Learning how to Sharpen your Circular Saws

Nowadays, saws are sharpened only rarely and by few woodworkers, but the question still tends to arise of how to do it. Sharpening circular saw blade is becoming a forgotten craft and fewer people can even do this. Sharpening one's own saw is vital and one should not be buying replacements can really bring out the skill and self-confidence to any woodworker. The ability to maintain the sharpness on one’s saw blade allowed saws to retain their usefulness, no matter how long the resided in the woodworker’s toolbox. Today's mass produced, plastic handled and Teflon-coated disposable saws are a poor comparison to the quality saw for they are designed to be simply thrown away as soon as they get blunt.

Some woodworkers likes to touch up chipped teeth with a small, flat diamond hone. If you try that, make sure you maintain the original angles and surfaces, and don’t round over the cutting edges. Once in a while you’ll find missing teeth. If the manufacturer can replace the saws, expect that it is expensive. So unless that blade cost a lot in the first place, you’re probably better off to toss it and buy a new one.

Jointing the Teeth. 

Sharpening the teeth of a non-carbide-tipped circular saw blade is usually done like this. Install the blade in a commercial saw-setting jig following the manufacturer’s instructions. After installing the jointing head on the jig, butting its file up against the saw teeth. Tighten the thumbscrew until the teeth strain against the file.  Jointing the teeth so they are all the same length, clamp the jig in a bench vise and rotate the circular saw blade against the file clockwise. After each rotation, tighten the thumbscrew slightly and repeat until the tip of each tooth has been filed flat.

Sharpening the Teeth. 

After the saw teeth have been jointed and set, file them using a commercial saw-sharpening jig. Mount the jig to a workbench and install the blade loosely on the jig so the blade turns. Using the manufacturer’s instructions, rotate the triangular file in the file holder and adjust the guide arm to match the required pitch and angle of the saw teeth. Starting with a tooth that is pointing to the right, file the cutting edge by sliding the file holder along the top of the jig. Rotate the circular saw blade counterclockwise, skipping one tooth, and repeat. Sharpen all the right-pointing teeth the same way. Adjust the triangular file and the guide arm to work on the left-pointing teeth and repeat, sharpening all the teeth you skipped.

Introduction to Blade Basics Part 2

Last time, we talked about the parts of the blade which is important to know when using one. Today, we’re going to talk about the different types of blade construction. So how important is blade construction? Blades are made from a single piece of steel or built of two pieces. The choice of blade will largely depend on the life expectancy and performance requirements. Below are the key information you need to know.

Carbon Band saw Blade

Carbon Band saw Blade is generally used in small maintenance shops and for light production cuts. They are made with alloys with high silicon content. The blade is précised milled, heat treated teeth and have a flexible back. It is usually used on wood, non-ferrous metals and mild-steel. There are two types of carbon band saw blade.

Hard Back- A one piece blade made of carbon steel with a hardened back and tooth edge. It is recommended for hard wood, mild steel like aluminum, brass and plastics.

Flex Back-A one piece blade made of carbon steel with a hardened tooth edge and soft back. This blade is recommended for cutting plastics, softwood and non-ferrous applications.

Bi-metal Band Saw Blade

This band saw blade is composed of a high steel edge material. An electron beam is wielded to fatigue resistant spring steel backing. This specification is ideal for high performance cutting requirements and longer fatigue life. This blade will handle simple metal cutting to production cutting of super alloys.

Each blade in production has its own unique abilities and is designed for a specific material or to process materials in small or heavy work load. Knowing these blades will definitely help you in cost cutting and time saving for your machine shop. For any questions or if you are interested in buying a band saw blade, visit us at www.specialtysaws.com.au. 

Introduction on Blade Basics

Blades are basically important for woodworkers and knowing the basics about blades will determine the outcome of your project. If you are aspiring to become one, we recommend that you read about this article. Fortunately, sawing technology has improved throughout the years and ushered new products of saw blades that are able to cut down manufacturing cost.

Choosing the Ideal Blade

Choosing the ideal blade for a specific material is critical in terms of cutting. It ensures cost-effectiveness of blade sawing and manufacturing time. Here are some basic information you should remember in your decision making process.

