Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the blade of your circular saw has entirely lost its touch and you have no other option than to switch it out?
Before we get into the process, note that some of these steps might differ depending upon the model of the circular saw you are using but the overall process should stay the same.
Quick Summary
In this article, we will discuss the following things:
- A brief history of the circular saw and its invention
- How most modern circular saws are different from the old ones
Why Is It Hard To Change A Circular Saw Blade?
It’s often difficult to change a circular saw blade and the process comes along with a fair number of dangers involved since saws are sharp.
For this reason, we have prepared a step-by-step tutorial to help you change the blade and make the whole ordeal easier for you.
How To Change A Circular Saw Blade: A Step-By-Step
In this article, we will endeavor to best explain how to change a circular saw blade step by step. The main point is to ensure that the circular saw blade is removed without sustaining any kind of injury.
After all, safety is the biggest concern.
Things that you will need
To change a circular saw blade, you will need the following things:
- Blade wrench (included with the circular saw)
- New circular saw blade
- Safety gloves
- Circular Saw
Step 1: Take the circular saw off of the power supply
First, disconnect the power supply if it’s a regular power circular saw or remove the battery if it’s wireless. The power removal is so that you do not suffer any accidents.
Your safety is the primary concern because even an experienced craftsman can press the start button while changing the saw blade and if done with the power on, the consequences will be dire.
This is a mandatory step taken to prevent accidents or electric shocks.
Before getting started, make sure you have all the tools nearby, as running around looking for a wrench halfway through the process can get a little annoying.
Step 2: Remove the Arbor Nut From the Circular Saw Blade
After you remove the battery of the circular saw, place the circular saw blade in a stable and safe place. Most circular saw blades come with a safety lock or blade guard, if you have one then engage it.
Now remove the clamping ring and the blade guard to expose the blade.
How to find the blade guard?
Now look for a locking mechanism on the disk or the shaft of the circular saw blade. The instruction manual that came with the saw blade will point out the lock if you have any trouble finding it.
Pressing the button will activate the mechanism which will hold the blade, not allowing it to rotate. Now loosen the nut so that the blade can be safely removed.
Step 3: Get rid of the worn-out blade
The next step is to insert a blade wrench into the arbor nut and turn it in the same direction the blade turns. As we have discussed above the blade should be locked beforehand so it doesn’t rotate.
Now using the key that came with the circular saw, remove the arbor nut attached to the blade completely. Once the arbor nut is removed the blade can be slid off the machine.
What direction do the keys turn?
While most saw keys move counterclockwise it is wise to consult the circular saw manual beforehand to avoid any mistakes.
Step 4: Switch the Circular Saw Blades out
Clean the upper and lower guards of the saw blade and remove any accumulated sawdust.
Take the new circular saw blade and slide it on the shaft of the saw blade, the exact opposite of how we removed the blade.
All blades have a pointer that indicates in which direction the blade will rotate so follow it to ensure that the saw blade is placed in the tool correctly.
Step 5: Replace the Arbor Nut
Replace the arbor nut and be sure to not tighten it too much. As the nut rotates with the blade, chances of it loosening are pretty non-existent.
Now that the blade is placed and the nut applied, make sure that the positioning is correct. Then you just have to place the clamping ring back and screw it in its place.
Press the shaft lock and tighten the screw to make sure the blade holds.
Step 6: Try it Out
After everything is back to its original plate, it would be time for you to reinsert the batteries, and test out the saw.
Make sure that everything is working as intended.
Why Would You Need To Change Your Circular Saw Blades?
There are a lot of reasons that could bring about the need to change the blade of your circular saw, and in most of these scenarios, the changing becomes a requirement, rather than an option.
Here are a few of such situations:
● You would need a blade change if the old blade has gotten too dull.
● If the blade has suffered damages and is a hazard to use.
● If the blade has started rusting.
Why is changing the blade the only option?
