Circular saw blades don’t become dull overnight. You won’t walk into your shop and one day realize your blades can no longer cut wood or metal. Instead, dulling is a slow process that many people don’t even realize is happening until long after their efficiency, accuracy, and even safety have been compromised for months or even years.
To avoid damaging your finished products, your reputation, and even your fingers, it’s important to act before your blades become dull. However, that’s easier said than done. Dullness creeps in slowly, and it takes a sharp eye and serious attention to detail to notice the problem when it first begins. Here are a few things to look out for every time you make a new cut.
Your Cuts Take More Effort
Perfectly sharp blades should cut through materials easily. You shouldn’t have to put much “muscle” into them to make the precise cuts you want. Small amounts of resistance are common with certain materials, and it takes time to become accustomed to which materials have more resistance than others.
Your Cuts Are Less Clean
Another benefit of perfectly sharp blades is clean cuts and perfect lines. If you notice even slightly jagged edges where there used to be none, it can be a sign that your blades aren’t cutting as effortlessly as they used to. Jagged edges can indicate misalignments with the teeth on your blades, which can occur due to dullness and excessive force being applied.
You Notice Burn Marks on Wood
If you’re cutting wood with a dull blade, you may notice burn marks. These can occur due to the intense friction and heat generated by the longer contact that your blades have with the wood you’re cutting. When wood is pushed through a blade slowly, which is often the case with dull blades, the likelihood of burn marks increases.
Your Blades LOOK Dull
When your blades take on dull appearance, it usually means one of two things: they are dirty or they are dull. Giving your blades a thorough cleaning is a great way to determine how dull they actually are. If you see jagged edges, bent teeth, or simply an overall dullness even after cleaning, you’ll quickly know the answer.