All about circular saws

Everyone knows that a saw is an indispensable tool in everyday life and in construction. But among them there is a gradation that any consumers should know in order to get the best result. This is important to consider both when choosing and during subsequent use.

The circular saw is a powerful machine that can be used to cut large quantities of wood, laminate, soft metals and some other substances. Who exactly invented the circular saw, now it is impossible to say. There are a number of candidates - residents of the territories of modern Germany and England.

Two things are clear: work on this invention was carried out in many places in the last quarter of the 18th century, and more or less widespread use of circular saw designs close to modern ones began after the end of the Napoleonic wars.

The high performance of the mechanism is greatly overshadowed by the fact that it is only suitable for precisely directed straight cuts. The slightest deviation to the side is impossible for technical reasons.

Despite the similarity in design, there are significant differences between specific models of circular saws, affecting:

• total capacity of the installation;
• productivity at work;
• the thickness of the material to be cut;
• a set of auxiliary functions.

The hand-held circular saw is assembled from:

• flat bed;
• the drive on which the disk is vertically mounted;
• handles (allowing you to start and hold the device);
• sawdust removal nozzle;
• guiding elements;
• hinge blocks that set the possibility of a cut at a given angle to the surface.

The disc with a diameter of 600 mm plunges into the surface, rotating at a speed of up to 5000 rpm. The electric motor on the circular saws is usually rated at 220 volts.

Power is of decisive importance when using the device. If it is from 800 to 1200 W, it will be possible to cut materials up to 4.5 cm, for this, discs with a section of 13-16 cm are installed.

The cheapness of such products is their only advantage. Such devices can be used only in isolated cases when it is required to cut uncomplicated material. If the power supplied from the motor shaft to the working wheel ranges from 1300 to 1800 W, the maximum cutting depth increases to 6 cm.

The diameter of the discs themselves increases to 20 cm. When the power of the power plant is from 2000 W, you can put a disc with a cross-section of up to 35 cm. This device already allows you to cut even not too thick sheets of rolled metal.

Most saws of this kind can be rigidly fixed to the workbench. This allows you to create a miniature sawmill. However, advanced features turn into a high cost of goods. The stator is essential for any circular saw.

These sawing systems are mainly equipped with collector motors.Power is transmitted from these motors to the blade flange by means of a shaft containing bearings.

You can see a tabletop saw in any carpentry shop. In most cases, this is exactly the technique:

• saws wooden blocks;
• cuts boards along or across;
• cuts fibreboard, plywood and other derived materials.

Stationary equipment can be equipped with a hermetically sealed cast base. There are also combined and lightweight devices. The accuracy and efficiency of cutting does not depend on this type. But it affects the cost of the product, its functionality and comfort of work.

The undoubted advantages of fixed models are:

• minimum vibration level;
• high precision of the cut line;
• severity of settings.

The weight of stationary sawing devices ranges from 80 to 320 kg. Taken together, these characteristics make it possible to use this technique in the woodworking industry, at sawmills, sawmills. The main body (bed) is made of steel or premium cast iron.

Only such materials provide the necessary strength.

This type of circular saw is also powered by electric traction. A feature of the manual device is the ability to cut materials fairly evenly, regardless of their structure. The device works effectively on wood, plastic, minerals.

A professional grade circular saw is rarely portable, because more power is important to it. It is on these parameters that the depth of the cuts formed and the speed with which the material breaks through directly depends. It is worth noting that all professional devices are made with a soft start. This eliminates vibration and maximizes cutting accuracy.

The ability to process soft wood is associated with the lowest possible rotational speeds of the disc. Reliable automation allows the disc rotation to be coordinated as flexibly as possible and prevents overheating. The power delivered to the operating components can be adjusted.

This type of saws cannot set the depth and angle of entry of the blade as accurately as a professional counterpart.

If you use the device for a long time, it will not withstand the required degree of accuracy. This is true even when you want to cut relatively soft material at a 90 degree angle. And at work on a wobbly table, on a fragile or poorly fixed base, problems become even more... Therefore, you have to make trial cuts, carefully check everything, therefore, only with occasional use, a household circular saw justifies itself.