In either one of these circumstances, you would have no other option than to change your saw blade. In the case of a blunt blade, you can try sharpening it out.
This is only a viable option if only a small portion of the blade has dulled out.
And depending upon the material you’re using the saw to cut, sometimes you just have to get a new blade as even a tiny adjustment can cause problems with the saw’s performance.
Installing the Blade, The Right Way!
If you have decided to change the circular saw blade, there is something that you always need to keep a note of, which is the direction of the ridges, or teeth of the blade.
Depending on the direction the circular saw runs, you need to make sure you have aligned the blade in the correct direction.
How to find the direction of the blade:
If the direction of the blade isn’t apparent through the ridges of the blade, you can also find it in the instruction manual that comes along with the saw, or its operating instructions.
What to do if you’re using a handheld saw?
If you are using a handheld saw, you would have noticed that the blade is installed in such a way that it only runs in a counterclockwise direction, and only comes in contact with the surface you are trying to cut, from below.
This is done to ensure the safety of the operator and help minimize the chances of an accident.
Screwing In The Blade Right
While getting the circular saw blade out, make sure that you are aware of the type of screws that have been used as trying to open a screw in the wrong direction can often end up with them being jammed into place.
The direction a screw opens up depends upon whether it is a right-hand or left-hand thread.
Maintaining A Circular Saw
Now to avoid such a situation where you would need to change the blade of your saw, you would need to maintain it regularly, and here’s how you can do it.
Keep The Saw In Good Condition
Make sure there are no hindrances in the switches and levers as they might affect the power supply to the blade during working, diminishing the life of the blade.
Make Sure Air Vents Work Well
Clean out the air vents regularly as they house the fan required to keep the motor cold and ensure that there is no electrical problem that may occur.
If tiny dirt particles or residual material starts accumulating in the vent, an electric short circuit might occur leading to a damaged blade.
Protect The Blade From Rust
Clean your saw blade frequently as a dirty blade leads to rust being accumulated which will destroy the blade.
Remember that no liquid should ever be allowed to sit on top of your blade for too long. So be careful if you employ the use of liquids to clean it out.
Sharpen The Blade Occasionally
Sharpening your blade before use is also a good idea as dull blades require more strength to operate leading to more heat and friction that can damage the blade.
Make sure to use a diamond file to sharpen the blade and start grinding the top bevels till the tips of the teeth are sharp again.
Frequently Asked Question
What is a circular saw blade?
The blade for a circular saw is a round-toothed blade with the ridges distanced at different paces depending upon the materials that you have clamped into the device to cut.
As the design of the saw is radial, the wear of the blade is usually evenly divided. These blades can not only be used in table saws but also handheld saws and crosscut saws.
How do I know if my circular saw blades need to be changed?
Trust us, you will know! In the case of a blunt blade, the physical appearance of the blade itself will let you know that it has had enough and the time for it to retire has come. The same is the case of a blade that has suffered serious damages or rust.
What if the signs to change the blade are not apparent?
However, if the damages to the blade or the bluntness of it aren’t apparent, you will find it out when your saw requires you to put in the extra effort, just to cut through normal materials.
How many teeth should a circular saw blade have for dense materials?
The teeth of a circular saw blade depend upon the material you are using them to cut. For example, a blade with at least 25 teeth is ideal for cutting through wood as wood is a much denser material than most.
What kind of material requires a high tooth count?
For materials that are thinner in comparison, you would need to increase the number of teeth. The change in the number of teeth is to provide an optimal and more accurate and even cut.
To cut through aluminum and plastic, you would need a saw with a much higher tooth count which can go even above 80, depending upon the use case.
Conclusion
Changing a circular saw blade is a rather easy process as there are only a few quick steps involved, however, as it is a high-powered tool, a certain level of caution needs to be present.
Regardless if you use a mini-saw, a handheld circular saw, or even a crosscut one, the process is more or less the same.
Now that you know how to change circular saw blades, always make sure you dispose of the old blade properly.