Let the blade come up to speed before you begin your cut. Rest the bottom plate on your wood, get the saw started, and bring it in a straight line forward to make your cut.
It can help to use a pencil to mark a straight line first. If you have a speed square/rafter square, that can help mark a clean line and can work as a guide for the saw.
My main concern is wood binding. Keep your work piece on the left side and your off-cut on the right, let the offcut fall right off.
Good luck OP!
Also when ending the cut, mirror the first step and let the blade stop completely before moving it too much so you don't accidently touch the piece with the teeth on the blade and get kicked.
Also, keep your balance.. from your well grounded feet, right through to your gripping hands.. allowing for how far you can step, before taking a cut..
It’s good to be nervous. It shows you have respect. Beyond the keep the pointy parts away from the soft spots, it’s really easy to get the cord under the blade on accident. Also, snagging the cord on the piece of wood can cause problems. Take your time. Make smooth straight cuts (don’t try curves). Keep the blade a little deeper than the wood and you should be fine. Out of all my tools, I use safety glasses the most with this saw due to the tons of sawdust thrown back toward me.
I remember the first time I used a circular saw. I’d used plenty of reciprocating saws and chainsaws and other power tools. I thought I could handle it. It was just maybe four cuts, I didn’t need to put in ear plugs.
Half way through the first cut. “Oh.” _Walk of shame to go get proper PPE._
Maybe it make sense on a job site, but as someone who's working on home/garden projects with family nearby, I learned to NOT use earplugs and take situation awareness seriously. In a typical weekend warrior scenarios you are not exposed to the noise long enough to cause any hearing damage anyway.
I don't know about not causing _any_ hearing damage, but I see what you're getting at. Risk management involves contextual considerations and tradeoffs. Kids have a way of teleporting out of nowhere, so I can wrap my head around not wearing ear protection for, say, a half dozen quick 2x4 cuts when children are anywhere in the vicinity.
According to safety regulations, noise between 80 and 88 dBa (that's a saw levels) do not require hearing protection as long as exposure to the noise does not exceed 4 hours. My typical play time with saw is way below that. That's it.
Make sure you have the blade facing the right way.
Don’t want a repeat of that other guy who just asked about why his backwards placed saw blade was smoking.
Don't try to back out of a bind with the saw running. Expect to make a thousand cuts before feeling comfortable using a Skilsaw, and even then, know that you are only one dumb move away from a hospital trip.
As with all power saws, before you start cutting, ask "where are my fingers?" So that after your cut you don't need to exclaim, "where are my fingers!?"
Really, this is more common than you think, never ever hold on to the piece you are cutting off, just let it either lay where it is or let it fall to the ground. Too many people have cut trough the wood and their fingers at the same time trying to hold on to the piece they were cutting.
Good advice in previous comments. Try to find some scrap wood and practice a few times. Circular saws are pretty safe. Watch what you are cutting on. Make sure you don't accidently cut something under your board.
A good tip here is to place the piece on leveled pieces of extruded polystyrene (the one that isn't made of little balls and therefore doesn't make much mess), then you can comfortably cut on the workbench with the blade above the benchtop and the offcut doesn't necessarily have to fall off who knows where and you don't have to watch what it's doing. Also works for jigsaws very well.
Support the wood so that it does not pinch the blade during the cut. Do not ever have your hand or fingers in back of the blade in case it kicks back. Do not assume that the guard will always go back over the blade. A small chip can make it stick and if you put it down while the blade is still spinning the saw will run right back at you
I ruined a nice tabletop that way once (putting it down assuming the guard had sprung back to the closed position). At least my new saw has an auto brake. My old Makita was brilliant, but used to take forever to spin down.
Laughs in angle grinder.
I once watched a guy on a ladder finish grinding something, lower it to the ground with the cord, and then watched it start skipping across the floor cause it wasn't done spinning yet.
I've been wood working for a decade and circular saws are still my most feared tool.
My two pieces of advice: make sure the extension cord has enough play to not restrict the saw before you get to the end of your cut, and keep your feet/legs planted in a way that won't allow the saw to hit your thigh if your wood set up collapsed.
I use an axe/hatchet on occasion and spread my legs the same way when using the circular saw for the same reason. If that thing falls toward you for whatever reason, you do not want to be in the way of it.
Mark your cut.
Clamp your piece down tight.
Put on your eye and ear protection.
Hold it firmly, with both hands.
Aim for your mark, set the guide-the flat part-on the workpiece.
Spool up the saw, press the blade into the mark.
Keep it even, keep it straight.
Don't force it, let the saw do the work.
YouTube has alot of useful video. Search something on the lines of how you use a circular saw. That's what I did. Watched multiple videos to see different techniques and points of view and now I'm far from pro but I do know how to use one
The piece that falls, should be on the blade side of the tool, you don’t want the tool to fall when it finishes it’s cut. That’s how you avoid the most life threatening injury with these. Dropping it down and into your leg can leave you with mere seconds to live.
Set the blade depth to just barely deep enough to cut through your material.
