Milwaukee is replacing three of its finish circular saw blades with thick kerf versions. The new blades are built for cordless saws that finally have the power to spin a heavier plate without bogging down.
The 7-1/4 inch 40 tooth blade and the 10-1/4 inch 40 tooth blade both arrive in December. The 7-1/4 inch 60 tooth ultra finish version follows in February 2027.
Thick kerf means a wider cut. More carbide is engaged in the wood, which steadies the blade and cuts down on wobble.
It also drags harder on the motor, and that’s the reason most cordless saws shipped with thin kerf blades for years.
What the three blades cost
| Blade | Model | Price | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-1/4 in. 40T thick kerf finish | 48-40-0726 | $16.97 | December 2026 |
| 7-1/4 in. 60T thick kerf ultra finish | 48-40-0730 | $19.97 | February 2027 |
| 10-1/4 in. 40T thick kerf finish | 48-40-1040 | $39.97 | December 2026 |
All three use the same model numbers as the blades they replace, so the old thin kerf stock will cycle out as dealers sell through. Milwaukee also lists 10-packs for the two 7-1/4 inch blades under 48-41-0726 and 48-41-0730, aimed at crews that burn through blades on trim packages.
Both 7-1/4 inch blades run a 5/8 inch arbor with a diamond knock-out, and the 40 tooth version is rated for miter saws that take that size.
Milwaukee lists softwoods, hardwoods, melamine, MDF, veneered plywood, wet lumber, treated lumber, LVL, PSL, LSL and OSL as fair game for the finish blades.
The 60 tooth version is aimed at paneling and moldings where tear-out shows.
Why thick kerf is coming back
Blade makers spent a decade chasing efficiency.
Thin kerf let a 5.0Ah battery make more cuts, so 6-1/2 inch saws became the default and thin plates became the norm.
Brushless motors and higher output batteries flipped that. A modern 18V saw has enough torque to run a thick kerf plate at full speed, and framing blades already made the jump. Milwaukee sells both a thin kerf framing blade (48-40-0720) and a thick kerf version (48-40-0740) right now, so buyers already face the choice at the shelf.
Finish blades are the harder sell. Trim carpenters care about cut quality more than cut count, and a thick kerf blade leaves a cleaner edge with less deflection on long rips.
If you’re running a saw on a jobsite where every cut gets inspected, the trade is worth it.
The catch is saw compatibility. A thick kerf blade on a weaker saw will bog and burn battery. Check your saw’s manual before swapping, and if you’re running an older brushed model, stay with thin kerf.
Milwaukee blades sell at Home Depot and Milwaukee dealers, not on Amazon. The outgoing 7-1/4 inch 40T blade (48-40-0726) is listed at $16.97 at Home Depot, and the 10-1/4 inch 40T (48-40-1040) sits at $39.97, so the new versions land at the same shelf price. Verify at the store when they show up.
For the geometry behind kerf and tooth count, our TPI and blade geometry guide walks through why a 40T and a 60T behave so differently in the same saw. If you’re choosing between blade materials, the carbide vs bi-metal vs HSS breakdown covers what each one is good for.
Related coverage: we covered the NITRUS carbide 6-1/2 inch framing blade when it launched in September. For the bigger picture on blade selection, see our saw blade guide.