·         Blade Back-This refers to the body of the blade but excluding the tooth portion

·         Width-Refers to the nominal dimension of a saw blade as measured from the tip of the tooth

·         TPI-Refers to the teeth per inch as measured from gullet to gullet

·         Thickness-is the dimension from side to side on the blade

·         Kerf is the amount of material removed by the cut of the blade

·         Gullet is the curved area at the base of the tooth. The tooth tip to the bottom of the gullet is the depth.

·         Set is the bending of teeth to left or right to allow clearance of the back of the blade through the cut

·         Tooth Rake Angle is basically the angle of the tooth face measured with respect to a line perpendicular to the cutting direction of the saw.

·         Tooth Face is the surface of the tooth on which the chip formed

·         Tooth Pitch is the distance from the tip of one tooth to the tip of the next tooth

These are the basic features you should remember when choosing the right blade. Every feature is design to each blade to cut a specific material. These features will also determine the outcome of your cutting process. For any questions or you are in need to circular saw blades or bandsaw blade, visit us at www.specialtysaws.com.au. We’ll be writing another article about Blade construction, so stay tuned!  

Bandsaw Vs. Coldsaw

For woodworkers, choosing the right tool for cutting is very important. Either using a bandsaw or a circular saw can make a difference in the outcome of the cut. The problem is, what should I use? Choosing between the two choices will affect the quality and the productivity of the work process.

Band saws are probably advanced in many areas of cutting. It has cutting capabilities, accurate feed units, programmable work stations, horsepower options for gear motor speed and the ability to produce cuts in different types of materials like metal and steel. Coldsaws on the other hand offers high speed cutting and quality finishes. Also, manual units perform simple and low volume cuts across materials with wide spectrum. It can also be versatile and easy to carry from one place to another unlike bandsaws.

In terms of choosing the right bandsaw and circular coldsaw, high volume and high production application is very important. But today, due to the technical advancements of each product, there are a bit of choices based on what task each tool will perform in terms of cutting.

Here are some of the factors you should consider when buying either a bandsaw or a circular coldsaw

Material and diameter

Before the cutting process or before you buy a bandsaw or coldsaw remember to ask yourselves these following questions. What material will you cut? What are the diameter of the materials to be cut? Will it be possible to use this tool for the long run? Will you change your preferences in the future? These questions will surely help you decide on what to purchase.

The diameter for circular cold saws is from 5-6 inches and beyond that diameter, it will fall into the bandsaw depending on factors. Coldsaw on the other part can go in and out of the material quickly and most steel grade are better to cut using coldsaw. The bandsaw runs slower and more cutting edge than the coldsaw which means providing more time to cool the blade between the exiting and entering through the material.

Cut Types

If your application would require angle cutting, then it is better to have a circular cold saw as your choices. Small diameter materials and limited angle cutting process, the bandsaw might be an option for you.

Quality of Cuts                                                                                                                                    

Circular coldsaws are perfect for high-quality finishes with great edges and if your coldsaw equipped with good blade, it can eliminate burrs on the cut edge. If we’re looking into a bigger production picture, some bandsaw are equipped with servo-ball screw that propels the feeding unit; replaces the hydraulic feed and tighter length tolerance.

Getting Started Using a Circular Saw Part 2

Here’s the continuation of our blog series 10 tips novices should know before using circular saws.

6.       Precise Rips

A rip cut is a style of cutting that runs parallel with the grain of the wood, as opposed to a crosscut, which goes around the wood grain. Most circular saws come with a metal rip guide that attaches to the saw’s base plate. This type of guide works but limited only to rips about 6 inches wide. A better choice is to clamp an 8ft long board in place as a straightedge guide when cutting.

7.       Wood Splintering

When a saw blade enters the bottom of the board and exits through the top, splintering is often seen on the top surface. To avoid wood splintering, place a board or panel with its best surface facing down. In that way any splintering will occur on the top or back side. When trimming doors down to size, you might want to eliminate splintering from both sides. Here’s what you should do: Place the best side face down, meaning the side of the door that will be most visible once it is hung. Then score along the edge of the cut line with a sharp utility knife. Now make the cut, you’ll see that the wood fibers will break off cleanly at the scored line, leaving a smooth, splinter free cut.