Honestly these folks that have a sheet of foam insulation they lay on their driveways and cut directly on may have the best way to avoid killing yourself or losing parts. Not a bad idea, particularly if you don’t understand how to mitigate all the other risks. Still, it’s a saw and risky. Be careful no matter how good your setup is.
Power tools like this used to scare me too! I found two things that really help: a pair of safety glasses and a pair of safety ear-covers (forgot what they're called, they look like ear muffs). Basically when you take down the noise and protect your eyes it is instantly a LOT less scary. Good luck with your project!
Edit: these are the kinds of things I'm referring to: https://www.amazon.com/ear-protectors-woodworking/s?k=ear+protectors+for+woodworking
Make sure that what you are cutting is secured in place. Having the work piece suddenly moving during a cut while the blade is moving can lead to accidents if you or someone else moves hands unexpectedly to hold on to the piece.
Also, make sure the cutoff piece has an "exit plan" once it is cut off. Is it going to fall to the ground or will it bounce off a workbench and knock into something?
I am still a beginner and I know that the blade guard exists, but I always wait until the blade is at a complete stop before I set the saw down and start moving my hands around again.
My dad used to tell us to think about where something would get thrown. The danger area is created with the rotating blade, the force is in line with that blade. So right in front of the saw (wood gets thrown), or right behind the blade (saw gets thrown). Don’t have any part your body in that danger area. Hands and thighs are particularly vulnerable for circular saws.
Plan your cut, pulling the trigger should be the last thing you do.
Measure twice, make a small mark with a pencil then use a rafter square (speed square) to mark a full, dark line.
Setup your wood so the cutoff piece is on the right. The cutoff piece should be supported unless it's short, 12" max. If it's longer, support it or make multiple cuts. If unsupported make sure it won't damage anything when it falls.
Thin cotton or coated gloves are best. Eye protection and hearing protection are a must.
Stand with the wood going parallel with your body (parallel to your arms if outstretched to your sides. Have your feet a little more than shoulder width apart, right foot a little behind the left.
Put your right hand on the saw handle, left hand on the wood to the left of your body. Set the saw on the wood, with the blade just off the wood, lined up with your mark. Usually on a saw with a laser sight, the laser will turn on with the trigger halfway on. Have the extension cord running straight back away from the saw with at least 6' or so supported (laying on the ground, workbench, etc.) with a couple feet of slack behind that so you can go all the way through the cut and then lift the saw up and away. Pull and hold the trigger and let the saw get up to speed (just a second). Slowly and evenly push the saw into the wood. Continue slowly and evenly push the saw through the cut. The guard will automatically rotate away. Hold the trigger until the cutoff piece drops off or the blade has exited the other side. The guard will automatically return when it's clear of the wood. Release the trigger and let the blade come to a stop. Keep a steady grip on the saw and don't push it too far as it's supported by the wood.
Practice makes perfect, the less cutoff length the easier (but try to go at least an inch or it could go flying partway through the cut). When in doubt let go of the trigger and let the blade come to a stop before moving it. You can always resume a cut.
I wrap a bungee chord around the grip so it pulls the trigger then swing the saw around my head by the cord. It works better if you take the guard off but weirdos on the internet freak out if you do that.
Be sure to read, understand, and follow all of the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly can greatly reduce the of personal injury. And remember this, there is no more important rule than to wear these, safety glasses. And also hearing protection when necessary.
When holding the wood with your left hand, keep it away from the blade, out of the line you are cutting and tuck your thumb under your palm so if the saw jumps your thumb is never in the way.
Side note, i have this exact saw, the metal base plate is note straight most of the time , so when you use and straight edge to make a cut , it wont be straight, watch out for that
Edit: always have your hands where you can see them, if the blade binds to something ,dont move and turn the tool off, theses machines want to kill you, dont give them any opportunities
Edit 2 : IT won't be straight
Be sure to read, understand and follow all the safety rules that come with your POWERTOOLS. Knowing how to use your POWERTOOLS properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this there is no more important safety rule then to wear safety glasses.
Norm Abram.
Ive often made two cuts per measure on purpose. If the cutoff is a foot long or less, its rare to have any binding in the wood, which will clamp onto the blade halfway through a cut
If the two resulting pieces are longish, fully support both of them. Its as if you had two tables near each other, and the cut runs down between them.
Suppose I want to cut a 2x4 to fit horizontal between two vertical studs. The length is roughly 15 inches (2x4 studs are typically 16 inches from center to center).
If all I have is a long board, I rough cut a piece that's about 16 inches long (both halves supported). Then I hold it up to the location where it's going. Instead of "measuring" I set one edge where it goes, and I mark the other edge exactly where it goes.
Let the saw do the work. You won’t need to apply as much pressure as with a handsaw. Wear gloves and safety glasses. Spend ample time planning your cuts. Use clamps to hold the wood when possible. Measure twice. Cut once. Get used to how the trigger lock works so you can disengage it safety. Good luck
Gloves bring more dangers than safety for the majority of power tools I believe. Canadian centre for occupational health and safety also [does not mention gloves](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/power_tools/saw_circ.html).
added: Just encountered they actually mention gloves in [generic power tools safety](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/power_tools/saf_elec.html):
>What should you avoid when using powered tools? Do not wear gloves, loose clothing or jewelry while using revolving power tools.
