How to Use a Circular Saw: Mastering Bevel Cuts, Rip Cuts, and More

Learning to use a portable circular saw, one of the most common types of saws, is a crucial skill to master for all woodworkers, carpenters, and active DIYers. Knowing how to cut straight with a circular saw allows tool users to move on to advanced techniques required to complete construction, woodworking, and renovation projects. Although this power tool can be loud and feel intimidating when the sawdust starts flying, understanding the fundamental elements and techniques gives even novice DIYers the confidence to master rip cuts, crosscuts, bevel cuts, and more.

What is a Circular Saw Used For?

Circular saws are primarily used to make straight and bevel-angled cuts through solid wood, plywood and composites. And when fitted with the appropriate blade, they can also slice through ceramic tile, brick, concrete, metal and a variety of other very hard building materials. Circular saws are user-friendly and require only rudimentary tool and construction skills to operate. They are popular with professional contractors in virtually every trade, including carpentry, masonry, and plumbing. Here are some common circular saw applications:

• Saw through 2-by construction lumber when framing houses or building decks.
• Cut solid hardwood and soft wood boards.
• Cut sheets of plywood, oriented-strand board and particleboard down to size.
• Score thick lumber to create grooves and slots.
• Chop through brick and concrete.
• Make long and bevel-angled cuts.
• Cut PVC and other pipe materials to length.
• Slice through aluminum and other metals.

Many homeowners own circular saws to complete woodworking and other projects. They are best suited for making rough and near-precise cuts through lumber and other materials.

Essential Elements of a Circular Saw

Operating a circular saw safely calls for knowing the essential design elements and function of each part. Modern circular saws have built-in safety features that help reduce the risk of injury, as long as they are used correctly. Here are the key components of a circular saw that users need to know:

• Motor: Depending on the type of circular saw, the motor may be located on the side of the blade or behind it. It is responsible for generating enough power--or torque--to produce the sufficient RPMs.
• Circular Saw Blades: Circular saw blades are round steel disks with extremely sharp teeth. As the blade rotates at high speeds, the teeth bite into materials, hewing away a swath. There are a variety of circular saw blades designed for specific materials and uses. These include blades used for masonry work, metals, composites, and lumber. The type and number of teeth determine whether a blade can provide a slower, smoother cut or a quicker, rougher cut.
• Blade Guard: A circular saw blade guard covers much of the blade to protect users from injury. The top of the guard is permanently fixed to the saw, while the lower blade guard is spring-loaded to retract as you cut through the material, and then snap back to cover the blade at the end of the cut. Caution: Never use a circular saw with a faulty lower blade guard.
• Trigger: The power tool’s trigger works in a straightforward fashion. Circular saws do not have speed settings. You simply grasp the handle firmly and squeeze the trigger to turn on the motor. As a built-in safety precaution, removing your finger from the trigger cuts the power immediately. Note that some circular saws, but not all, have a brake that automatically stops the blade from spinning once the trigger is released.
• Base Plate: Also known as the shoe, the plate rests on the material being cut. Plates come in a variety of widths and lengths. Wider plates provide enhanced stability but can limit making cuts in tight areas.
• Depth-of-Cut Adjustment: Circular saws have a lever or knob that allows you to easily raise or lower the blade to adjust how deeply it will cut.
• Bevel Adjustment: This part of the circular saw allows users to adjust the angle of each cut. It typically has a swivel and knob to loosen or tighten the bevel angle, and to lock it in place. Although not necessarily considered a precision adjustment apparatus, bevels are ideal for framing and rough carpentry work.

It’s essential to keep in mind that power tool manufacturers make a variety of circular saws. Designs differ slightly, and the locations and mechanisms are not all the same.

