Used Equipment

4 tips to make better and safer saw cuts

1. Avoid binding the blade.
Cutting the end off a board is mostly simple. The short cutoff end just falls away. But cutting a long board in half is different. You can hold one end, but the other must be free to drop or the blade will bind. The trick is to allow the cutoff end to drop slightly, but not so much that it completely snaps off before the cut is complete. The best method is to support the board with small strips of wood. You can also support the board continuously by stacking it on an equal-length sacrificial board. Set your blade to cut about 1/4 in. deeper than the wood’s thickness. Clamp the keeper side and allow the other side to move freely.

2. Clamp your work
You can make crisp, accurate bevel or miter cuts with a circular saw but it’s tricky. The blade guard can stick, making it tough to get started. And because the blade is angled, it’s more difficult to follow a line accurately without twisting the saw and possibly binding the blade.
Two things will help you get a good cut safely. The first is to clamp the board you’re cutting. Clamping allows you to use one hand to lift the blade guard out of the way until the cut is started. The second is to use a straightedge guide. It allows you to concentrate on moving the saw steadily forward without having to worry about following the line. If possible, cut with the wider part of the bed on the “keeper” side of the board for better control and more accurate bevels. Near the end of the cut, concentrate on a straight-ahead follow-through.

3. Plunge cuts without danger.
Plunge cutting is a useful method for starting a cut when you can’t start from an edge. One example is cutting a window opening in a sheet of plywood. But if done with poor technique, this cut is not save. The saw will kick back and run back toward you. Since you can’t see what’s under the sheet you’re cutting, check before you start to be sure the path of the blade is clear. Never back the saw toward you while it’s running. And stand to the side, not directly behind the saw. Set the blade to cut about 1/4 in. deeper than the wood thickness.

4. Use a sharp blade.
Even the best carpenter can’t do good work with a dull blade. And besides making lousy cuts, a dull blade is dangerous. Dull blades can heat up and warp or bind, and they tend to climb out of the cut.
But how do you know if your blade is too dull? Sometimes you can tell just by looking for rounded-over or chipped teeth. But the best indicator is how the blade cuts. If you have to muscle your way through the cut, your blade is dull. A sharp blade will glide through even the toughest wood. Burn marks and rough cuts are other signs of a dull blade.
Many hardware stores offer blade-sharpening services, but don’t waste money sharpening steel blades. High-quality carbide blades are inexpensive and can withstand tons of abuse before they need to be replaced.
A good blade for general circular saw use is a 24-tooth, thin-kerf carbide blade. To get the most from your miter saw, invest in a high quality 60- or 80-tooth carbide blade. Use the cheaper blade that came with your saw for general crosscutting, and reserve the good blade for fine work.

To learn more on specific models and choosing the right Miter saw or Circular saw, you can go to http://dewaltsawreview.com

About the Author

reviewing DeWALT Miter saws and Circular Saws at http://dewaltsawreview.com/

DISSTON RECIPROCATING BLADES 4″ 1/2″ SHANK FITS ALL SAWS CARBIDE MED. GRIT 2 CT. $0.99

Carbide Diamond Saw Blades For Rockwell Sonicrafter WORX Oscillating Multi Tool $0.99

Carbide Diamond Saw Blades For Rockwell Sonicrafter WORX Oscillating Multi Tool $0.99

SAVDVIK SWEDEN -CT CARBIDE TIPPED-121MM / 4 3/4″, HOLE SAW NEW NEVER USED. $0.99

2 VA BY BOSCH 12″ TITANIUM CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADES 30T CARBIDE TOOTH $0.99

2 12″ 80T Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide Tip $0.99

5 DEWALT 5-3/8 CARBIDE CORDLESS CIRCULAR SAW BLADES 16T $0.99

DISSTON TUNGSTEN CARBIDE JIG SAW BLADES 2 7/8 IN. MEDIUM NEW 3 BLADES $0.99

Carbide Diamond Saw Blades For Rockwell Sonicrafter WORX Oscillating Multi Tool $0.99

DIABLO 8 IN X12 TOOTH CARBIDE DADO SAW BLADE SET DD208 $0.99

LENOX SAWS ALL IRON ABRASIVES CARBIDE 8′ 203MM,NEW $1.00

Craftsman 12″ Carbide Grit Saw Blade, Fits Hacksaw Frame $1.79

Ace 28940 24T Carbide-Tipped Saw Blade 7-1/4″ $1.80

RemGrit GJ-18 Tungsten Carbide 4″Jig Saw Blade 1/4″ Shank Made in USA NEW SEALED $1.99

