Which circular saw

Controlling your circular saw's action with some kind of guide will immediately improve the accuracy of your cuts. Most circular saws are equipped with an adjustable guide which is fixed parallel to the base. However, this system isn't always helpful — especially when you're cutting a long way from the edge, or if the edge isn't straight. Some saws are equipped with a laser guide but the precision of the cut still mainly comes down to your own concentration! Maximum control is achieved with an aluminium guide rail , complete with non-slip brackets or clamps, which is placed on the workpiece.

The base of the saw slides along the rail ensuring a perfectly straight cut. Considering the fact that the blade of a circular saw can rotate at speeds of up to rpm, it's a good idea to invest in some extra safety features.

Depending on the model, you might find one or several of the following:. Circular saws can also be mounted beneath a workshop table or multipurpose workbench. This set-up allows you to transform your handheld circular saw into a makeshift table saw.

You can even add your own guide rails and sleds to make mitre cuts. When picking a circular saw blade, you'll have to think about size diameter , material, number of teeth and the size of the bore hole. Each circular saw is designed for a specific blade , the diameter of which determines the depth of cut :.

The number of teeth dictates the speed of your cut and the quality of the finish. The number generally ranges between 10 and The more teeth, the slower and neater the cut. Multipurpose blades , as the name suggests, are designed to cut all materials including softwood and hardwood, non-ferrous metals aluminium, copper, brass , and plastics and laminates.

If appearances are important, put the good side down when cutting. If you must cut the board face-up or if both sides will show, score the cut line with a utility knife before cutting.

TIP: When cutting a finished piece, such as a painted door, duct-tape the bottom of the saw shoe so it can't scratch the finish. A saw blade sinking through the face of a board can "walk" back across the surface, so make sure that no part of your body or the cord is in line with blade. Release the lever for the depth setting and drop the shoe below the blade. Then tighten the lever slightly to keep the blade from dropping, but don't lock it all the way.

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.

When cutting more than one piece of plywood to the same size, stack them on top of each other or side by side in the case of dimensional lumber , clamp them together firmly, and cut the lot in one pass to save time and ensure consistency. Blade guards have a tendency to jam on steep bevel cuts, so carefully nudge the guard lever with one finger to ease it over the edge.

Once the cut has been started, let the lever go. Never remove the guard or rig it so that it stays up permanently. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Choosing and Using a Circular Saw.

By Clayton DeKorne. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. For example, a 2. Remember that this rating also indicates the capacity of the battery platform, and a larger amp hour rating should provide a longer charge under similar usage. A volt is a standard unit used to indicate the potential of a charge in your battery pack on cordless circular saws.

Most individual batteries in a pack deliver 3. Your battery platform volt rating indicates the energy it provides. That energy determines the speed and torque of a compact circular saw. You may have seen the 20V MAX batteries and assumed that these provide more power than an volt battery pack. I was surprised to find out that they do not. A Lithium-Ion battery has a nominal rating of 3. Stringing five cells batteries together makes an 18v pack rated nominally or 20V MAX max rating.

Most woodworkers identify a circular saw by the size of the saw blade it uses. Hobbyists should consider one of these sizes:. You need to select a blade size that matches your circular saw. From there, you need to pick the type of saw blade you want to use. A good way to break these down for beginners are:.

Cast metals , including cast steel, are the cheapest materials used for shoes. They can be repaired easily compared to other materials but are more susceptible to damage.

It also weighs more. Aluminum is the most common base plate material. It is lighter and machines to a more flat surface. It is more expensive. Magnesium is the latest material addition and provides the strongest shoe for a circular saw. It costs more than aluminum but is very smooth. Comfort is something to consider with your circular saw.

It features a beveling base that adjusts between 0 and 50 degrees, while the rubber overmolded grip remains comfortable and reduces vibration. Getting the hang of a circular saw can be a bit of a challenge, but a circular saw with laser guidance can make the job that much easier. The SKIL Circular Saw features a single-beam laser that allows the user to maintain consistent passes on cutlines, taking some of the learning curve out of straight cuts.

Besides the laser beam, this corded circular saw also boasts a 5,RPM top speed from its amp motor, offering plenty of power and capability.

And, to make this saw a bit safer, there is a safety lock in the handle that the user must depress before squeezing the trigger. Heavy saws can be intimidating and difficult for some DIYers to maneuver. The motor has a top speed of 3, RPMs, making it powerful enough for most projects. The base bevels up to 50 degrees as well as adjusts the height of the blade for cuts up to 2 inches deep. This saw also features a built-in safety in the handle to prevent accidental activations.

This worm drive saw can cut both framing materials and sheet goods and also handle thick timbers. It uses a amp motor and runs at a top speed of 4, RPMs with plenty of torque. Available through Amazon.

First-time DIY tool shoppers need reliable, stand-alone tools to build the foundation of their kit. This corded circular saw from Bosch is just one of those models, not requiring the user to previously own any batteries while also being powerful enough for the user to grow into.

It also has a beveling base that adjusts up to 56 degrees. The wrench to change the blade stores on board this saw as well, allowing newer tool users to keep track of it for easy blade changes. And, the built-in rafter hook makes hanging this saw from a ledge a convenient option. This worm drive circular saw is useful for framing, carpentry, and even cutting sheet goods. It has a set of worm gears to increase the torque, making it a truly powerful saw.

This SKILSAW features a depth-of-cut guide on the side of the saw, allowing users to choose from among different sizes of plywood or framing lumber in seconds. The base adjusts to allow for bevel cuts up to 53 degrees.

And, despite being such a heavy-duty model, this worm drive circular saw features plenty of magnesium parts to reduce its overall weight to less than 12 pounds. Even with all that background on the best circular saws, some additional questions might be spinning through your head about these power tools.

Be sure to check for an answer to your questions below. The overwhelmingly most common use for a circular saw is cutting framing lumber to length.