Types of Circular Saws

Not all circular saws are created or designed equally. When selecting a power tool, it’s important to consider the design in the context of how you plan to use it. And keep in mind that both corded electric and battery-powered cordless circular saws are available. These are the popular types of circular saws on the market today:

Sidewinder Circular Saws

Widely recognized as the most popular design, the sidewinder’s motor is mounted to one side of the blade. The trigger is located at the top of the handle. Sidewinders are easy to use, relatively lightweight, generate high speeds, and have sufficient power for nearly any task. This low-maintenance circular saw is portable and comes with adjustments to make a variety of cuts.

Compact Circular Saws

Compact circular saws usually follow the same basic design as sidewinders. They are simply smaller, lighter versions that allow users to cut thin materials and work in confined spaces. The saw blades are typically smaller and are designed for shallower cuts. Manufacturers may integrate plastics housings to reduce weight.

Worm-Drive Circular Saws

This style of circular saw is considered a professional-grade tool and is a darling among house framers. It generates exceptional torque, enabling it to quickly cut through thick lumber. It has an inline motor with gears that connect to the blade. Although generally heavier than the sidewinder, and the trigger and handle is located near the rear of the saw. Worm-drive saws are unmatched when it comes to cutting through thick, gnarly lumber.

Track Saws

Circular saws are typically used freehand. By contrast, track saws literally follow a guide--or track--to ensure perfectly straight and highly precise cuts. The track is place on the workpiece with its edge set right on the cut line. The saw then slots into the track to produce consistent, controlled cuts.

How to Use a Circular Saw for Beginners

A well-built and maintained circular saw allows users to make a variety of cuts. If you do not have experience using these power tools, it’s prudent to become familiar with the most straightforward usage, the crosscut. A crosscut involves taking a piece of material, often a 2x4, and cutting across its width and all the way through the board.

Because circular saws are typically used freehand, carpenters rely heavily on them to make quick crosscuts. Experienced professionals on construction sites typically draw a line and perform a crosscut with the board set on sawhorses. However, learning how to use a circular saw for beginners calls for a more controlled method. These are steps you can use to gain experience making crosscuts with a circular saw:

Circular Saw Crosscut Steps

Use a tape measure to determine the length you want the 2x4 and use a pencil to mark the spot. Take a framing square or speed square and draw a line on the pencil mark, all the way across the width of the board. Clamp the board to a fixed surface. The end you wish to cut off should extend beyond the surface by a few inches. With the saw unplug or its battery removed, adjust the depth-of-cut setting so the blade will cut completely through the board in one pass. Check the bevel adjustment to ensure the blade angle is set at zero to make a square, 90-degree cut. Once you've made all the necessary adjustments, plug in the saw or insert its battery.

Place the circular saw’s base plate on the edge of the material. Align the blade with the cut line marked on the board, but before squeezing the trigger, make sure the blade is contacting the board. With both hands on the saw, squeeze the trigger and slowly advance the saw forward and into the material. The safety guard will retract as the blade slices through the lumber. Maintain control of the power tool, directing along the cut line.

When the circular saw completes the crosscut, the extended end of the board will fall away. If you are new to using circular saws, consider practicing crosscuts on scrap lumber. Always check scrap wood for nails, tacks, staples before making the cut.

Circular Saw for Rip Cuts

After honing your crosscutting skills, move on to learning how to make safe rip cuts. A rip cut is simply a long, straight cut made along the length of the board or panel. That is, cutting parallel with the wood grain, not across it. One of the most popular circular-saw rip cuts is to cut wide plywood sheets into narrower strips. In fact, to become acclimated with performing rip cuts, start with a sheet of plywood.

Mark desired with of the cut onto the plywood with a pencil; place one mark near each end of the sheet. Then connect the two marks by snapping a chalk line along the plywood. Plywood sheets are usually 96 inches long, so if you don't have a chalk line, mark the cut line with a long, perfectly straight board. 

Once the line is in place, set the plywood on sawhorses and secure it with clamps. Check the blade depth and bevel angle adjustments, and then place the base plate on the edge of the material. Be sure the blade is not touching the plywood, then hold the circular saw firmly with both hands, and squeeze the trigger. Slowly move the saw forward and into the plywood. Follow the cut line, using even, steady pressure. 

