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A Circular saw is an efficient cutting tool
composed of a metal disc having a toothed edge enclosed in a metal
body, which contains the motor and the other components required for
the functioning of the tool. This versatile tool enables easy cutting
of a variety of materials such as wood, metal, plastic, and masonry.
While normally being used by skilled workers including carpenters,
builders and masons, these cutting implements find themselves being
handled by occasional ‘workshop’ enthusiasts too. Other than its
primary task of cutting, the saw is capable of cleaning and slotting
too. The absence of a built-in cutting guide having a Fence and table
system makes the circular saw an ideal rough cutting tool. This tool is
user-friendly and its controls and grips are judiciously arranged to
enable even a lay person to perform a cutting task with ease.
Features and working of circular saws
The main components of a circular saw are the
handle, foot, motor, power cord, bevel adjustment, and the blade guard.
The handle is ergonomically contoured to provide the best gripping
angle, allowing the user to apply pressure without expending too much
energy. The switch to turn the device on is located on the inner side
of the handle. The foot, also called the shoe, is located at the bottom
of the saw and is horizontally flat, the edges parallel to the blade.
The motor is the heart of the saw and provides the cutting power,
measured in amps. Commonly used circular saws have amp readings varying
from around 10 to 15 amps. The bevel adjustment is used to make bevel
cuts by adjusting the provided lever to the desired Level. The blade
guard is a protective part which protects the user from the rapidly
spinning blade. This guard can be manually raised, but has an intrinsic
spring which reverts it to the downward position when needed.
The cutting disc diameters vary from around
3-3/8 to 16-5/8 inch, with the arbor or spindle having the appropriate
size. The blade can be easily removed and changed with the manipulation
of a spindle lock button. The spindle lock keeps the shaft static,
while the blade nut is twisted off. Certain blades are customized for a
particular task. Generally, a blade with a greater number of teeth
ensures a neater cut. The most common blade is the 40-tooth carbide
tipper blade. For tough masonry materials, an abrasive blade is used.
The default blade shipped with the saw is usually a standard high-speed
steel blade. The Kerf blades consume less power and also emit less
dust. The 16-tooth blade is best suited for use on construction grade
material.
Circular saws are broadly categorized into
two classes; sidewinder and worm drive. While the sidewinder saw motor
is located at the side of the blade, the motor of the latter saw type
is placed inline with the blade. The worm drive saw, with
precision-machined drive gears, offers more power, and is applicable
for cutting resilient materials. Circular saws may also be either
left-handed or right-handed, depending on which side of the blade the
engine is mounted.
The user can perform two main adjustments to
the circular saw; the cutting depth and the cutting angle. A reduction
in the cutting depth enables cutting of grooves and slots over the
surface of the work piece. Adjusting the angle to a maximum of around
45 degrees allows bevel cuts to be made.
Circular saws work either through
electricity, being connected to a power source or through rechargeable
batteries. While the electrically power-cord connected saws offer more
power, both kinds of saws provide a no-load blade speed or around 5000
revolutions per minute (rpm), with the average weight being
approximately 10 to 15 pounds. A laser guiding system in some saws
helps the user chalk out a cutting path for the tool guided by the twin
beams.
The circular saw has three basic cutting
styles; cross cut, rip cut, and plunge cut. The cross cut requires the
use of a Square placed over the cutting surface along which the saw
slides. Accurate rip cuts are achieved by screwing on a rip fence to
the foot of the saw. Plunge cut imply making the cut in the middle of
the work piece by pressing the anterior portion of the base plate
against the surface and then lowering the body of the tool till the
rotating blade comes in contact with the surface.
What to look for in a circular saw
Since there is a large amount of sawdust or
other particulate matter emitted during the sawing process, the body of
the saw should be well protected to prevent the dust from reaching and
thereby clogging the motor. Additionally, due to the large number of
moving parts in this tool as well as the motor vibrations, a certain
amount of noise will be produced which may damage the operators ears in
the long run and therefore a noise muffling feature would be
beneficial. The sudden/unexpected starting of such a dangerous tool can
have disastrous consequences, something which can be avoided with a
trigger lock.
The power capacity of the tool should match
the task it is required to perform as an under-powered saw used for
high intensity work would result in overheating of the blade causing
faster wear and tear.
Popular manufacturers of circular saws include
Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, McCulloch, Milwaukee, Porter-Cable, Prazi,
Ryobi, Skil, and TD Industrial.
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