The circular saw is one of the most important and crucial pieces of machinery that belongs in every workman’s or DIYer’s chest of tools. However, buying a circular saw isn’t as easy as buying the first one that you find, since there are certain factors that you need to consider before doing so. After all, a poor quality saw will hamper you throughout your construction projects and can even cause a safety hazard. A good circular saw should be powerful enough to handle any type of job and should be able to slice through thick hardwood or wet lumber. If it doesn’t have enough power then the motor will automatically slow down and the blade will overheat and get dull. This will lead to a poor cut and the actual saw may push back on the user, leading to huge safety problems.
As you can see, power is an extremely important factor when it comes to the usefulness of the saw and general safety. Power is usually expressed through the saw’s amperage and a 15 amp saw is the average that is on the market. Therefore, you should purchase a saw that is at least 15 amps but if you are only going to use the saw every now and then for simple jobs, then a 10 – 12 amp circular saw should be fine.
There are many different styles of circular saws and these include worm drive, sidewinder, small sidewinder, cordless and trim saw. The worm drive saw style is great for major jobs and has enough torque to carve through wet lumber and even concrete. It is designed so that the motor is in line with the blade and the handle is set further back so that the user can have better control over it to prevent any kickbacks. The sidewinder on the other hand, has a blade that sits to the side of the motor. This makes it more maneuverable than the worm drive and is lighter at ll lbs whereas the worm drive is a hefty 16 lb machine.
The small sidewinder as the name suggests, is a smaller and lighter version of the sidewinder. This saw is more suited to a slight bodied person and is approximately 7 – 8 lbs. Cordless saws have less power and torque than the corded versions and run for a limited amount of time due to being reliant on a battery. However, they are increasingly becoming more powerful and are essential for a user who needs a saw where an electrical outlet is not available. Lastly, the trim saw is used for finishing wood work as well as paneling.
Another factor that you need to consider before choosing a saw are the ergonomics. The only way that you can do so is to actually hold the saw and see if it is a good fit for you. So, be sure to visit your local tool supplier to actually handle a few saws. When holding each saw, you should check that the saw feels well balanced and that you can easily adjust the controls.
Shoe styles are another factor that has to be considered. The truth is that you will drop your saw at some point and as a result, you need to ensure that it is properly protected to withstand any fall. It is best to choose a saw that has a cast metal shoe with reinforcing ribs as oppose to aluminum shoes which easily bend upon hard impact with the ground.
In closing, we have just covered a few of the factors that you need to consider when buying a circular saw. So, be sure to follow the above guidelines and I am certain that you will purchase a fantastic saw that will provide you with many years of reliable service.