Tips for Safely Using a Circular Saw

Circular saws are fast and powerful tools which can cut through any piece of wood. However, they also have a tendency to leave dangerous sawdust lying around which can result in nasty injuries. This article lists numerous safety tips which will help you operate your circular saw effectively and safely. 
 

Do not leave the circle saw running when it is not cutting material or when you are done with your project.


You should never leave your circle saw on for more than 30 seconds after you have finished cutting. The reason for this is that the blade will continue to spin with no blade tension and can cause the blade to overheat and even break in the worst case scenario. Additionally, the blade will be at a very high RPM when you leave it on. When you go back to your project, you need to lower the blade speed back down before making any cuts. To do this, simply hold down the power button while turning it on. Never touch a spinning circle saw blade as it will result in serious injury 
 

Use safety glasses always. No, seriously. Always wear eye protection whenever you're around circular saw. 


Safety glasses are a must when you're using a table saw or a carving knife, but they're also vital when you're using a circular saw
 
Tiny wood chips can fly toward your eyes at up to 100 miles per hour. Even if you take all the other necessary precautions (like wearing gloves and making sure the blade is sharp), it's best to wear safety glasses just in case. 
 
The same advice goes for ear protection. You'll be glad that you did when you don't have to spend an extra hour at the ER. 
 
Use safety goggles whenever you operate power tools. There's no excuse not to; they're far too cheap to justify risking serious injury or blindness. They should be your first line of defense against flying debris, and they can even help protect against stray electric shock if something unexpected happens to the tool you are using (like a power surge). 
 

Hold the circular saw in your hand, not on top of a table. The table may get in the way so you can’t control the blade as well. 


Holding the circular saw in your hand can give you better control over it. You can swing it around easier, which makes cutting easier and safer. 
 
When you’re getting started with a circular saw, use a scrap piece of wood or two to hold your material in place during the cutting procedure. This gives you something to stabilize yourself against while you’re holding the saw. Keep your body close to the wood so that if anything unexpected happens you won’t get hit in the legs by the blade. 
 
It is also helpful to wear safety goggles when cutting wood with a circular saw. The blade on this type of saw moves at up to 30 miles per hour and can throw pieces of wood into the air. Wearing safety goggles will help protect your eyes from these flying pieces of wood. 
 
Finally, always make sure that your workspace is clear before cutting any material. You want to make sure there is nothing that could get in the way of the blade or fall on you while you are using the saw. 
 

Conclusion 

 
A circular saw is the perfect tool for a variety of projects around your home, from wood and masonry to drywall and flooring. But these tools come with inherent risks to ensure you use them as safely as possible. Using the safety tips above, you can use a circular saw around your home or garage without exposing yourself to undue risk.

Photo by George Pastushok on Unsplash