I know you are the one whose table saw blade has become blunt and gives burn marks. And you want to how to sharpen table saw blades at home because the idea of replacing a blunt blade is quite expensive. With some effort, you can sharpen your table saw blade, and it can be as sharp as new. Being a professional woodworker, I can understand your issue and lead you to proven ways to sharpen table saw blades. And I will also tell you how often you should sharpen your blade and the signs that are appealing to you to sharpen it or replace it.
After a few uses, table saw blades can become blunt, and if you cut delicate wood with blunt blades, it causes burn marks on the wood, reduces the motor’s efficiency, and can burst the wood and fly at you. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to throw them away, especially if they are high-quality carbide blades. Sharpen your blade at home by following the step-by-step guidelines provided in this post.
Sharpening table saw circular blades has three objectives
- Prolong the life of the blade
- Ensures that the cut quality is not compromised.
- Improve the motor’s performance.
Does your circular blade need to be sharpened now?
Knowing when to sharpen your saw blade can help you save both time and money. If you sharpen a saw blade too frequently, its teeth can be broken, and thus functioning will become damaged. If you wait too long, the saw blade may be beyond the resharpening stage, and you will lose it.
Check out the following signs before sharpening your table saw blade
Please do not risk your security or spoil your project with a blunt saw; For the best results and work satisfaction, blades must be sharpened as soon as they show the following signs of dullness.
- If the blade is taking more time to cut the material,
- If there are burn marks on the wood
- If the cuts are rough,
- If there is more strain on the motor,
- More chipping or tearing of wood
- Cuts move off the line.
- Cutting takes longer than before.
- More vibrations in your unit saw.
- If the edges of the material are not smooth.
An easy way to sharpen a table saw
It will require time to learn how to sharpen table saw blades. Watching any YouTube video or reading an article would not be enough. Learning from any experienced professional would help.
Learning and experiencing on a high-quality carbide blade is not recommended; you would damage its engineered teeth while practicing. If you have an expensive blade, consider visiting a sharpening service.
If you are still interested in learning how to sharpen table saw blades, the best and easiest method is listed below, but first, check out the equipment required for sharpening table saw blade at home:
- A flat and a triangular file.
- Set of pliers.
- A ring spanner.
- A wrench.
- Screw clamps.
How to sharpen the table saw blade at home
Step 1: Safety
Dealing with blades is not safe, even if they are dull; they can give you severe cuts easily. I have enlisted some points for your safety.
- First of all, unplug your table saw.
- Put on a pair of safety gloves to prevent any cuts or burns.
- Wear your safety glasses.
- Put on your earmuffs.
- Put on a dust mask.
Not only for sharpening procedures, follow these steps every time you get into woodworking. These simple steps will also protect your hands, eyes, ears, and lungs.
Note: Skipping protection goggles is risky. Researchers have proven that debris coming out of blades during sharpening can damage your eyes and even cause blindness in some cases.
Step 2: Remove the circular blade
The idea of sharpening the blade while it fits in the saw unit is horrible. You cannot control the blade’s movement while placed in the saw and are more prone to injury.
Switch off the blade’s button, take a wrench to untighten the arbor nut, and release the blade carefully.
Step 3: Wash the blade
Soak it in soapy water for a couple of minutes to clean all the blemishes and grease stains off the blade.
- Put some lukewarm water and some liquid in any bucket, and then sock the blade in it.
- Take it out and wash it with clear water.
- Dry the blade with cloth or paper; leaving it wet can cause the blade to rust
Step 4: Align and file the teeth of the circular blade
Take a marker to mark the teeth you start sharpening and then sharpen every tooth. If all the teeth face the same direction, you can sharpen them all in one pass. And if they have different directions, repeat the process for every tooth, taking care of their angles.
Sharpening table saw blades requires only a few tools and is a beginner-friendly method. Attach diamond To begin the process, take a 12-inch scrap of wood and cut it into a 20-degree wedge. Attach a diamond sharpening stick to it with the help of double-sided tape.
Insert the diamond sheet into each gullet of the blade, allowing the diamond stick to touch the tooth. Now slide it back and forth while keeping it perpendicular to the teeth. Complete the procedure with each tooth, and it will surely give better results.
Use a jig to add some stability when you sharpen the blades, and this can help you support your blade on the tabletop while working. If you do not have a jig, use some other sturdy material.
Step 5: Sharpen with the file
A flattened tooth blade fails to give clean cuts; therefore, the teeth need to be sharpened again.
Use a triangular file to sharpen the tips and keep them sharp until the flattened surface starts looking shiny.
Different file sets are available on the market to sharpen the blades whose teeth protrude unevenly, alternating left and right. Consider buying them for better results.
Step 6: Clean and grease the blade before installing it
Before installing the blade, make sure it is clean. Take a cloth and wipe the blade, especially its edges, to remove all metal particles and carbide dust.
Now, oil your table saw blade to keep them sharp and rust-free. Apply a small amount of lubrication oil on the blade’s entire surface, including the edges. When you are done, install it back to the saw unit. And test it on any rough wood if the blade is now giving better results.
Sharpening isn’t nearly as difficult as you might believe. But if you find the above procedure tough and do not want to take any risk about your costly blade, you must hire some professional to do it.
Table saw sharpening summary:
- Wear safety gloves, goggles, and a respiratory mask.
- Unplug table saw
- Release the blade
- Align the teeth
- File every teeth
- Clean metal particles
- Lubricate it
- Install it back
- Test its sharpness on a rough piece of wood.
Here is the comparison between Band saw vs Table saw go check this out as well it will help you to select which one is good for you.
We hope you find this post helpful and get the answers to your questions. Share your reviews about this post in the comment section given below, and feel free to discuss any issue about any woodworking tool; our team will assist you as soon as possible.
