Best Circular Saw

Find the Best Circular Saw for your Shop

A woodworker can choose to use a circular saw for the same reasons as carpenters and building contractors have been used for years: that are powerful, portable, to be set up to rip, crosscut and cut many non-wood materials. Here we will discuss the features to look for when choosing a circular saw.

Bigger is usually better:

Circular saws come in a few different sizes (based on the diameter of the saw blade) from 4" to the most common size, 7-1/4". They also tend to be rated by horsepower and / or RPM of the saw blade.

When choosing the best circular saw, a good rule is to buy one that has greater power than other models of the same size. While a 1-HP 7-1/4 "circular saw, it would probably be appropriate, I like the models that are at least two horsepower, because it is less likely to bind when under a load.

Saw Settings:

Circular saws have controls to adjust the depth of cut (from zero to about 2-3/8 "in a typical pattern of 7-1/4") and the bevel of the cut (the saw blade can be beveled zero to 45-degrees). Please check that the controls are easy to adjust and can be securely tightened to maintain the depth or angle. Some models use relatively large lever type controls where others used a little more than a wing nut.

Safety Features:

Circular saws all have some basic safety features. Make sure the saw you are considering has a safety switch, which must be held before the trigger can be depressed. It should also be a blade guard moves easily by pushing the saw through the wood, but arises in place when the saw is far from the stock.

As with all tools, circular saws can be very dangerous if not used correctly. Always read, understand and follow the safety instructions that come with the saw.

Additional features:

Better quality saws use additional features such as an anti-lock clutch, which are the flanges on both sides of the blade allowing the blade to slip if the blade binds on the stock, to protect the motor and mechanism of the unit. Another useful feature is the blade lock, which locks the drive shaft in place, making it easier to change the saw blade.

A. C. Power vs. Battery-saws engines:

A recent development in circular saw is powered by a battery of 4 inch blade models. These are great for small cutting, such as panels of plywood or 1/4-inch. They are lightweight and perfect when you need to achieve a high cut. However, they are lacking in horsepower, and are not very useful for cutting more than a 2x4s. I would definitely recommend having one of these battery packs in hand, but not until a number of other tools in your arsenal.

So get the best circular saw for your arsenal.