake or Rake Angle – Rake or rake angle is a measurement of the cutting action of a toothed blade. Measurements can range from positive to negative (or forwards and backwards) in relation to the cutting action.
Set – Set is the bending of a blade’s teeth from center, either left and/or right.
Strippage – Strippage is when at least one tooth breaks off of a straight blade.
Teeth – Teeth are the small, sharp points found on the cutting edge of a blade.
Teeth Per Inch (T.P.I.) – On a straight blade, T.P.I. refers to the number of teeth found in the span of one inch.
Tooth Back – Tooth back is the side opposite the tooth face.
Tooth Face – Tooth face is the surface of the tooth where chips are formed (where the cutting happens).
Tooth Loading – Tooth loading is when chips get compacted in a tooth’s gullet. Tooth loading is sometimes called clogging.
Tooth Pitch – Tooth pitch refers to the distance from the tips of two consecutive teeth.
Tooth Tip – Tooth tip is simply the edge of the tooth that does all the cutting.
Want to learn more terms related to straight blades as well as terms related to other aspects of knives? Then check out these articles:
