How To Square Your Miter Saw Blade?

Cleaning is an everyday chore that may sound tedious to you. But, you can not deny that cleaning is one of the essential tasks of our lives. As we and our surroundings need cleaning, our tools also require thorough cleaning once in a while. The same is the case with a miter saw. One of the reasons behind the misalignment of the saw blade is it’s clogging.

The dust of the material we work with, like sawdust and other debris, get stuck into the saw. This leads to it’s clogging. If the blade is clogged, then it will cause the misadjustment of your blade. This will eventually lead to the misalignment of the saw. You must take up the habit of cleaning the saw regularly.

An Air compressor with a nozzle on the hose is a useful equipment to clean a miter saw. Another effective device for cleaning the miter saw is a shop vac. Once the dust is blown away, you should wipe the saw. Use a clean cloth for a wipe. If there is any pitch build-up, make sure to remove it.

It is essential to keep a constant check on the blade of your miter saw. If your miter saw is out of alignment, you should scrutinize it’s blade too. If the blade is dirty, you should clean it. If it is blunt, then you should sharpen it.

If the blade is worn out, you should replace it. It is advisable to fix the blade properly before squaring the miter saw. You need to fix the blade before aligning the miter saw because a faulty blade will interfere with the process of alignment. Moreover, you will not get the desired results even after putting the miter saw back to square if the blade is not working correctly.

A popular and common way to use a miter saw is by setting it into a working table. It is a more comfortable and more convenient way of working with a miter saw. Moreover, there is a reduced chance of getting the saw blade misaligned while being set on the table. But, if your saw blade is out of alignment and you have already tried steps 1 and 2, but to no avail, then it is time to check the table.

Many times due to long and continuous use, the table gets misaligned. But it can be easily fixed. You need to adjust the table so that it is completely flat. Place the straight edge of the saw on the table and check if it is in a straight line or not. If the edge is not straight, replace or add a small section/wedge of wood to create a leveled surface.  Also, check for gaps.

Once you have fixed the table, it is time to adjust the fence of the miter saw. For those of you who are not familiar with technical terms and hence do not know what fence is, it is the part of the saw located at the backside. It is used as a support to cut long materials.
There is a good possibility that the fence lacks alignment.

To align it properly along the fence length. Check the spots that are not in a straight line. If the fence is misaligned, you need to set it right.
The way to align the fence is straightforward. First, you need to loosen the screws holding the fence. Now, adjust the fence accordingly. Once it is straight, screw it back. You must keep in mind to repeat the process on both sides of the fence.

One of the most anticipated problems with the alignment of your miter saw blade can be its angle. So, if you have tried the tricks mentioned above and the problem is still there, you now need to look into the bevel angle of your miter saw.

Set the blade angle to zero. Once you have adjusted the angle, check if the miter has squared with the fence or not. Place the miter such that it is aligned in a straight line to the fence.

Next, make sure that the edge of the square is straight against the side of the blade. Also, keep the other side secured against the fence. See if there are any gaps between the blade and the fence. In case there are gaps, tighten the knob after the miter is loose. Always adjust the miter angle slightly until the blade and fence are in one line.

A bevel angle is another essential component to ensure perfect alignment. If you have tried everything, but nothing is working, you need to check the bevel angle of your saw. Place the square on the table with the edge facing upward. Bring the saw blade down.

Now keep moving the square towards the blade till the vertical edge and the blade are in line. Do not forget to check for gaps. If there are gaps, ease the knob and adjust the bevel. Now tighten the knob to fix the angle.

Once you are done with the above steps, it is time to assess the results. Take a piece of wood for testing. Place it in the saw for testing. After you make all required adjustments, turn on the miter saw and try to crosscut at zero degrees. After cutting, take a square and check its accuracy. If there is still some problem, repeat the above processes once more.