Why my New Miter Saw Blade Burning as it Cuts? Blade Burn Marks

It is the primary intention and desire of every carpenter and woodwork expert to get value for their money when purchasing a new mitre saw blade.

It can be frustrating and stressful when a new miter saw fails to perform optimally or malfunctions. One of the problems that most woodwork specialists experience is their miter saw burning the wood as it makes cuts.

When this happens, the quality of the work is compromised. Luckily, this problem could be fixed.

As a novice, you could be asking yourself, “Why is my new miter saw burning as it cuts?” Well, there are a number of reasons behind this phenomenon.

First of all, you should make sure that your miter saw blade is clean, sharp and free of the pitch.

This is because the blade gets blunt with usage, and when your saw blade is dull, it makes it challenging to cut woods quickly, and when the rate of the feed is slower, a great fiction will be created between the blunt blade and the wood, thus causing burns and scorch marks on the wood.

Miter saws are designed to be robust and are intended to give precise and accurate bevel crosscuts; thus, when your miter saw blade is causing burns and smokes on pieces of wood, it is a clear indication that it has malfunctioned and should be fixed.

A miter saw produces smoke when it can no longer cut the wood with ease; thus, much pressure and struggle is applied than before. When your miter saw blade malfunctions, you should look for means to get it fixed.

This piece will enlighten you why your miter saw blade could be smoking and burning the woods as you cut.
Let’s get to it.

Why is my Miter Saw Burning the Wood?

Here’s a great little video explaining why you’re getting burn marks:

It is not normal for a miter saw blade to burn the wood as you undertake your woodwork and carpentry duties.

When this happens, you should know that there is a problem with your miter saw, and most of the time, it has something to do with the blades.

First of all, you should confirm if you have correctly installed your miter saw blades and that they are facing the correct direction.

If you saw blades are facing the wrong direction, it could be difficult for it to make cuts, thus causing friction, which could damage the wood that you are cutting by burning it.

Secondly, a blunt and dull miter saw blade could be the reason why your miter saw blade is burning as it cuts.

A Blunt saw reduces the efficiency of your miter saw as it may inconvenience the precision and accuracy of your cuts.

The speed of the saw will end up reducing as the bluntness is compromising on the standard speed. Thus, it will cause scorch marks on your piece of wood.

The quality of work produced will be low due to the burns caused by dull saw blades.

In some instances, a miter saw blade that feels dull might be due to dirt and wood pitch resins that accumulate behind the teeth of the blade, which slow the cutting speed of the saw blade, thus increasing the chances of burns.

It is highly recommended you increase the productivity of your miter saw blade through regular cleaning and maintenance. You could use a commercial blade cleaner to remove dirt that you make your miter saw dull.

Why Does my Mitre Saw Blade Smoke?

While undertaking your woodwork projects, you could notice that your miter saw miter blade is producing smoke.

This could be a worrying observation. However, when this happens, it shouldn’t be a call for alarm as it could be a minor problem that could be fixed.

One of the main reasons behind this problem is a result of the miter saw blade getting blunt as you use it on the various rigid wood surfaces. The saw blade no longer can cut the wood with ease; thus, it will struggle, thus producing smoke.

Dull and blunt saw blade interferes with the motor’s average speed as it will tend to be slower than usual. You should check on the feed rate to ensure the proper adjustment to prevent your miter saw from malfunctioning and producing smoke.

Uneven alignment is another reason that could make your miter saw blade produce smoke. It is vital that when cutting, you place the accurate angle that the miter saw blade is rated to cut.

Miter saws are equipped with a fence to ensure that the wood material is in the proper position and held firmly in position until the work is completed.

However, when this measure is not adhered to, much pressure will be applied, causing burns and smoke.

Before you start working, always ensure everything is perfectly aligned.

Preventing Burn Marks From your Miter Saw

One of the common reasons that could make your miter saw blade burn wood is using it on warped lumber.

When you go to the lumber yard to purchase, always ensure that you do not buy warped lumber as it could cause damage to your miter saw blade.

Although dried lumber could cause your miter saw to malfunction, the use of miter saw is highly forbidden of green and undried pieces of wood due to health and safety concerns.

The saw blade cannot perform optimally on warped lumber; thus, it could cause burns.
Another reason that could make your miter saw burn wood is the misalignment of the splinter.

A splinter that is misaligned could cause the wood to be cut to bind; thus, it would not run straight, thus causing more friction, and in some instances, it could cause kickbacks.

A miter saw blade that is warped is not ideal for cutting. When your saw blade is warped, it will wobble when cutting wood, thus making inaccurate and erroneous cuts. As a result, this could cause friction and burn the wood.

Although blunt and dull miter saw blades could interfere with your work’s quality by causing burns and smokes, you could fix this problem.

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your saw blade will go a long way in improving its lifespan. You should also ensure that you correctly sharpen your miter saw blade to enhance its productivity.

However, if your saw blade is worn out, you should consider replacing it with a new one.


How to Sharpen a Miter Saw Blade

A circular saw machine is among the most crucial woodworking tools needed in every workshop. Understanding how to properly sharpen a miter saw blade is a great thing to know!

