I think we might be getting a little off track here...Although the original post had multiple questions/comments, they were focused primarily on talking about blade sizes, with a comment about reverse teeth vs. no reverse teeth...Just like almost every other blade post out there, we've twisted it into which BRAND of blade is preferred over another...Instead, I think the poster was looking for more specific information...Telling someone that you like to use a particular brand is only part of the answer to all blade questions; but isn't enough information to be all that useful.
Reverse teeth - I primarily use reverse teeth for everything...There is a difference between "normal" reverse teeth, and the Flying Dutchman Ultra-reverse teeth...The normal reverse teeth, having only reverse teeth near the bottom of the blade, primarily only affect cutting on the underside of the workpiece...Whereas, the ultra-reverse have reverse teeth integrated throughout the entire length of the blade...Like traditional blades, the ultra-reverse primarily cut on the down stroke, but they also make complete cuts on the upstroke; making them more aggressive than "normal" reverse blades...As such, ultra-reverse blades require even less feed pressure than "normal" reverse blades...I like, and use both of these blades...I have found that I can use a smaller ultra-reverse blade in situations where a larger "normal" reverse blade is called for.
Blade sizes (numbers) - Just as many will say, there are no hard and fast rules; only guidelines...But I find that I deviate from those guidelines often...For example, sources might suggest using a #5 or #7 blade for 3/4" material, but there are situations where a particular cut won't allow the use of such a large blade, so a #3 or #1 might need to be used instead...Some will use the same size blade for EVERYTHING that they do; nothing wrong with that...The most important thing to remember is to make adjustments to technique and setup when changing blade size/style...I think a lot of people find "their" size and stick with it, because it provides one constant variable in the equation...I haven't settled on just one size blade...I tend to look at the pattern of a new cutting project, and then make my blade selection based on what I THINK that I can best use to make the final project "look" right to me...The thing that everyone WON'T tell you, is that it's really all a 'best guess" based on a lot of factors, but experience most of all...Don't confuse experience with the difference between a new cutter and a veteran cutter...I'm talking about yourself knowing how a particular blade acts for you in a given situation; that's experience.
As a flyfisherman, I'm often faced with similar questions while looking at fly selection...Selecting the type of fly is similar to selecting the type of blade (rev tooth, skip, spiral, etc...)...Selecting the fly size is similar to selecting the blade size...There are situations where BOTH a #16, and a #18 fly will do the same job, just like there are plenty of situations where a #3 and a #5 of the same blade will provide the same results...There are also times that different sizes just won't give the same results; and that's the whole trick.
