A circular saw is an electric saw that turns a round flat blade to cut wood, metal, or plastic depending on the blade selected. Circular saws have a handle with on/off trigger switch, an arbor nut to hold the blade in place, and guards to protect the operator from touching the spinning blade.
Blade guards should come with every saw and are pretty much required for safe use. We do not ever recommend using a circular saw without a blade guard. Typically, a blade guard will come in two parts: The fixed guard, which is always situated over the top of the blade and never removed, and the floating guard, which can be pushed out of the way when you’re ready to move your blade into place.
Circular saw blades come with different numbers of teeth, with more teeth generally equaling a more precise cut. What a Circular Saw Can’t Do. Circular saws are great, but they aren’t capable of cutting anything other than perfectly straight lines. If you need to cut your workpiece on a curve, go with a reciprocating saw instead, like a jigsaw or a band saw.
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.
how does a circular saw work Related Question:
How does a circular saw spin?
Circular Saw Blade Rotation and Teeth Direction As the blade teeth hit the material, they rip from the bottom through the top. That rotation direction pulls sawdust and chips up into the guard where they can eject through a dust port. It’s the opposite of a table saw, where the teeth enter the cut from the top.
Are circular saws hard to use?
Using a circular saw for straight cuts on your DIY projects might seem intimidating, but these simple tools are easy to use once you know the basics. This guide will teach you how to use a circular saw safely so you can be confident and comfortable when making straight cuts, crosscuts and rip cuts.
Why do circular saws cut up instead of down?
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.
Why do some circular saws have the blade on the left?
Traditionally, all worm drive saws operated in a blade-left orientation. Furthermore, this orientation likely places the weight of the saw over the portion of the material the user wants to keep, making it easier to stabilize the saw during the cut.
What is the minimum cut with a circular saw?
The circular saw can cut any depth from 0 to about 2 3/8″. This is awesome. But, to get the best quality cut and reduce the possibility of kickback, you’ll want to set the proper cut depth for your material. The blade should only project about 1/4 -1/2″ below the bottom of the material.
Can you cut wet wood with a circular saw?
If you’re cutting wet wood set the depth so that the entire gap between the teeth is clear of the board you’re cutting. This will stop your saw and cut line from getting clogged with wet saw dust.
Can I use a jigsaw instead of a circular saw?
Although a jigsaw can be used for most of the tasks that a circular saw can perform, including straight cuts and cuts on a tilt, the jigsaw uses that really take advantage of the tool’s qualities are jobs such as kitchen fitting and joinery, with their frequent need for complex cuts.
How do you cut straight with a circular saw without a guide?
To ensure a straight cut, press the saw firmly against the straightedge as you push it along. Clamp a perfectly straight board or metal straightedge to a sheet of plywood to make cabinet-quality straight cuts.
How do you use a circular saw without a table?
Fit your circular saw with an edge guide. Set the depth of the blade accurately enough for it to go through the wood and not cut under the surface. Place the guide on base of the circular saw lines and markings you made earlier on the wood. Ensure that the saw is free to move, and the power cord is not entangled.
Can a circular saw cut a 4×4?
Circular Saw. A circular saw is one of the best means of cutting a 4×4 post. Most people own a circular saw, its portability makes it easy to cut 4x4s from the ground, and they can make precision cuts by using a relatively simple trick.
Why does my circular saw burn the wood?
A dull blade will make it hard to cut quickly, and the slower the feed rate of the saw, the more friction against the wood and the greater the likelihood of scorch marks. 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.
Why does my circular saw kickback at the end of a cut?
Overheating a saw blade can cause it to warp and result in a kickback. Buildup of sap on the blades, insufficient set, dullness and unguided cuts, can all cause an overheated blade and kickback. Never set a blade deeper than is required to cut the work piece 1/8 in. to 1/4 in.
Can a circular saw cut curves?
Circular saw technique The first tool that comes to mind for cutting curves is a jigsaw, but if the curve is gradual, try a circular saw instead. It’s surprisingly quick and easy to cut a smooth curve with a circular saw. This method is for cutting rough curves. Don’t try to make furniture with this technique.
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.
Which way do the teeth face on a circular saw?
The teeth should be cutting UPWARDS, in a clock-wise direction. You’ll also notice that when your blade is installed correctly, the teeth will be pointing upward. Remember: circular saws (as most saws) cut on the upward stroke.
