A Circular Saw On A Table Which Is Better
When repairing an apartment, sometimes you need to saw something. To do this, you can use an ordinary hacksaw. However, most homemasters, often dealing with hand tools, sooner or later prefer to replace it with an electric one. There are several varieties of electric saws. The chain model, as a rule, is used for harvesting firewood, but in order to make a long and accurate cut in the wood, a circular saw is more suitable.
A stationary power saw will greatly help in the construction of a country lady, as it is powerful and capable of processing a large amount of material.
The main parameters characterizing the model
Household circular is not designed to work more than 15-20 minutes.
It is better to purchase branded products: both imported and domestic. A unit that is too cheap from an unknown manufacturer is usually of poor quality. But even a high-quality circular tool has a certain specialization, in accordance with which it is determined for which type of work and material which circular saw is more suitable.
Assessing the “business qualities” of the selected tool, usually pay attention to the following indicators:
- Power;
- Rotation speed, its variety: variable or constant;
- Disc diameter;
- Depth cut;
- Weight;
- Level of vibration and noise;
- Ease of use (how well the saw “lies in the hand”);
- Cost;
- Warranty period.
In a good saw, the disc should be parallel to the sole. Its inclination, as well as the depth of cut, are easily adjustable, the tool does not cover the work surface. The method of removing dust and sawdust matters. Some models have a special container for collecting them (for example, MAKITA 5017 RKB), while others provide the ability to connect to a special vacuum cleaner or similar dust removal unit via an adapter. Performance is improved by creating a rational ventilation and cooling system.
Do you always need to choose the most powerful tool?
If you work with a circular for no more than 30 hours a month, a low power tool is quite suitable for you.
The longer the circular model should work without interruption, the more powerful its engine should be. Power for this type of tool is in the range from 500 to 2500 watts. It depends on her how easy the drive will move and how quickly the motor will heat up. But the higher the power, the harder the product will turn out. And this, in turn, will significantly affect usability. After all, hands get tired faster with a heavy tool. Therefore, pauses for rest will still have to be done: either for the engine or for the hands. But for increased power saws will have to pay more.
If there is a need for long-term operation of the unit, it is inverted attached to the table. For this, there are special fasteners. With stationary mounting, not the tool is brought to the board, but the board is brought to the tool. Using such an improvised machine, you can effortlessly saw a large number of racks. Engine power, of course, in this case should be increased. Not every circular saw is equipped with fastening devices, but for some models, fasteners are sold separately. Therefore, choosing a heavy tool of high power, it would be useful to ask if it is possible to mount it permanently.
Cutting depth and adjustable tilt angle
In some models, there are adjustments to the depth of cut of the tilt angle.
Most models make it possible to make cuts with a depth of 50 to 70 mm. If you have to work with a board up to 50 mm thick, plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, it is better not to spend extra money and buy a lightweight compact model with a small diameter disk, about 160 mm. In more expensive devices, there is a disc with a diameter of 190-200 mm, they are significantly heavier, but at the same time they also provide a deeper cut, up to 70 mm.
As a rule, a saw is purchased complete with a set of interchangeable disks. They can be made of different materials, have a different shape of the teeth. However, even with the best tools, discs of different diameters cannot be installed. If the disk size is larger than necessary, it will not be possible to place it in this design. A disk of a diameter smaller than required is simply dangerous to install. Indeed, in this case, the gap between it and the protective cover will be too wide, sufficient so that a finger could accidentally get into it. With a rotation speed reaching 5000 rpm in some models, the outcome of such a hit is completely predictable.
The angle adjustment can range from 90 to 45 degrees.
A modern circular saw makes it possible to adjust the level of inclination of its base. Thanks to the slope, it is possible to cut at an angle of up to 45 °, however this significantly reduces the depth of cut. So, at the maximum tilt angle, the cut depth decreases by a third, that is, with a declared cut of 63 mm, its real depth will be only 42 mm. When choosing a tool, this feature should be taken into account, choosing a model with a sufficiently large diameter blade for sawing at an angle.
Continuing the theme, one cannot fail to mention the Worx WT431KE circular saw. It has a revolving handle, in which the angle of inclination can be varied in the range from 0 to 60 about. This innovation applies only to WORX products and is its proprietary development. It makes it possible to individually adapt the tool to any person and make his work more convenient.
