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Whenever you find that your circular saw is taking more time to cut than usual or when your blade starts to burn in the wood or even when you are not getting the results you want, that’s the time when you need to change its blade. Although it might sound very simple, I’ve seen many experienced woodworkers getting screwed up when it comes to changing the circular saw blade. I know many experienced woodworkers who asked me how to change a circular saw blade. Not because it’s very difficult but because of the insecurity of what will happen when something goes wrong.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to change the circular saw blade. Before that, we will let you know more about what a circular saw blade is, why it is one of the best woodworking tools available in 2022 and then we will see how to change a circular saw blade. So if you have a circular saw in your house and you want to know how to change a circular saw blade, then this article is just the right one for you.
What Is A Circular Saw?
A circular saw is one of the most versatile woodworking tools that every woodworking shop should have. If you are someone who just wants to start their woodworking career, and you are on a budget, then this is the first one you should buy. It is the most handheld power tool to earn. Also if you have limited space or you just don’t have a conventional table so then a circular show is just the right solution for you.
A circular saw can make straight cuts, it can make rib cuts, bevel cuts, miter cuts, and even dedos are even possible with circular saws in almost any type of wood. It also types. It’s a portable device so you can make your woodworking project on your balcony in your garden or wherever you have enough space to do so.
A circular saw uses the same concept as a table saw. However, the key difference between these two tools is that in A table you feed the lumber through the saw, and in a circular saw you move the saw through a stationary table.
The History Of Circular Saw
A woman named Tabitha Babbitt is said to have invented a spherical-shaped design of her very personal volition and format in 1810. As legend has it, she was given the concept at the same time as watching Shaker guys who suffer from a pit were observed. Gervinus of Germany is often credited with inventing the round saw in 1780. Then after many years of changing and renovation and modifications, the Circular saw that we see today was invented. But it was not possible without the idea of Tabitha Babbitt and the Gervinus of Germany.
They played a great role in making this invention possible. After that slowly the circular saw was getting handy to many woodworking tools. Walter Taylor of Southampton had the blockmaking settlement for Portsmouth Dockyard. In approximately 1762 he built a sawmill wherein he roughed out the blocks. But again it was not possible without the idea of Tabitha Babbitt and the Gervinus of Germany.
Why Is A Circular Saw A Must-Have Tool For Every Craftsman And DIY Enthusiast?
When it comes down to carpentry it is only about two things, cutting and fastening. Think about it the first thing we need to do is to break down large pieces of lumber into small pieces we want. Then we need to fasten them into something else. And especially for the DIY enthusiast that’s all we need to do. So you would need one tool for each of the work. A circular saw is enough for cutting any type of wood into the desired piece. And for fastening you can use a drill. The DIY enthusiast doesn’t have to have all these tools. Because at the end of the day you need only a circular saw and others will only add up to the storage.
Anatomy Of Circular Saw
A circular saw is one of the most user-friendly tools and it is designed for the convenience of the user. At the very beginning, we have the handles. The positions of the handle are so accurate and I have to mention there are two handles. This unique feature enables you to work using both of your hands.
1. Handles:
The first handle has a trigger that you have to hold throughout the entire length of the cut. Some circular saws also have safety that you need to press before starting. This is done to prevent accidental starts. A circular saw comes for both left and right-handed people.
2. Baseplates:
There is a base plate on the surface of the saw which lies flat on the surface. The flat surface increases the surface area which is in contact with the workpiece. This helps to keep the saw at a constant angle with the surface. Here is a tip: the steel saws are simply the best. Because they can last longer and are definitely a better option than the aluminum base plates. You can tilt the base to make bevel cuts and you will get to know more about the uses of tilting later on how to change a circular saw blade section.
3. Blade Guards:
Then come to the blade guards. They are super cool as they will automatically retract when the trigger is stopped. Although sometimes for bevel cuts you might need to hold it manually. This blade guard saves you from any accidental cuts.
4. Cord:
There are corded and cordless circular saws as well. And definitely, the cordless ones are more convenient as you can walk around with the saw, but the corded ones are less expensive. Now I will not suggest you buy any specific one like the corded or cordless one because it depends upon you. If you say that you have a constant main supply at your workplace, you do not need to worry about the cord.