8.       Stack and Clamp

The stack and clamp technique allows you to cut more than one piece of plywood. First, stack four or five sheets on top of each other and make sure that the edges are aligned. Clamp the pieces then adjust the saw blade to its maximum depth of cut and saw through all the sheets at the same time.

9.       Bevel Cutting

All circular saws can be adjusted to make a bevel cut up to 45 degrees. However when the base plate is tilted all the way over, the lower blade guard has a tendency to catch on the edge of the board. If this happens, do not force the saw to cut instead release the trigger, raise the blade guard and make the cut. Once the blade has cut the material by an inch or so, you can release the guard.

10.   Gravity Feed Sawing

When cutting long, straight, vertical cut into a wall, then using the circular saw is the right choice. Just remember to start cutting at the top to the bottom, in that way the gravity will simply working in your favor and will allow the weight of the saw to advance the blade through the cut.

Aside from these tips and tricks, all you have to do to make the perfect cut is to choose the right saw for every material and maintain the saw and the blade. Visit us at www.specialtysaws.com.au

Getting Started Using a Circular Saw Part 1

If you are a DIY person and want to know how to properly use a circular saw, then here are some things you should follow before using one. A circular saw is a powerful tool used to cut different materials and if not used properly, you might get serious injuries.

1.       Blade Check

The condition of a blade is very important. Using a defective, damaged, rusty and dull blade will result into cutting imperfections. The quality of the cutting process depends on the condition of the blade. We recommend that you use thin-kerf carbide tipped combination blade which can be used for crosscuts and ripped cuts in solid wood and plywood. Adjust the saw depth of the cut so the blade extends no more than ¼ inches past the board edge. Adjust it when the saw is unplugged or the battery removed for safety purposes.

2.       Saw  Condition

It is important to check the condition of your saw before you try to run or cut. Make sure that your lower blade guard retracts smoothly and snaps back when released. Check for broken teeth and replace the blade if there’s any damage. Make sure that your power cord is without cracks and if you’re using a cordless saw, make sure that the battery is fully charged. Remember to unplug or removed the power supply before loosening or changing the blade.

3.       Cross Cuts

Making cross cuts with a circular saw is pretty easy if you use a layout square as a guide. Hold the saw in place with its blade right on the cut line. Then slide the square against the saw’s base plate and press it tightly against the edge of the board. Check the blade and make sure that it isn’t contacting the board and squeeze the trigger and allow the saw to reach full speed. Now simply guide the saw to produce the clean cut.

4.       Saw Positioning

Whenever you are cutting, we advise that you position the saw with its motor facing towards the larger section of the board that isn’t falling when cutting. That way, the saw’s base plate will be supported throughout the cut.

5.       Binding Prevention

When paneling or cutting plywood, it is important that you eliminate dangerous kickbacks when the blade gets pinched in the cut. Place 2x4s under the sheets you are cutting spacing one 2x4 close to each side of the cut line. Then when you make the cut, both of the halves of the plywood will be supported by the 2x4 throughout the cutting process. 

Coldsaw Sharpening

Having a coldsaw blade in your arsenal of tools is a great investment especially if you’re working in the cutting industry. If we are to achieve the optimal production and efficiency in cutting, a person must know how to conduct maintenance on their coldsaw. One of the forgotten routine in cutting is sharpening circular saw blades and today, we’re going to tackle this subject.

We’re going to start with:

1.       Maintenance

In maintenance, sharpening one’s coldsaw blade is a must. Coldsaw blades, brobo blades, bi-metal saw blades, etc. should be kept sharp to achieve optimum results and efficiency when working.

2.       Savings

If you think that your blade isn’t performing to the level it should be, it would be a great move to check the blade if you can sharpen it instead of buying a new one. Sharpening your blade will increase your skill and can be cost-effective if you are trying to save money.

