Whether you have a dull blade or need a special blade to cut your material, you will need to know how to change the blade on your miter saw.
How to Change Blade on Miter Saw
Changing the blade on a miter saw is pretty simple. All you need to do is rotate the axle with an allen wrench while pressing the blade lock button.
This article is broken down into two parts. The first section will explain how to remove a miter saw blade, and the second will show how to install a miter saw blade. If you don’t feel like reading, you can watch my quick video below.
How to remove a miter saw blade
You can remove a miter saw blade in 5 simple steps. For starters, I suggest that you put your saw on a table or on a miter saw stand to help maintain stability.
Step 1: Put an allen wrench into the center of the axle
You should start out by placing the end of the allen wrench into the center of the blade axle. If an allen wrench doesn’t fit, you saw should come with a special tool that can be inserted into the axle in the same way.
Now you might notice that when you rotate the allen wrench, the saw blade rotate with the wrench. To actually start loosening the blade, you must go to step 2.
Step 2: Locate the blade lock button
The blade lock button is usually located right behind the saw blade. It might be labeled with a lock symbol. This button is what holds the blade in place while you loosen it.
Once you have located the button, you can move to step 3.
Step 3: Loosen the blade
Now, while pressing down the blade lock button, start to rotate the allen wrench. Your saw should have arrows indicating which direction to rotate for loosening. Most miter saws require you to go clockwise.
You should rotate the allen wrench until the screw starts to come out, and it is loose enough to rotate with your hands.
Step 4: Removing bolts and washers
Before you loosen the bolt all the way, you should bump up the height of the saw. This will give the blade more room to come off.
Now, with your fingers continue loosening the bolt until it comes out. After you remove the bolt, take off the large washer as well.
Make sure you keep the bolt and washer in a safe place, as you will need them when you put a new blade in.
Once the bolt and washer are removed, you can head to the final step.
Step 5: Remove the blade
Lift up the blade guard, and gently slide the blade out of the saw. If you have a really sharp blade, you might want to wear gloves.
Now that you know how to remove a miter saw blade, I will explain how to install one.
How to install miter saw blade
You can install a miter saw blade in 4 easy steps.
Step 1: Place the blade into the cover
For starters, make sure the saw is adjusted to the highest height setting. This will give you more space to work with.
Next, lift up the blade guard and slowly insert the blade into the saw. You might have to jiggle it around a little to get it aligned.
Make sure that you are placing the saw in the right direction. You want the blade to rotate clockwise, and most of the time you want the side of the blade with writing to show.
The saw should look like this once you place the blade in.
Step 2: Inserting washer and bolt
Now, retrieve the washer and bolt that came with the saw. Start by placing the washer into the axle. Once the axle is in place, you should insert the bolt.
You should screw the bolt in until the blade starts rotating with it. Most miter saws require you to rotate it counter clockwise, but your saw should have arrows indicating the right direction.
Step 3: Locate the blade lock button
On the backside of your saw, you should see the blade lock button. This is what allows you to finish tightening the blade. Once you locate the button, move on to step 4.
Step 4: Tightening the blade
Now, insert an allen wrench into the center of your blade axle. Next press down on the blade lock button that you located in the last step.
Now, start to rotate the allen wrench in the direction indicated by the saw. Most of the time this is in the counter-clockwise direction.
You should only tighten it until the bolt is firmly into the blade. Rotating too much can strip the bolt.
Once the blade is properly tightened, your miter saw is ready to go!
If you have a circular saw, you should check out my guide on how to change the blade on a circular saw. It is a very similar process.