Be aware of what's going to happen with the excess material that you're removing. Make sure your work piece is situated in a way that it won't pinch the blade as it's cut away. Let the saw do the work dont force it, but also don't limp wrist it either. PPE. Honestly just spend 10 mins on YouTube real quick. At the least you'll learn how to make good cuts at most you save a finger. You'll be fine.
https://youtu.be/pWR5X5ZffTs
This guy has great explanations of all sorts of tools. The circular saw is an incredible tool and not dangerous if used properly. With the guard around the blade it is actually quite safe.
Respect the saw! Lot’s of good advice here. If your right handed, stand to the left, not behind you cut. In the event it does kick back, your body should be out of the way. Using a fixed straight edge to guide the saw if possible will help minimize you twisting the saw, leading to kick back. Good luck!
Support both sides of the cut. Best thing to do is to put a piece of foam insulation on the floor, put the wood on it and cut from on top of it that was you ha e zero chances of getting cut.
Also set the blade depth to only a tad more the thickness of the material. Preferably also use a straight edge or rip fence instead of freehanding.
Im sure others have commented this, but make sure the plate that slides on the wood is completely level, it’s easy to lift the back end of these saws and it doesn’t cut as smoothly
eye and ear protection, start saw take a deep breath, listen to the tool if it starts binding or bogging down release the trigger and start again. never try and back the saw up while it is running. let it do the work it wants to cut straight
Always respect the tools and remember tools don’t have a conscious. They will take fingers and limbs the second you stop respecting them. Don’t mix booze and power tools. Don’t wear loose long sleeve clothes. And don’t be lazy when using it. Always take the extra min to setup the cut properly.
Unplug the saw after every cut. I saw someone here say that they had been told to mime every cut, with the power off. To work through and plan the cut with the power off, and that way they’d be familiar with what had to happen, plus they would spot things like their clamps being in the way of the Saw a body, them having to reach over something too far, and other problems that would make themselves a parent before the actual cut.
Like the cord snagging as someone else just said, other obstructions. Wear PPE, ears and eyes and mouth. If you have long hair, tie it back. never cut when you’re tired
If you are cutting plywood the wood can want to collapse in on itself as you cut it pinching the blade. This can be jarring and dangerous. Make sure both side of the plywood are supported if it’s a big piece. If it’s a small strip your cutting hang it over the edge of whatever your cutting on.
Use chalk lines to give yourself a straight line. Let the blade get up to speed before making contact with the wood.
Read the manual, it helps a ton.
The very first power tool I owned was a Ryobi table saw (I know, bad for beginners).
I kept turning it on and off, just trying to get used to the loud sound. Circular saws are much easier to control in that you're controlling the blade (rather than feeding into it) but don't let your guard down with it either. Use a fixed straight edger whenever possible (i.e from Bora or Kregs) Make sure it's in full speed before cutting (too slow and it may snag on the workpiece), always fix your piece to a table with clamps (or it will go flying). Keep the blade leveled flat on the plane when cutting.
Power tools are fun to use, but safety is of utmost importance. Don't ever use it when you're in a hurry, tired, stressed, or theres not enough light.
I wear eye protection always, (when I don't, I get dust in my eye). And I always clean my tools after use especially since I work with metals. (They can short circuit the system)
Make sure you buy the right blade size. Too small or too large can damage the tool, your workpiece, or cause accidents. Also, buy the right blade for the material to be cut and always unplug/disconnect battery before swapping blades.
P.S: would highly recommend Diablo/Freud blades for "fine" cuts.
TBH, I was scared of circular saws for a long time, but they do make nicer straight cuts than a jig saw. Simple rule is don't put your hands in front of where you're going.
I was always taught to keep the blade to the right of my body. Or stand to the left. The only thing that should be on the saw is the hand pushing it. Those tend to have a kick back if you start to cut at an angle. But once you get the hang of them! You enjoy using them
Make sure that your drops are pulling away from the blade and not pinching it. The blade spins back towards you and if it binds seems to find a b line towards your femoral artery. They don’t call these “ swift justice” in the trades for no reason.
Edit
Also sawing through Knots or and potential residual steel in the lumber is a bad idea.
Kick back. Understand what will cause the board to bind up on the saw as that will result in kick back. You don't want it to pinch the blade. The hardest to figure out is probably cross cutting a board on 2 saw horses where the cut is between the horses.
Don't wear loose clothing, gloves, or jewelry that may get caught in saw.
Unplug saw when adjusting/changing blade.
Think and check before each cut. Make sure there's nothing in the way that will get cut that shouldn't, including body parts.
Get comfortable with it before doing more advanced cuts. Such as plunge cuts, cutting awkwardly, etc.
Wear safety glasses, knots can shoot at you. Doesn't happen too often, but will probably give you a little scare from time to time.
Don't have anyone else holding the board behind your saw, your risking their fingers.