 3.       Carbide Saws

Carbide blades are efficient in terms of durability and in our experience, carbide blades can be sharpened 15 to 20 times before replacement. Sharpening a carbide saw utilizes ultra-fine diamond grit wheels on machine. After the blade is inspected and polished, the blade is checked for broken teeth. After the blade is sharpened, coating it with a special wax is a way to protect the teeth from different cutting activities.

4.     Cold Saw or Brobo Blades

The best way to perform coldsaw or brobo blade sharpening is through CNC sharpening machine. Imperfections in sharpening can cause you even further damage and imprecise cutting. Our company uses high-tech German sharpening machine that ensures blade geometry and tolerance are maintained. Precision grinding wheels produce a result that will make your blades last longer.

 5.       Steel Saw Blades

Steel Saw Blades are also known to be durable and can be sharpened up to 20 times depending on the size and condition of the blade. We also sharpen these blades using a CNC Sharpening Machine.  

Choosing Woodworking Circular Saw Blades

Each circular saw blade has its own design and characteristics to cut different kinds of wood with precision and efficiency. These includes lumber, plywood, softwood, hardwood and laminates. Circular saw blades also comes with different sizes based on your preferences and sizes. In this article, we’ll discuss each one and the things to consider when choosing the right circular saw blade.

Before buying the blade, a woodworker must know the diameter needed, kerf and the arbor size of the blade. Also consider the wood to be worked on and the coating on your blade. Many blades are coated to avoid corrosion and wear while maximising the blade performance. These distinctions are very important to remember during the cutting process.

Types of Circular Saw Blades:

·         Plywood Blade

These blades are made to cut specifically for plywood. It has numerous teeth for a better and smoother cut.

·         Cross Cutting Blade
These Circular Blades are made for cutting across the wood grain. Compared to Ripping Blade, it has more teeth and smaller gullet for smoother cuts. 

·         Ripping Blade
these circular blades are made for cutting parallel wood grain. It has fewer teeth and has larger gullet.

·         Combination Blade
these are built to cut parallel and across wood grains. These blades are all purpose for cutting wood and if you are in need of a blade that is capable of doing major woodworking applications, it’s the best choice for you. 

·         Fine Tooth Finish Blade
For extra smooth and finer cutting, this is the most recommended blade for wood working. 

·         Hollow Ground Blade
These blades are made for smooth cuts across the wood grain

·         Dado Blades
Dado Blades are perfect for making groves, dadoes and rabbet cuts across lumbers. 

·         Thin Kerf Blade
for cutting dimensional lumber, Thin Kerf Blade are recommended for you.

·         Finishing/ Paneling Blade
these blades are made to cut paneling, veneer, plywood, laminate and plastics.

Each blade is design for a specific type of wood or cutting. They are designed and engineered for specific cut and may not work well with other types of material. For example Cross cutting blades aren’t to be used on making rip cuts. It is inappropriate to use incorrect blades for certain materials because they are not sufficient to cut the certain material and can even cause damage both on the material and the blade; always use the most appropriate blade for the given material.

Introducing Blade Technology

With the inflation cost nowadays, machine operators and manufacturers are constantly looking for a more cost-effective ways to cut steel. Fortunately, the sawing technology is continuing to improve every year. Today, we’ve seen new breed of sawblades that are designed to cut down manufacturing cost.

Blade Basics

Choosing the ideal blade for the material to be cut is extremely important in ensuring the cost-effectiveness of the sawing process. Today, we’ll give you some information to help you with your decision-making process.

·         Blade Back

This refers to the body of the blade, excluding the tooth portion

·         Width

The nominal dimension of a saw blade as measured from the tip of the tooth

·         TPI

The number of teeth per inch as measured from gullet to gullet

·         Thickness

The dimensions from side to side on the blade

·         Kerf

The amount of material removed by the cut of the blade

·         Set

The bending of the teeth to left or right to allow clearance of the back of the blade through the cut

·         Tooth Pitch

The distance from the tip of one tooth to the tip of the next tooth.

·         Tooth Rake Angle

The angle of the tooth face measured with respect to the line perpendicular to the cutting direction of the saw

·         Tooth Face

The surface of the tooth on which chip is formed

·         Gullet

The curved area at the base tooth. The tooth tip to the bottom of the gullet is the gullet depth.

