Yes, and it is a common cause of vibration people blame on the machine. Uneven carbide, a chipped tooth, resin caked on one side, or a bore that is not truly central all throw the blade off center at several thousand revolutions per minute.
A small mass imbalance becomes a large force at speed, and a saw blade turns fast enough that a fraction of a gram at the rim is felt through the whole machine.
The usual causes
A chipped or missing tooth. The blade is now heavier on one side than the other by exactly the mass that left.
Resin built up unevenly, which is more common than it sounds because one face usually sees more contact than the other.
Uneven grinding, either from manufacture or from a poor sharpening that took more from some teeth than others.
A bore that is not concentric, or a reducer ring that is slightly off. This is eccentricity rather than imbalance, and it feels the same.
How to tell it is the blade
Change the blade. If the vibration goes, it was the blade. If it stays, look at the arbor, the bearings and the belt. This one test takes two minutes and saves a long diagnosis.
Why it matters beyond comfort
Vibration widens the kerf, roughens the finish, and loads the arbor bearings continuously. It is also the noise people stop noticing, so the bearing damage accumulates unremarked.
Before you condemn the blade
Clean it. An even coat of resin is fine; a lump on one side is an imbalance you can wash off.
Last reviewed 2026-08-12