How to Cut Thick Wood With a Circular Saw
When it comes to cutting thick wood, the go-to tool is the circular saw. The circular saw is a powerful tool with a toothed blade that is able to cut through many materials, such as concrete, masonry, metal, and wood. There are many different types of circular saws made from different materials, and they can be cordless or corded, and sometimes finding the best circular saw can require some research.
Using a circular saw requires a lot of attention because it has an exposed blade, and as much as they are handy, they are also quite intimidating. So for that, we’ve made a step-by-step guide on how to cut thick wood with a circular saw.
Contents
Step 1: Measure your Wood and Blade
The fundamental step in woodworking is measuring. You need to measure your wood to ensure that it is big enough for you to cut all the needed pieces. And you need to measure the blade to ensure that it would cut the wood. You need to find the right circular saw blade because if the wood is twice thicker than the saw, you won’t be able to cut with it.
Step 2: Mark the wood or use a saw guide while cutting
Make sure that you mark the wood exactly where you need to cut. So you can keep the blade in the line when cutting. Although you can use a straight edge clamp if you have one, it is way more comfortable and better to use, especially when it comes to long cuts.
Step 3: Secure the wood
To make sure that you will get the perfect cuts, without any injuries. You need to secure the wood in place. Position the wood on the table and clamp only one side, and do not clamp the offcut side.
Step 4: Prepare
Adjust the blade a bit deeper than the thickness of your wood, and make sure to lock it down. Put your safety gear on because there would be sawdust and even splinters of the wood that can cause lots of injuries. So make sure that your eyes are protected with safety goggles, and you are wearing a mask, so you don’t inhale the harmful dust. If you want to, you can even protect your ears, because cutting wood makes a lot of noise.
Step 5: Cut Process
You should start the cutting process with the circular saw placed on one side of the marked line. Try not to force the saw to go forward. All you need to do is holdd the wood with the non-dominant hand, and with your dominant hand, try to cut as deep as you can. And always remember that you should keep your hand at a certain distance from the blade.
Safety tips
When you come close to the end of your cut, the tip of the board will bow downwards. In that case, you should let the wood pieces fall because you shouldn’t be cutting anywhere between your stand. Doing this will prevent your saw from kicking back during the process of cutting. Also, the safest way to adjust the blade would be ¼ below the cutting board. And another safety tip would be to watch the blade while cutting instead of watching the marked lines.
Conclusion
A circular saw is a powerful tool that can cause damage if it is not used properly. And cutting thick wood never was an easy task, and never will be. So make sure to read the instruction manual, and familiarize yourself with the circular saw and its parts and make sure that you follow the steps. Like every other activity, practice makes perfect.