Blade Construction

Band saw blades are made from a single piece of steel or built of two pieces. Your choice will largely depend on the life expectancy and performance requirements. Below are the key information you need to know about blade construction.

Bi-metal

It’s a blade composed of a high steel edge material. An electron beam is wielded to fatigue resistance spring steel backing. This specific construction is ideal for high performance cutting requirement and longer life fatigue.

Carbon

·         Hardback

A one-piece blade made out of carbon steel with a hardened back and tooth edge

·         Flexback

A one piece blade made of carbon steel with a hardened tooth edge and softback

Circular Saw Blades Cleaning and Maintenance

Circular saw blades can last a long time with the proper care and maintenance. In order to preserve the integrity of the metal and the safety of the blade, be sure to never use any abrasive substance which could destroy the metal. This includes stiff wire brushes, corrosive chemicals, or filing to remove scum and gunk. The saw blades are under enormous stress and pressure so any weakness can become highly dangerous during use. After all cleanings, rinse thoroughly with water, dry, and give a light spray of WD-40 before returning to the saw.

Soaking

Place the saw blade into the flat pan and fill it with either Simple Green cleaning solution. If Simple Green is not available, kerosene will work just as well. Soak the blade overnight, flipping it once during the process. Be careful when handling the saw blade. Even when the blades are dull upon wood, they can easily cut skin. Frequent cleanings will make the soaking much quicker.

Plastic Scraper

The plastic scraper is a great tool for removing gunky build up from pitch, sap, and resin within the wood. This buildup can be difficult to remove if it is not dealt with in a timely fashion. If the plastic scrapper cannot remove the gunky build up, return the blade to the simple green or kerosene for another day. The brass bristled brush is used because the brass is soft enough not to harm the integrity of the metal. For areas where the buildup has been sitting a long time, use the brass bristled brush the second day of soaking. Going in the opposite direction of the tooth angle can help break up the build up enough to remove it.

Coated Blades

Newer blades on the market can be purchased with a coating which helps to reduce friction and keep blades sharper, longer. In instances such as this, soap and water can clean most build up, but kerosene works well too in difficult areas. However, do not use the brass bristled brush. The brush may not harm the metal, but it will definitely scratch the coating. Purchase a plastic scrubber from the kitchen cleaning aisle at the grocery store. The plastic scrubber should be Teflon safe, meaning that it will remove residue but not harm similar coatings on pots and pans.

Resin Remover

If the wood used frequently leaves the blade highly dirty, purchase a resin remover from a local woodworking shop. Rather than using spray on blade cleaners which include highly caustic materials and could harm the metal, the resin cleaner merely removes the gunk without the need for scrubbing. Dilute the cleaner in water, soak the blade for 15 minutes and rinse clean. This is a bit overkill for the average cleaning, but works wonders on pine and other highly resinous materials.

Wood Working Drill Safety and Maintenance

Wood workers use different kinds of tools and machinery to get the job done. Aside from circular saws, woodworkers also uses different kinds of drills. Drills can sometimes pose a threat if not handled correctly. Today we’re going to give you some tips on how drill safety and maintenance.

Maintenance:

Make sure that your drill is lubricated once in a while. Lubrication prevents heat and friction generated throughout the working process. Refer to the manual provided by the manufacturer on how to properly lubricate your drill.

Don’t forget to clean the groves, belt and pulley after working with wood. Some resin and dirt can stick to the drill.

Put a light coating of oil on the unpainted area of the drill. This will prevent the drill from rusting or contamination.

Safety:

Wear proper protection when working with drills. Small chunk of wood or any kind of material you are drilling can be thrown up during the process. Always wear eye protection and protective suit.

Don’t make adjustments while drilling. Make sure to turn your drill off

Make sure that all cutting tools are properly placed during drilling operations.

Use a holding device. Don’t ever use your hand to adjust the material you are drilling.

Don’t wear loose clothing or dangling jewelry near the drill press. Sometimes the drill can catch these things, drawing the wearer into the moving parts, causing significant injury.

