By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:27:54 +0000

I find it truly amazing how many people there are who seem to think it isn’t possible to re-sharpen their own carbide saw blades. Well, I am here to tell you, not only is it possible to do, it is also very satisfying to know that you are saving yourself a great deal of money by keeping your favorite blades going for one more round. With this particular machine from Harbor Freight, you can bring new life to dull carbides with incredible ease and speed. For the sticklers out there, sure, you won’t be able to get a highly polished grind to the tips with a 180 grit diamond wheel — but it will certainly grind an accurate, sharp edge that will prove itself with the first hardwood you rip. The proof is in the pudding, I always say. The operating instructions are fairly poor, but with a little common sense, you can fill in the blanks and figure out the concept in a short period of time. I found the indexing feature to be quite useless and impractical. Once you have all the parts positioned correctly, a 40 tooth saw blade can be re-sharpened in 20 to 30 minutes. Good lighting is very important to perform this task. I use a small flashlight for quick inspections after each grind. Another important tip: keep it simple… grind only the leading face of each tooth. Do not attempt to hone the side faces of the carbide tips — those edges will naturally sharpen as the face of the tooth is dressed. Before turning the machine on, make sure the leading face will rest flat against the diamond wheel to maintain it’s original factory angle. The first tooth is critical, so lightly hold it to the diamond wheel for one second. Diamond will remove carbide faster than you might think. Do a quick inspection with a flashlight to check for an even grind. Sometimes a small adjustment is required. If everything looks OK…continue onward. A grind for 5 to 10 seconds per tooth is usually all it takes.

Comments on: 120 Volt Circular Electric Saw Blade Sharpener

By: Paul