Circular Saw Cutting Tips 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.
Replace the 24-tooth blade that came with the saw with a 50- to 60-tooth blade for cleaner crosscuts in solid wood, veneered plywood, and other sheet goods. Because a circular-saw blade cuts on an upward rotation, the bottom face, in which the teeth enter the cut, will almost always have a clean, tear-out-free surface. “A custom edge guide for your saw not only beats tear-out, but also makes it easy to align cuts. Start by building a jig based on the drawing below; adjust the width as needed for your saw. We made ours long enough for crosscuts in 4′-wide sheet goods. Make the base’s cutting side about 1⁄2” wider than the distance between your saw’s blade and the footplate edge below the motor.
Cut the angle first with the saw at 90 degrees, and then use the off-cut to support the saw while you cut. If you grab your jigsaw whenever there’s a curve to cut, next time try your circular saw instead. It’ll do a sterling job for long, gradual curves in a fraction of the time a jigsaw will. If you’re cutting plywood, set the saw to cut just deep enough to cut through the wood.
The side in which the saw blade’s teeth exit the wood at the front of the cut should be the bad side. With a table saw, the blade exits the bottom side of the wood, so good side up. Blade teeth should always go into the good side and come out the bad side.
Bring the saw up to full speed, lift the guard, and slowly push the body of the saw down to start the cut. TIP: Make sure to start back far enough so that you only push the saw forward; never drag a spinning saw back. If a board is too wide for the saw shoe to hang over the edge during a rip cut, hold a narrow scrap of wood between thumb and forefinger, bracing your finger along the edge of the board, and butt the saw shoe against the edge of the wood scrap as you push both along the board.
circular saw cut good side up or down Related Question:
Does a circular saw blade cut up or down?
Circular saws cut on the upward stroke, which means that they rotate in a clockwise fashion, cutting from the bottom up. This is why when you’re using a circular saw, the side of the wood that will be your “good” side should be facing down.
Should you cut wood side up or down?
Your plywood should be oriented so that the blade exits the wood on the good face. So for a circular saw and miter saw, make your cuts with the good face down; on the table saw, with the good face up.
Why do circular saws cut upwards?
The saw’s motor runs the blade rotation in a way that the circular saw teeth direction points up as it enters the wood you’re cutting. It’s intentional to create the most stable, accurate, and safe cutting. As the blade teeth hit the material, they rip from the bottom through the top.
Which direction should the blade face when cutting something?
When installing a new blade, make sure the teeth are pointing downward to enable a clean cut through the workpiece. Upward-facing teeth can cause a severe injury to the operator.
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.
Is there a left and right handed circular saw?
From what I’ve seen these past few years, corded circular saws are mainly right-handed saws. There are some brands, such as Milwaukee, that offer both right- and left-handed saws. Worm drive saws are typically left-handed. Cordless circular saws are typically left-handed as well.
Which side goes down when cutting plywood?
A blade with bad teeth or wood pitch buildup won’t cut cleanly. Also note that a circular saw cuts on the upstroke, which often splinters the top edge (veneer) slightly. The bottom edge usually remains splinter-free. So always cut plywood with the good side down.
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.
Which way does a saw blade go on a circular saw?
Almost all circular saw blades have an arrow that is either printed or engraved on the blade. This arrow indicates which way the blade should be installed in the saw. The arrow needs to point towards the front of the circular saw. If we don’t see an arrow the teeth need to face towards the front of the saw.
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. Commercial blade cleaners are sold for this purpose.
Can you cut backwards with a circular saw?
When cutting vinyl siding with a circular saw, install a fine-toothed blade backwards on the saw for a smoother, cleaner cut, especially in cold weather (when the material is brittle). Make the cut slowly.
Can you turn a wood blade around to cut metal?
While a metal-cutting saw has a collection bin to prevent metal chips from getting into the machine, a woodcutting saw isn’t designed this way. If you do decide to use a wood saw on metal, only use a 7 1/4-inch blade and preferably a worm drive blade, which provides extra torque.
Why are so many circular saws left-handed?
The placement of the cordless saw blade, on the left side, gives you a clearer line of sight when you cut. The reason for this is because the main bulk of your circular saw is not blocking your view. Cordless circular left-handed saws provide you better movability.
Does Dewalt make a left-handed circular saw?
Dewalt Left Handed Circular Saw Dewalt left-handed circular saw, corded, has a powerful 460 MWO, 5,150 RPM motor that provides more than enough power and speed to make difficult cuts without a problem. The material of the base plate is Magnesium which makes it strong and lightweight.
Can I use a circular saw to cut plywood?
Circular saws can be used to make square, miter, bevel and compound-angle cuts. When fitted with the appropriate blade, it can even cut metal and concrete. However, there’s one job for which the circular saw is particularly well-suited: cutting large sheets of plywood down to size.