Drill guards should be used during the operation to prevent injury.

Ease up the drill once in a while to avoid damage and make the operator focused on the job.

Make sure to clean the drill after the operation. Cleaning the drill press with a brush is recommended.

Make sure all your tooling and blades are maintained in a good condition.

Follow all the recommendations for use and safety given by the manufacturer of your drill press.

Ensure that if and when the drill press is not working properly, it is checked and repaired by a qualified technician.

Tool Bits and Ring Flanges in Circular Saws

How important tool bits and ring flanges in your circular saw? Today, we’re going to discuss this matter. Cemented circular saw blades are found almost anywhere and widely used in cutting different materials such as wood, aluminum and more. But most of the problems of circular saw blade users is the longevity of their blade. These problems can be prevented through right usage and proper maintenance routine.

Saw blade’s tool bit protection is also important because it is sensitive and sharp for cutting objects. Be careful on installing or taking it down on your machine.

The right flanges also plays a big role on your saw machine and its working condition would affect the saw blade’s cutting results and the life of the saw blade. An example would be the ring flange size, it is better to use large scale ring flange to maximise the stability of the cutting process, thus a smoother cutting process. Ring flange on the machine have approximately 1/3 size of the saw blade which is essential for having great cutting results.

If you are looking for quality saw blades that has the right price and perfect for any material, visit us at www.specialtysaw.com.au. We have a wide selection of circular saw blades and we also have bandsaw blades. If you think your blade is dull, we also offer blade sharpening services. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us today! 

Tips on Maintaining your Coldsaw Blade

Cleaning your coldsaw blade is a part of your maintenance routine to ensure the longevity and efficiency of the blade. But cleaning your blade isn’t enough, there are other maintenance routine you could do that will surely help your blade reach its potential.

1.       Cleaning

When mounting the blade, remember to clean both flanges and blade. A single chip between the blade and flanges can lead into excessive side run out. It can also reduce the stability and cutting quality of the machine.

2.       Fluids

Fluids are used for cooling, flushing away excess dirt on the blade and lubrication. Follow the manufacturer’s guide and use only the recommended fluid products. Sawing is a “hard” machining process and demands a mixture of 6-10%.

Fluids should be applied generously on both sides of the coldsaw blade during cutting. The nozzles should be directly pointing at the cutting point. The cutting process must never start without fluids. If you do, the tooth tips will burn or “pick up” may occur and will reduce the life and efficiency of your coldsaw blade.

3.       Stability

Stability is one of the factor to get good cutting results. The machine must be stable through its main bearings, column and vice. Lack of stability leads to vibration in the machine and blade. This vibration can lead into substantial loss of blade life or at worst, blade breakage.

4.       Sharpening

In order to save money, some woodworkers would go and have their blade re-sharpened as part of their maintenance procedure. Re-sharpening your blade is a lot cheaper that getting a new one. Click here to learn more.

5.       “Running In”

Always use the run in procedure for re-sharpened blades. Gradually increase the feed until the normal feed is reached. Before you used re-sharpened blades, make 6-8 cuts with normal speed but lower than normal feed. The run in procedure hones the tooth tips, removing the sharp fragile edges created during sharpening, thus lengthening the blade life. 

Sharpening Saw Blades

Saws are rarely sharpened by few woodworkers but the questions still tends to arise on how to do it. Sharpening circular saw blades has become a forgotten craft and fewer people or woodworkers can even do this. Sharpening your own saw is vital and one should not be buying a replacement when your saw becomes dull. It brings out the skill and self-confidence of a woodworker if they can sharpen their own saw. The ability to maintain the sharpness on one’s saw blade allowed saws to retain their usefulness, not matter how long the resided in the woodworker’s toolbox. With today’s mass produced, plastic handled and Teflon coated saws are poor in comparison to the quality saw for they are designed to be simply thrown away as soon as they get blunt.

Other woodworkers likes to touch up chipped teeth with a small, flat diamond hone. If you’re going to try that, maintain the original angles and surfaces and don’t round over the cutting edge. Once in a while, you’d be finding a missing teeth. If the manufacturer can replace the saw, expect that it is expensive. So unless the blade cost you a lot in the first place, you’re probably better off to toss it and buy a new one.

