How Does a Circular Saw Work? (with Pictures)

A circular observed is the 1st tool many carpenters will reach for for the duration of a task. It’s helpful for producing long, straight cuts, and for reducing keep-acquired lumber into the proper shapes and sizes for the task. Occasionally known as a “skill saw”, it is also one particular of the most intuitive woodworking electrical power resources for beginners – but ought to nevertheless be handled with regard.

Parts of a Circular Saw

Circular saws have roughly 5 principal components. Let’s consider a rapid appear at what makes a circular saw perform:

Motor

The blade of a round observed is pushed by a large-speed motor – generally managing between five,300 and 5,800 revolutions for each moment when not actively cutting. Most circular saw motors are electric, possibly plugging into extension cords or managing on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Blade

Circular observed blades occur with different figures of enamel, with far more tooth generally equaling a a lot more precise lower. Toothier blades are very good at chopping throughout the grain of the wood, even though blades with less enamel are very best for slicing with the grain.

The regular dimension of a round saw’s blade is 7¼ inches, though scaled-down and greater blades exist. The gullets, the spaces in between the tooth, are also important, as they clear sawdust and wood chips absent although the saw cuts. Bigger gullets are better for woods that break down into larger chips.

Blade Guard

The blade guard is the round saw’s most important security function. It is comprised of an opaque mounted guard, which addresses the prime 50 % of the blade and in no way moves, and a transparent floating guard, which addresses the base 50 % of the blade although the observed is not in use.

For additional safety, some circular saws might have a switch that need to be released prior to the blade can move.

Base Plate

The foundation plate, also called the shoe, is a piece of steel attached to the leading edge of the noticed, opposite the manage and perpendicular to the blade. It rests on no matter what you’re cutting and assures the blade holds to a straight line. Most base plates can be altered up and down for distinct thicknesses of substance or tilted up to a forty five-diploma angle for bevel cuts.

Far more modern circular saws often have laser guides attached to the base plate. Lasers are another way to make totally positive you are cutting a straight line.

Handles

Finally, circular saws have two handles: a single at the again of the blade guard that involves the set off change for beginning the blade, and a single on best of the blade guard that helps you hold the saw regular.

Uses of a Circular Saw

 Circular saws can make 4 types of cuts: rip cuts, crosscuts, miter cuts, and bevel cuts.

• Rip cuts are the easiest cuts to make. Cutting along the grain of the wood is like tearing along a perforation — the wood “wants” to be cut this way. Accordingly, your blade doesn’t need to be as precise and can achieve a straight cut with fewer teeth (28 or more).
• Crosscuts cut across the grain of the wood. These cuts are more difficult since the wood will “resist” you. To get the same clean precision on a crosscut that you can on a rip cut, you should use a saw blade with more teeth spaced closer together (40 or more).
• Miter cuts are cuts made at any angle other than 90 degrees. They can be made with or against the grain of the wood.
• Bevel cuts are the most advanced of all cuts. To make a bevel cut, you’ll need a circular saw with an adjustable base plate. The plate always sits against the wood, so when you angle it, the blade will end up sitting at an angle.

Most round saws can bevel up to 45 degrees. Over and above that, you’ll have to flip the operate surface area as an alternative.

How to Use a Circular Saw

Commence by placing your wood, plastic, or metal someplace you can keep it regular whilst leaving place under it. Most pro- and semi-professional woodworkers will use sawhorses. Right after clamping the materials into location and making certain it is secure, adjust the depth of your noticed blade so it’s slightly more than the thickness of your workpiece, ensuring you make a clear cut all the way by means of.

Then, double-check out for security. Make positive you’re sporting eye defense – the saw will fling up dust as it cuts. Remove the floating guard and spot the base plate in opposition to the operate surface area, with the blade’s major edge nearly touching the edge of the workpiece. Grip both handles tightly and disengage the round saw’s security swap.

Squeeze the bring about to begin the blade. This activates the motor, which commences to rotate the blade, almost usually with the foremost edge reducing upward. Push the saw ahead, gently but firmly, until it touches the workpiece, then carry on pushing on by way of right up until you have completed the minimize.

Following ending the minimize, launch the trigger. Do not raise the noticed up or get rid of your fingers from the handles till the blade has completely stopped transferring. Re-engage the protection prior to putting your arms anyplace around the blade.

What a Circular Saw Can’t Do

Circular saws are fantastic, but they aren’t capable of reducing anything at all other than perfectly straight lines. If you want to minimize your workpiece on a curve, go with a reciprocating observed as an alternative, like a jigsaw or a band observed. Those saws reduce with translational rather of rotational movement, which enables the form of the reduce to be much more versatile.