When Cutting With A Circular Saw

You can use a circular saw to cut holes out of the middle of a sheet of wood, but it requires a steady hand and a little practice. Set the blade to the correct depth and align the guide mark with your cut line. Hold the blade guard back slightly while you tip the saw forward on the toe of its shoe.

Which side of the line do you cut with a circular saw?

When appearance matters, make cuts with the good side facing down, as circular saws can splinter the wood on the top side. Making your cut line on masking tape can reduce splintering. Start over if you see that you’ve veered off from the cut line instead of trying to curve your way back on track.

Do circular saws cut up or down?

As a circular saw blade cuts up through wood, the fibers on top splinter off, a condition known as tear-out (usually worse on cross-cutting). If appearances are important, put the good side down when cutting.

When cutting wood which side goes up?

To get the cleanest cut possible remember these tips: Whenever you run wood through a Table saw, always make sure that your finished side is up. Do the exact opposite when you are using your Power saw. The finished side of your wood must be at the bottom.

Why do circular saws cut upwards?

The teeth of circular saw blades are intended to cut upwards into the material from below and this is for safety purposes. It is important that you should not spin them in a different direction just like you spin a table saw blade.

Can a circular saw cut a 4×4?

A circular saw is one of the best means of cutting a 4×4 post. Like miter saws that measure less than 12 inches, a circular saw’s 6.5-inch or 7.25-inch blade will not cut cleanly through a 4×4. The maximum depth of most circular saws is just 2.5 inches. This means you’ll need to make two cuts.

What do you use a circular saw for?

With the right blade, a circular saw can be used to cut framing lumber, sheet goods, roofing, metal, masonry, and more. A powerful saw can be a major time-saver during demolition as well. Once you get used to using your circular saw, you can even use it to cut curves, like I did on my backyard deck.

Why does my circular saw not cut straight?

If you are unable to cut straight using your circular saw, you first need to check the positioning of the workpiece. The problem could simply be that the workpiece in unstable and needs clamping. You also need to check whether you are holding the blade properly and whether you have set the right cutting depth.

Why is my circular saw stopping mid cut?

Here are some reasons your circular saw keeps stopping: Make sure your work piece is properly supported so it doesn’t pinch the blade which could also cause kickback in addition to stopping. Damaged, warped, loose or dull blade. Motor malfunctioning or overheating. Cable problems like frayed cord or weak connection.

Why should you never cross your arms while operating the miter saw?

Never Cross Your Arms But sometimes the material will have to be held down on the right side of the blade. On those occasions, it’s tempting to still use your right hand to operate the saw, but doing so will cause your left hand to cross in front of the path of the blade—that’s bad.

What side should the fence be on a table saw?

It’s always better to place your rip fence at the side of your dominant hand if you’re just new to table saws. Doing so makes it easier and safer to do. It also gives you better stability and control during cutting.

What happens if you put a circular saw blade on backwards?

You can run a saw blade backwards and it cuts pretty well. However it is not at all a good idea. The two big reasons not to do this is that saw tips are much more likely to come off if the saw blade is run backwards and that the whole saw blade is much more likely to come apart if it is run backwards.

Why is my circular saw burning the wood?

Pushing the stock through the saw too slowly is a common cause of saw blade burn. Sometimes a blade that feels dull might only be dirty. If wood pitch resins build up behind the teeth of the blade, the cutting speed will slow down, increasing the chances for burns.

What is the best tool to cut circles in wood?

Using a hole saw is the absolute easiest way to cut circles in wood for your project. All you have to do is lock your hole saw in the chuck of your drill or drill press and start cutting. You can use hole saws to cut circles from ¾ inches up to 7 inches in diameter.

What should you not do with a circular saw?

What should you avoid when cutting with a circular saw? Do not hold or force the retracting lower guard in the open position. Do not place hand under the shoe or guard of the saw. Do not over tighten the blade-locking nut. Do not twist the saw to change, cut or check alignment.

How thick of wood can a circular saw cut?

Circular saws fitted with standard 7 1/4-inch blades have a maximum cutting depth of about 2 1/2 inches (2 1/8 inches is typical for smaller-bladed cordless saws).

How do you use a circular saw without a sawhorse?

In some cases, it might be better to use your circular saw without a sawhorse. If you need to make cuts without a work support, you can lay a sturdy, stationary surface under the material while making cuts.

Can you use a circular saw instead of a miter saw?

Circular saws do have more versatility than miter saws. Every cut you can make on a miter saw can also be done on a circular saw, plus a few more. This is why my dad (and some others on the internet) recommend starting with a circular saw. But circular saws are tedious to use.

How do you keep wood from Slivering when cutting?

To eliminate the splintering, first apply a strip of 2-inch-wide masking tape across the door. Clamp a framing square or other metal straightedge along the cut line. Then, slice through the tape and into the door using a utility knife. You should make several firm passes.

How tight should a circular saw blade be?

In general, the blades on right-handed circular saws turn counterclockwise, so you’d tighten the bolt clockwise; the blades on left-handed circular saws turn clockwise, so you’d tighten the bolt counterclockwise.