Jolting the Teeth

The usual method of sharpening the teeth of a non-carbide tipped circular saw blade is done like this. First, install the blade in a commercial saw-setting jig following the manufacturer’s instructions. After installing the jointing head on the jig, butting its file up against the saw teeth. Tighten the thumb until the teeth strain against the file.  Jointing the teeth so they are all the same length, clamp the jig in a bench vise and rotate the circular saw blade against the file clockwise. After each rotation, tighten the thumbscrew slightly and repeat until the tip of each tooth has been filed flat.

Sharpening the Teeth

After jolting the teeth, file them using a commercial saw-sharpening jig. First, mount the jig on the workbench and install the blade loosely on the jig so the blade turns. Rotate the triangular file in the file holder and adjust the guide arm to match the required pitch and angle of the saw teeth. Starting with a tooth that is pointing to the right, file the cutting edge by sliding the file holder along the top of the jig. After that, rotate the circular saw blade counter clockwise, skip one tooth and repeat. Sharpen all the right-pointing teeth the same way. Adjust the triangular file and the guide arm to work on the left-pointing teeth and repeat, sharpening all the teeth you skipped.

Increasing the Life of your Saw Blade

Saw blades are an integral part of the steel fabrication process, thus maximising the life of your saw blade increases profits and decreasing the downtime of your working process. In this article, we’ll give you some helpful tips on how to increase the life of your saw blade.

Take your Time

Allow the rotation of the blade to reach its full speed before cutting and don’t push the saw as the blade cuts through the material. Take your time and let the teeth make the cut and pull the saw forward.

Using the Entire Blade

Allow the blade to reach as far out as possible and use a straight edge of some sort to make the cut. This expands the surface of the area of the blade being used and spreads the work evenly across the blade.

Secure the Material

Before you cut anything with your saw, make sure that the material to be cut is secured. Clamp the material well to avoid vibration and spinning. Such motion creates unnecessary work for the blade.

Cooling the blade

High temperatures lead to premature cutting and deformation of the HSS saw blade. It is essential to use the right coolant according to the machine, the blade and the material you are cutting.

Proper Grinding Time

Grinding the blade is one of the most effective ways to extend the life of your saw blade and keep their sharpness throughout the cutting process. It is important to adhere the appropriate grinding time whether you are using HSS saw blade or the common TCT or Tungsten Carbide Tip. As you go on with the process, make sure to pay attention to the blade’s condition. If there are abnormalities such as weird noises during the process, it’s proper to seek professional advice or grinding services.

Specialty Saws offers a new line of circular saw blades - the Fly-High Tech Coldsaw blade. Known for its durability and endurance, these cold saw blades are exceptional for all kinds of metal cutting processes. Each blade comes with special coating designed to reduce cycle time and increase blade life. With the increased sawing performance, you can expect clean, precise and reliable cuts every time.

Proper Cleaning of your Circular Saw Blade

Regular cleaning of your circular saw blade should be under your preventive maintenance routine. In order to preserve the integrity of the metal and safety of the woodworker, one must know the fundamentals of cleaning the saw blade. For instance, never use abrasive materials which could destroy the metal including stiff wire brushes, corrosive chemicals or filings to remove the dirt.

Soaking

Place the blade into a pan and fill it with the recommended cleaning solution. Soak the blade overnight while flipping it once in a while. Always be careful with the blade, even if they are dull, it can easily cut your skin. Frequent cleaning of the blade can make the soaking process easier.

Blade Coating

Another process would be Blade Coating. Many blades have their very own coating which reduce friction, keeps the blade sharper and helps the blade withstand longer working process. Kerosene can also be used during the process.

Remember: Don’t use brass brush when the blade is coated, it can remove the coating. The best way to clean coated blade is to use a plastic scrubber.

Plastic Scrapper

Use the plastic scrapper to remove buildup from pitch, sap and resin within the wood. These kind of dirt can be difficult to remove if not dealt immediately and can damage your saw blade. If not removed, soak the blade for another day.

