Circular saws (sometimes generically called Skil saws after the popular brand) are about the closest thing to being a carpenter's best friend. They're portable and it only takes a minute to adjust the blade depth or angle. In order to cut accurately, however, the saw blade has to run true without the slightest hint of a wobble.
Some saws have a round arbor and others have a diamond shaped arbor. For this reason, the sawblade comes from the factory with a knockout. If your saw has a diamond shaped arbor you'll need to remove it. The trick is doing this without knocking the blade out of whack.
Here's the easy way to do it. You'll need a bolt with a hex head of about 5/8" and a short section of metal pipe with an i.d. of about 2" to 3". Now it's a simple matter of centering the pipe on the underside of the blade, putting the hex head on the knockout and giving it a smart rap with your framing hammer.
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
I don't have a framing hammer, can I use a ball peen or tack hammer?
ReplyActually a ball peen hammer would be preferable, as the face on them is not hardened, reducing the possibility of chipping.
ReplyMost of us don't carry one on the job however, I think that is what the author had ion mind.
There are lots of people in the business of selling saw blades that have no idea what the knockout is for. The explanation here has been very helpfull. I recently bought a Bosch angle grinder, with no markings as to what arbor size (turned out to be 7/8 in). Naturally, places like Lowe's only care to make money selling anything, with no thought as to were to get accesoories or parts) I bought blades with 5/8 arbor size, and proceeded to knock out the knockout, which was advertised to be a 7/8 size. I then tried to stick the blade on my 7/8 arbor, which of course would not fit. Now I know why not. Thanks
ReplyGood information and pretty thorough as well, do you mind if I reference back to it? I'm blogging about this too, and you have some good info I hadn't seen before and I'd like to post a similar article. I look forward to reading follow ups and hope it stays updated.
ReplyDiamond Blades & Tools
This is a good method, however there is a slight chance, as mentioned above that the blade might become out of whack afterwards. Another alternative is to use the red Diablo blades because you twist out, not knock them out (it actaully is written on the blade itself to twist off only). Basically I like to use two screwdrivers, the 1st screwdriver you put in the hole and use the shaft of the screwdriver as leverage to pry with, until you begin to see the perforated lip extend past the saw blade. As you hold the 1st screw driver in placed once you see the lip extend past the blade, take the 2nd screwdriver and using the tip to wedge it in the slight space you created, then you pry the knock off. Once the knock out is pryed past a certain point you then wiggle the diamond piece back and forth with your fingers until it snaps off cleanly. Sounds complicated, but is really easy and fast once you see for yourself. Just becareful not to over pry (or over torque) with the 1st screwdriver, 'cuz you might bend the blade, that is why I use the 2nd scewdriver to take over where the 1st left off; reduces the prying pressure.
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