A base place or shoe on a circular saw is a flat surface that attaches to the material and distributes the weight of the blade uniformly. The base plate requires replacement when the plate is no longer aligned with the blade.
Replacing the base plate of a circular saw has two parts. First, you have to remove the current base plate by detaching the front and rear slide. Next, you have to replace the plate by following the reverse directions.
For more thorough instruction, read fully.
Replacing The Base Plate Of A Circular Saw (Follow 9 Steps)
Replacing the base plate or shoe of the circular saw is not rocket science per se. However, guided instructions can make the task more comprehensive and efficient. Here, I will lead you from the big bang till you have a brand new base plate on your circular saw. Go through the step-by-step instructions with care.
1. Remove The Blade
This might seem an easy step, but those thousands of nuts and bolts beg to differ. You will have to take down the base plate without losing or cracking any necessary joints. Don’t worry. I will show you how. First, you have to remove the blade from the circular saw. You should wear safety gloves while dealing with the blades.
2. Remove The Inner Parts
Once the blade is removed, the next step is taking offthe inner blade flange. Then, you will find a bumper next to the flange and unscrew it. Take the bumper down and move forward to the retaining ring. The retaining ring securely holds the lower guard and is very easy to crack. So, be extra cautious.
3. Remove The Guard
After that, you have to unlock the base plate of the circular saw and adjust it in such a way that you can remove the guard easily. As the safety cover is eliminated, you can move forward on the bolt which securely places the adjustment slides to the upper housing. You will find a retaining plate secured at the lever.
With a Philip screw, start unscrewing the plate. Now, you detach the nut and the lever too. As there are a few washers in the assembly, you need to track down all the nuts and levers you are taking down. Firstly, the nut comes off and then the lever.
4. Detach The Rear Of The Base
As the washer comes off, you push the bolt so that it detaches from the housing. You will find that a larger washer is fitted between the slides and the upper guard. Take it off and you can detach the rear of the base plate from the circular saw. the hard part ends here.
5. Detach The Front Of The Base
Once you put the circular saw sideways, you will see four screws secure the front of the base. With the help of a Philip screwdriver, unscrew the nuts one by one. As you remove the nuts, you can take the whole base plate off the circular saw. now, you can move forward to the replacement part.
6. Attach The Front And Rear Slide
Replacing the base plate is basically the previous procedure but in reverse. Now, you have to securely screw the nuts that you have recently down. Make sure the screws match the hole and tightly clench the front of the base. You should line the screw holes with the bracket on the saw to resecure the base.
For the rear slide, place the larger washer in between the upper guard and the slide. Then, insert the bolt through the slide, guard, and washer. After that, put the smaller washer in its previous position. Lock the washing with the lever and the nut. Tighten the nut with your fingers to that it doesn’t shift to twist. Finally, lift the locking lever upwards.
7. Install The Nut With An Outer Retainer
Locking the lever is not enough. You need to adjust the nut’s tension so that the lever will lock the nut once you push it down. An outer retainer will finally lock the nut and adjust the tension. You have to place the outer retainer over the nut so that it is in line with the lever. Make sure that both are upright.
Now, push both the retainer and the lever at the same time with two fingers. Check the tightness of the nut and make sure the retainer only turns the nut, not the lever. Once, you screw the nut, those two will move together. If the nut is still loose, use a ranch instead of the retainer and give it a quarter of a turn.
8. Reinstall The Guard
After a hectic session of nuts and screws, you can move forward to reinstalling the guard by lowering the base. Firstly, you have to loop the end of the spring back around the pin at the top of the upper guard. Next, you place the lower guard over the hub and re-secure it with a retaining ring.
9. Reinstall The Blade
At first, place the bumper on the circular saw with a screw. Then, you can put the inner flange on top. The blade goes on next. Reinstall the blade and securely tighten it to the circular saw. And you are done. Now, you have a brand new base plate that will lead to a straight and hassle-free cut every time.
Some Tips To Remember
- If the blade on the circular saw is diamond or carbide-tipped, make sure to wear safety gloves before removing the blade to replace the base plate on the circular saw.
- There are various kinds of base plates on the market. You have to ensure the shoe matches the model.
- When you replace the shoe, ensure that the new shoe can distribute the blade’s weight evenly.
People Also Ask
What material is the base plate on a circular saw?
There are three types of material that a base plate is normally made of. Steel is the most popular option. Steel costs are low and exceed in durability. They are long-lasting as well. Aluminum is pricier and prone to damage faster than any other material, but the base plate is more precise and lightweight. There is also plastic that is cheap but not long-lasting.
Where is the base plate situated in a circular saw?
The base plate or the shoe of a circular saw is the flat surface that beholds the motor and the blade and directly lies on the material you are cutting. The base is enclosed to a surface and attached to the circular saw by four mounting holes or through grouting.
Why should you replace the damaged base plate?
The base plate is the only surface that implies the blade’s position and the weight of the motor. So, indeed a damaged base plate will fail to do its job properly. If the base plate is crooked, the cutline will never be straight ever.
When you use the circular saw for a while, the fast feeding or the dull blade shifts the position of the base plate. This is a mendable issue when the base plate is strong enough to tolerate such shifting. However, when the base plate is in dilapidated condition, the base plate can’t be shifted back to its original position.
Final Words
The base plate is often overlooked and taken for granted. Some people might be confused to learn one can replace the base plate too. But when you are using the circular saw for a while, especially with a dull blade or fast feeding, you have to replace the shoe eventually.