Brass Brush

For uncoated Circular Saw Blades, Brass bristled brush would be the perfect choice. It can easily clean dirt buildup after you soaked the Circular Saw Blade. The brush is soft enough for cleaning build-up and will not harm the reliability of the metal.

Resin Remover

Resin Remover are helpful when cleaning high density dirt on your Circular Saw Blade. Dilute the cleaner in water and soak the blade for 15 minutes. After soaking, rinse the blade and clean. 

How to make a Perfect Cut

Compared to other saws, using a circular saw in making cuts can be quite tricky. Poorly operated saws can will fail to achieve clean cuts but can also result into injury. Today, we’ll guide you with some professional woodworkers do in order for them to make a perfect cut.

1.       Inspection

Before you go into cutting process, have a quick check on your circular saw. Check the blade for cracks and chips, if damage is present, change the saw immediately. If you are working with a cordless saw, check the batteries for any defects.

2.        Blade Check

After inspecting the saw, check the blade thoroughly. The performance and the cut quality depends on the blade. Cutting with a rusty or damaged blade isn’t recommended. There are designated blade for every material being cut. For example, using thin kerf carbide tipped combination can be used in cross cuts and rip cuts on solid wood and plywood.

3.       Positioning

Having the right position during the cutting process is important and there are rules in which direction you should cut in. The best possible position is that the saw with its motor facing towards the larger section of the board that isn’t falling away. The saw’s base plate will be fully supported during the cutting process.

4.       Wood Splintering

Place the board or a panel with the best surface facing down to avoid wood splintering. This way, the splinters will happen on the backside. When trimming doors down to the right size, place the best side down. Score along the edge with a knife and begin with the cut.

5.       Binding Prevention

Ensure proper support to eliminate kickbacks from the blade when cutting sheets of plywood or during paneling. Place a 2x4 underneath the sheet you are cutting, spacing one 2x4 close to the cut line. When you make the cut, the both halves will be supported by the 2x4. 

Tips you Should Know to Make the Perfect Cut

6 Tips for the Perfect Cut

Using a circular saw can be a little bit tricky compared to other tools like jigsaws or electric drills. A poorly operated circular saw will not only  fail to achieve the clean cut you are aspiring to, but more importantly, can result into injury. Today, we’ll give you some tips on how to make the perfect cut using your own saw, and keep safe.

1. Saw Inspection

Before you do anything, run a quick check on your saw. Be sure the lower blade guard retracts smoothly and snaps when released. Check the blade for cracks and chips.  Replace the blade if you find any damage. Check the battery if you’re using a cordless saw.  If not, check the cord for any kind of damage before using it.

2. Perform a blade check

The performance and the cut quality depends highly on the blade. Never cut with a rusty, dull and damaged blade. Use the right blade for every material being cut. Consider using a thin kerf carbide tipped combination which can be used for crosscuts and rip cuts in solid wood and plywood.

3. Saw Positioning

There are hard and fast rules regarding which direction you should cut in, but whenever possible position the saw with its motor facing towards the larger section of board that isn’t falling away when you make the cut. In this manner, the saw’s base plate will be fully supported during the cutting process.

4. Accurate Crosscuts

To make accurate crosscuts, guide the saw with a square layout. Hold the saw in place with the blade on the cut line. Slide the square against the saw’s base plate and press it tightly against the edge board. Now simply guide the saw along the square to produce a square cut.

5. Binding Prevention

When cutting sheets of plywood or paneling, ensure there is sufficient support to eliminate kickbacks when the blade gets pinched during the process. What you can do is place two 2x4’s underneath the sheet you are cutting, spacing one 2x4 close to each side of the cut line. When you make the cut, both halves will be supported by the 2x4.

6. Avoiding wood splintering

To avoid wood splintering, place the board or panel with the best surface facing down. This way, the splintering will happen on the backside. When trimming doors down to the right size, place the best side down. Then score along the edge of the cut line with a utility knife. And then make the cut. The wood fibres will eventually break off cleanly at the score line, leaving a smooth cut.