Have you ever had to change the blade on your reciprocating saw? It’s not exactly a difficult process, but there are some things you need to know in order to do it safely and correctly. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the steps involved in changing a reciprocating saw blade.
I’ll also discuss some of the precautions you need to take when working with blades, and I’ll provide a few tips for making the process go more smoothly. So if you’re ready to learn how to change a reciprocating saw blade, keep reading!
How to Change Blade on Ridgid Reciprocating Saw:
Step 1: Disconnect the Saw
Start by unplugging your saw from its power source. If it’s not already turned off, turn the saw off; then disconnect it from any dust collection system, such as a shop vac. Finally, if you’re working with a cordless model like the RIDGID 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Reciprocating Saw (model R8200), remove the battery pack before moving on to step 2.
Step 2: Remove Blade Guard / Retainer
Once you’ve disconnected your tool completely, take out the blade that’s currently installed in it. Some manufacturers recommend holding the trigger down while doing this so that there is no residual power in the motor when you remove an active blade.
Step 3: Loosen and Remove Saw Blade
Using a pair of pliers, hold the saw blade in place while you unscrew it with a hex key. Once the screw is loose enough to turn by hand, just pull it out of its holder and remove the old blade from the guide bar.
Step 4: Install New Saw Blade
Carefully insert a new saw blade into position with teeth pointing in the direction indicated on the side of the blade housing. If you have trouble getting blades started this way, try feeding them through from underneath instead before pushing them up into their proper position with your fingers. Then tighten down the screw that holds each new blade in place with a hex key.
Finally, reattach the blade guard/retainer and test your new blade for proper operation. We hope this blog post helped you understand how to change a reciprocating saw blade!
What you’ll need:
- Adjustable pliers
- Hex key/ Allen wrench
Step 1: Turn off the saw. If you’re working on a cordless model, remove the battery pack. Then loosen and remove the blade that’s currently in place.
Step 2: Use the hex key to unscrew the bolt holding the new blade in position. Remove it from its holder if necessary. Then carefully insert a new blade with teeth pointing in the direction indicated on its housing.
Step 3: Tighten down the screw that holds each new blade in place with your hex key or Allen wrench. Finally, reattach any dust collection system, turn your saw back on, and test your new blade for proper operation! I hope this blog post helped you understand how to change a reciprocating saw blade!
You can follow these steps to change a reciprocating saw blade:
1) Turn off the saw, if it’s corded remove the battery or switch it off.
2) Disconnect the saw from any dust collection system like a shop vac.
3) Loosen and remove the blade that is currently in place.
4) Use a hex key (Allen wrench for older models) to unscrew the bolt holding the new blade in position and remove it from its holder, if necessary. Then carefully insert a new blade with teeth pointing in the direction indicated on the housing.
5) Tighten down the screw that holds each new blade in place with your hex key or Allen wrench. Finally, reattach any dust collection system, turn your saw back on and test your new blade for proper operation.
Tips and tricks:
- If you’re having trouble inserting the new blade, try feeding it through from underneath instead before pushing it up into position with your fingers.
- Make sure to only insert the new blade as far as necessary for correct placement before tightening down the screw that holds each one in place with a hex key or Allen wrench. If you insert it too far, you may damage your saw.
- Remember to replace any blade that is damaged or nicked. This will cause dangerous kickback and drag as the blade hits the material being cut.
Safety Considerations:
- Remember to turn the saw off and disconnect from the dust suction device before beginning this process.
- Make sure that the replacement blade has teeth pointing in the direction indicated on the housing.
- Check for correct placement of new blade by measuring from tip of the tooth to top of guide bar before tightening screw.
- Use hex key or Allen wrench for older models.
- Never replace damaged or nicking blades, these will cause dangerous kickback and drag as they hit material being cut.
Conclusion
Changing the blade on your Ridgid reciprocating saw is a relatively simple process that can be completed in a few minutes. By following these steps, you should have no trouble completing the task. Be sure to always use caution when working with power tools and knives, as they can be dangerous if not handled properly.
