History

“Buy It, Use It, Exchange It”

Exchange-A-Blade is the largest power tool accessory recycler and distributor in North America. The business model that has made Exchange-A-Blade so successful is based on the consumer concept of “Buy It, Use It, Exchange It.”

It all started in 1976 when founder and owner Rob Forbes recognized an opportunity to market and distribute a circular saw blade exchange system in Canada. He came to the realization that well-used saw blades were being discarded even though a majority of the blades could be easily remanufactured to original specifications. He surmised that contractors and consumers would be willing to buy such blades at substantially reduced prices, as long as there was no compromise in performance or quality.

The key to this system was ensuring that consumers purchased their “new” blades from Exchange-A-Blade. He did that by producing premium quality, high-performance accessories that exceeded the expectations of the most demanding users. Once the Exchange-A-Blade accessory has reached the end of its useful life, it can be exchanged for a remanufactured tool at a fraction of the cost of a “new” one.

It didn’t take long for people to catch onto Rob’s concept. Before long, his network of distributors expanded from coast to coast and Exchange-A-Blade quickly became the largest power tool accessory recycler and remanufacturer in North America.

Exchange-A-Blade today:

2,500 retail outlets nationwide.
44 distributors and sales representatives.
36 trucks servicing our customers.
A newly developed and expanding American distribution network that covers 10 states.

Since first introducing their saw blades in 1976, Exchange-A-Blade now offers router bits, hole saws, diamond blades, reciprocating blades, oscillating tool accessories and hand saws to the exchangeable product line. Under our non-exchangeable Stay Sharp™ brand, we now offer diamond blades, abrasive wheels, jigsaw and reciprocating blades, and screwdriver bits.