To work with wooden, plastic and even metal workpieces at home, a circular hand saw is often used as a more productive analogue of the simplest sawing tool. It has several varieties and application nuances that are important to consider when working.
Circular hand saw device
When constructing and repairing both your own home and on a professional basis, a circular hand saw becomes a convenient aid in your work. The tool is very convenient for sawing wood of different thicknesses, thin metal and plastic products, such as baseboards. There are several varieties of this manual circular saw, but the design of each of them is typical. The standard design consists of:
- Protective plastic housing with one or two handles.
- A special casing for the saw blade that performs protective functions during operation.
- Platforms for holding and guiding the disc. It is necessary to adjust the depth and angle of the cut.
- Riving knife. It is needed to free the knife if it gets stuck in the wood.
- Electric motor. A special disk is attached to its shaft using bolts.
Types of circular saws
A stationary circular saw is installed on a stationary workbench or table. It has high productivity due to its powerful engine and large saw blade. In addition, the presence of a stationary working surface allows for convenient and accurate cutting of long pieces of wood.
Circular machine
A hand-held circular saw is usually used in everyday life. Its main advantages are small dimensions, weight and mobility. It allows you to cut small wooden boards and bars, as well as wood products. You don't need a workbench to use it. Almost all models are equipped with an adjustable sole, which makes their use more comfortable.
Hand circular saw
Compact size and weight allow the table saw to combine the positive qualities of the types described above. They are distinguished by mobility and the ability to finely adjust the cutting angle. The disadvantage of such a tool is the small radius of the saw blade and the low power of the electric motor.
Table saw - machine
The plunge-cut circular saw is a modernized hand-held circular saw. Design features allow for more precise cuts at different angles relative to the horizontal plane, as well as for making local cuts. The main disadvantage of the tool is its high cost.
Plunge circular saw
Application area
A circular saw is mainly used for working with wood products. With its help you can perform the following types of work:
- Longitudinal and transverse cutting of workpieces;
- performing local cuts;
- trimming ends;
- firewood preparation;
- production of boards, bars and other wood products.
In addition, when installing a specialized cutting element, they can be used to cut plastic, artificial stone and tiles.
We also recommend reading a useful article about techniques for even cutting with a circular saw with and without attachments. The article discusses the most necessary techniques and techniques for cutting various materials, from unedged boards to timber and logs.
Working principle of a circular hand saw
The tool is used for even sawing of surfaces, longitudinally or transversely. Arc cutting is not possible with a circular hand saw. The principle of operation of such a unit is simple:
- Torque is transmitted from the electric motor shaft to the cutting disc.
- The sawing disk rotates around its axis at high speed, making it easy to cut the desired surface.
Depending on the cutting depth, the tool is divided into several categories:
- Mini circular hand saws are capable of cutting material up to 46 mm thick.
- The average tool can handle surfaces up to 55 mm.
- Large equipment can cut workpieces with a thickness of about 70 mm.
- Professional equipment cuts products about 140 mm thick.
DIY miniature machine made from a washing machine engine
But as for the motor from a washing machine, this is perhaps one of the best motor options for assembling a circular saw at home. Washing machine motors are distinguished by their long service life and endurance. Low shaft speeds are entirely compensated by the design - most washing machine engines have a groove for the pulley key, and the housing itself has convenient holes for fastening. You can increase the speed of the saw blade by installing pulleys of different sizes on the motor and working shaft, or take an electric motor from the centrifuge of the same washing machine. By the way, you can make a machine with a direct drive from a centrifuge engine; such a motor usually has a long shaft, and a small-diameter saw can be mounted directly on it.\
But the main advantage of a washing machine engine is its power. It is designed for a long period of work, and for a circular saw this is the most important thing.
Types of Circular Hand Saw
There is a large selection of circular saws on the shelves of construction stores. All variety can be divided into:
- A hand tool that the master moves independently.
- A stationary saw on a special table, designed for placement in work shops and workshops.
The circular hand saw is divided according to power classes into:
- Household appliances with power up to 2.2 kW.
- Semi-professional models that are more powerful than household ones. They have great functionality.
- Professional units with increased power and functionality. Used in production.
Another difference is the method of transmitting torque, so they distinguish:
- Electric models connected to a standard power supply.
- A cordless hand-held circular saw is convenient where you don't need a nearby power outlet.
- Models with manual drive, which are currently practically not used, are becoming a thing of the past.
