Table saws are great tools to have at home or in the workshop when in the middle of various projects. Tables saws are very effective when it comes down to cutting straight lines in wood, metal, and other materials, however, it will only be a matter of time before either the blade needs to be replaced or you would like to use a different blade.
You can use different blades to make smooth cuts, dado cuts, rip cuts, and so on. There is no one blade that is capable of making every type of cut.
To change the blade of a table saw, you need a new table saw blade, a screwdriver, a hex or Allen wrench, an x-acto knife, a pair of work gloves and a block of wood. The screwdriver you need depends on the make and model of your table saw, so refer to its instructions manual to determine the size and type of screwdriver required for use.
When learning about how to change a table saw blade, it is important to follow each of these steps carefully to guarantee a successful blade change. Do not skip any steps, and do not follow steps out of order. After doing this procedure multiple times, you may not find it to be that difficult or time consuming, but we insist that you handle your equipment with great care.
Step by Steps Guide for Changing a Table Saw Blade
Step 1 - Turn The Power Off
Be sure that the table saw is not on, nor does it have the chance to turn on. Disconnect the power cord from the wall socket, and wait for a few minutes until all the power has been gone from the saw. Never change a blade while the power cord is still plugged in, as one wrong move could be very fatal.
Step 2 - Remove The Blade Plate
The blade plate is a metal part that sits above the surface of the table in a table saw. In order to remove this plate, you must find and unscrew two screws or bolts that secure this plate; one in the front, and one in the back.
When removing the blade plate, the blade might move or turn unintentionally. In order to prevent this from occurring, place a small block of wood against the blade to serve as a force of friction. This will cause the blade to not move so that it is a little less dangerous while you try to take it out of the saw blade.
When the plate is removed, put it aside, so that it does not get in your way.
Step 3 - Remove The Blade
You will have the old blade removed soon. Next, you will need to remove the nut and washer that are located next to the blade. Do this with your Allen or hex wrench in a counterclockwise motion that is facing you.
Before removing the blade, put on a pair of gloves so that the tips of the blade do not puncture or cut open your skin. With your gloves on, carefully take the old blade out of the table saw and set it aside, so that it does not interfere with the rest of your work.
Step 4 - Put In A New Blade
Take off your gloves in order to open the packaging of your new blade. Use your x-acto knife to cut around the blade in its packaging, so you can safely take it out of its package. Do not try to tear or rip the package open with your hands, so the blade does not have a chance to puncture them or fall out of the packaging.
Put your gloves back on and carefully pick your new blade up. Place the blade into the housing of the table saw and be sure that the tips are facing the front of the saw. Retrieve the washer and nut from before and tighten them back on with your wrench in a clockwise direction. To ensure that the blade does not move, hold the blade using your small block of wood.
Step 5 - Put The Blade Plate Back In
Retrieve the screw from before, in addition to the blade plate, and proceed to fasten the plate back in place. If screwed in correctly, your new blade should not be touching one of the sides of the slot that gives room to the blade. If your blade is touching one of the edges of the slot, take the plate off and re-adjust the blade, the nut or the washer to be sure that the blade is in the correct position.
Step 6 - Turn The Power Back On
With your new blade installed and all the disassembled parts back in place, you are now ready to test your new blade out. Plug the power cord of the table saw into an electrical socket, and then turn the table saw on.
If the blade is running the way it is supposed to run, and no shaking or vibrating is occurring, these are signs of a successful blade change. Cut a piece of wood, just to verify that the blade works.
If the blade does not work well, or you are experiencing shaking or vibrating from the saw when you turn it on, turn if off, unplug the power and investigate what the problem may be.
You can soon get used to replacing saw blades from your table saw after the first few attempts without further referring to this tutorial or taking time to plan ahead.
In times where you need to replace a blade for whatever reason in the middle of a big project, it will only take you a matter of minutes to cut something with a new blade after replacing the blade on your table saw many times beforehand.
Did you enjoy this tutorial? Do you have any further questions or concerns? Let us know your feedback in the comments section down below. We’d love to hear from you.
