{"id":3000,"date":"2018-04-03T19:59:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T02:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toolazine.com\/?p=3000"},"modified":"2022-05-03T17:05:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T00:05:19","slug":"cut-straight-circular-saw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toolazine.com\/cut-straight-circular-saw\/","title":{"rendered":"How to cut straight with a circular saw"},"content":{"rendered":"

A circular saw is a great versatile and portable cutting tool. However, it can be difficult to make long straight cuts. So, how to make a strait cut with a circular saw?<\/p>\n

A straight cut with a circular saw can be easily made by using a guide. Another piece of wood that already has a straight edge can be used as a guide or a commercial circular saw guide can be used.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I guess you already are aware of the importance of having a circular saw as many\u00a0tasks\u00a0in your house and yard can be done very easily with this versatile tool.<\/p>\n

But that is not enough, you need to get a saw and get down to business \u2013 start building the things you always wanted to have.<\/p>\n

Circular saws can be expensive, which is the main reason why many people stop reading and focus their minds on something else.<\/p>\n

In order to help you with this, I did research and found circular saws that are cheap, but also with good quality. If your budget is limited, but you still want to get one, check my article for quality circular saw models under $50<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is not enough to just buy a circular saw\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just as it is important to have a circular saw, it is equally important to learn how to use it. Before you take the tool in your hands, I would suggest reading the rip-cut versus\u00a0a crosscut\u00a0article.<\/a><\/p>\n

It will help you learn the difference between the two types of cuts, as well as how to perform them. But, what is\u00a0more\u00a0important to learn, is how to maintain a straight cut\u00a0in wood<\/strong>? Grab your saw we are diving in.<\/p>\n

How to cut straight with a circular saw?<\/h2>\n

Let me take a wild guess \u2013 you marked the wood and started cutting, but no matter how carefully you followed the line, the cut wasn\u2019t straight enough<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Is this a problem?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, you may use the piece of wood even if it is not straight, but this depends on the type of woodwork<\/strong>. Notice that not every task can be done if the cut is not straight.<\/p>\n

Imagine you are cutting wood in order to build a shelf. If your cut is not perfectly straight, you will experience problems with assembling the shelf.<\/p>\n

That is why it is crucial to learn the straight cut<\/strong>. So, here is how to perform the straight cut.<\/p>\n

Before you start cutting, you need to take several other things apart from your circular saw.<\/p>\n

First of all, find something straight<\/strong>. You have full freedom to choose what you want to use \u2013 it could be a\u00a0level\u00a0or a piece of wood you previously cut, but you know is perfectly straight.<\/p>\n

Whatever you choose, it needs to cover the full length of the wood you are about to cut.<\/p>\n

So, the level or piece of\u00a0wood\u00a0will be used as a guide<\/strong>. It is very important to fix that\u00a0piece\u00a0and make sure that it doesn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n

To do this, I recommend getting a pair of clamps<\/strong> and fixing it on\u00a0both\u00a0sides of the lumber. Notice how you are putting the clamps, as you don\u2019t want to hit them with the saw.<\/p>\n

Next,\u00a0set the depth<\/strong>\u00a0and remember that it shouldn\u2019t go more than a quarter inch below the material.<\/p>\n

Using the circular saw, you will need to follow the fixed piece<\/strong>, but before you start with it, you need to check the saw base.<\/p>\n

There is no rule from which side you should cut, but whatever you choose\u00a0to consider\u00a0the distance to the blade<\/strong> and include that in your calculation.<\/p>\n

You may notice that many saws have the same distances from the blade, but I would suggest measuring the saw each time you cut. Or, if you use the same model over and over again, just write the numbers somewhere and don\u2019t forget to include them.<\/p>\n

From now on, it is basically the traditional cutting<\/em> I guess you already know. First, pick up the particular blade according to the material you are cutting.<\/p>\n

Make sure you are equipped with all the safety gear<\/strong>, and you can start the saw. Just follow the straightedge with your circular saw and that is it.<\/p>\n

As you can see, the process isn\u2019t tough and you will be able to do it quickly. With several\u00a0practices,\u00a0you will be able to do the right cut.<\/p>\n

It is always better to get a visual on what you are about to do. In order to help you with that, I suggest\u00a0taking\u00a0a look at this video that shows the whole process of making a straight cut.<\/p>\n