What rake (or hook) angle is
Rake is the angle of the tooth face relative to a line drawn from the center of the blade to the tip of the tooth. A face that leans forward, into the cut, is positive; one that leans back is negative. US manufacturers usually call it the hook angle and print it in degrees, for example +15° or −5°.
A forward-leaning tooth bites aggressively and helps pull the blade through the wood. A backward-leaning tooth scrapes a little more and bites a little less.
Why a table saw wants positive rake
On a table saw you push the work into a blade that stays put. A positive hook, typically around +10° to +20° on rip and combination blades, helps the cut along while the feed rate stays in your hands. How many teeth to choose for that job is covered in how many teeth a ripping blade needs.
Why a miter saw wants negative rake
On a miter saw the blade comes down onto work that is held still. A positive-hook tooth grabs the board and pulls the head down and, on a sliding saw, toward you: the sudden snatch that startles people and can throw an offcut. A negative hook, commonly around −5°, resists it, so the head moves only as fast as you move it.
The same logic applies to radial arm saws, where the blade travels toward the operator.
Reading the spec before you buy
This is the specification that changes how a chop saw behaves in your hands, and it usually costs nothing extra. It is also rarely checked, because tooth count is printed in large type and the hook angle often is not. Even the two WEN 10 in blades on this site, which publish their diameter, arbor, kerf and maximum speed, leave the hook angle out — so look for a blade sold specifically for miter saws, which states a negative or near-zero hook on the packaging.
Check two more things before ordering a replacement blade: the arbor and the diameter. Most 10 in and 12 in miter saws sold in the US take a 5/8 in arbor; a blade with a 30 mm bore is a European blade made for European saws. The grind matters too; see what ATB, TCG and FTG mean.
If your miter saw dives into the cut
Look at the blade before you look at the saw. A positive-hook blade fitted to a miter saw is the most common cause. Our guide to choosing a saw blade by material covers the rest, and the blades we compare are on the saw blades shelf.
What comes up most often
Is rake the same as hook angle?
Yes. US blade makers usually print it as hook angle, European ones as rake; both describe how far the tooth face leans forward (positive) or back (negative) from a line through the center of the blade. A blade labeled −5° hook is a negative-rake blade.
Can I use a table saw blade on a miter saw?
It will cut, if the diameter, arbor and maximum rpm match, but a typical table saw blade has a positive hook of around 10 to 20 degrees. On a miter saw, and above all on a sliding one, that is what makes the head grab and climb toward you. A blade sold for miter saws, with a negative or near-zero hook, is the safer choice.
Does negative rake give a cleaner cut?
Not by itself. Finish comes mostly from tooth count and grind: more teeth and an alternate top bevel (ATB) give a cleaner crosscut. Negative rake is about control, so the saw cuts at the speed you push it rather than pulling itself through.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026