How to choose a drive?
When choosing a removable disk, they are guided by both the type of material and the requirements for cut quality.
When choosing a circular disk, you should pay attention to the alloy from which it is made, and the shape of the teeth.
Smooth beautiful edges in it are impossible when using a disk having carbide brazing. They are provided only by discs in which soldering is absent. The circular saw equipped with them copes well with soft woods. Hardwood is much more difficult to process, and if it contains a nail, then you will have to say goodbye to the disk: it will not work with broken teeth. A carbide tipped tool can easily cut a nail, but the edges will not be very neat.
The shape of the teeth also affects the quality of the cut. With a positive sharpening angle (in the direction of rotation), which is called active, it is convenient to saw wood or plastic. Negative, otherwise. Passive, the sharpening angle (against the direction of rotation of the disk) makes it possible to saw metal: tin or copper. But if a saw with such a disk is used for wood processing, the quality of the cut will be low, with torn edges.
For longitudinal sawing of massive wood, it is better to choose a disk with a low number of teeth (approximately 10-28, depending on the diameter). However, when cutting a tree across the fibers, processing with such a disk will be too rough. A high number of small teeth (from 60 to 80) will provide high-quality cut, practically without tearing out the material, which is especially important when processing plywood sheets and chipboard. But with the increase in the number of teeth, the power consumption will also increase.
Basic models for home masters and professionals
Domestic saw “Bison” is suitable for sawing wood, chipboard, fiberboard, it can be connected to a vacuum cleaner so that wood dust does not get into the lungs.
If the circular saw will not serve you as the main means of production, you can focus on relatively inexpensive tools. Skil products are characterized by high precision cutting, equipped with a convenient handle, lightweight and compact. For example, the Skil 5740 LA model has a weight of only 2.4 kg. A vacuum cleaner or dust bag can be connected to the Skil 5165 LA, Skil 5265 LA and Skil 5265 LD.
Saw “Bison ZPD 900” has gained great popularity thanks to a 3-year warranty. If you are not too lazy and register on the company website, you can get a 5-year warranty. True, this device is somewhat difficult, in comparison with similar products of foreign companies, but in terms of price and quality it has a clear advantage. A universal household tool suitable for cutting wood, chipboard, fiberboard, including wet material. To prevent small particles of wood from falling into the lungs, the developers of the model provided for the possibility of connecting the Bison to a vacuum cleaner.
Of the products manufactured by Bosch, we can recommend a circular saw for household (green) and professional use (blue). Most models have turbo-blowing sawdust from the work surface and an adapter for connecting a dust hood. Bosch tools take a leading position in the ratio of power and weight. Besides them, professionals from Makita and Hitachi (Japan), DE WALT (USA) are highly regarded by professionals.
New in the circular saw family
At present, tools are being produced that can operate on battery power, and not only in the professional version, but also in the amateur one. The widest assortment is presented by Bosch. It should be noted that the BOSCH GKS 36 V-LI Professional circular saw with a lithium-ion battery has a weight of only 4.8 kg. The Makita BSS 610 RFE tool weighs even less. 3.2 kg. High-capacity Li-Ion batteries and a specially designed motor to work with them together provide a long working time without recharging. Recharging the batteries takes about half an hour.
Very convenient is such an innovation as a laser pointer, which allows you to make an even cut, even if the marking line is covered with wood dust and is not visible. Most models are now equipped with an integrated worktop illumination system. Developers are paying attention to improving the level of security tool. In particular, the disk at rest is completely closed by the pendulum casing. Its teeth are exposed only in contact with the material.
Many may be interested in the Evolution RAGE-B multipurpose circular saw. The patented technology used to create this tool makes it possible to cut wood, plastic, aluminum, steel sheet up to 6 mm thick with one disc. By changing the universal disk to a diamond one, you can cut brick, stone and concrete with the same device. The depth of cut is adjustable, its maximum value is 60 mm. The cutting angle can also be adjusted from 0 to 45 °.
Recently, a tool called “Rotorazer” went on sale, which combines the functions of a jigsaw, circular saw, band saw, hacksaw and tile cutter. Replaceable blades in it are quite easy to rearrange, and many willingly use the new product for simple repair work. With materials thicker than 12 mm, the tool does not work, but it cuts almost everything: from carpet to stone.