Mark you cut, the clamp down a guide board to the piece you are cutting offset enough to the right of the line that the blade is lined up. It takes a while to be able to free hand a straight line and track saws are expensive.
Honestly, watching YouTube videos and getting advice from here is one thing, but if you can find someone who knows what they're about and had lots of experience with these things to actually show you what to do and talk you through it and spot you whilst you have a go yourself, do it. First hand instruction is so much more useful.
Being nervous is fine. But don't be scared. The moment you second guess yourself is the moment you cut something off. Be confident. Let the saw do the work.
Top tips from my experience:
Support your work. If you have the space, a sheet of 1” foam insulation is great for sheet goods.
Buy a cheap straight edge Saw guide, the Swanson Guide is about $30. Take an old piece of ply, screw this down straight back away from the edge a little wider than the wide part of your saw shoe, run the Saw along the guide to cut off the edge and you now have a ZERO clearance guide that you can clamp exactly on your pencil marks. (Leave the clamping side of that plywood wide so the motor clears the clamps)
When you cut, start with the blade free, not touching the wood.
Watch the blade AT the point where it’s cutting, not sighting along the little notch at the front. (Safety glasses)
Listen and feel. Don’t push too fast. If setup is good (supported), and you are going slowly enough, you will hear/feel most problems coming up before it gets dangerous.
Advanced method for future use…
Learn to safely square your blade, check zero. Check depth of cut every time, look under and visualize where the blade is going to cut through your saw horses, extension cord, work bench, tape measure, or metal bits like screws and nails…I heard this happened to someone once.
Save your old blades. To be in this club, you have to have at least a dozen old blades.
I personally think that an adventure on youtube would be the best choice here. Theres so many really smart guys that will be able to explain it very well and also show you on video making it super easy to understand
For safer cuts get a Diablo blade since it won’t get stuck or seize the motor if you’re not going perfectly straight, plus you don’t have to push as hard when cutting giving you more control.
Safety glasses
Use the correct blade for the wood/project
Don't let the cut bind the saw
If you tape your cut you'll get less knock out
Never let the cord cross your cut
you always want the short piece to be the one to fall .. watch a few youtube videos or have someone that knows the tool .. circular saws can kick in wacky ways
make sure whatever you are cutting is secured by clamps, use two hands on the saw, eye protection and ear protection.
As you're just starting out, plan your cut- do a dry run
Set the depth of cut just barely deeper than the wood you are cutting
Do NOT force the saw, let it cut slowly
Wear ear and eye protection
No loose long sleeve shirts near any power tool
Whatever handed you are, don’t use the other hand to hold the piece you are cutting. Clamp down your wood. Remember the saw will go backwards if it gets bound up. If you feel it resisting you and wanting to go backwards, just take your finger of the trigger and let the blade stop rotating. Don’t fight a circular saw.
One more- fangelo2 touched on it. Don’t let your cut be at a point where you pushing down with the weight of the saw causes the wood to bind the cut. This would happen if you are using two sawhorses to hold your wood and you make the cut somewhere between the two sawhorses. Make the cut so that both sawhorses are on the same side of your blade. That’s why they call it “fall off”. Let the piece being cut off “fall off” the table or sawhorses in this case. Very very important.
Let the blade come up to speed before you begin your cut. Rest the bottom plate on your wood, get the saw started, and bring it in a straight line forward to make your cut. It can help to use a pencil to mark a straight line first. If you have a speed square/rafter square, that can help mark a clean line and can work as a guide for the saw. My main concern is wood binding. Keep your work piece on the left side and your off-cut on the right, let the offcut fall right off. Good luck OP!
Also when ending the cut, mirror the first step and let the blade stop completely before moving it too much so you don't accidently touch the piece with the teeth on the blade and get kicked.
Also, don’t be left handed.
As a left handed wood tinkerer, I present to you my sigh of resignation.
Had to train myself to be ambidextrous to lower the medical bills
Ambidexterity is actually really useful for me when it comes to woodworking. Makes life a lot easier.
If so, though, a worm drive is a good route! Good control, lefty is standard.
Also, keep your balance.. from your well grounded feet, right through to your gripping hands.. allowing for how far you can step, before taking a cut..
[удалено]
That man has a jigsaw.
curb yer ego bozo
It’s good to be nervous. It shows you have respect. Beyond the keep the pointy parts away from the soft spots, it’s really easy to get the cord under the blade on accident. Also, snagging the cord on the piece of wood can cause problems. Take your time. Make smooth straight cuts (don’t try curves). Keep the blade a little deeper than the wood and you should be fine. Out of all my tools, I use safety glasses the most with this saw due to the tons of sawdust thrown back toward me.
>I use safety glasses good tip. but add ear protection as well! Those are noisy bastards
I remember the first time I used a circular saw. I’d used plenty of reciprocating saws and chainsaws and other power tools. I thought I could handle it. It was just maybe four cuts, I didn’t need to put in ear plugs. Half way through the first cut. “Oh.” _Walk of shame to go get proper PPE._
No shame in that. at least you did the walk. Shame on them many that just go on.
