Many of us have gone through the phase of not knowing which way the teeth of the circular saw blade go and how to install them.
Usually, the blade comes with an arrow to show the direction the blade will rotate in and the direction it has to be installed. However, if there are no arrow markings, which way should you install the blade?
To address these concerns, we will discuss which way the blade of a circular saw goes and a complete installation guide.
Quick Summary
Before we start our post, let’s look at an overview of what this post contains:
- Circular Saw Blades
- Addressing Hazards
- How to Install a Circular Saw Blade
- Tip
- Final Verdict
Let’s dive in!
Circular Saw Blade
A circular saw blade is used to cut through large pieces of wood. It is a heavy-duty machine that consists of sharp teeth along the edge which moves with tremendous speed.
The speed of the teeth gives the saw the power to cut through the wood rapidly. However, these woodworking machines can be dangerous and you must vary of occupational hazards.
The Direction of Teeth
You need to know which way the teeth rotate because otherwise, you could be dealing with a dangerous tool.
The teeth of the circular saw are supposed to go upwards which means that the direction of the circular saw blade rotates upwards called the clockwise motion.
This allows the circular saw to cut the board from the bottom to the top. The teeth rip into the wood and the direction of the rotation pulls sawdust into the guard to be ejected from the dust port.
Addressing Hazards
Working with power tools such as saws requires immense attention to detail and compliance with safety precautions.
When you purchase a circular saw for the very first time, you can start working with it because the blade is fixed in the right direction.
However, when you get your saw back after repairs and have to reinstall the blade, or need to replace an old worn-out blade, that’s when the challenge arises.
Repairs
Before you start work with your saw that you just got back from repairs, check it for the correct rotation direction. Plugin the saw and carefully examine its rotation.
If the saw’s blade is rotating anti-clockwise then you have to change the direction with the teeth-side up.
Tip:
Remember to stay away from the saw before you know which way the blade rotates to avoid hazards.
It is essential to keep away from the blade if it rotates anti-clockwise because the blade could detach due to the wrong direction. This could become an extremely dangerous situation.
Reinstallation
You could find that your blade does not cut well enough like before which could be due to wear and tear.
The following factors could damage the sharpness of your blade over time:
- The blade could become blunt due to frequent usage of the saw
- The blade could lose its sharpness due to the type of material you are cutting such as big blockers of wood
- The quality of the blade could subject it to early wear and tear
These indicators will help you determine when its time to get a new blade for your saw:
- The machine will make a lot of noise which might be due to other factors as well but the major reason might be a worn-out blade
- The blade might cut off the extra wood
- The blade will not maintain a straight line while cutting
Some blade manufacturers make the installation process easier for you. They label arrows in which the blade should be installed. There should be an arrow on the saw as well to indicate which way it runs.
Make sure that both of these arrows pursue the same direction.
How to Install a Circular Saw Blade
The easiest way to determine which direction the blade needs to be installed and how to install the blade is to thoroughly read and follow the instruction manual.
If, however, you do not have the manual, then you can follow these easy steps to install the blade. Remember that once you figure out the direction of the blade, it is very easy from thereon.
Step 1
Unplug your saw from the electrical outlet if it is wired. If it is battery-powered, then remove the batteries. Never proceed with changing the blade if there is a chance that the saw can be triggered to run.
Step 2
You need to engage the locking mechanism. First, push the arbor-lock button and then engage the locking mechanism by rotating the blade.
Step 3
Remove the nut or bolt that holds the blade into place. It will be present at the center of the blade attached to the saw. Rotate the bolt in the direction of the blade, which should be clockwise.
Note:
Remember that not all blades rotate in a clockwise direction, there are anti-clockwise blades as well. Always remember to go through the instruction manual to get complete guidance.
Step 4
Replace the blade with a new blade. Ensure that the teeth are in the upward direction which is the direction of rotation and screw it into place.
Step 5
Tighten the arbor nut carefully and ensure that it is not loose enough to detach and come off when you are working with the saw.
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Things to Remember...
Sometimes you might think that your blade is blunt due to the long work it has put in but most times, it is just your blade needing an extra cleaning.
You have to repeat the same process to remove and install the blade but this time you will be removing it to clean it.
Make sure that you wear chemical-resistant gloves because the chemicals used to clean blades can be quite harsh.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of our post on “What Way Does a Circular Saw Blade Go?” with a complete instruction guide for blade installation.
The main concern should always be safety. Therefore, it is essential to know the correct rotation direction of a saw blade.
If you install the blade in the opposite direction, then the blade might go out of control and will be hard to manage. We hope our guide will help you find the right direction.
Let us know if you have any further queries.
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