1. Before removing the cartridge, use a marker or masking tape to indicate the teeth that were engaged in the aluminum block.
2. Place the sawblade in a bench vise with teeth pointing to the right.
3. Clamp in place with the cartridge at the 3 o’clock. (See Figure 1)
4. Place cardboard at the 6 o’clock position between the vise casting and the sawblade teeth. This will prevent damage to the carbide tips.

Use a hammer (conventional or deadblow) to tap on the cartridge in a clockwise direction. Alternate hammer strikes on each side of the blade. Several strikes of increasing force may be required to free the cartridge.

Figure 1 - Courtesy of SawStop

You may be as surprised as we are that a sawblade can be stopped so quickly and NOT have the imbedded teeth damaged. That is the case about 50 percent of the time, in our experience.

To inspect all the teeth that met the cartridge (this is why you marked them with the tape or a marker) use a magnifying glass (See Figure 2) and check for the following:

• Chipped, cracked or broken carbide tips
• Tip separation along the brazing line at the intersection of the carbide tip and the sawplate

The Top Grind on the sawblade can affect the chance of carbide tip damage. A sawblade with a high ATB is more fragile than a Triple Chip Grind and so it’s more prone to engagement damage. Click here to learn more about Top Grinds.

Figure 2 - Tip Inspection Using Magnifying Glass

A quality cut is only achieved with a flat plate. When a SawStop engages, the force is in a single plane, which happens to be the sawplate. The force may bend or deflect the sawplate. A Thin Kerf sawblade has a higher chance of bending than a Full Kerf (1/8”) sawplate.

To check flatness, follow these steps:

1. Lay a steel rule (at least as long as the sawblade’s diameter) on edge across the plate.
2. Make sure one end of the rule is within the area that was engaged.
3. Hold the plate in one hand and the rule in the other.
4. Position the plate in front of a light source so you can see light between the plate and the ruler.
5. Turn the plate over and repeat. (See Figure 3)
6. Rotate the plate 90 degrees to a position perpendicular to the engagement and check again using the ruler on both sides of the blade.
7. As you go through the process, use a marker to indicate the extent of any bend you observe.

Figure 3 - Inspecting Sawplate Flatness