Caring For Your Circular Saw

The first one is rather obvious, as safety equipment is a standard component of many power tools.

The Machine 

Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying wood chips and sawdust, which represent a constant danger. Every day, people lose their eyesight because they did not wear eye protection. The second essential safety item is ear protection. Circular saws are among the world’s noisiest power equipment; thus, you should invest in a quality set of earplugs or ear muffs. Keep your hands away from the blade at all times. The safest method is to maintain constant contact with the circular saw with both hands.

Never place one hand behind the circular saw while using the other hand to push the instrument. There is always the possibility that the saw will jump out of the cut and destroy your hand when it lands on it.

Guard

Every circular saw must be equipped with a blade guard. This is your first line of defense, so ensure that it is functioning properly. Occasionally, a piece of wood becomes wedged between the blade and the guard.

When this occurs, immediately turn off the saw and disconnect its power cord. Now it is safe to remove the piece of wood.

A circular saw’s guard encloses the blade when it is not in use. Only when a cut is made does the guard push on the wood, exposing the blade to the wood. As you continue to cut, the guard will open until the blade is completely exposed.

If the guard does not move smoothly, remove the saw blade (after unplugging the machine) and apply lubrication to the pivot point. Fine sawdust could block the pivot point, preventing it from functioning as intended.

Cutting

Before making a cut, adjust the blade depth so that only one tooth protrudes beyond the bottom of the wood. This decreases the amount of blade that is embedded in the wood and the likelihood of the saw binding or kicking back.

Never support a piece of wood on both ends, such as across saw horses, and then cut through the center. At the end of the cut, the wood will droop, causing the saw blade to stick and possibly kick back. Leave the portion you plan to cut unsupported, as this will allow it to fall to the ground.

By adhering to these guidelines, you will feel much more assured knowing that your risk of injury is limited.