How to choose a hand-held circular saw
How to choose a hand-held circular saw. Online store – ROZETKA
Specifications
The key characteristics of a circular saw are power, speed and depth of cut. The latter directly depends on the diameter of the blade that this type of saw supports.
It is worth noting that for a hand-held circular saw, the division of tools into professional and household tools is perhaps even more conditional than for any other power tool. After all, a person needs to have a hand circular saw if he has to cut wood quite often, almost constantly. This means that cutting boards, plywood, chipboard is most likely part of his job.
In terms of depth of cut, saws fall into three main categories:
40-50 mm – conditionally household saws, used for working with sheet materials;
50-65 mm – universal saws, suitable for most jobs;
65-140 mm – professional models, for those professionals whose work is related to construction work using wood.
It can be argued with a high degree of probability that a saw with a cutting depth of 55 mm in most cases will be sufficient for household work – both during repairs and during construction.
The higher the blade speed, the denser material your saw can cut. For household tools, the rotational speed is typically between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. For a professional one – from 2000 to 9000 rpm.
Power consumption for relatively simple models starts at about 600 W. For professional ones, it reaches 2-2.5 kW or more. Naturally, this power consumption is displayed by the electricity meter. In addition, more powerful saws weigh significantly more. If a saw with a power of 1.2 kW weighs on average 4 kg, then the weight of a two-kilowatt tool is already about 7 kg. So it’s up to you to decide how much justified buying a more powerful saw is.
Most hand-held circular saws are capable of cutting at 45 degrees. Some models are also designed to cut at 60 degrees.
Appointment
The circular saw was originally a purely stationary tool – in fact, a machine for industrial woodworking, devouring thousands of kilowatts of energy and weighing hundreds of kilograms.
In a portable version, it appeared on the market in the middle of the last century and since then has improved mainly in the direction of automating the cutting process and the development of new security systems. Thanks to new types of discs, a hand-held circular saw today can cut not only wood and its derivatives (plywood, chipboard, MDF, OSB), but also much more durable and dense materials – various types of plastic, laminate, as well as slate. A hand saw can also handle some types of sheet metal if a toothed disc made of a special alloy is installed on the shaft.
At the same time, there are certain limitations in work for a circular saw. Firstly, it is able to cut only strictly in a straight line with the mowing line (in some cases this is a very useful property). Secondly, in most cases, a circular saw cannot handle hard materials such as brick or concrete, unless the model is equipped with a diamond blade and a water cooling system. In practice, however, the hardest materials are still cut with angle grinders (angle grinders), and a circular saw is used to cut wood. over, the latter has a very high performance.
Quality criteria
As already mentioned, the most important quality criterion for a manual circular is its potential safety. Today you will not find a circular saw without an automatically closing spring-loaded cover. With such a device, it is almost impossible to injure hands during work – unless deliberately. It is very good if the model you are interested in has an accidental start protection function. To do this, there is an additional button, which must be pressed simultaneously with the main one to start the disc.
The quality criteria of the circular are also the reduced vibration level and the stabilization system. The length of the cord is also important. Considering that the main job of the tool is longitudinal cutting, it is desirable that the length of the cord allows you to move freely over a distance of 3-4 meters. It’s even better if your model is battery powered. This can be very helpful, especially when working at height.
Additional functions
The overwhelming majority of developments implemented in the latest generation of circular saw blades are aimed at making it almost impossible for any accident when working with this tool. And the number of additional settings is growing from year to year.
One of the important functions is soft start. It avoids overloads and overheating of the motor, as well as a sharp increase in the current in the network. At the same time, it is important to remember that at the time of starting the disc must rotate freely and not be in contact with the material being cut, otherwise the saw will simply not be able to gain the required speed.
In the most complex models, there is a function that experts call constant electronics. The essence of its work is to maintain the optimal ratio of rotation frequency and power output to the shaft. In this case, the possibility of disc jamming is practically excluded. This also affects the quality of the cut. But to implement such a function, a sufficient power reserve is required.
The top models also offer protection against overloads that can occur, for example, in the event of excessive effort by the saw operator. In this case, the automation will turn off the power, which will save the owner of the saw from unscheduled repairs.
Finally, there is also such a function as an electrodynamic brake. This system works as soon as the operator releases the power button and instantly stops the disc, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury.
There is also such a device as a "slip clutch". It works when the disc gets stuck in the workpiece. In this case, the clutch releases the motor shaft and it continues to rotate freely, which avoids burnout of the motor windings.
Appointment
The circular saw was originally a purely stationary tool – in fact, a machine for industrial woodworking, devouring thousands of kilowatts of energy and weighing hundreds of kilograms.
