How to Make a Shallow Cut in a Wooden Wall

Use a circular saw when making shallow cuts in a wooden wall.

When you make a shallow cut in a wooden wall, the cut won't penetrate through to the other side. A shallow cut can be any depth as long as it does not reach the opposite side of the material. You may need to make a shallow cut in a wooden wall when laying insets for decorative purposes, intertwining wood beams or posts or removing rotted material. You can make a shallow cut with a circular saw featuring an adjustable cutting table.

Things You'll Need

• Circular saw
• Tape measure
• Safety glasses

Instructions

1. Determine the depth of the shallow cut that you'll place in the wooden wall.

2. Release the lever that secures the circular saw table in order to adjust the cutting depth. Slide the table down while watching the measurement etching on the depth slide.

3. Lock the saw's slide lever when the cutting table is at the correct depth. Place the end of a tape measure on the bottom of the table next to the saw's cutting blade. Read the tape measure to confirm the blade depth.

4. Rest the saw's table on the wall with the blade slightly raised above the surface. Squeeze the saw's power trigger and gently lower the rotating blade into the wall.

5. Slide the circular saw forward when the cutting table is flush against the wooden wall. Hold the circular saw with both hands while making shallow cuts into the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're removing a large area of wooden wall, make continuous shallow cuts spaced every 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch apart. Then use a hammer and a chisel to break up the wood pieces.

• Wear safety glasses when operating a circular saw to prevent eye injuries.

References

• HammerZone.com: Repairing Shallow Rot Damage in Solid Wood Siding
• Carpentry, 4th Edition; Leonard Koel