While Chicago Electric Miter Saws are some of the best businesses, they still need their blades replaced regularly just like all miter saws.
If you’re new to woodwork or just haven’t worked with miter saws before, changing the blade of one can definitely seem like a daunting task.
That’s why in this post, we’ll detail how you can easily and safely replace the blade within a Chicago Electric Miter Saw.
Changing the Blade on a Chicago Electric Miter Saw
It’s important that you look into instructions and tutorials on how to change the blade in order to do it safely.
Here’s how you can quickly and safely change the blade of a Chicago Electric Miter Saw:
Step 1: Firstly, Press down the lock button with the saw blade in order to prevent it from rotating by accident.
Step 2: When you bought the Chicago Electric Miter Saw, you will have received a wrench with it.
Step 3: Use this wrench to remove the center cover fixing bolt.
Step 4: Once you’ve removed the center cover fixing bolt, you should be able to move the blade guard around.
Lift the blade guard up.
Step 5: Press the arbor lock button.
Step 6: Loosen the arbor bolt using the wrench that you received with the Chicago Electric Miter Saw.
Step 7: Once it has been adequately loosened, remove the arbor bolt. You should now be able to handle the old, dull blade that’s in the saw.
Step 8: Remove the dull blade.
Step 9: Place the new, sharp blade on the arbor and twist the arbor bolt to tighten it.
Tighten the bolt with your hand first as much as you can and then use the wrench to tighten it as much as you can.
Step 10: Put the blade guard back in its appropriate position.
Step 11: Release the locking pin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Miter Saws
1. How Often Should I Change My Miter Saw’s Blade?
A miter saw’s blade can last anywhere between 12 to 120 hours of continuous use depending on the quality of the blade and the material that they’re cutting.
You can get some idea of when you should change the blade by observing the blade itself. Look for obvious signs of wear-and-tear such as chipped down or missing teeth.
2. What is the Difference between a Miter Saw and a Compound Miter Saw?
A miter saw is a tool that helps you make cuts at many different angles. The saw has a blade that is mounted on a swing arm that can pivot left or right to create angled cuts on the wood.
A compound miter saw has a blade that can pivot left and right for angled cuts and it can also tilt in a single direction in order to produce beveled cuts.
3. What Safety Precautions Should I Take Before Using a Miter Saw?
Some safety precautions you can take before using a miter saw are:
- Wear safety goggles or a face shield.
- Use protective gloves to protect your hands from the saw blade
- If it’s getting too dusty, make use of either an external dust extraction system or wear a respirator or dust mask.
- Wear adequate hearing protection e.g., ear muffs.
4. How Far Should Your Hands be From a Miter Saw Blade when Using it?
You have to strike a balance between ease of handling and safety when using a miter saw.
Your hands should not be too close to the blade as that’s obviously dangerous but they also shouldn’t be so far away that you’re not able to handle the blade properly.
As a rule of thumb, your hands should be at least 6 inches away from the blade.
5. What Sizes are Miter Saws Typically Available in?
The most common size for miter saws is 10 inches. When we talk about size, we’re referring to the diameter of the saw blade that’s used within the saw.
If you want a miter saw that can cut larger pieces of wood, you can get one of size as high as 12 inches.
On the other hand, if you want it for lighter work, you can get one as low as 7 ¼ inches too.
6. Is it Possible to Use a Miter Saw on the Ground?
Possible? Probably. Safe? Definitely not.
We definitely don’t recommend that you use a miter saw on the ground.
Not only will it be difficult to handle but it will also be a trip hazard.
You can even get a back injury from handling a heavy saw and lumber and going to work on it on the ground.
It’s a good idea to bolt your miter saw down before you use it which would be very difficult on the floor.
7. How Much Do Miter Saws Typically Cost?
A fairly basic compound miter saw can cost as low as $100.
On the other hand, miter saws with sliding blades usually start around $125 and bevel miter saws start at $200.
Professional industry-standard miter saws can cost as high as $800.
8. Can I Use My Miter Saw as a Chop Saw?
While miter saws and chop saws may seem similar in function, they are not.
Chop saws are meant for straight, precision cuts whereas miter saws are used for angled and beveled cuts.
While it may seem simple to angle the miter saw in a way to make it work as a chop saw, the truth is that the results will be nowhere near as good compared to if you had just used a chop saw.
9. Are Cheap Miter Saws Worth it?
If you need a miter saw for a small job or project, then you can definitely get away with a cheap miter saw.
However, if you want it for long-term work, then you should definitely invest in a relatively expensive and higher-quality miter saw.
Cheap miter saws break down fairly quickly and some of them are often shaky which results in untidy cuts.
Wrapping Things Up…
We hope you have a fair understanding of how to change a Chicago Electric Miter Saw’s blade now.
Be sure to stay safe and take all necessary precautions before replacing the blade on the tool.
It takes less than 5 minutes and then, you’re ready to start cutting again.