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For better cuts ana longer life, it makes good sense 1

take the best possible care of your table saw blades

Removal & Installation

If you're like me, you have quite a bit of money invested in high-quality, carbide-toothed table saw blades. And to ensure they always give top-notch results, you need to care for them properly.

For the most part, this is pretty simple stuff. And it starts with the basic job of removing and installing a blade without damaging the brittle, carbide teeth. The trick to this is just following a set routine.

To remove a blade, I first lower it completely below the surface

of the saw table. This allows you to easily remove the throat insert plate without bumping it against the teeth, as shown in photo A.

With the throat opening clear, you now want to raise the blade to give yourself better access to the arbor and arbor nut. Next, use a sturdy scrap to gently "jam" the teeth of the blade and prevent it from turning while you loosen the nut (photo B). Notice that I added a "bend" to the shaft of the arbor nut wrench (photo C). This keeps

both the wrench and your hand away from the teeth.

After removing the nut and washer, carefully grab the blade with both hands and slowly work it off of the arbor shaft (photo C). It may take a light back and forth "wobble" to help move it along. When you reach the end of the shaft, gently ease the blade free and lift it out of the throat opening. Note: If the blade isn't going straight into storage, be sure to set it on a "soft" surface.

When you install a blade, you simply reverse the order of the steps. But note that to tighten the arbor nut, you'll need to jam the blade from the back of the saw. And try not to overtighten the arbor nut, a light torque is all it takes. Finally, lower the blade, replace the throat insert plate, and your saw is back in business.

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ShopNotes No. 93