How long does a circular saw last? (2023)

How long does a circular saw last?

A good circular saw can last you for 10 to 20 years depending on the amount of use and how you maintain it.

Look for worn-down, chipped, broken and missing teeth or chipped carbide tips that indicate it's time to replace a circular saw blade. Check the wear line of carbide edges using a bright light and magnifying glass to determine if it's beginning to dull.

As a general rule of thumb, blades can be sharpened three times before they need replacing entirely.

Every circular saw blade wears out over time. There are several tell-tale signs that your blade is dull or is getting there.

When your circular saw blade becomes dull, not only will it give you a rougher finish, but your saw's motor will have to work harder and may burn out sooner. Sharpening your saw blades will save you money in the long run because you'll get better cuts, and you'll have to replace your saw and blades less often.

Different blades have different teeth types. The type of teeth depends on the materials you want to cut and the kind of cut you desire. The blades you get in the market may be similar but with different tooth type, which means they won't fit perfectly to what you desire. Tooth type also depends on the gullet.

If the circular saw blade is steel-toothed, you can sharpen the blade with a file. A hand file or a crank sharpener may also be used. For carbide-tipped circular saw blades, filing should not be used as files can dull the blade further.

The number of teeth on the blade helps determine the speed, type and finish of the cut. Blades with fewer teeth cut faster, but those with more teeth create a finer finish. Gullets between the teeth remove chips from the work pieces.

Circular saws are built to have a reasonably long lifetime. Keeping up with regular maintenance will help preserve the life of your saw. Remove the blade on your saw regularly to clean it and remove any debris that may have collected around the cage. You can also use compressed air to remove any small bits of dust.

What happens if you sharpen a blade too much?

The edge gets thicker.

Eventually, the edge will become thick and wedge-like behind the main bevel. The blade itself may be very sharp, but it won't seem sharp because a wedge shape doesn't cut well. To prevent this, you'll need to thin the blade a little bit each time you sharpen it.

The table saw, in my opinion, is the most versatile tool in the shop and should be your first major purchase. Next up is the Miter Saw. The miter saw does one thing but it does it really well. The Miter saw will cross cut wood better and faster than pretty much any other tool.

Best Circular Saw Blade Sizes for Trimming 4x4 Wood

With that being said, the only blade size that can cut through 4×4 materials in a single pass is a 12-inch model.

Since thin blades produce thin kerfs, Japanese saws remove less wood, produce less sawdust, and need less muscle power. You can cut longer, more accurately, and with less fatigue. Cutting wood the Japanese way is much easier for an amateur.

Pro-Tip: Reduce friction on your blade and excess wear on the saw's motor using WD-40 Specialist_® Dry Lube. The PTFE lubricant dries quickly and doesn't attract dirt or sawdust.

The blade's rusted surface can ruin the efficiency of the cutting teeth. In fact, a rusty blade may still be very sharp, but the exposed corrosion will cause the teeth to act as if they are dull. Clean saw blades are not only safer to operate, but they make a smoother cut.

A Dull or Dirty Saw Blade Might Be the Culprit

Pushing the stock through the saw too slowly is a common cause of saw blade burn. Sometimes a blade that feels dull might only be dirty. If wood pitch resins build up behind the teeth of the blade, the cutting speed will slow down, increasing the chances for burns.

It costs anywhere between 20 to 40 dollars to sharpen a saw blade. The price depends on the type of blade and the TPI (teeth per inch). In general, companies will charge around 0.25 to 0.50 per tooth, but it also depends on the condition of your blade.

Accuracy. Features that help you work effectively with a circular saw include accurate cutline markers, good blade visibility, smooth guard retraction, and a flat shoe set parallel to the blade. The best cutline markers line up exactly with the kerf cut by the saw. You want a notch no wider than a thin-kerf saw blade.

Why am I getting kickback on my circular saw?

Overheating a saw blade can cause it to warp and result in a kickback. Buildup of sap on the blades, insufficient set, dullness and unguided cuts, can all cause an overheated blade and kickback. Never set a blade deeper than is required to cut the work piece 1/8 in. to 1/4 in.

Don't set your blade depth too deep. The saw blade should come 5-10mm past the depth of the wood you're cutting. The more exposed blade you have, the bigger the risk of your saw binding or kicking back. Make sure the retracting guard blade is working correctly.

With fewer spaces between the teeth, crosscut blades remove less material, resulting in a smoother cut. It also means it takes these blades longer to move through wood. Crosscut blades are the go-to choice for finish carpentry and other applications that require precision and a smooth finish.

It's true. Aluminum foil can be used as a quick and easy way to keep your kitchen scissors sharp and ready for anything.

One way of sharpening a knife with sandpaper is to cover a brick or block of wood with sandpaper and run the knife (lying flat) across it in a circular motion, making sure to spend equal time on each side of the knife. It will take a few minutes for each side.

The saw's motor runs the blade rotation in a way that the circular saw teeth direction points up as it enters the wood you're cutting. It's intentional to create the most stable, accurate, and safe cutting. As the blade teeth hit the material, they rip from the bottom through the top.

Inspect Your Tool Before Every Use

If the circular saw has a cord, you should check to make sure it is in good shape before plugging it in. Inspect your circular saw blades for damage before using your saw. Check the air vents to make sure they are clear and test the blade guard to make sure it works properly.

The blade doesn't need to be oiled very often; you can coincide the oiling with blade replacement, but a spot of oil on the inner washers will keep the saw running better and more safely.

In order to obtain the best TPI (teeth per inch) for the smoothest cut, follow the three-tooth rule. A minimum of three and a maximum of 24 teeth engaged in a cut. If there are too few teeth in a cut, the blade's teeth can straddle the work piece and cause the teeth to strip.

Should you push or pull a blade when sharpening?

Remember to always cut into the stone and never pull or drag your edge backwards. The blade edge should face in the same direction as your stroke. So, you're essentially moving the metal away from the edge.

Definitely, polishing will improve cutting performance. The best definition of sharpness is when two polished planes intersect each other at an acute angle. So yes, the finer the polish, the sharper the edge.

Does your circular saw keep stopping? The most likely culprits are a slipping clutch, a lack of power, a loose blade, dust in the power switch, a blown breaker, or a dying motor.

It costs anywhere between 20 to 40 dollars to sharpen a saw blade. The price depends on the type of blade and the TPI (teeth per inch). In general, companies will charge around 0.25 to 0.50 per tooth, but it also depends on the condition of your blade.

For most construction work, a 24-tooth general use blade is sufficient. That blade is very aggressive and will help you rip and cross-cut lumber and sheet goods quickly and with a high degree of accuracy. With a 24-tooth demo blade, you're getting work done quickly, but you won't get a near-finished edge.

Saw Blade Oil is formulated to give excellent lubrication to saw guides, wheels and blades, thereby enabling higher accuracy cutting, while resisting resin build up on the saw blades. Saw Blade Oil is applicable for both band saw and circular saws. Saw Blade Oil is used neat or can be mixed with water.

A Dirty Blade Is Burning The Wood

Just like with a dull blade, the extra friction created will heat up the wood and cause burn marks. If you're confident that a dirty blade is the only problem, cleaning the blade can solve the problem. Unplug the saw and remove the blade. Then dip it in a container of soapy water.

Overheating a saw blade can cause it to warp and result in a kickback. Buildup of sap on the blades, insufficient set, dullness and unguided cuts, can all cause an overheated blade and kickback.