Abstract: The face milling cutter of this invention has indexable inserts with double-positive rake. Square inserts for a substantially 0.degree. lead angle are insertable in the body interchangeably with different octagonal inserts that respectively provide for 15.degree., 30.degree. and 45.degree. lead every insert engages a radially outwardly facing relief surface on angles. One relief surface on the body that extends parallel to the cutter axis, and another engages an axially forwardly facing surface on a rear body member. The large area leading surface on each insert flatwise engages a circumferentially facing surface on the body that establishes the rake angles. Every insert has an operative cutting edge that is spaced radially outwardly from the body and has another and longer edge that is spaced axially fowardly from the front surface of the body and serves as a wiper land.

Abstract: Noise output of a rotary cutting tool such as a circular saw blade is substantially reduced by means of a guard which wholly encloses the blade when the blade is not cutting and which comprises fixed and movable imperforate guard members, the movable guard member being movable to expose only the cutting segment of the blade. Inner surfaces of the flat side walls of the guard have sound absorbing means such as a Helmholtz resonator array or a layer of acoustical foam. Modifications of the guard to optimize its silencing effectiveness are disclosed.

Abstract: A circular saw blade has block-like tooth tip inserts of hard metal, secured at circumferentially spaced intervals to the peripheral portion of a disc-like blade body having opposite flat side surfaces. The gullet in front of each insert, conventionally present in such a blade, is spanned in the circumferential direction, at least to a substantial extent, by a fixed thin wall, which can comprise a reduced thickness portion of the blade body, so that each gullet is thus defined by a sidewardly and radially outwardly opening cavity in a side surface of the blade, and the blade has a near-circular periphery. At the circumferentially rearward and radially inward portions of each cavity its edges are substantially bevelled to facilitate flow of cuttings out of the cavity.