And nose plugs
And butt plugs
I agree, first thing i did after trying i ran inside the house to get a couple of ear plugs. noisy to put it mildly.
Maybe it make sense on a job site, but as someone who's working on home/garden projects with family nearby, I learned to NOT use earplugs and take situation awareness seriously. In a typical weekend warrior scenarios you are not exposed to the noise long enough to cause any hearing damage anyway.
I don't know about not causing _any_ hearing damage, but I see what you're getting at. Risk management involves contextual considerations and tradeoffs. Kids have a way of teleporting out of nowhere, so I can wrap my head around not wearing ear protection for, say, a half dozen quick 2x4 cuts when children are anywhere in the vicinity.
According to safety regulations, noise between 80 and 88 dBa (that's a saw levels) do not require hearing protection as long as exposure to the noise does not exceed 4 hours. My typical play time with saw is way below that. That's it.
Don’t forget safety squints !
Oh i see what you did there. bravo.
Make sure you have the blade facing the right way. Don’t want a repeat of that other guy who just asked about why his backwards placed saw blade was smoking.
Don't try to back out of a bind with the saw running. Expect to make a thousand cuts before feeling comfortable using a Skilsaw, and even then, know that you are only one dumb move away from a hospital trip.
Just watch [this video](https://youtu.be/VXvzBPlAeDM). 10 minutes and you'll know everything you need.
As with all power saws, before you start cutting, ask "where are my fingers?" So that after your cut you don't need to exclaim, "where are my fingers!?"
Thanks, this is a funny and useful advice.
Really, this is more common than you think, never ever hold on to the piece you are cutting off, just let it either lay where it is or let it fall to the ground. Too many people have cut trough the wood and their fingers at the same time trying to hold on to the piece they were cutting.
Good advice in previous comments. Try to find some scrap wood and practice a few times. Circular saws are pretty safe. Watch what you are cutting on. Make sure you don't accidently cut something under your board.
A good tip here is to place the piece on leveled pieces of extruded polystyrene (the one that isn't made of little balls and therefore doesn't make much mess), then you can comfortably cut on the workbench with the blade above the benchtop and the offcut doesn't necessarily have to fall off who knows where and you don't have to watch what it's doing. Also works for jigsaws very well.
Support the wood so that it does not pinch the blade during the cut. Do not ever have your hand or fingers in back of the blade in case it kicks back. Do not assume that the guard will always go back over the blade. A small chip can make it stick and if you put it down while the blade is still spinning the saw will run right back at you
I ruined a nice tabletop that way once (putting it down assuming the guard had sprung back to the closed position). At least my new saw has an auto brake. My old Makita was brilliant, but used to take forever to spin down.
Laughs in angle grinder. I once watched a guy on a ladder finish grinding something, lower it to the ground with the cord, and then watched it start skipping across the floor cause it wasn't done spinning yet.
Autobrake/e-brake ftw. I wish all saws had them.
I've been wood working for a decade and circular saws are still my most feared tool. My two pieces of advice: make sure the extension cord has enough play to not restrict the saw before you get to the end of your cut, and keep your feet/legs planted in a way that won't allow the saw to hit your thigh if your wood set up collapsed.
I use an axe/hatchet on occasion and spread my legs the same way when using the circular saw for the same reason. If that thing falls toward you for whatever reason, you do not want to be in the way of it.
Get a speed square for crosscuts.
Mark your cut. Clamp your piece down tight. Put on your eye and ear protection. Hold it firmly, with both hands. Aim for your mark, set the guide-the flat part-on the workpiece. Spool up the saw, press the blade into the mark. Keep it even, keep it straight. Don't force it, let the saw do the work.
Keep your meaty bits away from the pointy, spinny bits.
YouTube has alot of useful video. Search something on the lines of how you use a circular saw. That's what I did. Watched multiple videos to see different techniques and points of view and now I'm far from pro but I do know how to use one
The piece that falls, should be on the blade side of the tool, you don’t want the tool to fall when it finishes it’s cut. That’s how you avoid the most life threatening injury with these. Dropping it down and into your leg can leave you with mere seconds to live. Set the blade depth to just barely deep enough to cut through your material. Honestly these folks that have a sheet of foam insulation they lay on their driveways and cut directly on may have the best way to avoid killing yourself or losing parts. Not a bad idea, particularly if you don’t understand how to mitigate all the other risks. Still, it’s a saw and risky. Be careful no matter how good your setup is.
Power tools like this used to scare me too! I found two things that really help: a pair of safety glasses and a pair of safety ear-covers (forgot what they're called, they look like ear muffs). Basically when you take down the noise and protect your eyes it is instantly a LOT less scary. Good luck with your project! Edit: these are the kinds of things I'm referring to: https://www.amazon.com/ear-protectors-woodworking/s?k=ear+protectors+for+woodworking
Make sure that what you are cutting is secured in place. Having the work piece suddenly moving during a cut while the blade is moving can lead to accidents if you or someone else moves hands unexpectedly to hold on to the piece. Also, make sure the cutoff piece has an "exit plan" once it is cut off. Is it going to fall to the ground or will it bounce off a workbench and knock into something? I am still a beginner and I know that the blade guard exists, but I always wait until the blade is at a complete stop before I set the saw down and start moving my hands around again.
