How To Change a Circular Saw Blade (8 Easy Steps)

I don’t know about you but I’m pretty sure I can’t enjoy using my circular saw with a blunt or wrong blade. The circular saw is a versatile cutting tool that fits the term “power tool.”

The saw packs enough power that makes it suited for pruning large branches and cutting tough materials like concrete and steel. However, a dull circular blade or a wrong blade for your task will make your cutting experience unnecessarily hectic.

You need to select the right blade and make sure it’s sharp enough before you begin cutting. This means you will need to change the blade on your circular saw occasionally.

If you want to learn how to change your circular saw blade, then you need to read this article. When you are done, you will be able to easily change the blades on your circular saw within minutes. So sit tight as we take a fascinating trip into the world of power saws.

When To Replace Your Circular Saw Blade?

Here’s what I found about:

Generally, three reasons can cause you to change the blades on your circular saw. If the blade has missed teeth or it’s broken, the blade has gone dull, or you need a specific blade then you have to replace your circular saw blade. 

If the blade has gone dull

A dull blade will have you using extra effort and time to cut through materials you would have been able to cut easily in seconds.

That’s not even the worst part. After wasting time and using so much energy to cut material with a dull blade, the results will still not compliment your efforts. You will end up with uneven cuts that would require another process to even them out.

If the task at hand requires you to use a specific blade

The circular saw is a very versatile tool. With just one saw, you can efficiently cut wood, prune tree branches, cut steel, and cut concrete. All that is required is for you to change the blade on the circular saw from one that is unsuited to one that is appropriate for your task.

For instance, a good old combination blade is suited for cutting small trees but not suited for cutting concrete. To cut concrete, you need diamond cutting blades.

When it comes to the type of material, the blade you use largely depends on the substance used in making the blade. Asides from the material to be cut which may require a specific blade, the type of cut you want to make might also require you to change blades.

The circular saw can make crosscuts, rip cuts and even finish cuts depending on the blade. When it comes to the type of cut, the blade you use largely depends on the number of teeth the blade has and not the substance used in making the blade. For instance, to make rip cuts, a 24-tooth blade is fine.

Additionally, you might want to remove your blade for maintenance purposes such as cleaning the blade or sharpening the blade.

Related Read — Reviews of Corded Circular Saws

How Do You Know When Your Circular Saw Blade is Dull?

You know your blade has gone dull when:

• It becomes difficult to make cuts: when you find it difficult to make cuts with your blade, it’s because the blade on the saw has gone dull.
• You discover chipping on the blade: chips are the small pieces that break out from the blade while sawing. Your blade starts to chip or break because it’s not slicing through the material anymore.
• Your saw gets noisy: if you start to notice your saw generating loud noise, it’s because the blade is dull. The noise can be from the blade chipping against the material or from the motor, or both.
• You notice burn marks: burn marks appear on your blade during and after cutting because the blade uses more time while cutting. This leads to more friction. Burn marks on the blade mean the blade is dull.
• You can’t follow a drawn cut line correctly: if you are finding it difficult to move your saw along the cut line you drew, then the blade is most likely dull.

Fortunately, if your blade has gone dull, you can easily remove the blade and sharpen it if you don’t have a new one close by or you are a little low on cash to buy a new one.

If you want to learn how to sharpen your circular saw blade, there is an article for it on this website, so check it out.

Related Read — Reviews of Small Circular Saws

What do you need to change your circular saw blade?

• A pair of thick gloves
• A wrench
• The saw’s manual

How To Change a Circular Saw Blade?

The following steps have been drafted to help you change your circular saw easily within minutes.

Put on your safety gear

To change the blades on your circular saw without getting hurt, you need a pair of thick gloves. Regardless of your experience with a circular saw, don’t attempt to change the blades with your bare hands.

Unplug and Turn off the Saw

If you are using a corded circular saw, unplug it from the power outlet. If you have a battery-operated circular saw, remove the battery from its slot and turn off the saw.

Leaving your saw powered or on while trying to change the blade puts you and everyone around at risk.

Related Read — Cordless or Corded Circular Saw?

Move the Blade Guard

The blade guard is that curved piece of plastic or metal that covers the blade on your saw. Move it upward so you can access the blade.

Secure the Blade

To carry out the next step after this, you need to secure the blade. A blade not secured will spin around while you try to loosen the bolt.

Some circular saws have a “spindle lock button.” This button is colored black and is usually located near the blade guard. The button prevents the blade from spinning while you loosen the bolt.

If your circular saw doesn’t have this feature, use a pair of locking pliers or vice-grips to hold the blade firmly in place.

Loosen and Remove the Bolt

Most circular saws come with a wrench that allows you to loosen the bolt that holds the blade in place. If you don’t have that wrench anymore, don’t worry.

You can still get the bolt loosened easily. You need to find a wrench that fits the bolt on your saw tightly. The bolt of most circular saws can be loosened using a “5mm Allen wrench or key.”

Use this to loosen the bolt. It doesn’t require much force. Once you loosen the bolt, take it out and keep it safe.

Related Read — Steps in Using a Circular Saw Without a Table

Remove the Washer

The washer on your circular saw is a metallic ring-like shaped object that also helps to keep the blade tight while cutting.

Remove the Blade

With the bolt and washer out of the way, you can easily remove the blade. If you have been using the blade for a while, you can use this opportunity to clean the inner parts of the blade.

Attach the New Blade

Take the blade out of its container and attach it to your saw. To do this, follow the same steps you took when removing the old blade.

Fix the new blade, fix the washer, fix the bolt, and screw them in tightly. The most important thing when fixing a new blade is to ensure the new blade is fixed correctly.

There are arrows drawn on your new blade and on the blade guard of the saw indicating how the blade should be placed.

The usual way is for the blade to point upward at the front of the saw or simply place the blade in a position where the printing on the blade is facing the outward direction. It’s that easy.

Learn More — Cutting Aluminum with a Circular Saw

Safety Measures to Follow while Changing Your Circular Saw Blade?

• There are diverse models of circular saws out there, so always consult the manual that comes with your saw when changing blades. The manual will indicate where specific buttons are, what they look like, and how to use them.
• After changing the blades, ensure every part of the saw is intact before you start using it.
• If you discover the blade of your saw is dull while cutting, turn off the saw, unplug it, and wait for a few minutes before you change the blade. Circular saw blades are usually hot during and immediately after making cuts.
• Always use your safety gear.
• Keep all loose clothing, hair, jewelry, and materials away from the work station.

Follow the steps above and you will be able to easily change the blades on your circular saw within minutes. Kindly leave a comment below if this post helps you out. If you have any questions, let us know and we will answer them as soon as possible.