How to Use a Circular Saw

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How to Cut Straight with a Circular Saw

There are two types of straight cuts a circular saw can make on a piece of lumber.

• A crosscut is a cut against the grain of the wood, such as when trimming a length of board to size.
• A rip cut goes with the grain of the wood and is usually a longer cut. The term “ripping” could also describe trimming a standard 4-feet x 8-feet piece of plywood to a size of 3-feet x 7-feet, for example.

Accuracy is important when cutting wood. To help prevent cuts from veering away from the cut line, watch the blade as it moves along the line and not only the guide markings that are on the saw’s shoe.

Using a saw guide will ensure the tool cuts in a straight path. Place a speed square across the board you’re cutting, with its lip hanging over the edge. Get your blade aligned with the cut line and slide the straight edge of the speed square against the saw shoe. Hold the square in position as you guide the saw through the board.

For longer rip cuts, such as for sheets of plywood, accessories like a saw guide can help you stay on track. You can create your own by clamping a 1-inch thick board onto the piece you are cutting and using it as a guide for your saw.

Here are a few more tips to help you with crosscutting and rip cuts:

• Crosscutting with a Square: Special squares help guide the saw through a short cut. Put the raised edge against the stock and guide the saw along the other edge.
• Ripping with a Circular Saw: Cutting along the length of the board (ripping) is accomplished with the help of a rip attachment or by clamping a board in place as a guide. The rip attachment is fine for making narrow cuts. For cutting wider pieces, make a cutoff guide.
• Making a Ripping Cut-Off Jig: Make the jig from two strips of 3/4-inch plywood, each 8 feet long. One piece should be about 5 inches wide; the other should be as wide as the saw base plus 5 inches. Have the home center or lumberyard cut them so you'll get straight cuts, then screw them together so that the edges align.  
• Guide the saw along the fence piece, cutting the wider piece to width in the process. 
• Place the cut edge of the jig along the line and clamp or screw it in place. Guide the saw along the narrower piece to cut along the line.