A circular saw is one of the most useful handheld power tools to own, and I think every shop should have one. Plus, it's a great tool for woodworking projects if you don't have a table saw or if you just have a limited space. It's a portable tool. You can build projects anywhere, in your driveway, your patio, or even on a balcony.
A circular saw is similar to a table saw, but instead of feeding lumber through the saw, you pass the saw through a stationary board. Unlike a table saw though, it's safe to make freehand cuts with a circular saw, although you'll get straighter cuts if you use a fence or a guide.
A circular saw has two handles to help you control the saw with both hands. The rear handle has the trigger that you'll hold throughout the cut. Some saws have a safety button that you need to press first to prevent accidental starts.
A circular saw is similar to a table saw, but instead of feeding lumber through the saw, you pass the saw through a stationary board. Unlike a table saw though, it's safe to make freehand cuts with a circular saw, although you'll get straighter cuts if you use a fence or a guide.
A circular saw has two handles to help you control the saw with both hands. The rear handle has the trigger that you'll hold throughout the cut. Some saws have a safety button that you need to press first to prevent accidental starts.
Typically, the blade is to the right of the motor, like this one. But if you're a lefty, you could also buy left-handed saws that'll help you keep the blade to the left side of your body. But some right-handers actually prefer having the blade on the left side where it's easier to see. It's just a personal preference.
The baseplate of the saw rests flat against the surface of the wood and keeps the blade running at a constant angle to the wood. Usually, of course, that's a 90 degree angle.
These two saws have aluminum base plates, which are lighter weight and less expensive. But if you plan to use the saw for more than just occasionally, you'll get better results with a steel base like this one. The base tilts for making beveled cuts. This saw has a gauge to set the angle you want plus positive stops at 45 and 90 degrees, as well as some others. By releasing this lever, I can adjust the saw up or down to make deeper or shallower cuts.
All saws will have a blade guard. It retracts automatically when you start cutting. Sometimes you might need to manually retract it using this lever. You might occasionally need that for making plunge cuts.
These two saws have aluminum base plates, which are lighter weight and less expensive. But if you plan to use the saw for more than just occasionally, you'll get better results with a steel base like this one. The base tilts for making beveled cuts. This saw has a gauge to set the angle you want plus positive stops at 45 and 90 degrees, as well as some others. By releasing this lever, I can adjust the saw up or down to make deeper or shallower cuts.
All saws will have a blade guard. It retracts automatically when you start cutting. Sometimes you might need to manually retract it using this lever. You might occasionally need that for making plunge cuts.
Sometimes I have to retract it just a little bit to get it started when cutting really thin material or for some beveled cuts. But for the most part, just let it do its job on its own.
Circular saws come in a variety of sizes for all kinds of purposes. The most common size is the 7-1/4 inch saw, meaning it uses 7-1/4 inch blades, and this is the size I recommend for woodworking and other DIY projects around the house. You can get battery-operated saws or corded ones like these three. I've never owned the rechargeable kind but I hear they work great.
Circular saws come in a variety of sizes for all kinds of purposes. The most common size is the 7-1/4 inch saw, meaning it uses 7-1/4 inch blades, and this is the size I recommend for woodworking and other DIY projects around the house. You can get battery-operated saws or corded ones like these three. I've never owned the rechargeable kind but I hear they work great.
If you don't have a lot of lumber to cut, it's probably a lot easier to use the cordless saw rather than messing around with an extension cord, but these corded saws are less expensive.
