Which condition is most likely to cause a blade to bind?

• A. Wood that is too wet
• B. Wood that is dry
• C. A dull blade
• D. A blade with too much tension

Answer: (A)

When a blade binds, the wood actively pinches the blade as it is cut. Moisture inside the wood makes the fibers swell, especially across the grain. That swelling narrows the kerf around the blade as you feed it through, causing the blade to pinch and stall rather than move freely. Dry wood doesn’t swell as much, so the kerf stays open and binding is unlikely. A dull blade adds resistance and heat but isn’t primarily about pinch, and excessive blade tension doesn’t cause binding in this scenario. So the condition most likely to cause binding is wood that is too wet.