Is your Dewalt circular saw blade getting dull? Is it a new saw and you are unsure how to put the blade on? If so, this is the place for you! This is a very quick and easy job that can be done in a couple of minutes! I will walk you through the step-by-step on how to change your Dewalt circular saw blade.
Dewalt has a variety of different circular saw models. While each model may be a little different, the process of changing the blade is the same. Most models use a 6.5 or 7.25 inch circular saw blade (I have also seen some 8.25 inch ones). So we will show you the process of changing the blade on your Dewalt circular saw!
Dewalt circular saw blade change
When performing a Dewalt circular saw blade change, disconnect the saw from power source. Hold the blade lock button and use blade wrench to loosen the blade clamp screw. Retract the lower blade guard and remove old blade and replace with new blade. Then tighten blade clamp screw using wrench.
Step 1: Make sure saw has no power
Depending on the model circular saw you have, the power source will be battery or plug. Though most models these days are battery powered. It is essential to unplug or remove the battery from the saw! Try pressing the trigger once this is done to ensure there is no power to the saw.
If you are installing a blade on a brand new Dewalt circular saw, jump down to step number 3.
Step 2: Lock saw blade in place
Locate the blade lock button on top of the saw. Once you have located this button, press and hold it.
While holding the blade lock button down, slowly rotate the saw blade. It does not matter if you rotate the blade clockwise or counterclockwise at this time. Rotate the blade slowly until you hear a click. Once you hear this click you will notice the blade lock button depresses a little more. Once this happens, the blade will lock in place (you will no longer be able to rotate the saw blade easily).
Step 3: Loosen blade clamp screw
Continue to hold the blade lock button down (so blade remains locked). Then use the blade wrench to loosen the blade clamp screw. All Dewalt circular saws come with the appropriate size blade wrench located on the back of the saw (near where you insert the battery).
If you do not have your blade wrench anymore you can use a standard hex wrench. All Dewalt circular saw models use a 5mm hex wrench.
It is important to note: the blade clamp screw is reverse threaded. This means the direction to tighten and loosen is opposite compared to other screws. To tighten, you will turn to the left (counterclockwise) and to loosen, you will turn to the right (clockwise). The screw is clearly labeled, to remind you.
Remember it is important, you MUST continue to hold the blade lock button while loosening the screw. Holding the auxiliary handle on the top of the saw allows for the best hand positioning to do this.
Once the blade clamp screw is fully loosened, you can remove it and set it aside. Next, remove the outer clamp washer and set that aside as well.
Step 4: Remove the saw blade
Before removing the saw blade, pay attention to which direction the teeth of the current blade are going. Some blades this will not matter as they have teeth pointing both directions. However, on other blades (with single teeth) you will want to make sure the new blades teeth are going the same direction. Majority of the time you will want the teeth of the blade facing up. Remember the blade moves clockwise when the saw is being used.
When removing the saw blade it is important to be very careful. Though you may be changing the blade because the teeth are dull, they are still sharp enough to cut skin. For caution, it may be best to wear a glove when removing the old blade.
Prior to removing the blade you have to move the blade guard out of the way. To do this, you can use the lower blade guard retract lever.
Push the blade guard retract lever counterclockwise to move the blade guard out of the way. It is important to note, you no longer have to be holding the blade lock button. This will help free up one of your hands for other tasks.
With the blade guard out of the way, now you can remove the blade and set it aside.
Step 5: Place new blade on the saw
Continue to hold the blade guard out of the way to put the new blade on. Place the new blade over the inner clamp washer.
With the blade resting on the inner washer, now you can put the outer washer back on. This is a keyed piece so it will only fit one way. Next, place the blade clamp screw back in. I like to start it by hand and then finish it with the hex wrench. REMEMBER: this is a reverse thread screw, so to tighten you will turn to the left (counterclockwise).
Once you have tightened the screw enough by hand, you can let go of the blade guard lever. To finish tightening the screw, you will have to again hold the blade lock button down.
You DO NOT have to tighten this screw very tight. As it says in the Dewalt instruction manual, you want the screw to be “firm.” If you try to over tighten the screw, often times this can cause the blade to malfunction.
Lastly, make sure you put the hex wrench back in the proper storing position, so it will be there next time!
Step 6: Test the new blade
With the new blade in place, now it is time to test the saw out. Plug the saw in or place the battery back on the saw. I would recommend just pressing the trigger a couple times prior to cutting anything. You want to make sure the blade is functioning properly.
If you are having any trouble changing the blade on your Dewalt circular saw I recommend that you reach out to Dewalt directly at 1-800-433-9258 or you can contact there support team.
Most Dewalt circular saws come with a 3 year limited warranty.
Know your blade size
It is important to know the diameter of your saw blade in order to replace it with the proper blade. If you have your instruction manual, you can easily determine the blade size. My manual states multiple times that my Dewalt circular saw uses a 6.5 inch blade.
Also, on some saw blades (depending on the manufacturer), the size of the blade and the number of teeth will be on the blade.
If you no longer have the manual and the “old blade” is worn out, do not worry measuring the blade is easy.
With the blade removed, place it flat on a solid surface. Use a tape measure to measure from one side of the blade to the other. Make sure the tape measure runs through the center of the blade.
It is very important to use the correct size blade on the appropriate circular saw.
Teeth of the blade
Circular saw blades come with a variety of different teeth amounts. I have seen anywhere from 14 to 120 teeth on a blade. The more teeth on a blade, the smoother and finer the cut. Rule of thumb: if you need a more precise cut you will want more teeth. Less teeth often leads to a faster more rough cut. In general, I like to have a variety of blades around with different teeth counts to change pending on the cut that I need.
Conclusion
Changing the blade on a Dewalt circular saw is quick and easy, if you follow these simple steps:
- Make sure saw has no power
- Lock the saw blade in place
- Loosen the blade clamp screw
- Remove the saw blade
- Place new saw blade on
- Test the new saw blade
Did this help you in changing your Dewalt circular saw blade? If so please let us know in the comments.
A current home owner and dad of two, who loves to fix things. I have spent countless hours fixing and repairing things around the house. I started this blog to share my knowledge with you. I hope you find what you are looking for!