Time is valuable but so are good results when you’re working on a project. If your blade is working on its last legs (or teeth) it likely won’t be performing its best. If you notice any of the issues mentioned here, you may be due to change your blade.

Blade Noise or Squeaks

You are usually pretty familiar with the sounds of your saw and the sounds and feeling of doing various tasks. Should you notice it becoming louder, squeaking, or cutting slower than usual, this is a sign you might need to consider changing your blade.

Teeth Are Starting to Strip

You can likely tell if your blade’s teeth are stripping by slower cutting or needing to increase the feed pressure. This also causes the blade to heat up more than usual and will ultimately result in you needing to change your blade before these smaller issues cause other, larger issues. If the blade starts to “thump” every time it goes around, you might want to consider changing it in between cuts rather than when it breaks halfway through a cut.

Signs of Stress and Overuse

Hairline cracks appearing can indicate stress. Dull blades heat up much more than newer blades and older blades can cause several problems, quickly. If you notice hairline cracks in your blade when inspecting it, you should seriously consider changing it, as soon as possible.