If you’re like me, then you try to avoid doing any kind of repair or maintenance on your tools for as long as possible. But sometimes, there’s just no getting around it – like when the blade on your reciprocating saw starts to get dull.
In this post, I’m going to show you how to change a blade on a craftsman reciprocating saw. It’s not hard at all, but there are a few things you need to know in order to do it safely and correctly. So read on, and learn how to replace that old blade with a new one!
Your tools
You’re going to need a few things in order to change your blade safely. If you don’t have them, now’s the time to go searching for those items. Those items are A Phillips screwdriver, a small flathead screwdriver, and pliers.
A new blade
Make sure you have your new blade ready to go before taking your saw apart. Preferably, the new blade should be exactly the same as the one that came with your saw originally it doesn’t matter if it’s a hacksaw or reciprocating saw blade, but it has to be the same size.
A plastic pan or bag for your old blade
Since you’re going to be cutting through metal with this saw, there’s a chance that some sparks will escape during normal operation. You don’t want these sparks flying into stuff around your work area (like drywall) because they could cause a fire. So, what you want to do is set up something like a plastic container below where you’ll be working so the sparks can fall harmlessly into the container.
If you don’t have anything like that available, just place something down on the floor under where the saw will be so any loose dirt or dust won’t catch fire in case of errant sparks hitting it; clean concrete or stone is good.
Remove the screws that hold the blade guard in place:
Those will now be stored safely out of the way, as you won’t need them until you reassemble your saw.
A screwdriver is good for this job, but if it’s not a Phillips head type (some older models might use a flathead), then I’d recommend using pliers just to make sure you don’t strip the screws they’re easy to strip and pretty hard to get out once that happens…
Unplug your saw
Before you do anything else, unplug your saw and remove the battery pack if applicable we don’t want any accidents where someone bumps into something and gets hurt! If there’s no power part of this process, so feel free to go ahead and skip this step.
Take off the blade cover
Now we’re ready to get started changing that blade. It starts by removing the plastic blade cover (assuming you have one) and any other parts around the blade that might prevent us from accessing it. If you’ve got a Sawzall, then there’s probably not going to be anything in your way; reciprocating saws typically have more obstructions though.
Start by looking at all sides of your saw and determine if there are any screws or bolts getting in your way these are what need to be removed before moving on.
Install the new blade by reversing
Reversing the process of taking it off is easy. Just remember to keep track of all the screws you remove so you don’t get them mixed up! Also, make sure not to lose anything while your saw is disassembled.
If you did everything correctly, then hopefully your saw works just as well as before. If not, try again and see if there are any easier steps that should have been followed. Best of luck with your repairs!
Replace any screws that were removed during the process
Not much to say here, except make sure you put your screws back in their exact locations. If they aren’t secure during normal operation, then any debris that gets into the saw will prevent it from working properly.
Be very careful not to bend or break anything while changing the blade: if you do this, take apart your saw and reassemble it following the correct procedures so you don’t damage anything else! Now that you know how to change out a blade on a craftsman reciprocating saw, I hope you won’t hesitate to do so again if needed. To discover how simple home repair can be by using the right tools.
Safety Precautions
1. Make sure the power cord is disconnected from the wall outlet before making any repairs to your saw. To discover how simple home repair can be by using the right tools. Store all loose items out of the way before beginning a project on your saw. These include screws, nuts, bolts, blades, and other small parts.
2. Always wear safety goggles when working on your saw. To discover how simple home repair can be by using the right tools.
3. Secure all items you do not wish to move before beginning work on your saw. To discover how simple home repair can be by using the right tools.
4. Unplug or turn off the power source for your saw immediately if you experience any dangerous situations such as broken blades, slipping parts, or any other dangerous material while working on your saw.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, everything you need to know in order to change the blade on your reciprocating saw. We hope that this article was helpful and that you are now able to complete this task with ease. Have any questions or feedback? Let us know in the comments below!
