Sharpening Circular Saw Blades

By John Kelsey
Published on March 7, 2011
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To finish tightening, grip the saw blade with a rag and use the wrench supplied with the saw.
To finish tightening, grip the saw blade with a rag and use the wrench supplied with the saw.
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Tools may not make the craftsman, so the saying goes, but sharp tools will definitely improve your work. “Fundamentals of Sharpening” offers solid, straightforward advice for keeping saws, chisels, gouges, planes and other commonly used hand tools razor-sharp.
Tools may not make the craftsman, so the saying goes, but sharp tools will definitely improve your work. “Fundamentals of Sharpening” offers solid, straightforward advice for keeping saws, chisels, gouges, planes and other commonly used hand tools razor-sharp.
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Use the wrench supplied with the saw to loosen the arbor nut.
Use the wrench supplied with the saw to loosen the arbor nut.
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Retract the lower blade guard and, gripping the blade with a rag, loosen the arbor nut with the wrench supplied with the saw.
Retract the lower blade guard and, gripping the blade with a rag, loosen the arbor nut with the wrench supplied with the saw.
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For stubborn pitch and gum deposits, soak the blade in the cleaning agent in a shallow pan and use a brass-bristled brush to clean the teeth.
For stubborn pitch and gum deposits, soak the blade in the cleaning agent in a shallow pan and use a brass-bristled brush to clean the teeth.
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To joint the teeth so they are all the same length, clamp the jig in a bench vise and rotate the blade against the file clockwise.
To joint the teeth so they are all the same length, clamp the jig in a bench vise and rotate the blade against the file clockwise.
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Starting with a tooth that is pointing to the right, file the cutting edge by sliding the file holder along the top of the jig.
Starting with a tooth that is pointing to the right, file the cutting edge by sliding the file holder along the top of the jig.
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The commercial blade carrier shown here is a handy storage device that will protect your circular saw blades from damage and make it easier to transport them. This model accommodates up to 10 10-inch blades.
The commercial blade carrier shown here is a handy storage device that will protect your circular saw blades from damage and make it easier to transport them. This model accommodates up to 10 10-inch blades.
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Using a pin punch and ball-peen hammer, lightly strike every second tooth against the setting head.
Using a pin punch and ball-peen hammer, lightly strike every second tooth against the setting head.

The following is an excerpt from Fundamentals of Sharpening (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2010). You can prolong the life of your woodworking tools — and improve your efficiency and quality of carpentry — by keeping their blades well-sharpened. Fundamentals of Sharpening will guide you through honing the edges of a variety of hand tools and the blades and bits of several power tools with thorough instructions alongside detailed illustrations. This excerpt is from Chapter 3, “Sharpening Blades and Bits.”

Changing Table Saw Blades

Removing a Blade. Working at the front of the table, unplug the machine, remove the insert, and wedge a piece of scrap wood under a blade tooth to prevent the blade from turning. Use the wrench supplied with the saw to loosen the arbor nut (see illustration in the Image Gallery). Most table saw arbors have reverse threads; the nut is loosened in a clockwise direction. Finish loosening the nut by hand, making sure it doesn’t fall into the machine. Carefully lift the blade and washer off of the arbor. A worn or damaged blade should be discarded and replaced.

Installing a Blade. Slide the blade onto the arbor with its teeth pointing in the direction of blade rotation (toward the front of the table). Insert the flange and nut and start tightening by hand. To finish tightening, grip the saw blade with a rag and use the wrench supplied with the saw (see illustration). Do not use a piece of wood as a wedge, as this could result in over-tightening the nut.

Changing Portable Circular Saw Blades

Removing a Portable Circular Saw Blade. Set the saw on its side on a work surface with the blade housing facing up. Retract the lower blade guard and, gripping the blade with a rag, loosen the arbor nut with the wrench supplied with the saw (see illustration). Remove the nut and the outer washer, then slide the blade from the arbor. As with table saw blades, carbide-tipped blades should be sent out for sharpening, but high-speed steel types can be sharpened in the shop. To install a blade, place it on the arbor with its teeth pointing in the direction of blade rotation. Install the washer and the nut, and tighten them by hand. Holding the blade with the rag, use the wrench to give the nut an additional quarter turn. Do not over-tighten.

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