How to Change a Circular Saw Blade and which Blade to Choose

You need to change a circular saw blade for one of two reasons - when the blade loses its edge or when swapping the blade to cut a specific material (wood, plywood, or metal). The first sign of a dull blade appears when you see an increasing number of torn fibers in the wood resulting in less clean-cut lines. The next sign of a blade wearing out is visible through burn marks in the material being cut. The saw will also cut slowly than usual, and the motor sound like it is straining to cut the surface. Luckily, the procedure to change a blade is similar across all circular saw models. This article gives you step-by-step instructions to change your blade and provides a guide to choosing the right type and size of blade to be used for different materials.

Steps to Change a Circular Saw Blade:

  1. Unplug the power cord of your saw or remove the battery if you have a battery-operated saw.

 

  1. Rest the saw on a flat wooden surface and pull back the blade guard. If there is an arbor lock button on the top of the housing, press and rotate the blade until the locking mechanism engages.

 

  1. Remove the arbor nut that secures the blade in place with a blade wrench. Turn the wrench the same way the blade cuts to remove the nut.

 

  1. Remove the old blade by retracting the upper blade guard on the saw. If there is no arbor button, continue pressing the blade on the wooden surface until you unscrew it completely.

 

  1. Place the new blade on the arbor of the saw, ensuring the saw teeth face the direction of rotation. Refer to the blade guard arrow if you are unsure. If you have a worn drive saw, then straddle the blade flat over two wood blocks and knock out the diamond insert from the center of the saw blade with a hammer or punch.

 

  1. Tighten the arbor nut with a wrench, neither tight nor loose, but with a snug fit. Now plug in the saw or replace the battery and you are good to go.

How to Choose the Right Circular Saw Blade

Here is a detailed table to help you choose the right blade size and number of teeth for cutting various materials.

Material

 Teeth

Type of Blade and Sizes

2x4 Wood

 24

Framing (5-3/8”- 8-1/4”) and Ultimate Framing and Demolition (6-1/2”- 7-1/4”)

Finish Plywood

 40-60

Finish (4-3/8” – 8-1/4”) and Ultra Finish (6-1/2” and 7-1/4”)

Wood & Metal

 36

Wood and Metal (6-1/2” and 7-1/4”)

Thick, Medium and Thin Metal

 38-56

Thin Metal less than 3/32” (7-1/4”)

 

Medium Metal 1/16”- 1/8” (6-1/2 and 7-1/4”)

 

Thick Metal- 1/8”- 1/2” (7-1/4”)

Aluminum

56

Aluminum 3/16”- 7/16” (7-1/4”)

 

 

Choosing the right blade for your projects ensure cleaner cutting edges, saves time, prevents wasted material, and gives you a sense of fulfillment upon project completion. Diablo is the leading manufacturer of circular saw blades along with other blades that give you optimum performance with both corded and cordless tools.

Check out our extensive range of Diablo blades to upgrade your toolbox.