If you are a professional carpenter or even a hobbyist, a compound miter saw is becoming a more commercially available product as technology improves and becomes cheaper

consult Best Cordless Saw For Cutting Tree Branches. Some may think power tools are an unnecessary investment and that the most skilled carpenter can build works of art using simple hand tools. However, once you own a DEWALT 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw, you will immediately realize the benefits of owning a powertool and the value it brings to the table. 

We chose to highlight DEWALT because they are the industry standard and one of the most widely available brands with amazing customer support. If you aren’t a fan of DEWALT or are simply in the market for something different please go through our reviews of the best 12-Inch compound miter saws, to find a high-quality saw that suits your needs! 

If you are already the proud owner of a DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw, this article will show you how to change the blade on a 12-Inch DEWALT Miter Saw.

Tools Required

The main tool needed for this process is the Blade Wrench included in the packaging with the Dewalt miter saw. However, we recommend heavy-duty gloves and eye protection as well.

Blade Wrench

Heavy Duty Work Gloves

Protective Glasses

In the workplace or even at home, when working with power tools or running maintenance, you must ensure your own safety at first. The gloves are needed to handle your shiny new blade. New saw blades tend to be extremely sharp, especially if they are serrated. Better safe than sorry!

Getting to Know the Dewalt 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw

Before proceeding to install a blade on your brand new saw, or changing out an old, worn out blade, you should first familiarize yourself with some of the parts on the dewalt miter saw that will be referenced throughout this guide. These parts are unique to the DEWALT Miter Saw and other saws may have parts that function similarly but they will have different names:

In order to install a new blade the main parts you must concern yourself with are:

1. Blade Guard

This is the part that rests on top of your blade and acts as a cover in order to protect you from bumping into it accidentally during operation of your saw. Remember that after you make a cut you must avoid any contact with your blade for two reasons, it is sharp and very hot. Always make sure your blade guard functions as original after you install a new blade or replace an old one. 

2. Bracket Screw

This screw holds the blade guard and the and the blade arm together. 

3. Spindle Lock

The spindle lock, as the name suggests, locks in the spindle mechanism on your saw once it is pressed in. Remember to hold this button while unscrewing the blade screw because it prevents free rotation of the blade.

4. Blade Screw

The blade screw is the main screw on the blade you must access to remove your blade from your saw. Remember that the blade screw has reverse threads, which means that the traditional notion “lefty loosey and righty tighty” goes out the gate with this one! The Blade Screw needs to be rotated clockwise to loosen and anticlockwise to tighten.

How to Install a New Blade on your 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw

The steps to follow are actually common across most DEWALT Compound Miter Saws. These steps may be inaccurate for compound miter saws from other brands like Chicago Electric or Craftsman!

Also, the 12-Inch in the name of this saw suggests the maximum size of blade the saw allows. If you are buying a new blade for your saw bear this information in mind before going to your local hardware store. Ask someone to show you a selection of blades that are best suited for your particular machine. If you purchase and attempt to install an inappropriately sized blade it may permanently damage the machine itself or lead to an injury. 

Step 1- Safety

First, wear the protection illuminated above in the article before you go any further!

Step 2- Power Off

This is always the step that comes right after personal safety when running maintenance work on any power tool. Completely disconnect it from the mains supply. Don’t just switch it off, take out the wall plug entirely. 

Step 3- Unscrew the Bracket Screw and Lift Up the Blade Guard

Raise the blade arm so that you have better access to the head of the miter saw. Locate the bracket screw and use your included blade wrench to loosen the guard bracket screw. Loosen it enough to be able to lift the guard up and out of the way. Then lower the guard and let it rest on the bracket screw.

Step 4- Access the Blade Screw

Once the Blade Guard is out of the way you will be able to see the Blade Screw. Now, lock in the spindle lock button and begin to rotate the Blade Screw in a clockwise motion to unscrew the blade.

Step 5- Keep Track of Additional Parts

• Blade Screw (E)- Screws the blade into position.

• Outer Clamp Washer (F)- This will come off with your blade. Hold onto it because the new blade does not come with a washer.

• The Blade (G)

• Inner Clamp Washer (I)- There is no need to remove this part because it will be housing the new blade.

• Blade Adapter (H)- This is also a part that does not come included with the saw. Once you take off your blade remember to remove its blade adapter and to install it on the new blade.

Step 6- Installing the New Blade

Some models don’t come with a blade adapter, if yours does, however, you must remember to put it on the new blade. Once that is done simply place your new blade on to the inner clamp washer. Replace the outer clamp washer and screw in the blade screw. 

Remember to hold the spindle again while you screw in the new blade. Turn the Blade Screw anticlockwise to tighten it (because of the reverse threading on this screw). 

Step 7- Wrap it Up     

After the Blade Screw has been sufficiently tightened, lower the Blade Guard and screw the guard bracket screw back in. Before you begin operating your compound miter saw test the blade arm a few times and make sure that the blade guard is working as intended. Use scrap materials to make practice cuts with your new blade before you begin working on your projects.

That’s All Folks!

That’s it! If you kept up with this article and followed it properly, you should have installed a shiny new blade on your 12-inch DEWALT compound miter saw by now. 

Go forth and prosper on your woodworking ventures. 

Thanks for stopping by!