Larry,

You didn't say what size blade you were using.  With 1" red oak, I can typically get away with a #5 FD-SR but with white oak I typically need at least a #7 and if it's not too intricate a #9 works even better.  I've tried all different blades for cutting thick hardwoods and keep coming back to the FD's.  Others I've tried either break too easily or dull too quickly.  I've cut 2" thick padauk, canarywood, zebrawood, and mahogany with these blades without any burning or difficulty.  It is much slower going but they get the job done better than any other blade I've tried.

 

Kevin

Shoot, I forgot to mention the new UR blades.  You might want to give those a try.  I recently completed an intarsia piece of all 7/8" thick wood (Mahogany, Oak, Walnut and Aspen) using just 1 blade.  These blades do not have nearly as much lead to them as the SR's.

 

Kevin

Kevin, thank you for the input. I used the #5 blade. I didn't have the trouble before, so I must be trying to hurry the cut. I will have to try the UR blades. Haven't tried them yet. I was cutting names for friends & one of them would lean forward when I sat it down on a level surface. The letters were narrow at the back side. I think I'm just too impatient & hurry the cutting process.  I have a tendency to want to hurry & finish the job, HA. Thanks again.         LARRY