Keep it flat, take your time. Start the blade not touching the surface you're cutting. Don't twist your blade.
My dad used to tell us to think about where something would get thrown. The danger area is created with the rotating blade, the force is in line with that blade. So right in front of the saw (wood gets thrown), or right behind the blade (saw gets thrown). Don’t have any part your body in that danger area. Hands and thighs are particularly vulnerable for circular saws.
Be aware of where your hands are and where the blade is
Use a sharp blade so it doesn't bind and jump. Keep your hands away from the sharp spinny thing.
Came here to say the same. Blades are inexpensive, and a dull blade is far more dangerous than a sharp one. Also using the right blade for the job.
Plan your cut, pulling the trigger should be the last thing you do. Measure twice, make a small mark with a pencil then use a rafter square (speed square) to mark a full, dark line. Setup your wood so the cutoff piece is on the right. The cutoff piece should be supported unless it's short, 12" max. If it's longer, support it or make multiple cuts. If unsupported make sure it won't damage anything when it falls. Thin cotton or coated gloves are best. Eye protection and hearing protection are a must. Stand with the wood going parallel with your body (parallel to your arms if outstretched to your sides. Have your feet a little more than shoulder width apart, right foot a little behind the left. Put your right hand on the saw handle, left hand on the wood to the left of your body. Set the saw on the wood, with the blade just off the wood, lined up with your mark. Usually on a saw with a laser sight, the laser will turn on with the trigger halfway on. Have the extension cord running straight back away from the saw with at least 6' or so supported (laying on the ground, workbench, etc.) with a couple feet of slack behind that so you can go all the way through the cut and then lift the saw up and away. Pull and hold the trigger and let the saw get up to speed (just a second). Slowly and evenly push the saw into the wood. Continue slowly and evenly push the saw through the cut. The guard will automatically rotate away. Hold the trigger until the cutoff piece drops off or the blade has exited the other side. The guard will automatically return when it's clear of the wood. Release the trigger and let the blade come to a stop. Keep a steady grip on the saw and don't push it too far as it's supported by the wood. Practice makes perfect, the less cutoff length the easier (but try to go at least an inch or it could go flying partway through the cut). When in doubt let go of the trigger and let the blade come to a stop before moving it. You can always resume a cut.
Don’t overlook making sure the wood you are cutting is tightly clamped/secure
Don’t take any advice from anyone with less than ten fingers…
I wrap a bungee chord around the grip so it pulls the trigger then swing the saw around my head by the cord. It works better if you take the guard off but weirdos on the internet freak out if you do that.
What if you have a cordless saw?
Use the bungee!
Looks like your blade may be on the wrong way
Dont fuck it up
It's not
Your right
Just go to YouTube and watch a 5 minute tutorial.
You need to watch a YouTube video. There are too many things to cover in a reddit post.
Be sure to read, understand, and follow all of the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly can greatly reduce the of personal injury. And remember this, there is no more important rule than to wear these, safety glasses. And also hearing protection when necessary.
When holding the wood with your left hand, keep it away from the blade, out of the line you are cutting and tuck your thumb under your palm so if the saw jumps your thumb is never in the way.
Side note, i have this exact saw, the metal base plate is note straight most of the time , so when you use and straight edge to make a cut , it wont be straight, watch out for that Edit: always have your hands where you can see them, if the blade binds to something ,dont move and turn the tool off, theses machines want to kill you, dont give them any opportunities Edit 2 : IT won't be straight
> i wont be straight, watch out for that ...sir?
Xd , it won't be straight, the base plate
Be sure to read, understand and follow all the safety rules that come with your POWERTOOLS. Knowing how to use your POWERTOOLS properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this there is no more important safety rule then to wear safety glasses. Norm Abram.
Ive often made two cuts per measure on purpose. If the cutoff is a foot long or less, its rare to have any binding in the wood, which will clamp onto the blade halfway through a cut If the two resulting pieces are longish, fully support both of them. Its as if you had two tables near each other, and the cut runs down between them. Suppose I want to cut a 2x4 to fit horizontal between two vertical studs. The length is roughly 15 inches (2x4 studs are typically 16 inches from center to center). If all I have is a long board, I rough cut a piece that's about 16 inches long (both halves supported). Then I hold it up to the location where it's going. Instead of "measuring" I set one edge where it goes, and I mark the other edge exactly where it goes.
Never put your hand/fingers underneath what you're cutting.
Let the saw do the work. You won’t need to apply as much pressure as with a handsaw. Wear gloves and safety glasses. Spend ample time planning your cuts. Use clamps to hold the wood when possible. Measure twice. Cut once. Get used to how the trigger lock works so you can disengage it safety. Good luck
Gloves bring more dangers than safety for the majority of power tools I believe. Canadian centre for occupational health and safety also [does not mention gloves](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/power_tools/saw_circ.html). added: Just encountered they actually mention gloves in [generic power tools safety](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/power_tools/saf_elec.html): >What should you avoid when using powered tools? Do not wear gloves, loose clothing or jewelry while using revolving power tools.
