help with Dewalt lower blade holder

[sgimbel]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but after a few times of tightening the blade it gets to the point that the blade just doesn't fall into the slot far enough to get tightened. I'm cutting about 3/4" stacked with a 2/0 spiral reverse blade. It takes me 4 - 5 seconds to cut the hole (very small) out and another 30 or more to get the blade reattached for the next cut. I have a numb right hand, which doesn't help, but I'm getting grreat exercise always looking under the table but it slows me down soooooooooo much. Any ideas?
Hope I made this understandable. The saw is new and hardly has a dozen hours on it so it's not worn out.

[Wood Dog]

Originally Posted by sgimbel

the blade just doesn't fall into the slot far enough to get tightened.

Just a thought, but could you have a small piece of broken off blade stuck in the clamp?

[lucky788scroller]

Possibly what WD mentioned, or a small sliver of wood, or even a bunch of sawdust packed in there?I am a bottom feeder,so once I install the blade in the lower clamp, I leave it until done, or worn out, and do my changing frets using the top clamp. Either way is ok, whatever works for you. I am guessing you have something obstructing the blade from going all the way back into the clamp. One other thing to try, back out your bottom thumbscrew an extra 1/2 turn or so and try it. If that dont work, then check the setscrew opposite the thumbscrew, see if its catching on that on its way back in.

[Ramjet]

Hi . Remove the lower thumb screw and see if it is all there . The end has a small part that is supposed to swivel . It is held in place with a tiny o ring . Cheers .Roger

[miamw]

I have a feeling that you are placing your blade too high in both clamps causing the bottom one to slip out while cutting.

Maybe you are clamping the blade in too high on the upper clamp and not leaving enough blade to be clamped into the bottom clamp which would cause the clamp to not be secured enough on the bottom portion of the blade. When putting a new blade in, attach it to the top, then clamp the bottom, then go back to the top and adjust it to be vertically level, then again go back to the bottom clamp to make sure the bottom clamped blade is also vertically level. You should have just about the same amount of blade above the top clamp as you do below the bottom clamp.

Another thing could be that since you are using spirals, try to straighten the spiral blade a bit on the top and bottom so that when you go to clamp it in, it makes good contact with both clamps.

Hope this helps.

[Neal Moore]

May sound silly but.....are you releasing the tension all the way each time you un-clamp the blade?

[Jim8Mad]

Originally Posted by Ramjet

The end has a small part that is supposed to swivel. It is held in place with a tiny o ring.

My lower clamp is bending the blades after a couple of times. Is there a safe recommended lubricant for the clamps that won't deteriorate the o-rings?

[Plaquerd]

Jim
That is part of my preventive maintenance. The end comes off, I tried to lube it..........not a good idea, the "O" ring reacted to the oil and was ruined. Now I just remove the end and blow air into it to get the dust etc. out, then use a cotton swab with some MS on it to clean the inside of the cap, make sure it is dry before reinstalling it on the thumb screw, this works for me.

[Jim Finn]

I have a numb right hand, which doesn't help,...............I now have trouble with my right hand also so I moved the lower and upper tightening knob to the left side and the set screw to the right. Just take them out and switch them. Works well!

[minowevie]

mmmmmm I sure do love my Hegner. no problem clamping. no offence intended, your friend Evie