Circular device with permanent installation
Baikal circular mounted on the table
The circular saw is designed for transverse and longitudinal cutting of relatively soft materials: wood, wood panels, plastics, non-ferrous alloys. Hand tools work quickly and accurately, therefore they are widely used in various carpentry works, as well as for:
- performing roofing work;
- laying floor coverings;
- furniture manufacturing.
By replacing the disk on a manual circular saw, you can cut soft metals and profiles. And by installing it on a workbench using a special device, you can turn it into a machine tool.
The main elements of a circular saw:
- electric motor;
- gearbox in housing;
- guide;
- platform;
- protective box;
- stationary mount.
The body of the instrument is made of durable plastic and only a few models are made of metal. Since work produces a lot of dust and chips, manufacturers provide a chip removal system. As a rule, this is an output for connecting an industrial vacuum cleaner. There are models with a built-in dust collection container - a convenient solution for one-time work.
On modern manual models, only brushed electric motors with a power of 750 - 2500 W are installed. This indicator determines the number of revolutions of the disk and the capabilities of the tool. The most powerful models have speeds up to 5000. A powerful motor requires cooling, which is provided by the housing ventilation system.
The platform matters a lot when choosing. She may be:
- stamped - cheaper, suitable for amateurs;
- cast aluminum - does not deform, strong and stable.
Often a graduated scale is applied to the platform, which helps to cut workpieces more accurately.
Guide rail - used to make an even cut. Some manufacturers equip their tools with a guide. But this doesn't always happen.
When choosing a guide, you should take into account the model and manufacturer of the manual circular saw. The tire is often quite expensive, so it is more advisable to purchase a tool that is already equipped with a guide.
Additional accessories
A laser pointer is a convenient option that allows you to cut a part with markings covered with sawdust. Increases the cost of equipment, but is welcomed by professionals.
Possibility of disc replacement - modern models are equipped with a spindle lock, which allows you to quickly and easily remove the disc for replacement. Otherwise, the disk is removed with two keys - a lengthy and inconvenient procedure.
How to choose a circular hand saw?
When purchasing a tool, you should focus on a number of specific parameters:
- Engine power. The higher it is, the faster and with less effort you can cut. In addition, large-diameter cutting discs can be installed on powerful saws (from 3 kW).
- Cutting depth. There are 4 standard sizes that you need to select based on your needs.
- A hand-held circular saw for wood can have an adjustable cutting angle.
- Stationary chip removal system or the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner. A very convenient option that allows you to work practically without dust and debris in the workshop or at home.
- The start lock is an important safety feature that prevents the tool from being started accidentally.
Functions of a circular hand saw
The main “duty” of a circular saw is to cut large quantities of boards, drywall, laminate, plastic panels, soft metal and more. It is indispensable when building a house or cottage, and is also useful when laying floors in an apartment or covering walls with decorative panels. For speed of work and ease of use, the circular electric hand saw is equipped with a number of additional functions:
- Immersion in the material. This function is very convenient when working with large slabs.
- Adjusting the speed of rotation of the cutting disc. To work with different materials, different rotation speeds are required to obtain an even cut without burrs.
- The soft start function is necessary to increase the service life of the cutting blade. Thanks to it, the saw smoothly picks up speed after starting, rather than immediately spinning the shaft to maximum speed.
- A laser pointer is an optional accessory for a handheld circular saw. However, such a pointer is convenient to use when carrying out quick work.
Circular saw blades
An important consumable in a cutting tool is the cutting disc. Each model has its own characteristics:
- height and number of teeth;
- cutting profile geometry.
Conventionally, all disks for hand-held circular saws are divided into:
- Consumables for soft materials such as wood or plastic. They have a positive sharpening angle, the number of teeth is about 50-100, which ensures an even cut.
- Discs for hard materials are produced with a negative sharpening angle and fewer teeth. They can cut through harder materials, but the edges will be more jagged.
Main technical characteristics of a manual wood circular saw
Among the main parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing a hand-held circular saw, it is worth noting the following:
- Electric motor power. Directly affects the performance of the tool. Circular saws with a motor power of 1.5 to 2 kW are suitable for household use;
- Saw blade rotation speed. The performance and cleanliness of the cut depend on this parameter. To work with workpieces made of various materials, it is better to choose a tool with an adjustable disk rotation speed; this makes the tool more versatile, because some materials require a low cutting speed, while others, on the contrary, require a high speed;
- Cutting blade diameter and cutting depth. Directly affects the thickness of the materials being cut. For more efficient work, you should choose a saw with a high kerf ratio;
- Material for making the supporting surface. As a rule, a high-quality tool is equipped with a sole made of stamped structural steel. In addition, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the absence of gaps and play between the body and the sole.
