How to Change Blade on Ridgid Miter Saw

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Has the effectiveness of your Ridgid miter saw started to decline? A dull blade might be a possible reason and therefore a blade change might be due.

Thankfully, this is an extremely easy task. All you need are a few tools and 10 minutes of your time.

However, before you begin to change the blade, we recommend you go through your saw manual to see what type of blade your saw uses.

Quick Summary

In this post, we will go over:

Why should you change a Ridgid miter saw blade?
How to tell if your miter saw blade is dull?
How to change the blade on a Ridgid miter saw?
Safety precautions

Without further ado, let’s begin.

Why Should you Change a Miter Saw Blade?

To begin with, if your blade is dull it can damage the material that you’re working on. This will not only waste your money, as well as your time to get the new material.

Moreover, it’s important to change the blade depending on the material you’re working on. For example, if you want to cut metal you need a specific blade to do so.

There are also different blades made for the same materials. For example, the 100 tooth cutting blade and the 24 tooth cutting blade for cutting studs.

But, the best thing about the blade changing process is that you can easily do it yourself without the help of a professional. All you need are tools like a wrench and a screwdriver.

However, the most common reason for changing a miter saw blade is a dull blade. This happens when it doesn’t produce sharp and quality cuts.

How to tell if your Ridgit Miter Saw Blade is Dull?

When it starts binding
It starts to tear and chip the material more than usual
It starts to burn the wood that you’re working on
When you have to exert extra effort in order to get it to work. Usually, a blade should let you push the saw forward with minimum force.

When you’re working with materials like baseboards, little pieces of wood stock on the miter saw. This might also decrease the efficiency of the blade. However, in this case, the blade is not dull, it’s just dirty. You can keep your blade clean by using special solutions called saw blade cleaners.

How to Change the Blade on a Ridgid Miter Saw?

As we mentioned before, changing the blade in a Ridgid miter saw is quite an easy process.

First, press and hold the motor spindle lock. You can locate the spindle lock behind the blade guard on the side of the saw motor. Lose the spindle bolt and carefully remove it.

Next, turn the spindle bolt in a counterclockwise direction. You may use an adjustable wrench for removing the bolt and outer washer. You can also make use of the Ridgid saw blade wrench that comes with the machine.

Now, after you’ve successfully removed the miter saw blade guard, remove the blade slowly from the spindle shaft. Do not forget to unplug the miter saw before you begin this process.

Replace it with a new blade. If you look carefully, you’ll see a direction arrow leveled in the blade cover. Follow the arrow to match the direction arrow on the blade.

Safely replace the blade washer on the spindle shaft. Place the spindle bolt in a clockwise direction and tighten the bolt.

Things to Keep in Mind

Before you change the blade, make sure that it actually needs to be replaced. As we said before, one can easily mistake a dirty blade for a dull one. Wood powder on the blade may also decrease the efficiency of the blade. So, before you replace the blade, clean it with a special blade cleaner to see the performance.

Quick Outline

To remove the blade on a Ridgid saw, unplug the miter saw from the power source
Next to the blade, press the spindle lock, and rotate the blade bolt
Use a wrench to remove the blade bolt and then the outer blade washer. Make sure to keep the inner blade washer in place
Carefully loosen and remove the blade. Replace the new blade with its teeth pointing down.
Replace the blade washer and press the spindle lock
Substitute the screws and turn the wrench anti-clockwise to tighten the screw. Position the lower blade guard and blade bolt cover
Tighten the blade bolt with the cover screw
The miter saw is now ready to use

Learn more with our various RESOURCE GUIDES.

Safety Precautions

While using miter saws, it’s important to follow the general safety rules to avoid any accidents:

Read the instruction manual carefully. Learn the applications, limitations, and potential hazards of the tool
Guard against electric shock by preventing contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges, and refrigerator enclosures.
Keep your work table clean. Cluttered work areas invite accidents. Do not leave tools or even materials on the machine while it’s in operation
Do not use miter saws in damp or wet locations. Always keep your area well lit.
Always wear appropriate safety gear while working power tools. Avoid wearing loose clothes, jewelry, and neckties that can get caught in the moving blade. If you have long hair, make sure to tie it before you use a miter saw
Wear safety glasses with side shields and gloves to protect your hands. Whenever needed, use clamps to hold your work to the saw. This is more practical and will free up both hands to operate the machine
Make your workstation childproof with padlocks, locking switches, and master keys. Furthermore, all visitors and children should wear safety glasses and keep them at a safe distance.
Use the right tools with the correct machines. Do not force attachments that are not designed to do the particular job
Before removing the blade make sure the blade is not moving.
Before servicing, when the tool is not in use and when changing attachments, unplug the saw from the power source.
Keep tools sharp and clean for better performance. Read the manuals for instructions on lubricating and changing accessories.