A sharp table saw blade is crucial for the table saw to work effectively. It is common that with time and usage, the blade loses its sharpness and becomes dull. This not only reduces the quality of your work but also increases the risk of accidents. Thus, it is integral that you ensure that your table saw blade remains sharp at all times.
Most table saws these days have come with a feature that allows you to replace your dull with a sharper blade. However, it is also possible to sharpen the table saw yourself by hand instead of replacing it. This will allow you to use the same blade for a longer period of time.
Therefore, in this article, we will be discussing everything you need to know about sharpening your table saw blade by hand using simple files.
How to find out when the Table Saw Blade has lost its sharpness?
Before we get into how to sharpen the blade, it is essential to know when your blade requires to be sharpened. One of the first signs of a dull table blade is its surface begins to lose its color and it starts to leave heat marks on your workpiece. In addition to this, there is a considerable decrease in the rotation speed of the blade. This results in poor quality cutting and you are required to put in more than usual effort to successfully cut into the piece of wood.
Other signs of a dull blade include increased vibration and noise. Moreover, a dull table saw results in greater amounts of sawdust which can get into our and blur your vision. Another factor that indicates that your blade needs urgent replacement is when its corners get worn out. As a result, your table saw blade is extremely likely to get jammed when performing a cut. This not only reduces the quality of the cut but also increases the risk of hand injuries.
Thus, whenever any one of these signs appears on your table saw blade, it is advised to immediately sharpen the blade or replace it.
How to Sharpen a Table Saw Blade By Hand?
A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Take necessary safety precautions.
Table Saws Blades are extremely dangerous and have proven to be seriously injurious for many woodcutters when not handled with caution. Hence, before you start sharpening, it is necessary to take precautions in order to protect yourself against unfortunate accidents.
The first step is to find a flat surface in your working area or shop where you can comfortably work. Over, you have found a flat and stable surface to place your blade it, carefully disconnect the blade from the table saw. Never touch the blade while it is still connected to the table saw as it is not safe and can cut your hands. In addition to this, always wear gloves when handling table saw blades as these blades are never dull enough for your skin and can cut in deep.
Secondly, also wear goggles also face masks while sharpening the blade. The sharpening process results in very minute metal shavings which can get into your eyes and cause blurred vision or even blindness. Hence, make sure your eyes are well-protected. In addition to this, putting a tarp on the floor when working as these metal shavings are sharpening can make the floor extremely slippery and dangerous to walk on. The tarp will prevent them from dropping onto the floor.
Step 2: Setting the Blade for Sharpening
Once you have taken all the necessary safety precautions, the next step is setting up the blade for sharpening. Before starting, make sure that your blade is safely clamped on the flat surface with its teeth facing upwards. You can use filings or a vice to clamp the blade. However, remember not to clamp the blade directly into the vice and instead clamp a piece of wood between the table saw blade and the vice.
Once the blade is securely clamped, you can move on to the actual sharpening part.
Step 3: Sharpening the Blade
Start your sharpening process with the dressing of the blade. This means flattening the teeth of the blade to bring them to the same height. This is done by rubbing a simple, flat-file evenly over the blade until its teeth feel blunt and at the same level.
Once, the teeth are flattened, they cannot be cut efficiently. Hence, it is required that you sharpen them again. Using a triangular file this time, rub it over each tooth until the flattened end of the tooth disappears and it feels sharp and pointy again. For cross-sectional table saw blades, position the triangular file diagonally and horizontally to the table saw, in the gaps between the teeth.
As for the rip saw, position the file at right angles. Remember to go over each tooth separately to achieve the best results and rub the triangular file with equal amounts of pressure and for equal amounts of time on each for uniformity.
Furthermore, if your blade has teeth that are all not facing in the same direction, remove the teeth protruding in an opposite direction using pliers. This step, however, is not possible with the table saw blades that are too fine as the pliers can damage their teeth.
Step 4: Lubrication
Once you have sharpened the teeth of your table saw blade, the next step is to lubricate the blade using oil. Put some lubricating oil on the blade and using some old newspaper, rub the oil on the entire blade, including the teeth. Remember to evenly spread out the oil onto the blade. Once you are done, fix the blade back into the table saw.
The Lubrication step is essential and should not be missed as it ensures your blade remains dust and rust-free.
Step 5: Testing the Blade
Once you have completed all the above-mentioned steps and have carefully fixed the blade back into the table saw, the last step is to test your newly sharpened blade. Take any random piece of wood and cut it into it using your table saw to find out if your blade is sharp enough. If you are not satisfied with the performance of your blade, repeat the process until you achieve the desired sharpness of your blade.
Can you sharpen your Table Saw Blade at home?
Sharpening your table saw blade does not require any special or heavy machinery. It can be easily done by hand using simple flat files and triangular files which are available in most of the toolboxes at home. Thus, it is possible to successfully sharpen your table saw blade at your home if you are a hobbyist table saw user with a workshop in your home. However, take all the necessary safety precautions mentioned above and ensure no metal shavings or sharpening remain on the floor in your home once you have finished sharpening the blade.
Can all Table Saw Blades be sharpened?
Before you sharpen your blade, you must identify what type of teeth your blade has. While most types of blades can be sharpened, it is impossible to sharpen table saw blades with hardened teeth. These teeth cannot be flattened or made pointy using files. Thus, once they become dull, the only option is to replace them. These blades, however, have a lengthier lifespan and you do not need to replace them very frequently.
Conclusion
The sharpness of your table saw blade is one of the key factors that contribute to the efficiency of your table saw. Hence, once your table-saw blade begins to lose its sharpness, it is essential that you replace it or sharpen it.
Sharpening the blade can be done following five very easy steps. In order to ensure, your blade is fully sharpened, each tooth should be rubbed with triangular files for equal amounts of time. Once the teeth are sharpened, the blade should be lubricated and tested for its sharpness. However, it is crucial that you take all the necessary precautions to ensure the process is completed safely.