Fewer teeth for ripping along the grain and fast framing cuts, more for crosscutting, sheet goods and visible finished edges. It is a direct trade: low counts clear big chips and cut fast, high counts take fine bites and leave a clean edge but cut slower and run hotter. Melamine and veneer need the highest counts.

Alternate top bevel - teeth ground to opposite angles in sequence so they sever wood fibres cleanly rather than tearing them. It is the standard grind for crosscutting and for sheet materials where surface chipping matters. Flat-top grinds suit ripping, and triple-chip grinds suit laminates and man-made boards.

How aggressively the blade pulls itself into the work. A positive hook is fast and suits ripping on a table saw. A low or negative hook resists grabbing and is what mitre saws and sliding cuts need, especially in thin stock, where an aggressive blade can climb or snatch the workpiece.

On cordless saws particularly, yes - less material removed means less work done and noticeably longer runtime per charge, plus less waste in expensive stock. The trade is a thinner plate that is more prone to deflection and vibration, so it needs a well-supported cut and a sound arbor.

Usually too many teeth for the material thickness, feeding too slowly, or a dull or resin-loaded blade. Each tooth needs to remove a chip rather than rub. Cleaning resin off the carbide restores a surprising amount of performance, and is worth trying before assuming the blade is worn out.