Vermont American 7 1/4″ Saw Blade 16T Carbide 26482 $1.99

Oldham 7-1/4″ x 16 Carbide Saw Blade B7254216P $2.00

4-3/8″ 30 TOOTH CARBIDE-TIP SAW BLADE CHIS1710 $2.09

Oldham 7-1/4″ x 18 Carbide Saw Blade B725RR18 $2.25

“ACE” CARBIDE-TIPPED SAW BLADE 7-1/4″D, 24 teeth *5/8″ $2.39

New DRILTEC 7-1/4″ 24 Teeth Carbide Tipped Circular Saw Blade Red Cheetah USA $2.49

RENEGADE 7¼” M2 Carbide Edge 24 Tooth Saw Blade RETAIL $2.49

Oldham 7-1/4″ 16T Carbide Circular Saw Blade #7254216 $2.50

A & B Carbide Saws, Bellingham, Wash Vintage Matchbook $2.69

Master Wholesale Hand Carbide Grout Saw $2.82

MK Morse 402712 2-3/4″ Coarse Carbide Grit U-Shank Jig Saw Blade $2.90

MK Morse 402699 2-3/4″ Fine Carbide Grit U-Shank Jig Saw Blade $2.90

RemGrit GJ-18 Tungsten Carbide 4″Jig Saw Blade 1/4″ Shank Made in USA NEW SEALED $2.99

Vermont American 7 1/4 Carbide Saw Blade 27191 $2.99

Master Mechanic Carbide Grit Jig saw blade $2.99

Irwin Sprint 15130 Carbide Saw Blade 7 1/4″ 24 tooth $2.99

Pilot Drill for Arbors 6mm 1/4″ TCT Carbide Hole Saws $2.99

Black & Decker 7 1/4″ Piranha Saw Blade 77-737 Carbide $2.99

VERMONT AMERICAN 26482 Framing/Ripping Carbide Tipped 7-1/4″ Circular Saw Blade $3.00

6″ HITACHI CARBIDE GRIT RE-CIP SAW BLADE NEW IN PACKAGE $3.00

7-1/4″ Carbide Circular Saws–16 Teeth–Qty 1 Blade BLK $3.00

Milwaukee 48-40-4116 7-1/4″ 16T Carbide Saw Blade $3.00

Oldham 7-1/4″ x 18 Tooth Carbide Saw Blade 725C418 $3.00

Vermont American 5 ½” x 18T Carbide Saw Blade $3.00

Bosch Circular Saw Blade Carbide Tipped Teeth Fast Cutting 150 x 16mm 12 teeth $3.14

Metabo 623658000 3″ Carbide 50 Grit Jig Saw Blade $3.19

BOA 250mm CARBIDE BLADE FOR RESTRICTED ACCESS SAWS $3.16

Original Iwasaw 7-1/4 x 18 Carbide Saw Blade 5/8 Arbor $3.25

Ace Carbide Tipped Saw Blade 6-1/2″ With 18 Teeth $3.45

Vermont American 7-1/4″ x 24 Tooth Carbide Saw Blade 27191 USA $3.50

Original Iwasaw 6-1/2 x 18 Carbide Saw Blade 5/8 Arbor $3.50

Oldham 5-1/2″ x 18 Carbide Saw Blade 550C41810 $3.50

Vermont American 7-1/4″ x 18 Tooth Carbide Saw Blade 26880 $3.50

Skil 7-1/4″ x 24 Tooth Worm Drive 77 Carbide Saw Blade 76924 $3.50

Oldham 5-1/2″ x 24 Carbide Saw Blade 550C $3.50

1 NEW CARBIDE TIP 7-1/4″ SAW BLADE WHOLESALE $3.63

NEIKO 4-3/8″ X 30T CARBIDE TIPPED SAW BLADE #N-10771A $3.69

Porter Cable 7-1/4″ x 20 Carbide Saw Blade 725VT20 $3.75

Oldham 7-1/4″ x 24 Tooth Carbide Saw Blade 725C424 $3.75

10″ Rod Saw Blade (Carbide Grit) $3.88

NEW 7 1/4″ diameter Carbide Circular saw blades 9 Available 5/8″Hole VA 26491 $3.95