Another important feature is that this tool is manually operated. The disc is mounted directly on the shaft, rotated by the handle. On saws of any type, a special support platform is provided, which allows you to change the depth of the notch and the angle of entry of the blade.

Some models are battery operated. Despite the limited power and relatively short duration of the working session, the partial autonomy in relation to the mains makes these devices attractive to a number of people.

But this all concerns mainly universal (multifunctional) circular saws.And there are also highly specialized options.

One of them is the two-disc version.

The hypoid saw is noticeably heavier than its conventional counterpart. The oil in it will have to be changed strictly on schedule., in addition to a specialized service. But the rotor and stator are made as powerful as possible, you can work with one hand. Special gears provide smooth, uniform running, high reliability and precision.

Turntable saws can be converted into a miter tool; only a few elementary movements are required.

The angle saw is used:

• during construction work (forming blanks for canopies, frames, various roofs);
• during the assembly of a metal-plastic window;
• when door frames are put;
• when platbands are installed;
• if you need to make a blank for a baguette frame.

A special type of circular saw is needed for concrete work. The same devices will come in handy if you need to process natural stone or various types of finishing, decorative tiles. Due to the hardness of the target materials, it is necessary to equip the saws with diamond discs.... Such accessories also help when paving sidewalks, when preparing stone blocks for sculptural purposes.

Construction circular saws for concrete can be designed for dry cutting - these tools allow you to do work only for a short time. That is, it is quite possible to cut off parts of bricks or tiles. But prolonged dry cutting will lead to rapid wear of the working parts.

Due to their adaptation to intensive use, these devices have a long service life, in addition, they make neat incisions. Thanks to its high technical characteristics, it is even possible to cut marble.

The circular saw can be equipped with discs with internal cutting teeth, its type does not matter much.

Starting a review of manufacturers of circular saws, I must immediately say that European and Asian firms are at about the same level. The undisputed quality leaders are traditionally Husqvarna, Bosch, Hitachi, Metabo, Makita. Hyundai also supplies good products.

Quite worthy proposals are made by Russian factories. "Zubr", "Interskol", "Soyuz", "Energomash" - each of these brands has long established itself.

You can save money by purchasing products from good foreign brands of the "second echelon", such as Ryobi, Stayer, Defort.

This circular saw helps you make furniture and cut wood for other purposes. The supplied disc has relatively few teeth. But that doesn't stop him from cutting cleanly enough. The undoubted advantage of this model is its lightness and compactness. Consumers speak positively about the quality of the outsole. The total power is 600 W.

Of domestic products, attention is drawn to "Interskol DP-210 / 1900M"... This saw effectively handles wood blanks for construction.She perfectly saws slats and plywood sheets. A similar device is recommended for everyone who is forced to saw something more than 4 times a month.

The Interskola product is distinguished by its high sawing power, considerable depth of cuts, smooth start-up, ease of grip, but it is impossible to fix it in the table.

Russian model "Zubr ZPD-1600", despite the affordable price, it is distinguished by its convenience and power. The product allows you to work with boards 5 cm thick. The tool works reliably. It is equipped with a cold-resistant cable. The only obvious drawback is the defective disc protection when working at a 45 degree angle.

DeWalt DWE560 is also a decent circular saw.... It is considered to be a fairly lightweight and low-noise device. The wood is cut quickly and easily. The cuts are accurate and clean. With a power of 1350 W, the tool is equipped with a disc 18.4 cm in diameter.

Good results can be obtained from the Japanese circular saw Makita 5477NB... This product is much more advanced than most Hitachi models. Judging by the reviews, the high cost of the tool is fully justified. It will come in handy in the construction of frame houses.

The Makita 5604R is often an attractive choice.... This circular saw offers an excellent balance of cutting depth, weight and working comfort. The cutting disc confidently picks up even larch with a cross section of 30x5 cm. Although a raw tree of great thickness gives in with difficulty.

The 5704R from the same manufacturer is in high demand.... Consumers note that a circular saw can be used for several years without repairs and even without replacing working parts. This tool is readily used by both amateurs and professionals.

