2

I need to replace the blade on a bow saw/bucksaw.

It looks to me like the existing blade is affixed with a rivet, not a removable pin or bolt.

enter image description here

enter image description here

New blade:

enter image description here

(Both ends of the new blade look the same: two holes.)

I just want to make sure I'm not having a brain fart.

Is the only way to replace the blade to drill-out the rivet and replace it with a bolt & nut? If so, that seems like a bad design.

I ask because I'm at cottage in a somewhat remote location, so it will be an ordeal to scrounge up a drill, the right size drill bit, and a bolt/nut. I want to make sure I’m doing it right before I go through the hassle of modifying the saw by adding a bolt.

The brand name of the saw is Benchmark from Home Hardware: https://www.homehardware.ca/en/24-bow-saw/p/1062281?page=search-results%20page

Improve this question
7
  • 1
    Seems a bad design. Would imagine two hooks with one being adjustable to tighten the blade. Might be a good time to learn to sharpen the blade. Anything against chainsaws.
    – crip659
    Commented Oct 20, 2022 at 21:15
  • 4
    can you show us the other side? Doesn't look like a rivet, but something that goes through the blade and catches the other side, and falls out if you loosen the blade. In any event, rivet guns are cheap.
    – gbronner
    Commented Oct 20, 2022 at 21:19
  • driving a nail into the cupped end should pull the metal in to the center and loosen the rivet. If not, keep using bigger nails until there's only a small ring of metal around the edge, at which point needle-node pliers should be able to make short work of it. replace with a short bolt, ziptie, cotter pin, etc.
    – dandavis
    Commented Oct 20, 2022 at 21:55
  • 1
    I'm guessing that the manufacturer didn't feel most people would bother replacing the blade, vs just buying a new saw. The difference in cost would be minimal.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Oct 20, 2022 at 22:12
  • drill, file, grind, or cut out the old rivet and replace with new rivet
    – Jasen
    Commented Oct 20, 2022 at 23:15

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
9

The silver part on the handle of the saw is pulled down and away from the frame. Then the tension on both of the pins is released and they can be removed and a new blade inserted. The pins are rusted and may take some WD-40 and coercing to be removed. This releases the blade. Reverse the process to install the new blade.

Improve this answer
2
  • 6
    I guess the key point in the answer is that the "rivet" is actually a pin that should come out when the tension is released.
    – Mark
    Commented Oct 21, 2022 at 6:40
  • 4
    In my experience, the rivet is often captive. But the hole in one side of the frame is larger than the other. So with the tension released, you can push the rivet far enough through to release the blade, without losing it. After inserting the new blade, push the rivet back through both sides of the frame before re-tensioning the blade.
    – Simon B
    Commented Oct 21, 2022 at 16:07
1

DON'T GIVE UP. Keep wiggling and turning the pin. It will come out. It is just as difficult to get it back in, but took less than a minute to get it out and less than a minute to put it back in.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.