Because you know the corded saws are less expensive and the corded saws are also more powerful and light in weight. However, if you want to take your circular saw to wherever you want in your workplace and you don’t want to Hustle with the cord then definitely cordless one is the right choice for you.
5. Blades:
The blades are the most important part of a circular saw as they are the only part that is in contact with the workpiece. Manage the spun words as you want.
To a hardwood cutter (round noticed, desk noticed) the blade is just like the bat to a batsman. The coordination among the two is the vital thing for a perfect cut. During the cut, the blade is the only element that is in contact with the wood. The blade determines the form of fabric it may cut via. The circular saw blades are perfect for slicing hardwood. The size of the blade determines the size of the circular saw.
A normal-sized blade is 24 teeth. This blade has a size of 7.5 inches. This is the ideal and usually, it is all you need. This is the one which you will use almost every day. It is super fast and cuts beautifully in the first few months. But when it gets older the quality drops drastically.
If that’s the case then we would recommend you to look for the 60 teeth saw blade which will give you a smooth and clean cut. Before choosing the blade you should ask yourself what type of cut you want to make and what type of wood you are cutting.
6. Bolt Clamp:
To prevent serious injuries it is essential to keep the wood that you are coming in the right position throughout the cut. Here is where the Bolt clamp comes in handy especially when a cutting board or a small piece of plywood. Because if you don’t clamp the workpiece, the weight of the workpiece will cause it to make uneven cuts. Do not on both sides of the workpiece because it may cause kickbacks. A kickback on the circular saw can be jarring.
Types Of Circular Saws
To completely understand how to change a circular saw blade you need to know the types of circular saw. To cut a long story short there are two basic types of circular saws. One is Sidewinder and the other is Worm Drive. If we talk about geography we will see that in the pockets of the west in the Midwest worm drive is the best circular saw choice. and if we go towards the east it will be the sidewinders. However, in both places, some carpenters use one or both of them. Now let’s take a closer look at what is the main difference between these two types of circular saws.
The first thing that you noticed is the difference in the appearance of both the saws. Now the reason behind this difference is because of the position of the motor and how it transfers the energy to the gears then to be blade. Sidewinder uses spur gear which is why it has to be close to the blade, this increases the speed of the blade. A worm drive uses rear gear which means the power of the motor is transferred to the gear and then passed to the blades at a 90-degree angle. For this reason, the speed of a sidewinder circular saw is around 6000 RPM, and the speed of a worm drive circular saw is 4500 RPM.
Not only that the motor position also makes the sidewinder light in weight and more compact than the worm drive circular saw. But I have to mention that because of the motor position in the worm drive circular saw, the torque increases significantly. And also this motor leaves you with a little longer saw which is why you can see that the overall weight of the worm drive is higher than the weight of the sidewinder.
This makes the sidewinder useful for working over your head. And you can work with it long-term without making your hands fatigued. Many woodworkers take the advantage of the weight of a worm drive circular saw by cutting boards in a handheld position. Not only that the extra length of the worm drive makes it handy for making the wide cutting of the lumber. Also making plunge cuts and ripping sheet cuts are much easier on a worm drive. I hope all this information will better help you to understand how to change a circular saw blade.
Another huge difference between these two types of circular saw is that the sidewinder has the blade on the right and the worm drive has the blade on the left. So whether you are right-handed or left-handed it will depend on how you will use the tool and your viewing the sightline. If you are right-handed then the sidewinder will be a better option as the handle is perfect for the right-handed one, however, the drawback is that you cannot easily see the sightline. Also, the way the blade is changed is different in different types of circular saws.
The additional hassle on a worm drive is that it requires oil while the sidewinder does not. Now you might be confused about which one to choose. The truth is no one is better than the other. And the good news is the choice is yours as the retailers now sell both types of saws in the market.
How To Change A Circular Saw Blade?
You need to understand when it is time to change the circular saw blade. There are a couple of signs for that. For example when your blade starts to burn in the wood, or you are finding it difficult to work so you are forcing it through the wood, and even when you are not getting the results you want, also you can listen to the sound of the saw, If you find it struggling to cut the lumber then it is the moment when you need to change the circular saw blade.
