Hand Held Circular SawA hand held circular saw will consist of these components: It is best to buy a saw that is capable of cutting a 2 x 4 at a 45 degree angle and should have a blade diameter of 7 inches or more. Other considerations The saw should have a depth adjustment which allows you to make shallow cuts when required. The saw should have an angle adjustment for cutting miters and bevels. The saw should have a ripping fence which guides the saw when you want to rip a board to a specific width. The saw should have an automatic spring actuated blade guard that retracts as the blade enters the work, and then covers the exposed part of the blade as soon as the cut has been completed. Blades Combination crosscut and rip blade is suitable for most purposes. It does a good job of cutting thick or thin hardwoods and softwoods with or across the grain as well as plywood and hardboard. Crosscut blade which has fine teeth which cut smoothly across grain of either hardwood or softwood. It is suitable for cutting plywood, hardboard and hardened veneers. It is also good for framing 2 X 4 lumber. Rip blade has larger teeth than the combination blade and is recommended when it is desired to do a large amount of cutting with the grain. It is best used with the rip fence or guide batten for easier more accurate cutting. Hollow ground blade makes the smoothest cut and cuts thick or thin materials requiring little or no sanding. It is suggested to keep blades sharp to minimize fiber fraying and wood scorching which may happen if the blade is dull. Abrasive blades are suitable for masonry, metal, plastic and other hard materials. They are excellent for scoring bricks or blocks for ease of breaking. It is suggested that you buy the blade to suit the type of material to be cut. Return from hand held circular saw to home page. |