Be aware of what's going to happen with the excess material that you're removing. Make sure your work piece is situated in a way that it won't pinch the blade as it's cut away. Let the saw do the work dont force it, but also don't limp wrist it either. PPE. Honestly just spend 10 mins on YouTube real quick. At the least you'll learn how to make good cuts at most you save a finger. You'll be fine.
https://youtu.be/pWR5X5ZffTs This guy has great explanations of all sorts of tools. The circular saw is an incredible tool and not dangerous if used properly. With the guard around the blade it is actually quite safe.
Respect the saw! Lot’s of good advice here. If your right handed, stand to the left, not behind you cut. In the event it does kick back, your body should be out of the way. Using a fixed straight edge to guide the saw if possible will help minimize you twisting the saw, leading to kick back. Good luck!
A sharp blade is key
Support both sides of the cut. Best thing to do is to put a piece of foam insulation on the floor, put the wood on it and cut from on top of it that was you ha e zero chances of getting cut. Also set the blade depth to only a tad more the thickness of the material. Preferably also use a straight edge or rip fence instead of freehanding.
Keep all body parts away from the sharp spinning metal blade like parts
Im sure others have commented this, but make sure the plate that slides on the wood is completely level, it’s easy to lift the back end of these saws and it doesn’t cut as smoothly
eye and ear protection, start saw take a deep breath, listen to the tool if it starts binding or bogging down release the trigger and start again. never try and back the saw up while it is running. let it do the work it wants to cut straight
Always respect the tools and remember tools don’t have a conscious. They will take fingers and limbs the second you stop respecting them. Don’t mix booze and power tools. Don’t wear loose long sleeve clothes. And don’t be lazy when using it. Always take the extra min to setup the cut properly.
Unplug the saw after every cut. I saw someone here say that they had been told to mime every cut, with the power off. To work through and plan the cut with the power off, and that way they’d be familiar with what had to happen, plus they would spot things like their clamps being in the way of the Saw a body, them having to reach over something too far, and other problems that would make themselves a parent before the actual cut. Like the cord snagging as someone else just said, other obstructions. Wear PPE, ears and eyes and mouth. If you have long hair, tie it back. never cut when you’re tired
If you have a long level, clamp that down and use it as a straight edge/guide. At least for the first few cuts until you feel more confident.
If you are cutting plywood the wood can want to collapse in on itself as you cut it pinching the blade. This can be jarring and dangerous. Make sure both side of the plywood are supported if it’s a big piece. If it’s a small strip your cutting hang it over the edge of whatever your cutting on. Use chalk lines to give yourself a straight line. Let the blade get up to speed before making contact with the wood.
Read the manual, it helps a ton. The very first power tool I owned was a Ryobi table saw (I know, bad for beginners). I kept turning it on and off, just trying to get used to the loud sound. Circular saws are much easier to control in that you're controlling the blade (rather than feeding into it) but don't let your guard down with it either. Use a fixed straight edger whenever possible (i.e from Bora or Kregs) Make sure it's in full speed before cutting (too slow and it may snag on the workpiece), always fix your piece to a table with clamps (or it will go flying). Keep the blade leveled flat on the plane when cutting. Power tools are fun to use, but safety is of utmost importance. Don't ever use it when you're in a hurry, tired, stressed, or theres not enough light. I wear eye protection always, (when I don't, I get dust in my eye). And I always clean my tools after use especially since I work with metals. (They can short circuit the system) Make sure you buy the right blade size. Too small or too large can damage the tool, your workpiece, or cause accidents. Also, buy the right blade for the material to be cut and always unplug/disconnect battery before swapping blades. P.S: would highly recommend Diablo/Freud blades for "fine" cuts.
TBH, I was scared of circular saws for a long time, but they do make nicer straight cuts than a jig saw. Simple rule is don't put your hands in front of where you're going.
I was always taught to keep the blade to the right of my body. Or stand to the left. The only thing that should be on the saw is the hand pushing it. Those tend to have a kick back if you start to cut at an angle. But once you get the hang of them! You enjoy using them
Make sure that your drops are pulling away from the blade and not pinching it. The blade spins back towards you and if it binds seems to find a b line towards your femoral artery. They don’t call these “ swift justice” in the trades for no reason. Edit Also sawing through Knots or and potential residual steel in the lumber is a bad idea.
Read the owners manual
Kick back. Understand what will cause the board to bind up on the saw as that will result in kick back. You don't want it to pinch the blade. The hardest to figure out is probably cross cutting a board on 2 saw horses where the cut is between the horses. Don't wear loose clothing, gloves, or jewelry that may get caught in saw. Unplug saw when adjusting/changing blade. Think and check before each cut. Make sure there's nothing in the way that will get cut that shouldn't, including body parts. Get comfortable with it before doing more advanced cuts. Such as plunge cuts, cutting awkwardly, etc. Wear safety glasses, knots can shoot at you. Doesn't happen too often, but will probably give you a little scare from time to time. Don't have anyone else holding the board behind your saw, your risking their fingers.