The product is considered relatively quiet and quite powerful, capable of cutting through a tree to a great depth. Judging by the reviews, the saw is quite reliable.

Among the Skil tools, the 5740CA saw stands out... It is equipped with a fairly powerful (700 W) motor. The highest frequency of rotation of the shaft is 4300 revolutions per minute. Due to the energy transmitted to them, a cut is provided to a depth of 4 cm.

The designers were able to make an ergonomic model, in addition to provide high-quality control of the device.

Using a branded marker, you can mark straight cuts as accurately as possible. The total mass of the circular saw is 2.4 kg. For the greatest convenience, the instrument is equipped with well-readable scales.

Engineers have taken care of preventing unintentional start-ups as well as maximum stability of the steel support of the product. If you need to cut the cells, a special rotation lever is provided. Additionally, a mechanism that collects dust and sawdust can be used; standard household vacuum cleaners or special bags are connected to it as needed.

To control the cutting line, a carefully tuned sight is installed. By sawing wood at a 45-degree angle, you can deepen the disc by 2.6 cm.

A good alternative to this model is the 5265LD circular saw... The Dutch company equips this version with a powerful 1250 W motor. This circumstance makes it possible to achieve a high torque.

The shaft rotates at a speed of up to 5000 turns per minute. Therefore, you can cut without problems in a short time, making verified and accurate cuts.

The Dexter saw is sometimes a good choice.... The products of this company, even rechargeable ones, can be used every day. You have to purchase batteries separately.Consumers can use replaceable blades for cutting plastics, stone blocks.

Confidently handled:

• sidewalk tiles;
• ceramic granite;
• furniture boards;
• moisture resistant boards with tongue and groove;
• PVC, chipboard, fiberboard, fiberglass;
• ceramic tiles and plasterboard elements.

The capacity of purchased batteries is sufficient for different periods of time. You can safely cut and chunk 30-35 pieces of medium-sized paving slabs. Also, one charge can be enough to cut 40 boards for lathing.

Even the highest quality circular saw could not be fully utilized without accessories.

With their help:

• easier transportation;
• replacement of deformed parts is accelerated;
• other stages of work are simplified.

The bag is also important. It is used whenever an instrument needs to be moved to a new location. At the same time, its serviceability is ensured, pollution is excluded.

In addition to bags (and cases), graphite brushes can also be of great benefit. In everyday use, they fail suddenly. When these brushes are available, DIYers can save a lot of time.

It should be said that the limited spread of dust also helps to cut through the material more accurately, without contaminating the passage. Usually the bag is joined through a special format adapter.

Any catalog of accessories for circular saws always contains complete sets of accessories, which include:

• goniometer (special protractor);
• limiter;
• clamp (sometimes several);
• connecting elements;
• endors.

The riving knife is of great importance in practice. It allows you to prevent such a dangerous situation as "backward bounce" of the cut workpiece.

The riving knife is not sharpened, this is the name of a special plate that is placed in the plane of the saw blade. It helps to avoid jamming of one of the parts of the disc in the material, removing internal stresses or correcting the shift of the workpiece in relation to the axis of the disc.

But to reduce the likelihood of a disc flying off, you also need a special insert... It is made from wood, plywood or plastic. The insert is mounted strictly at the level of the desktop.

The main task of such an element is to prevent the workpiece and parts cut from it from tightening below the critical level. If they are there, it is almost inevitable that the cutting unit will be thrown towards the operator.

Another significant element is the tool used for cross-cutting. The so-called crosscut carriages with their clamps will hold the workpieces in place in a critical situation. In addition, the use of carriages allows you to refuse to manipulate with unprotected hands in dangerous proximity to the disk.

Along with ensuring safety, the carriage guides significantly improve the quality of work.

Another must-have accessory is the insulating cover. It comes complete with any circular saw. If there is no such casing in the delivery set, you should immediately discard the purchase.

Returning to the pusher, it must be said that the design of this element includes dust-resistant rubber. Such material differs from the usual one by increased adhesion to the surface.

Using the center stop, settings can be made to control the workpiece on both sides of the cut. A well-made part can protect operators when machining workpieces of any size. A side rip fence can be used to complement the crosscut carriage.

