A circular saw is a utilitarian workhorse and a useful addition to the toolkit of DIYers. Its most common function is to make cuts in a straight line on pieces of lumber. Knowing its parts makes using a circular saw easier.
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. To safely use a circular saw, select the blade appropriate to the job, firmly attach it to the saw using the arbor nut, then adjust the sole plate for proper height and bevel for the job. Better-quality circular saw blades can be professionally sharpened as needed. The circular saw can be modified to cut several materials by selecting other circular blades. The most common types include circular saws, saber saws, and reciprocal saws. Saber Saw: A saber saw features a small saw blade that moves up and down across the object to be cut.
Initially, mills used small to medium scale circular saws to cut through the large timber blocks. Even a few days earlier, rural Americans used a particular type of circular saw, namely cordwood saws to cut logs and slabs. Another particular type of circular saws, commonly known as cold saws, are used to cut down metals such as bronze, brass, and steel into a smaller and convenient size.
With the right blade, a circular saw can be used to cut framing lumber, sheet goods, roofing, metal, masonry, and more. Since a circular- saw blade spins upward, the side that the blade enters will have a smoother cut edge than the side it exits. Types of Cuts Crosscuts: Nearly perfect crosscuts can be achieved by using a square to guide the foot of the saw.
what does circular saw do Related Question:
What is a circular saw used for?
A circular saw is a tool for cutting many materials such as wood, masonry, plastic, or metal and may be hand-held or mounted to a machine.
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 much does a circular saw cost?
A circular saw can cost between $50-$200. Depending on your budget for the tool, you may want to go either cheaper or pricier. There are factors that can affect the price, such as brand or size. You will want to consider them when buying your own circular saw.
Whats the difference between a circular saw and a skill saw?
Circular Saws vs. All skill saws are circular saws. They all have circular blades that spin rapidly to bite through wood. However, not all skill saws are circular saws. Circular saws can be gas-powered, have sidewinder or hypoid designs, or even be fixed to radial arms, which skill saws commonly aren’t.
Which saw to get first?
A jigsaw is great for cutting curves and shapes, and it can also be used with a guide to make straight cuts, which is why this is the first power saw you should own. Unless you plan to rip long sheets of plywood, a jigsaw is preferable over a circular saw.
Is it better to buy a jigsaw or circular saw?
If you’re constantly needing to rip through boards, you know a jigsaw won’t cut it, so a circular saw is the more preferred option for you. If you’re doing intricate shapes and complex number cutting – a circular saw won’t help you there!
Which is better miter saw or circular saw?
A circular saw excels at breaking down sheet goods, and a miter saw is best for cutting down longer boards. A miter saw is more precise, due to the handheld nature of the circular saw. A circular saw is less expensive than a miter saw, and it’s more portable. A miter saw is safer to use than a circular saw.
Can a circular saw replace a table saw?
When wielded with enough skill and experience, a circular saw can replace a table saw. However, the time needed to accumulate the skills and knowledge makes a table saws’ price seen negligible in comparison.
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.
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.
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.
Do you need a work table for a circular saw?
You don’t need a table to use a circular saw. You can set it up on your garage or driveway floor or even your balcony and use it. In fact, I still use my circular saw on the floor when I am cutting plywood. Let’s dive into exactly how to use a circular saw without a table.
How deep can a circular saw cut?
Circular Saw Sizes Standard-size saws use 7 1/4-inch blades and can cut a maximum depth of about 2 1/2 inches. Compact saws can use anywhere from 3 3/8-inch blades up to 6 1/2-inch blades.
Can a circular saw cut metal?
Cut Metal with Your Circular Saw It may not be an obvious choice, but fitted with the right blade, a circular saw is a great metal-cutting tool. In our test, it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter. You can cut mild steel up to about 3/8 in. thick using a ferrous-metal-cutting blade.
Can I use plunge saw as circular saw?
A plunge saw is like a circular saw with a blade that spins and cuts, only with much more sophistication and accuracy. Rather than the guard retracting to expose the blade when cutting, such as with a circular saw, it has a fixed guard and the blade is exposed when plunging the handle to the pre-set depth.
