7 Woodworking Tips When Using a Circular Saw
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There are only a couple of essential woodworking tools that your workshop should possess.

One of those power tools is a circular saw. Being that learning how to properly use any power tool isn’t an easy task, you’re probably open to suggestions. Luckily, you’re in the right place to learn some new tips and tricks for using a circular saw. So grab a pen and a paper and get ready to take some notes.

In this guide, we’ll present both basic and advanced techniques for using a circular saw.

So let’s begin.

Safety Gear


First and foremost, we must understand the importance of wearing the safety gear while using power tools.

These machines are extremely powerful, so be wary when using them. The first thought that should emerge in your mind when you think about using a circular saw is safety. By wearing safety gear while operating with these tools, you’ll not only feel safe but also gain confidence in your work.

So remember to wear the protective goggles, gloves, and an apron before you even approach your workspace.

Adjusting the Adequate Depth on your Saw


Now that you have your safety gear equipped, you’re ready to operate on the circular saw.

When cutting small plywood, thin panels and other light wood material be sure to adjust the saw depth. This is a feature that every power tool possesses. It allows the user to limit the depth of the cut, but that’s not all. By adjusting the depth of the cut on your power tool, you’ll ensure that everything runs smoothly without risking to damage the saw.

The goal is to set the depth only a couple of inches over the height of the material you’re processing.

Marking and Positioning


Another great tip for every woodworker is marking and positioning.

Before you can cut the material and craft it into a part of the furniture, you’ll need to mark the cut and position it accordingly to the angle of the cut. Sometimes you might find it difficult to position it right due to the size of the wood piece itself. This is when additional woodworking equipment comes in handy. Get a couple of clamps and secure the wood piece so that it doesn’t move.

Now you’re safe to cut it any way you want it.

Pause After Each Cut


Be sure to pause and take rest after each cut.

This tip might sound absurd, but you’ll understand how important it is to keep this rule in mind when operating on heavy parts. You’ll lose focus and increase chances of injury. So after you’ve successfully cut each part, turn off the saw and plan your next step. Never, under any circumstances, should you rush into making another cut after you’ve used a circular saw longer than 5 min. This cutting technique will also allow you to preserve your woodworking equipment longer, as the blade can cool down after each cut.

Changing the Angle of the Cut


Sometimes you’ll need to cut in different angles.

This can prove to be a real nightmare, especially if you have to cut each wood piece differently. So how do you avoid wasting time on adjusting the angle every time you cut a wood piece? It’s simple actually.

Adjust the angle for one cut, then cut every wood piece that requires being cut this way. Then when you’ve processed every part of your project with an angled cut, you can return the saw to its original angle of cutting.

Dust Removal


Be sure to remove the dust as it generates in your dustbin.

Just because you have installed a perfectly functioning sawdust collection system on your power tool doesn’t mean that you’ll never have to clean it. Be sure to thoroughly clean the remaining sawdust from the inside of your hose as well from the dustbin

This way you’ll ensure that your vacuum doesn’t overload and malfunction.

Redesigning Featherboards


Don’t like the original featherboards on your circular saw?

Design one of your own, craft it and connect it to your power tool. If your original featherboard doesn’t do the job as it should, you can redesign them and remove the original one. Use your woodworking skills to make your job a whole lot easier this way.