A straight rip cut requires a number of repetitions to understand the nuances of using a circular saw for this purpose. Blades can bind and heat up if you veer off course, adding tension to the blade.

Circular Saw Bevel Cuts

If you feel confident with your crosscut and rip cut abilities, the next step is learning how to make an angled bevel cut. The process follows the same principles as rips and crosscuts, with one subtle difference: the blade is tilted at an angle to the surface of the board.

Measuring and drawing your line on the material can be a little tricky. You’ll need to account for the fact the bevel cut does not create a perpendicular end. One side of the board will be shorter than the other.

After determining the bevel angle, which is usually 45 degrees, mark the cut line onto the piece of lumber. Adjust the bevel angle on the saw and set the depth of the cut, too. Set the saw on the board, hold it firmly with both hands, and squeeze the trigger. Advance the blade into the lumber, applying steady pressure and keeping the base plate flat on the surface.

You may notice the circular saw tends to veer to one side or the other. This is a common issue when performing bevel cuts with a circular saw. After practicing a few times, you’ll adjust to the pull and learn how to maintain a straight line.

Notching Material with a Circular Saw

It may come as a surprise to someone just learning to use a circular saw, but there are instances when the saw is used to notch a board, not cut all the way through it. Although notching lumber with a circular saw isn’t a highly precise use of the power tool, it does help expedite specific projects. For example, you can use a circular saw to notch fence posts, cut grooves, create half-lap joints or form tenons. Here's how to use a circular saw to notch a fence post to accept a horizonal rail:

Measure the post and mark the bottom of the notch. Then, mark the top of the notch, making sure the two marks are spaced to accept the horizontal fence rail. For example, is the rail is cut from a 2x4, the marks should be 3 1/2 in. apart. Using a square draw a straight line across the post, indicating the width of the notch.

Clamp the post to a sturdy surface and adjust the circular saw's depth of cut to equal the thickness of the rail. For a 2x4, that would be 1 1/2 inches. This allows the rail to sit flush with the surface of the post. Just like the other cuts, rest the base plate on the edge of the post, squeeze the trigger and advance the saw forward along the cut line and across the post. Repeat for the other cut line. At this point, you will have two cuts indicating the top and bottom of the notch. Now, make a series of closely spaced cuts between the first two cuts to remove a majority of the waste wood. Remove the remaining waste wood with a hammer and chisel to complete the notch.

Circular Saw Safety Tips

Circular saws give professionals and DIYers a flexible power tool to make a variety of cuts. They can be used to trim the ends of material, cut up scrap wood into shorter lengths, or create bevel cuts to almost seamlessly join material together. Regardless of whether you are a layperson or someone who does construction for a living, it’s critical to heed the following safety rules:

Always Wear PPE

Fast-rotating circular saw blades kick up plenty of airborne particles and throw wood chips, which requires users to wear adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). To prevent unhealthy dust from entering your lungs, wear a dust mask or dual-cartridge respirator.

The same holds true for eye protection. Shards of metal, concrete, and other materials can become lodged in the eyes. Safety goggles or glasses with side protections are necessary when making cuts. It’s also prudent for people to consider noise-reducing earplugs and cover your head, arms, and areas of the body that could be impacted by loose material and dust.

Dress Appropriately

Wearing loose-fitting attire can lead to an accident or injury. Shirt sleeves and midsections can become caught by the circular saw blade. When using power tools, consider what you are wearing and how it could result in a power tool accident.

Handling the Circular Saw

Circular saws are typically designed for users to hold them with two hands. That means one hand squeezes the trigger while the other grips the accompanying front handle. Never attempt to use a circular with one hand. It’s also essential to position your feet and body in a way that does not require you to overextend your arms. This will result in uneven pressure, causing the power tool to kick back.

Although circular saws do not necessarily produce cuts with the level of precision delivered by miter saws and table saws, their versatility and free-handed applications make them a must-have tool. We hope this information about circular saws, cuts, and safety proves helpful.