Every so has its way and a unique little system to change the blade. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to change the circular saw blade. Because we have heard your call and will tell you the best possible way to change any type of circular saw blade whether it is Sidewinder or Worm Drive. It will only take a minute or two to change the blade of a circular saw if you know the right method.
- The first very step you need to do is to unplug the saw. You should never attempt to change the blade while the show is plugged in.
- The second step is to locate the Blade lock button in your circular saw. Tap the button and you will hear it snap into the place. This is done to lock the blade in its place. Otherwise, if you are using the wrench to open it the blade just keeps on spinning and you never will be able to loosen it. In some circular saws, you need to press the button the entire time to keep the blade locked.
- Some circular saws have a hex key in their handle so you do not have to look for it every time you want to open the blade. Also in some brands like the Makita, they give you a custom wrench that comes inside the box which you need to preserve and make sure you do not lose it.
- Then you need to take your wrench and put it on the bolt. Then gentle pry back. Because it doesn’t take high force to do that. Then continue to do it until the button is loosened.
- Then take the bolt and the flange or the washer out from the system.
- Now you will feel that the blade is completely loosened and ready to come out. However, at this point, the best way to take the blade out is to make the saw upside down and then turn the blade cover with one hand and remove the blade with the other.
- It is time to get the new blade in place. The most important thing to know is to face the teeth of the blade in the right position. The teeth of the blade must be pointing upwards. For your clarification, there are also arrows on the Blade and on the saw to help with this. There will be arrows also directing the direction of the spin. It is the safest option because the blade starts that way. Also, the blade manufacturers want their logos to be facing outside for advertisement. There is a small reminder for you to avoid that mistake.
- Then you have to reinstall the bolt and the washer. Make sure to have them cleaned before you reinstall them. Then tighten the bolt back in with your finger. You will then use the wrench to tighten it properly. This you will move the wrench opposite to the last time.
That’s all there is in changing the circular saw blade. I hope now you know exactly how to change a circular saw blade.
Care Pro Tips And Buying Guide Circular Saw Types And Handle The Care Instructions
Circular saws are one of the most useful carpentry tools you can ever get. However, let’s not forget it is also one of the most dangerous if you don’t know how to handle it. In our article about how to change a circular saw blade, I will provide some of the pro tips and buying guides for a circular saw.
- Do not keep any part of your body in the cut path. Don’t keep your hand in front or behind the cutting path. Not only your hair and do not even keep your knee or your foot there. This also implies that you should not keep your fingers underneath the cutting path. Always keep your entire body besides the cut path. And the best thing to remember is to keep both hands on the saw.
- Binding in the blade can occur if too much pressure is created on the blade from both sides. Don’t twist the saw while cutting. This will create additional pressure on the circular saw which will cause the saw to kick and jump backward and out of the workpiece. This is dangerous.
- You need to prop up your piece to cut it. Because the blade has to go more than the depth of the wood which means it may damage the wood or damage the floor beneath it. The best way to do this is to place two scarp kinds of wood beneath the workpiece.
- Getting the saw Blade too Deep can also damage the workpiece. It has to be Less than a quarter-inch deep. The Blade has to extend the workpiece but doesn’t have to be extended so far. This also increases the chances of getting kickbacks. Which is again dangerous for you.
- Do not retract a spinning blade. This is commonly done by DIY workers. the winner of the circular cell from the workpiece while the blade is still spinning. also do not do any kind of changing like for Bable cards while the Blade is spinning. I know I should not be saying this, but I have seen many accidental cases just for this thing.
- Another mistake that we often see in the job sites is that the workers often lock their blade guard completely by using some locker to cut the workpiece faster. The blade guard is there to protect the spinning blade from getting in contact with anything. This small act can cut off people’s fingers on the job site and is very dangerous.
- Do not press the trigger when the blade is in contact with the wood. Starting from the contact will cause the blade to backup and which is how accidents happen. Not only that it can also damage the wood you are cutting.
I hope now you know how to change the circular saw blade and also how you can efficiently use your circular saw.
Thanks for reading and best of luck.
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