How to Use a Circular Saw

 A circular saw is an essential tool and valuable addition to any DIYer's toolkit. Its most popular use is to cut long, straight lines on lumber. Understanding its internal parts makes using a circular saw much more comfortable.

Trigger lock switch: A safety feature prevents the circular saw from being accidentally turned on when the trigger is inadvertently squeezed. This switch ensures that no one else can start the saw while it is running. Lock-out switch: It prevents accidental turning on of the table saw when the door is left open after you have finished with your work. A lock-out switch is provided in case of an unexpected shutdown, which blocks the machine from turning off by itself. This is very convenient if you are working on the project and have finished with everything but need to wait for the machine to cool down.

Drive shaft: The drive shaft of a circular saw contains the motor, which propels the blade along the table saw's length. Dowel: The cylindrical part of the blade that connects the blade to the motor. This also holds the teeth of the blade and provides the cutting angle.

Table Saw Blades: All good quality circular saws come with carbon steel blades. Carbon steel is rust proof and is highly resistant to corrosion. It also provides good strength, tensile strength, and ultimate cut strength. If you are looking for the best circular saws, it is advisable to go in for high carbon steel table saw blades.

Jiggers: A jigsaw is the other important factor in learning how to use a circular saw. A jigsaw cuts a pattern and is used to cut shapes. In this case, it performs two important functions. Firstly, it helps in cutting various shapes. Secondly, it helps in cutting large pieces into smaller pieces.

Wood Shaft: A wood shank or blade is fixed into the base of the saw. Wood shanks come in various styles. The common ones include mortise and tenon, crosscut and mitred shanks. Mitred shanks are steeper and deeper than the other kinds of wood shanks.

Electric Brake System: An electric brake system helps counteract the blade's force when it is being pulled or pushed. Electric brake systems can be fitted on the saw as a separate device or can be built into the blade. It provides the necessary braking force, lessens backspin, and extends the life of the blade. However, an electric braking system is more expensive and can be more difficult to retrofit onto the saw.

Skillful sawing: Even though it may seem very easy, manually cutting wood is not at all easy. It requires patience and accurate timing. As such, you need to get a decent amount of experience before you attempt to learn how to make circular saws on your own. Practice every day and assess how your accuracy and speed improve. Also, learn to sharpen your blade for every cut. It's also important to wear safety glasses and other protective equipment during manual sawing to reduce the risks of getting hurt from flying objects.

Make Cuts in All directions: You need to make cuts in all directions. Start by making cuts straight across your target line. Gradually make cuts going towards the left and right, and cut across to the right again. Straight-line saws are better than crosscut saws because they make accurate slices even without it.

Maintain a steady work piece: Your work piece should always remain perfectly still. A wobble or shift in the work piece will disturb the accuracy of your cut. If you are making a cross cut and the distance between your two saw blades is less than 0.6 mm, maintain a constant distance between the blades at all times.

Keep a blade guard in place: Your circular saw blade guard should be placed in position before starting the saw. This ensures that your saw remains sharp throughout your work. The blade guard prevents the blade from turning during your cut. Blade guards are usually available as a built-in accessory with a circular saw.

Use a table saw for general household purposes: Circular saws are primarily used for detailed woodturning or woodworking. A table saw is generally more powerful and faster than a stand-up model. For general household projects, a stand-up machine would be more appropriate. Overall, the best choice is to purchase a small-scale project and use a circular saw for most of the cuts.