How to Use an Electric Saw

There are many styles of electric saw out there today---jigsaws, table saws, band saws, miter saws, the list is almost endless---but the most indispensable is probably the circular saw. Offering the portability of a jigsaw, the power of a table saw and more range than a miter saw, the circular saw is arguably the most versatile of the major types of power saws, which is why every workbench should have one. Ease of use is another advantage to the circular saw, once you learn a few basics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Workbench Screwdriver Standard Circular Saw Pencil Straight Edge Wood

1. Determine what kind of blade you need. Rip blades for heavy construction have big, deep teeth, and fewer of them than do blades made for finishing work. Trim blades have still more teeth, but smaller ones. Carbide blades are preferred in most circumstances.

2. With the empty saw unplugged, lay it on its side on your workbench, so that the mounting bolt that holds the blade is facing up at you. Remove the bolt by turning it clockwise with your wrench. (This will feel counterintuitive, as standard bolts go in clockwise and come out counter-clockwise). Remove the mounting bolt and the metal washer underneath it, and set both aside.

3. Set the blade in position by sliding open the curved spring-tension blade guard and sliding the center hole of the blade down over the threaded post where the mounting bolt was. The side of the blade will be marked to show which side should face out. The curved teeth should be pointing up on the front end of the saw.

4. Set the washer over the threaded post at the center of the saw, and set the mounting bolt over that. Set your wrench over the bolt, and with your free hand, wedge a screwdriver between two teeth of the blade at the front of the saw, just below the body of the saw. This will prevent the saw from moving as you tighten the bolt. Tighten it counter-clockwise (again, this will feel backward), and snug it tightly.

5. Set the depth of your blade by setting it on the edge of the wood to be cut, with the flat guide of the saw sitting on the wood and the blade hanging down over the edge. Loosen the knob on the side of the saw that controls the depth (it will be either a lever or a screw). The body of the saw will slide up and down while the guide remains stationary on the wood. Adjust it so that your blade is about a quarter-inch below the bottom of the board.

6. Plug in the saw. Line up the blade at the pencil mark where you want to cut. With one hand on the saw trigger and the other gripping the guide handle at the front, start the saw and slowly push it forward into the line. Once you start cutting, you should be able to sight the line off the front of the flat guide (some guides are notched to help with this). Use one smooth, steady motion to make the cut, going all the way off the other end of the piece being cut. After you're out the other side, release the trigger and hold the saw up and away from you until the blade stops spinning.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're unsure of your ability to follow a straight line with the saw, clamp a 1x4 board parallel to the line to be cut, positioning the board on the opposite side from the blade and far enough away so the flat guide of your saw will butt up against and move alongside it.
• Always wear eye protection. Never try to grab the blade guard while the blade is spinning. Manually opening the blade guard with a saw in use isn't recommended, but if circumstances require it, open the guard first, then position the saw, then turn it on.

References

• Using a Circular Saw