Keefie your right the blade was very big but i wanted to get this over with .I over extend myself way to much and for free ,but GOD see's all.On the turns i go into the turns a couple of times to round out a hole so i can turn the big blades without heating it up and destroying the blade,Maybe that's one reason the last so long.Usually an hour it about tops for a blade.The dw788 is so gentle on the up and down strokes unlike the lesser quality saws that hammar the up and down motion.That's why the blades in the lesser quality saws loosen up and then break so much.That was the first thing i noticed useing the dw788 no more broken blades!!!