Which circular saw to choose?

A professional quality circular saw is also a good choice for the do-it-yourselfer. The price for a professional brand circular saw starts at around 200 euros and exceeds 500 euros. It is wise to compare multiple models and decide which options and supplied accessories you need – and want to pay for. The most important consideration is probably whether you prefer a circular saw that works on mains power or a battery version. With the use of increasingly sophisticated batteries, the latter is hardly inferior in power, and certainly with a job like sawing it is nice that you don’t have to take a cord into account.

Another option is a saw table with a fixed mounted circular saw. Because the average do-it-yourselfer will make little use of this, we do not consider saw tables in this article.

And which saw blade?

A second choice concerns the saw blade. It is always useful to have a few different circulars saw blades to hand. A blade with fine teeth for a neat finish and one with coarser teeth for rougher and faster work.

With special blades for cutting plastic, stone, and metal, you can further expand the possibilities for using your circular saw.

The right techniques for working with the circular saw

Set the cutting depth

By raising or lowering the base plate, you set the cutting depth. Do not allow the saw blade to protrude too far under the material to be cut, as this increases the risk of kickback or jamming. A rule of thumb: measure the thickness of the material and calculate an extra 3 mm.

Mark the cutting line

Accurate cutting starts with precise marking. After you have measured where you are going to cut, mark the line on both sides with a carpenter’s pencil.

A tip from professionals: make a V-shaped marking, where the tip of the V points at the exact measurement. This is more accurate than a single line, which may deviate slightly to the left or right. Now connect the markings on both sides along a straight bar with a pencil line and determine which side of the line you will cut.

Tip: With dark wood or laminate you can mark the sawing line on tape for better visibility.

Cut straight

Cutting straight out of the hand can be difficult. That is why many circular saws are supplied with guides, which, however, have a limited width. A long aluminum guide plate, with a non-slip bottom to keep it in place, is a useful accessory. You can also make a cutting guide yourself from a slat that you fix with glue clips.

If you saw without guidance, the first requirement is that you can see where you are going. Good light is important. Turn the material so that the circular saw does not cast any shadow on the cutting line. Another problem is that the sawdust covers the line. Some circular saws have a built-in blower, but you can also fix the problem yourself by blowing away the sawdust every few seconds.

Work neatly

Circular saws cause splinters at the top rather than the bottom. Always cut laminate and wood with a veneer finish with the good side down. And slow cutting helps to reduce splintering.

Correct mistakes

If you make a crooked start, it is difficult to get the saw back on the cutting line. Don’t try to correct it, it will probably only make it worse. Stop the saw, pull it out of the cut and start again.

Work safely

Circular saws are high in the ranking of dangerous tools. Still, you can work perfectly safely with a circular saw, if you take a few simple precautions.

  • Work in a calm and controlled manner, in a place where you are not distracted.
  • Always keep the protective cover over the saw blade.
  • Ensure that the material to be cut is well supported and firmly secured so that it cannot slide under the saw. You can fix sheet material with glue clips.
  • Especially with thicker material, it is important that the piece you saw off can fall free, otherwise, you run the risk of the saw jamming or kicking back.
  • If you use a saw with a cord, drape it over your shoulder to prevent it from getting in the way.
  • Wear safety glasses, hearing protection, and a dust mask. This is not only useful for your health, but also improves concentration, accuracy, and therefore the result of your work.