Scared the &^%* out of me !!!!!

Well, where to begin.

The other day I watched a video on cleaning your tablesaw blade.

Got up this morning and thought that was a good idea.

So I took it off and cleaned it.

I then went to put it back on but for the life of me I keep thinking something was wrong.

I am not sure of the exact terminolgy so bare with me.

I have a 12: saw and the blade is 12" so there is a washer of some kind that sits on the threded rod that goes into the middle of the blade.

OK, so on the threaded rod there is one of these washers, then I added the blade, then the other washer then the nut.

Thought something was wrong, started my saw, blade fell off.

I was like #### me, luckliy the blade was only spinning softly.

I kept thinking to myself that something was wrong and then it clicked. The nut and washer were smaller then the hole in the blade so there was nothing to hold it in place, so no wonder it fell off.

I kept scrathing my head as to why it had never falled off before.

I then took the blade to a local tool shop and they said yes there should be a larger washer like piece that the nut screws onto.

One guy said I only need one of the washers for the middle of the blade, big mistake that was listening to that.

I opened up the bottom of my saw when I got home and searched through deep sawdust and eventually found it.

Silly me must have dropped it when I first took the blade out to clean it but never noticed it.

So I put the first washer back on, then the blade, then the larger washer like piece anf then tightened the nut.

Lucikly I am not an idiot so when turning it on I stood to the side of the saw.

#### me, it was on full speed, the blade crept half way down the rod, blade ate into the throat plate, then it threw the throat plate forward at great speed into the shelves at the back of my shed.

Made the most horrific noise at it continued turning biting into metal.

I was just standing there in shock but I manged to turn it off pretty quick as all that had happened pretty quickly.

This time I put back the first washer, then the blade, then the second middle washer then the larger one and then the nut.

Finally I tested it and now it works fine again.

Took about scared though, nearly crapped myself.

I thought where the blade goes on, that tablesaws are reverse threaded so that as the blade rotates , the nut tightens against it. Well not on my saw.

Well, that is my story from today.

So a reminder to be careful when taking off and replacing a tablesaw blade.

Cheers

On my saw and all the other that I have used, the nut undoes the same way as the blade rotates: ie towards the front of the saw. I am a little puzzled as to how it could have undone itself. Anyway I am glad you are alright, at least now you know all the parts needed to fit the blade safely. I guess that your experience is a reminder to us not to get complacent while doing such a mundane thing as changing a blade, I might do it four or five times a day, ( it takes me a while to get organized) and sometimes I might not give it as much thought as I should.

Robert

Nearly all table saws have the same arbor however not all saw blade manufacturers make their blades with the same size bore hole. That's where the arbor washer comes into to play. It would be very dangerous to put any old washer in, the washer should be 'serrated' on the outside and should fit the blade bore tightly. The blade with the arbor washer should then fit the arbor neatly. Anything different should put you in line for the Darwin Awards should you die as a result of your saw mismanagement :D

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Originally Posted by specialist

On my saw and all the other that I have used, the nut undoes the same way as the blade rotates: ie towards the front of the saw. I am a little puzzled as to how it could have undone itself.

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That's what I thought as well until it happened to me with the blade tightened up. I was ripping an awkwardly shaped piece of very hard wood and I started a cut so the blade was at full revs. I cut about 6" and then decided to stop so I turned the saw off and a few secs later I decided to keep cutting so I hit start but the switch did not grab but I was in too much of a hurry and had already pushed the wood back into the blade. Instead of cutting, the blade hit the wood and bounced into reverse and unbeknownst to me loosened the nut. I saw the motor was not running so I hit the switch again and then I saw the blade was not spinning and foolishly removed the wood. The blade then started rotating and free on the arbor wobbled around like a bent supermarket trolley wheel hitting the throat plate. I hit the off switch and ran for the shed door. No great damage. A few dings on the throat plate, but fortunately no carbide damage

Whenever I change a saw blade on any of my machines, I always spin the blade by hand(with the machine unplugged),to check for any wobble or noise prior to running it.

I am still thinking about it today......was friggin scary !

Would be embarrassing to have to peer over the fence to next door and ask the neighbour "Can I have my blade back?".....:oo:

My JET saw has a 5/8" arbor, and I'm afraid I'll only buy blades that come with a 5/8" bore (no washer required). Limits the choices a bit, but Freud and Infinity seem to be able to supply any blade I've ever needed.

Sounds like scary moments indeed, espscially when you know you have this potential missile that's likely to go anywhere, you want to turn it of cos you know it's damaging stuff, you want to run away, but you know it neeeds to be turned off NOW ARRGGGGHHHH.

My old Durden had the 5/8" shaft size, left hand thread, the blade did undo a few times, I think what happened was that with the inertia of the blade at switch off was enough to loosen the nut so when I next turned it on it would be loose, I just had to tighten the nut up enough so it didn't undo and it was usually right.



Pete

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My JET saw has a 5/8" arbor, and I'm afraid I'll only buy blades that come with a 5/8" bore (no washer required). Limits the choices a bit, but Freud and Infinity seem to be able to supply any blade I've ever needed.

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Yes, limiting the blade to one that does not require a washer would be waaay safer ...

Bad luck mate. Don't forget next time.

I take it that you don't use different blades for ripping and cross-cutting.

No, I just use the same blade...

I have this blade and it is sensational.

Flai 300mm Type-U Saw Blade #LU00300040030

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Originally Posted by Arry

I am still thinking about it today......was friggin scary !

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Thank your lucky stars Arry that you're OK,thanks for posting this as a timely reminder for all of us to be careful out in the shed.:2tsup:

Cheers:)

One thing i like about my TS220 is the 30mm arbor with big washers and nut it gives you confidence everything will stay tight.
Arry you've had your one warning you better let your wife do all the technical stuff from now on. [only joking]

Glad you're OK.

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Originally Posted by greggyboy

Whenever I change a saw blade on any of my machines, I always spin the blade by hand(with the machine unplugged),to check for any wobble or noise prior to running it.

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That's very good advice and applies equally to all machines and many power tools, jigs and fences.

Something else to watch out for is the profile of the large flanges used to grip the sides of the blade. I have used one saw where they were recessed on their face and only grip at the outer diameter. It was possible for the blade insert to fall out and move sideways into the recess, with only the grip of the flange and not the insert keeping the blade concentric. If this is possible with the machine then definitely stick to blades with the correct bore for your arbor.