Table saw blades are one of the most important components of a table saw.
If your blade isn’t sharp, it can leave marks on your workpiece and even cause kickback.
The good news is that you don’t have to take them to a professional for sharpening! With just some basic tools and knowledge, you’ll be able to sharpen your own blades in no time at all.
In this article, we will discuss how to sharpen table saw blades as well as give you step by step instructions on how to do so yourself.
Table of Contents
How To Sharpen Table Saw Blades
1. Get A Diamond Blade
The first thing you will need is a diamond blade. You can either purchase one new or pick up a used one at your local hardware store.
If you do not have access to these types of stores, then the Internet may be able to provide some helpful resources for purchasing blades online.
2. Put On Your Safety Gears
In order to sharpen your table saw blade, you will need to wear safety goggles and gloves in case the metal shavings fly off.
3. Where To Sharpen
You will also need to find a way to clamp the blade in place so that you can get it at the angle you want.
There are many different types of clamps available for sale wherever table saws and blades are sold, but they’re not all going to work with every type of blade.
The most common option is some sort of T-bar clamp because they have a wide range of motion which prevents wear on your hands from trying to hold a small object down by hand for an extended period of time.
A metal vise would be another popular method, especially if you already own one as part of your woodworking tools.
4. Power Up The Table Saw And Set It To A Low Setting.
Now that you are ready to start sharpening, plug in your table saw and get it going. This will provide background noise as well as the light shining on the blade which will help you see what is happening for better accuracy.
Grab some sort of oil (some people like to use WD-40) or Emory cloth with water whichever one feels more comfortable for you!
5. Attachment And Lubrication
Attach a water-based lubricant to the teeth of your table saw blade. There are many on the market and they should all work.
however, make sure it is safe for metal blades before using (most of these products will mention in their description that they can be used with metal).
The next step is important because without this step you might not get an even amount of oil over each tooth which means some teeth won’t have enough or any at all! Use a rag to evenly spread the oil over every single one.
Lubricating your table shake blade helps prevent warping as well as making cutting easier and quicker so take some time here.
6. Run A Test
Now that you have oiled your blade, it’s time to do a test. Take an old scrap piece of wood and try cutting on the saw at least 20 times.
If you are using thicker lumber or something with large knots in it then cut more than 20-times.
If after running the test there is still resistance when pushing through thick pieces of wood, go back over step four for more help!
This might be common if this was your first sharpening so don’t worry about it too much but just check before proceeding to make sure everything will work out smoothly.
Safety Tips
- Always wear safety goggles when working with a table saw.
- Turn off the power before touching any parts of your blade.
- Wear gloves to protect from injury and debris for your hands, arms, and face.
- Use push sticks or feather boards as often as possible to minimize contact with a spinning blade while in use and always keep them within reach! If you are trying new techniques then be sure that they can’t work without these items if needed!
FAQs
Why Does The Blade Cut One Side Cleanly While It Leaves Sawdust On The Other?
You might have a blade that is worn unevenly on one side, or the teeth are set in different directions. If this is your first sharpening then it’s normal for there to be some inconsistencies from start to finish but if you’re not convinced then just check before proceeding.
My Blade Cuts Very Heavy, Why?
The blade might be too worn or the set is not optimized for your saw.
There are many reasons that this could happen so it’s best to check with a technician, but if you’re sure that it isn’t then continue sharpening as usual and see what happens!
What Are The Most Common Mistakes People Make When They Sharpen Their Table Saw Blades?
Table saws have an incredible amount of power in them which means there need to be more precautions taken to protect from injury and debris for hands, arms, and face.
This includes pushing sticks or feather boards as often as possible while in use they should always stay within reach! If someone has new techniques that require something else (e.g., pencil).
What Causes My Blade To Shake And Vibrate?
This can be caused by a few different things, but the most common is that your blade needs to be re-tightened for better contact with the arbor and table surface.
How Do You Know If A Table Saw Blade Is Dull?
The best way to tell if a blade is dull is to use your fingernail and push the teeth together, they should make contact without much extra pressure otherwise it could be time for a new table saw blade!
How Do I Know If My Diamond Blade Is Dull?
If it’s easy to push your fingernail across the teeth, then you may need a new diamond blade.
Conclusion
There are many things you can do to help maintain your blade and get the most out of it, such as lubricating the arbor, tightening up the blade bolts, paying attention to how much tension is on each side balanced blade.
Sharpening blades correctly will make sure they stay sharp longer.
