Several saws with 1/2-in. arbors use blades with 5/8-in. dia. centers — a plastic bushing makes up the difference. These lightweight bushings can be damaged pretty easily, especially when they are mounted in a circular saw. When our last one died, we hunted around for a more durable bushing and found it right on the job site — a ring of type L, 1/2-in. copper water-supply tubing.
Not only does a copper bushing last longer, but you also have some control over its length. A slightly longer bushing (about twice the blade thickness) makes mounting and positioning quicker. Don’t let the elongated bushing contact both saw-blade compression washers, or power transmission to the blade will be reduced.
Samuel M. Hoagland, Farmington, ME
