Circular Saws

Circular saws are versatile power tools useful for a variety of cutting tasks. Some common uses for circular saws include:

CUTTING LUMBER: Circular saws are efficient and versatile tools for cutting lumber or plywood.

CUTTING SHEET GOODS: Circular saws are also great for cutting large sheet goods like plywood or MDF to size for projects like built-in bookshelves or cabinets.

CROSSCUTTING: Use a circular saw to make crosscuts across the grain of a piece of wood, such as when cutting a board to length.

RIPPING: Use a circular saw to make rip cuts along the length of a board, such as when cutting a board down to a narrower width.

BEVEL CUTS: Many circular saws can make bevel or angled cuts to create decorative edges or fitting pieces together

TRIMMING DOORS OR BASEBOARDS: Use circular saws to trim doors or baseboards to fit.

Use a circular saw to cut a wide variety of materials, including:

WOOD: Circular saws are used to cut lumber, plywood, and other types of wood.

FLOORING: Use a circular saw to cut flooring materials like laminate or hardwood.

Several types of circular saw blades are best for specific applications. Here are some common types:

RIP BLADES: These blades are designed for cutting along the wood grain and have fewer teeth than other blades.

CROSSCUT BLADES: These blades cut across the grain of the wood and have more teeth than rip blades.

COMBINATION BLADES: These blades are for ripping and crosscutting and have a combination of teeth that can handle both tasks.

PLYWOOD BLADES: These blades have a high tooth count for cutting thin veneers and plywood.

Circular saws are available in different blade diameters. The most common sizes of circular saws are:

7 1/4 inch: This is the most popular circular saw blade diameter and suitable for most cutting tasks, including cutting lumber and sheet goods.

6 1/2 inch: These saws are smaller and lighter than 7 1/4 inch saws, making them easier to maneuver. They can take on much of the cutting applications of a 7 1/4 inch saw, but can also handle lighter tasks such as cutting trim and molding.

5 3/8 inch: These saws are smaller and lighter than 6 1/2 inch saws, making them easier to maneuver in tight spaces. 5 3/8 inch blades are ideal for light-duty cutting tasks.

10 1/4 inch: These saws are larger and heavier than 7 1/4 inch saws and used for heavy-duty cutting tasks, such as cutting thick lumber or sheet goods.

4 1/2 inch: The smallest circular saws are ideal for light-duty cutting tasks, such as cutting thin boards or sheet goods.

The size of the circular saw you choose will depend on the types of cutting tasks. A 7 1/4-inch saw is the most versatile and suitable for most tasks, while larger and smaller saws are better suited for specific cutting tasks or when working in tight spaces.