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How do you use a Craftsman circular saw?

November 21, 2025 - By 
Before you use a circular saw, put on thick work gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself. Then, mark the material you want to cut and place it on a saw table or between 2 sawhorses. Next, use the central lever on the saw to set the blade so it's 1/8-1/4 inch below the bottom of your material.

Simply so, why does my circular saw get stuck?

If your hand is asserting a sideways pressure that will cause binding and the saw will stop. Even a slight sideways pressure combined with dirty/dull blade will cause stoppage. When I first starting using my circular saw, 80% of the time I forgot to adjust the depth of cut, making it work harder than it needed to.

Furthermore, how do you use a circular saw without a table? How to Use A Circular Saw Without A Table

  1. Step 1: To start off, you should get a pressure treated plywood or some sort of wood which has a high moisture content.
  2. Step 2: Fit your saw with the edge guide.
  3. Step 3: Next, you've to set the depth of the blade accurately.
  4. Step 4: After that, place the unused pieces of wood on the sawhorses.

Then, can a circular saw be used as a table saw?

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

In fact, it's usually easier to cut long pieces of plywood with a circular saw and a straightedge than to wrestle unwieldy sheets through a table saw. A circular saw won't cut as smoothly as a table saw, but with a couple of techniques, a little finesse and some practice, you can cut almost as accurately.

Why does a circular saw kickback?

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

Kickback happens when the saw blade binds or stalls suddenly in the wood and the saw gets driven back toward you. So the key to preventing this is to make sure your blade doesn't bind in the wood.

What are the parts of a circular saw?

To better understand how a circular saw works, it's best to be informed about all the various parts, and what they are for.
  • Bevel Adjustment. The bevel adjustment is located towards the front of the saw, and a little off to the side.
  • Plate.
  • Blade Cover.
  • Bolt Clamp.
  • Blade.
  • Cord.
  • Handle.
  • Power Switch and Trigger.

Does Walmart sell circular saws?

Circular Saws – Walmart.com.

Why does my circular saw not cut straight?

If you are struggling with the circular saw to cut straight line on the wood, at first, look at your workpiece. So, if you find out that your saw is okay and the problem is with your unstable wooden piece, just have a set of hold down clamp. It will lay hold on the workpiece with the table to make it stable.

Why does my circular saw burn the wood?

A Dull or Dirty Saw Blade Might Be the Culprit

Pushing the stock through the saw too slowly is a common cause of saw blade burn. Sometimes a blade that feels dull might only be dirty. If wood pitch resins build up behind the teeth of the blade, the cutting speed will slow down, increasing the chances for burns.

Can a circular saw cut a 4×4?

Most circular saws sport a 7 ¼” blade which has a cutting depth of up to just over 2 ½” at 90 degrees and usually less when cutting bezels. The smaller 6 ½” blade cuts to a max depth of 2 1/8″. This means that the two most common blades are not large enough to go through a 4×4 in a single pass.

What does a brake do on a circular saw?

A: An electric brake should stop a mitersaw blade within two to three seconds, Miguel. The brake works by reversing the flow of electricity in the motor when you release the trigger.

Can you cut curves with a circular saw?

The first tool that comes to mind for cutting curves is a jigsaw, but if the curve is gradual, try a circular saw instead. It's surprisingly quick and easy to cut a smooth curve with a circular saw. This method is for cutting rough curves. The thinner the material you're cutting, the sharper the curve can be.

Why are circular saw blades on the right?

A right hand side circular saw allows you to hold the main handle with your right hand and the auxiliary handle with your left. The blade is also on the right hand side of the tool so your arms do not need to cross over each other at any point.

Should I buy a circular saw or table saw?

Circular Saw. Unlike a table saw, circular saws are mobile, so you can take them to the material. But, whereas a table saw offers a surface on which to support the material being cut, a circular saw does not offer material support. A good cut will cause the saw guard to retract smoothly as the cut is made.

How do I make a saw table for a circular saw?

Convert a Hand-held Circular Saw Into a Table Saw
  1. Step 1: Make the Table. Find some reasonably-flat lumber and make a table.
  2. Step 2: Make a Removable Panel.
  3. Step 3: Make a Flat Edge for the Fence.
  4. Step 4: Make the Fence.
  5. Step 5: Mount the Saw to the Panel.
  6. Step 6: True the Fence to the Blade.
  7. Step 7: Cut Something With Your New Table Saw.
  8. Step 8: Things I Made With the Saw.

Is more teeth on a saw blade better?

Blades with more teeth yield a smoother cut. Blades with fewer teeth remove material faster, but tend to produce a rougher cut with more “tearout”. More teeth means you will need to use a slower feed rate. No matter what type of saw blade you use, you will likely wind up with residue on the saw blade.

Are table saws dangerous?

Table saws are useful and most woodworkers couldn't work without them—but they can also be extremely dangerous. The problem of kickback is what causes most injuries and here's how to prevent it. The Journal of Trauma estimates that 31,400 people are treated in the ER each year from table saw injuries.

Can you use a miter saw like a table saw?

A miter saw is similar in conception to a table saw in that it utilizes a rotating circular saw blade to cut wood. However, a miter saw is meant for a very specific purpose, while a table saw is a general purpose wood cutting tool. Miter saws are specifically designed to make accurate crosscuts and angular cuts.

What is the difference between a jigsaw and a circular saw?

Whereas a jigsaw is a tool that allows you to perform a little artistry, a circular saw has one main goal – cutting wood quickly. Circular saws are heavier than other types of saws. They are also able to cut through thicker stock with relative ease including hardwoods that would dull a jigsaw blade quickly.

Can I use a circular saw instead of a miter saw?

It is effectively a mobile version of a table saw. With enough experience and technical knowledge, a circular saw can be used to make any kind of cuts that you can think of. It can even make miter and bevel cuts that you would normally have to use a miter saw for. A miter saw, on the other hand, is a specialty tool.

What is the best table saw for a beginner?

Top 5 Best Table Saws for Beginners
  1. Bosch GTS1031 10-Inch Portable Jobsite Table Saw. Bosch GTS1031 10-Inch Portable Jobsite Table Saw.
  2. Ridgid R4516 10 in. Portable Jobsite Table Saw.
  3. DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw. DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw.
  4. SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Table Saw with Folding Stand.
  5. Craftsman Evolv 15 Amp 10 In.