In a portable version, it appeared on the market in the middle of the last century and since then has improved mainly in the direction of automating the cutting process and the development of new security systems. Thanks to new types of discs, a hand-held circular saw today can cut not only wood and its derivatives (plywood, chipboard, MDF, OSB), but also much more durable and dense materials – various types of plastic, laminate, as well as slate. A hand saw can also handle some types of sheet metal if a toothed disc made of a special alloy is installed on the shaft.
At the same time, there are certain limitations in work for a circular saw. Firstly, it is able to cut only strictly in a straight line with the mowing line (in some cases this is a very useful property). Secondly, in most cases, a circular saw cannot handle hard materials such as brick or concrete, unless the model is equipped with a diamond blade and a water cooling system. In practice, however, the hardest materials are still cut with angle grinders (angle grinders), and a circular saw is used to cut wood. over, the latter has a very high performance.
Specifications
The key characteristics of a circular saw are power, speed and depth of cut. The latter directly depends on the diameter of the blade that this type of saw supports.
It is worth noting that for a hand-held circular saw, the division of tools into professional and household tools is perhaps even more conditional than for any other power tool. After all, a person needs to have a hand circular saw if he has to cut wood quite often, almost constantly. This means that cutting boards, plywood, chipboard is most likely part of his job.
In terms of depth of cut, saws fall into three main categories:
40-50 mm – conditionally household saws, used for working with sheet materials;
50-65 mm – universal saws, suitable for most jobs;
65-140 mm – professional models, for those professionals whose work is related to construction work using wood.
It can be argued with a high degree of probability that a saw with a cutting depth of 55 mm in most cases will be sufficient for household work – both during repairs and during construction.
The higher the blade speed, the denser material your saw can cut. For household tools, the rotational speed is typically between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. For a professional one – from 2000 to 9000 rpm.
Power consumption for relatively simple models starts at about 600 W. For professional ones, it reaches 2-2.5 kW or more. Naturally, this power consumption is displayed by the electricity meter. In addition, more powerful saws weigh significantly more. If a saw with a power of 1.2 kW weighs on average 4 kg, then the weight of a two-kilowatt tool is already about 7 kg. So it’s up to you to decide how much justified buying a more powerful saw is.
Most hand-held circular saws are capable of cutting at 45 degrees. Some models are also designed to cut at 60 degrees.
Compact benchtop machine
Above we talked about how to assemble a hand circular. Now we will tell you how to turn this device into a stationary one. This process involves the manufacture of a U-shaped bed from a pipe, as well as the installation of a transverse arm. The lower ends of the structure should bend horizontally in the direction of the cut. They are bolted to the table. Stability is provided by additional supports.
Lever mobility provided by cutting the horizontal segment into two identical parts, which are fixed to each other with clamps. The saw blade is attached to the vertical element of the bed with clamps.
Circular from an angle grinder
If you have your own "angle grinder", it is very good. To create a "circular", you need to make an axial handle and a sliding stop to the unit. The design of the sliding stop includes a pair of steel angle pieces located on the sides of the saw blade. With the help of nuts and bolts, they are connected by a transverse bundle, and the gap between the working part and the sidewalls of the structure will be provided with washers.
On the "angle grinder" you need to pre-tighten the metal band clamp with a screw tie down. Then you need to attach the double-folded metal strip to the holes for the sliding stop. The stand and clamp can be combined, but in this situation the metal strip will be too thick.
Then, in the gearbox of the future tool, you will need to make several holes for the bolts. For this purpose, the body is disassembled, and the points where drilling will take place are indicated. With the help of the holes made, the axial handle is fixed, because the "standard" handle will not allow making a good cut, even if the master has very strong hands.
The handle is created from a metal tube or rod. Designs can be shaped like horns or braces. The ends of the element with which it will be attached to the gearbox must be provided with holes for installing fasteners.
You also need to make a barbell that will regulate the process. For this purpose, you need to take a piece of a metal rod, make a loop from one end of it, rivet it slightly and make a hole for the front stop bolt.
The other end of the rod needs to be threaded, which will allow you to connect it to the handle. In advance, one strong nut should be screwed onto this thread, and after the structure is assembled, the second. By lowering and pulling them, you can adjust the cutting depth. By the way, if you use a drill instead of an angle grinder, you can make a similar tool.
Thus, you can independently make a good circular saw out of an ordinary angle grinder, with which you can cut various materials.