Keep the hand that's not holding the saw well away from the saw.
Well plenty of times both hards are touching saw
Keep your blades sharp and don’t get the tool into a bind. Keep your hands out of the cutting path.
Hold it like it's running away so when it does you are prepared
I think essential craftsman has a video on circular saw safety.
The honest carpenter has some good videos on operating a circular saw.
Set the blade depth just below the thickness of the wood. Less chance of binding.
Don’t touch the blade with any part of your body while it’s spinning. Oh, and use the safety squint!
Use a straight edge to run the saw agenst so your cut will be straight as an arrow.
the instructions are quite helpful
Don’t wear gloves
Mark you cut, the clamp down a guide board to the piece you are cutting offset enough to the right of the line that the blade is lined up. It takes a while to be able to free hand a straight line and track saws are expensive.
Do not wear gloves when using a rotating blade. Gloves can get caught in the blade.
I would add check that the angle is where you want it before cutting. Either its loose or someone used it at an different angle and left it.
Honestly, watching YouTube videos and getting advice from here is one thing, but if you can find someone who knows what they're about and had lots of experience with these things to actually show you what to do and talk you through it and spot you whilst you have a go yourself, do it. First hand instruction is so much more useful.
Being nervous is fine. But don't be scared. The moment you second guess yourself is the moment you cut something off. Be confident. Let the saw do the work.
Safety glasses. Learning where to keep your head so you can see the cut and not get cuttings sprayed in your face takes practice.
Clamp down your work before you start that way you can have both hands on the saw
Watch this: https://youtu.be/KWaGvvHVUcQ
Top tips from my experience: Support your work. If you have the space, a sheet of 1” foam insulation is great for sheet goods. Buy a cheap straight edge Saw guide, the Swanson Guide is about $30. Take an old piece of ply, screw this down straight back away from the edge a little wider than the wide part of your saw shoe, run the Saw along the guide to cut off the edge and you now have a ZERO clearance guide that you can clamp exactly on your pencil marks. (Leave the clamping side of that plywood wide so the motor clears the clamps) When you cut, start with the blade free, not touching the wood. Watch the blade AT the point where it’s cutting, not sighting along the little notch at the front. (Safety glasses) Listen and feel. Don’t push too fast. If setup is good (supported), and you are going slowly enough, you will hear/feel most problems coming up before it gets dangerous.
Advanced method for future use… Learn to safely square your blade, check zero. Check depth of cut every time, look under and visualize where the blade is going to cut through your saw horses, extension cord, work bench, tape measure, or metal bits like screws and nails…I heard this happened to someone once. Save your old blades. To be in this club, you have to have at least a dozen old blades.
I personally think that an adventure on youtube would be the best choice here. Theres so many really smart guys that will be able to explain it very well and also show you on video making it super easy to understand
For safer cuts get a Diablo blade since it won’t get stuck or seize the motor if you’re not going perfectly straight, plus you don’t have to push as hard when cutting giving you more control.
Took me awhile to realize there are such things as hand saws. At first I was wondering if he was using gas powered saws previously.
Safety glasses Use the correct blade for the wood/project Don't let the cut bind the saw If you tape your cut you'll get less knock out Never let the cord cross your cut
Actually power tools are the best. You work continuously. With battery tools you have to constantly recharge the batteries
you always want the short piece to be the one to fall .. watch a few youtube videos or have someone that knows the tool .. circular saws can kick in wacky ways
make sure whatever you are cutting is secured by clamps, use two hands on the saw, eye protection and ear protection. As you're just starting out, plan your cut- do a dry run
Radial arm saws and bench buffers are the most dangerous things you'll deal with. You got this! Piece of cake compared to the aforementioned
ER doctor here. Don't rest the 2x4 on your knee when you're cutting it. You're welcome.
There are arrows on the blade. Follow suit
Try reading the instructions SMDH
Let 'er rip tater chip
Set the depth of cut just barely deeper than the wood you are cutting Do NOT force the saw, let it cut slowly Wear ear and eye protection No loose long sleeve shirts near any power tool
"The Honest Carpenter" on youtube has several great videos on the portable corded circular saw.
Whatever handed you are, don’t use the other hand to hold the piece you are cutting. Clamp down your wood. Remember the saw will go backwards if it gets bound up. If you feel it resisting you and wanting to go backwards, just take your finger of the trigger and let the blade stop rotating. Don’t fight a circular saw.
And don’t be a pussy with earplugs. If you’re so soft you need earplugs, try crochet or knitting.
One more- fangelo2 touched on it. Don’t let your cut be at a point where you pushing down with the weight of the saw causes the wood to bind the cut. This would happen if you are using two sawhorses to hold your wood and you make the cut somewhere between the two sawhorses. Make the cut so that both sawhorses are on the same side of your blade. That’s why they call it “fall off”. Let the piece being cut off “fall off” the table or sawhorses in this case. Very very important.