Having become familiar with the main types of circular saws, their detailed technical characteristics and operating principles, everyone will be able to choose the optimal parameters of the tool for themselves and not make a mistake in their choice.
Rating of circular hand saws
Professional builders and home craftsmen identify certain tool models that have the most optimal characteristics for the job. Among them:
- Makita HS7601
is an excellent device for home use with two branded disks included. Cost – $121. - DeWALT DWE560
is a model with the ability to connect a construction vacuum cleaner. Cost – $140. - Hammer CRP 1500 D
is a high-quality lightweight saw with a convenient carrying case. Cost – $93. - Bosch GKS 190
. The Bosch hand-held circular saw is considered one of the best tools in its price segment. Cost – $128.
Features of a hypoid saw
This type of saw belongs to the category of manual saws and its design replicates many classic models of circular saws. At the same time, there are differences in the components: the engine location is not perpendicular, like most classic models, but lobar, like the so-called “monkeys”.
To ensure proper operation, a hypoid type of transmission is used, which contributed to the formation of the name.
- One of the main disadvantages is the relatively large weight of the structure.
- At the same time, many experts note that this type of chainsaw is more convenient to use, thanks to maximum balance.
- At the same time, the undeniable advantage is ease of use, which helps make it indispensable in a private home or country house.
Hand circular saw table
When working with a large volume of sawn material, it is not always comfortable to hold the tool in your hands for a long time. It is much more convenient to secure the tool on a special table, so the cut will be more accurate and faster. All masters prefer to use:
- Factory tables purchased from a store. They can be either stationary or portable.
- Homemade tables, the advantage of which are individual sizes suitable for the workshop area and additional options.
After making your own table, it is important to know how to properly secure your handheld circular saw to your table. There are just a few rules here:
- The instrument is placed inside a prepared compartment that is exactly the right size for the instrument.
- The saw base is securely attached to the table with bolts.
- The disk should fit freely into the slot.
Work rules and safety precautions
The circular saw is a dangerous tool and requires careful handling and compliance with safety regulations. To prevent injuries and cuts, you must follow a number of simple rules:
Before sawing wood, you need to make sure that there are no metal nails or screws in the workpiece.- Inspection and repair of the tool is carried out only when it is completely disconnected from the network.
- It is not allowed to clean the saw from dust by hand. Only with a special brush.
- It is advisable to wear safety glasses when working.
- You need to work slowly, carefully and carefully.
- If you need to support the workpiece, the fingers of the hand holding the part should be parallel to the cutting line.
A circular saw is a very serious tool. You have to work on it responsibly, carefully and accurately.
How to use a circular hand saw?
There are standard instructions on how to use a hand-held circular saw, which for different models will differ only in nuances:
- Before starting work, it is important to ensure that the tool is in working order.
- Secure the cutting blade, adjust the position of the guide pin, check the protective cover and the parallelism of the stop with the groove and the pin.
- Set the minimum required cutting depth.
- Set the guide to the size of the material and mark it.
- Make a test cut 3-5 mm long.
- Continue working without stopping along the entire movement of the disk.
- You can use adhesive tape at the cut site to prevent chipping.
Additional functions
Modern circular models are equipped with serious functionality, among which the most popular are:
- Constant speed maintenance system. The controller reads the shaft rotation speed, when it drops (for example, when entering an area with a more viscous and dense material), the electronics automatically increases the speed due to the power reserve of the device;
- The soft start system allows you to reduce starting currents and the load on the electrical network. The equipment smoothly picks up speed, thereby increasing the resource of the gearbox and the life of the tool;
- The overload protection system will automatically stop supplying power if the motor windings overheat;
- The electrodynamic brake stops the rotation of the equipment at the end of the sawing process. This option increases operator safety when using the tool;
Electrodynamic brake increases operator safety - The slip clutch eliminates the possibility of a kickback and failure of the power unit when the disk jams;
- Protection against accidental activation is an additional button to turn on the device. To start the device, you need to simultaneously press the start buttons, which is almost impossible to do accidentally;
- The spindle stopper makes it easy to replace accessories using just one key;
- The parallel fence and guide rail allow the operator to perform straight cuts parallel to the edge with the highest quality;
- The spring-loaded casing completely hides the equipment, releasing the saw blade only when it rests on the workpiece;
- Adjusting the idle speed allows you to manually select the best process parameters for cutting a particular material.
Don't forget about ergonomics. There are models specially designed for left-handers. Pay attention to the handles. They can be made in the form of a staple, have a straight or mushroom-shaped design. Regardless of the shape, the handles must have anti-slip pads.
