Adhesive-backed sandpaper disc for attachment to circular saw blade to provide dynamic balancing and vibration damping and method

Abstract

An adhesive-backed sandpaper disc is affixed to the side wall of a standard off-the-shelf circular saw blade having two opposed flat planar faces devoid of any recesses and surrounded by a periphery of cutting teeth. The disc is made in a generally circular shape with an abrasive affixed on one surface and a layer of adhesive provided on an opposite surface covered with a release paper to prevent contamination before use. The sandpaper disc includes a plurality of slots extending toward or to the periphery of the disc which combine with the surface of the saw blade to create recesses that permit channeling of saw dust created during cutting and sanding operations. In an alternative embodiment, the slots can spiral in an arcuate path from adjacent the center of the disc to the periphery to enhance the ability of the slots to channel saw dust radially outwardly from the disc. A plurality of holes form cylindrical recesses in conjunction with the face of the saw blade to which the disc is affixed. These recesses permit dissipation of heat from the saw blade and also provide locations where saw dust can be retained so that it does not interfere with cutting and sanding operations. The disc not only sands the sides created during cutting operations but also dampens vibrations, balances the saw blade, and reduces noise. A method of using the disc is also disclosed.

1 . In a circular saw blade having a generally circular configuration with a central mounting hole and flat side faces lying in parallel planes, and a periphery having a multiplicity of circumferentially disposed teeth, the improvement comprising an abrasive disc releasably attachable to one of said side faces of said blade, said disc including: 
 a) a first surface covered with an abrasive material;    b) a second surface opposite said first surface and covered with an adhesive;    c) said disc including a plurality of slots each extending from a location within said disc and toward a periphery of said disc, each slot extending completely through said first and second surfaces of said disc; and    d) a plurality of holes through said disc, each of which exposes a portion of a flat side face of said blade (1) to permit heat emanating from said flat side face of said blade to radiate through said disc, and (2) to provide a recess for receipt of dust particles generated by rotation of said blade through a piece of material being cut thereby, said disc damping vibrations and balancing said blade.    
     
     
         2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said abrasive material comprises sand.  
     
     
         3 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said slots terminate radially inwardly of said periphery of said disc.  
     
     
         4 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of slots comprises three slots.  
     
     
         5 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of slots comprises four slots.  
     
     
         6 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said slots extend to the periphery of said disc.  
     
     
         7 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of holes comprises at least one hole between adjacent slots.  
     
     
         8 . A method of damping vibrations and balancing a circular saw blade, said circular saw blade including a periphery with a plurality of teeth and side walls consisting of flat surfaces lying in parallel planes, the method including the steps of: 
 a) providing an abrasive disc having a first surface covered with an abrasive material and a second surface opposite said first surface and covered with an adhesive;    b) providing said second surface with a release paper covering said adhesive;    c) providing said disc with a plurality of slots equally spaced about a periphery of said disc and each slot extending from a location within said disc adjacent a center thereof and extending radially toward said periphery, each slot extending completely through said first and second surfaces of said disc;    d) providing said disc with a plurality of holes;    e) removing said release paper;    f) affixing said disc onto one of said side walls of said circular saw blade.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said slots terminate radially inwardly of said periphery of said disc.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of holes comprises at least one hole between adjacent slots.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of said slots extends to said periphery of said disc.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of holes consists of at least two holes between adjacent slots.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further including the step of providing said disc with a central hole alignable with a central hole on said blade.