How to make a stationary or manual circular with your own hands
A hand-made circular saw is an excellent tool that allows you to solve a large number of household and other tasks. In fact, it is not difficult to make this device on your own, even in that situation, if you do not have any special skills, the most important thing is to understand at least a little the principle of processing metal alloys.
The materials needed for the job can be found in the home workshop or in the garage. So, circular from a circular saw do it yourself is made of the following elements:
- Corner of strong steel;
- Rectangular shaped tube;
- Engine.
The finished circular saw can be positioned on a workbench. If you don’t have one, you will have to make the table yourself. The engine can be taken from an old tiller or washing machine.
How to make a stationary or manual circular with your own hands
A hand-made circular saw is an excellent tool that allows you to solve a large number of household and other tasks. In fact, it is not difficult to make this device on your own, even in that situation, if you do not have any special skills, the most important thing is to understand at least a little the principle of processing metal alloys.
The materials needed for the job can be found in the home workshop or in the garage. So, circular from a circular saw do it yourself is made of the following elements:
- Corner of strong steel;
- Rectangular shaped tube;
- Engine.
The finished circular saw can be positioned on a workbench. If you don’t have one, you will have to make the table yourself. The engine can be taken from an old tiller or washing machine.
Circular from an angle grinder
If you have your own "angle grinder", it is very good. To create a "circular", you need to make an axial handle and a sliding stop to the unit. The design of the sliding stop includes a pair of steel angle pieces located on the sides of the saw blade. With the help of nuts and bolts, they are connected by a transverse bundle, and the gap between the working part and the sidewalls of the structure will be provided with washers.
On the "angle grinder" you need to pre-tighten the metal band clamp with a screw tie down. Then you need to attach the double-folded metal strip to the holes for the sliding stop. The stand and clamp can be combined, but in this situation the metal strip will be too thick.
Then, in the gearbox of the future tool, you will need to make several holes for the bolts. For this purpose, the body is disassembled, and the points where drilling will take place are indicated. With the help of the holes made, the axial handle is fixed, because the "standard" handle will not allow making a good cut, even if the master has very strong hands.
The handle is created from a metal tube or rod. Designs can be shaped like horns or braces. The ends of the element with which it will be attached to the gearbox must be provided with holes for installing fasteners.
You also need to make a barbell that will regulate the process. For this purpose, you need to take a piece of a metal rod, make a loop from one end of it, rivet it slightly and make a hole for the front stop bolt.
The other end of the rod needs to be threaded, which will allow you to connect it to the handle. In advance, one strong nut should be screwed onto this thread, and after the structure is assembled, the second. By lowering and pulling them, you can adjust the cutting depth. By the way, if you use a drill instead of an angle grinder, you can make a similar tool.
Thus, you can independently make a good circular saw out of an ordinary angle grinder, with which you can cut various materials.
Compact benchtop machine
Above we talked about how to assemble a hand circular. Now we will tell you how to turn this device into a stationary one. This process involves the manufacture of a U-shaped bed from a pipe, as well as the installation of a transverse arm. The lower ends of the structure should bend horizontally in the direction of the cut. They are bolted to the table. Stability is provided by additional supports.
Lever mobility provided by cutting the horizontal segment into two identical parts, which are fixed to each other with clamps. The saw blade is attached to the vertical element of the bed with clamps.
Circular saws
The circular saw is a classic time-tested power tool. She has long established herself as an irreplaceable assistant during repairs, in the country, during construction, in carpentry workshops, in assembly and production work. The circular saw is versatile and can work with both wood and other materials most commonly used in the construction process – for example, drywall, metal, plastic, acrylic glass, etc. The capabilities of a particular tool depend on the number of teeth on a circular disc – the more there are, the more a wide variety of materials the saw can interact with. In this case, the shape of the teeth is also important.
Like many other tools, circular saws are available for household and professional use. Household saws are more compact, lightweight and convenient to use. In such technical characteristics as power and maximum cutting length, household circular saws are inferior to professional ones, but they are more than enough for ordinary repairs.
Circular saws
The circular saw is a classic time-tested power tool. She has long established herself as an irreplaceable assistant during repairs, in the country, during construction, in carpentry workshops, in assembly and production work. The circular saw is versatile and can work with both wood and other materials most commonly used in the construction process – for example, drywall, metal, plastic, acrylic glass, etc. The capabilities of a particular tool depend on the number of teeth on a circular disc – the more there are, the more a wide variety of materials the saw can interact with. In this case, the shape of the teeth is also important.
Like many other tools, circular saws are available for household and professional use. Household saws are more compact, lightweight and convenient to use. In such technical characteristics as power and maximum cutting length, household circular saws are inferior to professional ones, but they are more than enough for ordinary repairs.