After using this tool for a prolonged period, the blade becomes dull and blunt which can compromise the quality of the cuts you require. If this happens, your blade might require either sharpening of the teeth or cleaning.

Can You Sharpen A Miter Saw Blade?

Miter saw blades become dull due to frequent use. When the saw blade becomes dull, your saw becomes unable to cut with the accuracy and precision required.

Whenever this happens, it is advisable to sharpen the saw blade for quality performance. Additionally, sharpening increases the lifetime of your saw blade. However, it does not work the same as a new blade.

At times the saw blade becomes dull due to the build-up of sap and synthetic material which may diminish its cutting power.

In such an instance, sharpening the saw blade is unnecessary. The proper way of dealing with this is by cleaning the saw blade using an all-purpose cleaner and a plastic brush.

The dullness of the saw blade due to deposits is more common than the bluntness of the teeth. Therefore you might need to clean your blade about three times before you opt for sharpening.

How Do I Know If My Miter Saw Blade Is Dull?

Before deciding to sharpen your saw blade, you need to assess how dull the saw blade is. To do this, you will have to consider the following indicators.

  • The blade begin splintering and chipping your work.
  • When you see burn marks at the edge of the wood.
  • The saw starts to stick in the cuts.
  • When you notice chipped teeth on the blade. 
  • The blade wobbles and does not cut straight. 
  • Teeth appear rounded and smooth.
  • When the saw motor becomes louder during cutting.
  • More resistance when cutting.

Is Sharpening Circular Saw Blades Worth It?

Sharpening blades helps you cut the cost of buying a new saw blade. It also prevents the wastage of usable saw blades.

It is for this reason that the sharpening of blades is considered to be worth it. Additionally, blade sharpening costs way less as compared to replacement.

How Many Times Can You Sharpen A Saw Blade?

When a saw blade becomes dull and worn out, it’s time to sharpen it. However, there is a limit as to how many times you can sharpen a saw blade. After sharpening a saw blade 3 or 4 times, the saw begins to strain when cutting, although no burn marks appear.

This aspect shows that the blade has become weak and requires replacement. You can’t continue sharpening the saw blade at this point. The number of times a worn-out blade should be sharpened depends on the type of blade you are using.

How to Sharpen Your Miter Saw Blade By Hand

Sharpening a miter saw blade by hand is a viable option unless the blade’s teeth contain carbide material. In such circumstances, it is advisable to consider professional saw blade sharpening. Blade teeth made of carbide material are very hard in nature. These teeth are capable of damaging almost any file.

You will therefore need to consider seeking professional services to receive quality sharpening. Various service providers will sharpen your blade at a small fee. However, sharpening other types of blades yourself is possible and easy.

Here’s a videos to show you how easy it can be, don’t mind the “sharpening kit” he’s using. These kits are nice and make the job easier, but aren’t necessary.

Tools Required For Blade Sharpening By Hand

For the effective sharpening of the miter saw blade, you will require to collect the following tools.

  • Crayon 
  • A small diamond file 
  • A workbench with mounting clamps

Below is the detailed procedure for sharpening a dull saw blade.

  • Remove the blade The first step of sharpening a dull miter saw blade is removing it from the saw. The saw blade is removed because you cannot file it while still in the saw. Most miter saws have a blade release switch that helps you remove it conveniently. After removing the blade, place it on the workbench over the clamps.
  • Put markings on the teeth It is a requirement that you put markings on the teeth of the saw blade using the Crayon before you start sharpening the saw blade. Marking the teeth reduces the risk of time wastage, which occurs when you file the same teeth twice and leave other teeth dull. 
  • Filling the tips of every tooth After prepping the blade for sharpening. You can start filing one tooth at a time to ensure that you sharpen all the teeth properly. To file, place the diamond guide at the front edge of the first tooth. Then make upward and forward slow movements along with the tips of the tooth. While filing, the face of your file should lean against the flat part of the blade. Through this process, be careful and avoid touching the point of the sharpened teeth. 
  • Repeat the third step for every tooth After sharpening the first tooth of the blade, repeat the process for each tooth. You will need to do this until you return to the first tooth you marked with the Crayon.
  • Turn the blade over After you finish sharpening one side of the saw blade, you should then turn it over and file the other side. Repeat the third step for each tooth. Upon finishing this sharpening procedure, you can remove the saw blade from the clamps and return it to the saw machine.

How Much Does It Cost To Sharpen a Saw Blade?

Carbide-tipped blades are difficult to sharpen because of their hardness. Processionals, therefore, use power grinder equipment. This equipment contains a diamond wheel that grinds saw blades at specific angles for quality sharpening.

The cost for a professional sharpening is about 25 to 50 cents per tooth. 

For example, Dynamic Saw located in Buffalo, New York, offers miter saw blade sharpening.

Their cost ranges from $9-$30 USD depending on how many teeth the blade has. 

Sharp saw blades play a tremendous role in ensuring accuracy and cutting precision during woodworking.

You should, therefore, always work with sharp saw blades. In case these blades become dull and worn out, you should get them sharpened either by a professional or sharpen them yourself.

Giving your miter saw blades a quick sharpening with a file at home is great for the first few times.

After the third or fourth time you’ll want to send it off for a professional grade sharpening. This will help ensure you haven’t cause uneven wear from your own sharpening.