PIT BULL 7-1/4″ X 24 TOOTH CARBIDE-TIP SAW BLADE $3.95

OLDHAM 6-1/2″ MAX-LIFE SUPERDUTY CARBIDE SAW BLADE $3.99

DeWALT 5-3/8″ CIRCULAR FAST WOOD CUTTING 16 CARBIDE TEETH SAW BLADE ~NEW~ DW9055 $3.99

Century Nitro Carbide Tooth Hole Saw 2 1/4″ 10636 $3.99

Century Nitro Carbide Tooth Hole Saw 2″ 10632 $3.99

IDEAL 35-090 Bi-Metal Carbide Recipro Saw Blades 8″ 2PK $3.99

Ace Carbide Tipped Saw Blade 7-1/4″ With 24 Teeth $3.99

Vermont American Carbide Framing & Ripping 7-1/4 Saw Blade, 5/8 arbor 26484 $4.00

7 1/4″ x 24 tooth CARBIDE SAW BLADE $4.00

7 1/4″ x 40 tooth CARBIDE SAW BLADE $4.00

Skil 7-1/4″ x 18 Tooth Titanium Carbide Saw Blade 75918 $4.00

VERMONT AMERICAN 30003 Carbide Teeth U-Shank Jig Saw Blade 18TPI $4.00

VERMONT AMERICAN 30002 Carbide Teeth U-Shank Jig Saw Blade 24 TPI $4.00

TILE SOLUTIONS – 6″ Rod Saw Blade (Carbide Tunsten) $4.00

NEW 7-1/4″ 24 TOOTH CARBIDE CIRCULAR SAW BLADE 24030 $4.17

Ace 18T Carbide-Tipped Circular Saw Blade $4.25

Tungsten Carbide Rod Saw Blade $4.36

Oldham 538C418 5-3/8″ 18T Carbide Saw Blade Max Life $4.50

Oldham 550C418 5-1/2″ 18T Carbide Saw Blade Max Life $4.50

Vermont American 30002 2-3/4″ 24TPI Carbide Tip Jig Saw $4.50

Irwin Carbide-Tipped Circular Saw Blades -7-1/4 -24t american tool 25130 $4.59

ALLWAY CARBIDE ROD SAW BLADE FITS ALL STANDARD HACKSAWS $4.69

Oldham 5-1/2″ x 24 Carbide Saw Blade 55024P10 2Pack $4.75

REMGRIT SS2-1FH CARBIDE GRIT SABER JIG SAW BLADE SCROLL $4.75

FM31; 1 Circular Carbide Oscillating Multi Tool Saw Blade Fits Fein Multimaster $4.83

FM32; 1 Triangle Carbide Oscillating Multi Tool Saw Blades Fits Fein Multimaster $4.83

Vermont American 30002 2-3/4″ 24TPI Carbide Tip U-Shank Jig Saw Blade $4.90

King Canada Tools KSC-724T CARBIDE TIPPED THIN KERF SAW BLADE 7″-7-1/4″ 24 TOOTH $4.88

Dewalt DW9052 5-3/8″ 30T Carbide Saw Blade $4.89

Ace 20T Carbide-Tipped Circular Saw Blade 3-3/8″ $4.93

Union Carbide Linde L-TEC Sub-Arc Nozzle Tip Nut ESAB 999398 SAW EH10 EH11 UCAR $4.95

AMANA SAW BLADE 7-1/4″ X 40 TOOTH TIMBERLINE CARBIDE $4.95

Precision Components 196735, 1 – 3/8″ Carbide Hole Saw NEW in Package Tile Saw $4.99

Vermont American Carbide Tipped U-shank Jig Saw Blades $4.99

Tungsten Carbide Grit Rod Hack Saw Blade 12″ Cut Laminate Slate Tile Marble $4.99

VINTAGE DeWalt 7 1/4 inch 18 ROCK Carbide teeth saw blade USA 7000 RPM $4.99

NEW Milwaukee 48-40-4026 Carbide Circular Saw Blade $4.99

Buffalo Tools 10″ Carbide Tip Saw Blade PS07412 $4.99

5 pc – 10″ CARBIDE GRIT ROD SAW BLADES REMGRIT USA $4.99

Vitrex 6″ Tile Saw Blade A02203, Tungsten Carbide Grit $4.99

VERMONT AMERICAN 30002 Carbide Teeth U-Shank 2-3/4″ Jig Saw Blade 24 TPI $4.99

QEP 6″ Rod Saw Replacement Blade Carbide NEW $4.99

VERMONT AMERICAN CARBIDE TIPPED 7-7 1/4″ CIRCULAR SAW BLADE $4.99

7.25″ CARBIDE TIP Circular Saw Blade 24 teeth 5/8 arbor $4.99

DeWALT 5-3/8″ CIRCULAR FAST WOOD CUTTING 16 CARBIDE TEETH SAW BLADE ~NEW~ DW9055 $4.99