The role of this element is to maintain the evenness of the cut. Even involuntary contractions of the muscles of a tired forearm will not affect her. To save money, you can make your own guides.... Their length is determined by the size of the target blanks. Of course, all the details must be fastened as carefully as possible - elementary safety depends on this.

But before supplementing the circular saw with one or another device, you need to make the right choice. First of all, it is worth deciding whether a device is required with or without a gearbox. In the first case, the saw blade is placed on the gearbox shaft, which is preliminarily driven by a motor. In the second, there is no intermediate link.

Saw without gear is smaller, lighter, cheaper. It will be easier to move it to another location if necessary. For the home, of course, this option will be easier.

The next moment is the performance of the disc. It becomes active (when the teeth are directed in the direction of movement) or passive (if their orientation is opposite).

Active discs help cut wood, while passive discs are designed for soft metal. Sometimes you can find on sale saws with active carbide blades. Such devices can cut fairly tough workpieces, although not as efficiently as their passive counterparts.

Regardless of the cutting part, you need to pay attention to the motor power. Circular instruments developing an effort of 800 W or less are considered weak; the most powerful ones work with an effort of 1500 watts.

As this indicator grows, the allowable stiffness and thickness of the material increases.

But with occasional use, you can limit yourself to saws up to 1000 watts. The diameter of the cut is determined only by the size of the disc itself.

For professional-grade models, it ranges from 7.1 to 15 cm. Of course, there is no point in purchasing such devices for home use - they are unjustifiably expensive, and do not provide any special advantages. Rather, it will not be possible to evaluate these advantages in everyday work.

The frequency of rotation of the disk directly depends on:

• performance level;
• the danger of jamming (it is reduced at higher speeds);
• evenness of the cut line.

The twisting speed can reach high values ​​even with low motor power. Saw blades which allow this speed to be controlled are preferred. If the designers have taken care of such an adjustment, it will be possible to process a wide range of materials without problems. Polymers cut relatively slowly, otherwise the cut edges will melt.

Sometimes it is necessary to cut various materials at an angle. It makes little sense to pay for such an option. Anyway, if people are technically trained enough to use the circular saw correctly, they can make this accessory on their own.

Since any significant work can only be performed with saws with an electric drive, it is not indifferent to how it is powered. Battery systems are lighter and more compact, but not very suitable for long and strenuous work. They are widely used on construction sites, on roofs, in basements and in other places where a stable power supply is for some reason impossible. The total cost of saws with the same other characteristics differs little.

The following auxiliary options are recommended:

• laser marker;
• lighting equipment;
• unexpected start blocker;
• sawdust collector;
• softening the harshness of the start.

In order to cleanly cut sheet materials and various plates, it is worthwhile to put a cutting block with 50-60 teeth instead of a typical disc. If the quality bar is not very high, you can limit yourself to a 40-tooth disc. If possible, lay the material face down. If this is not possible, they resort to pre-trimming or an anti-splitting pad is installed, or a guide rail is used.

Almost all circular saws are equipped with knurled screws or special levers. These elements help loosen the bolt holding the blade. Having set its new desired angle, it is required to re-tighten the bolt.

It is very important to keep your workplace in perfect order. A foreign tool accidentally caught in the path of the disc can damage it and even lead to serious injury to the master. You can only work with the circular saw in tight-fitting clothing, without jewelry or jewelry. Also you should refuse to work drunk or in poor lighting... The workplace should be as dry as possible - because of the slightest humidity, it is easy to get an electric shock.

Since debris cannot be ruled out, it is helpful to wear goggles and ideally a mask. Before long-term work with the circular saw, it is imperative to use earplugs or special headphones for noisy work..

Before starting work, you need to carefully inspect the workpiece, whether there are nails, screws or something else like that. In the best case, if the blade hits the metal, the saw will fail. At worst, the operator can be hurt.

The workpieces should be carefully secured with clamps or vices.

Before changing the blade, you must disconnect the saw from the mains or remove the battery from it.

You will learn how to choose a circular saw from the video below.