As one of the most popular power tools on the market today, a worm drive circular saw can be found on almost every job site and in just about every garage on the block. They are built for durability and high performance and make any number of construction and demolition projects much faster and easier to complete.

Despite its popularity, only a handful of circular saw users fully appreciate the importance of regular maintenance and, in particular, keeping their worm drive circular saws properly oiled. In fact, it is common for the lubricant in these tools to become thick, dirty, and muddy, which can extremely impair saw performance and can contribute to premature wear and ultimately premature tool failure. However, with just a little lubricant and a little extra time from those of us who get so much work and happiness out of our worm drive circular saws, the untimely demise of these tools is entirely preventable.

However, before I explain how to flush these bad boys out, I’ll start with a quick tip: Users should check the oil level in their worm drive circular saws before each use. This takes only a moment and ensures that your saw will perform at its best every time you use it. Note: The oil level in the tool should never drop below the lowest threads of the oil housing.

So, to continue, if you’re one of those users who doesn’t get a good handle on your oil levels and now has a muddy mess on your hands and inside your saw, flushing and replacing the oil in your tool is the only way to revitalize your tool. performance and longevity. Fortunately though, while it does take a bit longer than simply topping up the oil, flushing and replacing it is a fairly simple procedure.

Disclaimer: Although it is not necessary to remove the saw blade to remove oil from a worm drive circular saw, it is always safer to remove it. This eliminates any chance of injury to both you and the saw blade. Also, when you’re not running to the tool to heat up old oil or flush with kerosene (*see below), make sure the tool is completely unplugged from its power source while you’re working on it.

To get started, simply let the circular saw run for about a minute. This allows the muddy oil to heat up and loosen up, making it easier to drain. Then remove the oil plug. The oil cap is the metal nut that sits just above the oil reservoir (reservoir should be clearly indicated with pictures or text). To remove the plug, use the wrench that came with the tool (the same one you use to remove the saw blade) and twist the plug out. Tip the saw upside down to allow as much oil as possible to drain from the reservoir.

After draining the muddy oil, refill the oil tank with kerosene. Replace the oil plug and let the tool run for another minute. This pushes the kerosene everywhere and completely rinses the gearbox, clearing it and the reservoir of any residual oil buildup. Invert the tool one more time to completely drain the kerosene from the reservoir.

Next and last, you simply need to refill the reservoir with a brand specific lubricant. For example, if you use a Skil saw, you must refill the reservoir with Skil oil. It is important that you only use these specific lubricants as other oils are not designed with the same particularities.

Support the tool on its feet on a vertical surface (such as a workbench or table) and fill the oil reservoir until oil spills slightly from the lowest point of the oil hole (the part closest to the reservoir). oil) and replace the oil plug.

Remember to check the oil in your worm drive circular saw before each use, top it up when you need to, rinse the oil out when it gets nasty, and you and that circular saw should be well on your way to long life. successful productivity.