It’s obvious circular saws are so useful because they’re so common. But so many people use them regularly to the point of becoming complacent. It’s a bad combination to add user complacency to such a potentially dangerous tool. The good news is circular saws can be very safe if taken care of. Here are some of the best practices to maintaining yours.

 

BE A DETECTIVE—the first step in maintaining a circular saw

 

Sherlock Holmes searched crime scenes to find clues so he could catch criminals. He did this to keep a criminal’s next potential victim safe from harm. Even though Sherlock is fictional, many people have considered him a hero. He prevented hazardous situations through detailed inspections.

 

In the same way, you should perform detailed inspections of your circular saw. Doing so could identify a hidden hazard, keeping the next operator safe from harm. Being a circular saw inspector could make you an unsung hero. You would prevent hazardous situations through inspecting. Just be sure to disconnect your tool from its power source before inspecting. It’s elementary, my dear reader.

 

Check Power Source

After disconnecting your saw’s power, make sure the power connection is free of flaws. If your tool has a cord, check the cord for cuts or burns. Inspect the whole length of the cord to look for anything that could cause a potential hazard. Any damage to the cord could cause an electrocution hazard or fry the motor. Don’t use the tool if you find any issues.

 

If your circular saw is cordless, make sure the battery has no visible damage. Also, ensure the battery pack fits the tool smoothly. If it doesn’t fit properly, don’t attempt to start operation until you resolve the matter.

 

Inspect Moving Parts

Take a look at gears and other moving parts to make sure they’re not obstructed. Circular saws create a lot of debris. You should perform a quick external check before every cut. This is to ensure the blade can move freely without stalling or hurling projectiles.

 

Another reason moving parts may not move freely would be a damaged part. This may be the problem if you can’t find anything blocking paths, but the saw still doesn’t move freely. In this case, remove the tool from action until the cause can be found. Then, take care of the issue before returning the tool to work.

 

Image: Shutterstock 

Examine the Housing

Examine the housing for cracks or loose screws. The housing protects internal parts from outside impact. These parts are more fragile and have protection for a reason. Also, moving parts under the housing could snag the tool’s operator and cause injury. Not all circular saw injuries involve cuts.

 

The rough movement created by circular saws makes loose screws a likely scenario. Make sure they’re tight before operation. If the housing is loose, it could affect operation and make it more likely to drop your tool. Circular saw blades don’t stop immediately when you release the trigger. So a dropped or mishandled tool presents a major hazard.

 

Assess the Handle

The important issue here is the auxiliary handle, or the handle for your supporting hand. This handle helps you guide the tool through cuts with better precision. A secondary reason for this handle is to keep your free hand clear from the saw blade and other hazards.

 

The auxiliary handle usually attaches to hand-held power tools by screwing in. Circular saws are no different. Their rough work and constant vibration makes it likely the handle will loosen with time. To combat this, give the handle a forceful shake to see if it’s tight. If not, twist it in and give it another shake. If you can’t make the handle stay firm in place, the handle will need repairs before use.

 

Test the Lower Guard

Before each use, make sure the lower guard moves properly. The guard is the last line of defense between the operator and the saw. To test, raise the lower guard. Be sure the guard doesn’t touch the blade or any other part of the saw. If movement is obstructed, it would prevent the guard from protecting the operator. Test the guard at all angles and depths of cut.

 

Remember Blade Washer and Bolt

These little pieces are very important, so don’t overlook them. They hold the blade in place and keep the blade from flying off the tool during operation. An out-of-control blade spinning at about 120 mph could ruin any worker’s day, and maybe more. Check for damage and replace if you find any defects. Only use blade washers and bolts designed for your saw (from its manufacturer). This is for optimum performance of your tool and for the safety of nearby workers.

 

DON’T SPOIL IT—circular saw maintenance and all those moving parts

 

Circular saws need dozens of parts to all be working great for the overall tool to perform. We’ve discussed how important it is to inspect those parts, but there are other steps to perform. A big part of this is keeping your tool clean. Each part of your tool plays a role in its efficiency, so all of they all need to be cared for in their own way. With many parts, the best thing you can do is keep them clean.

 

Air Vents

Think of the air vent on your circular saw as a vacuum. The fan inside the housing keeps the motor cool, but it also draws dust inside. This builds up debris inside the housing, where all the delicate parts are. The accumulated dust can damage electrical components or even cause a short. This could present an electrical hazard for the operator.

 

Don’t clean the vent by poking items inside. This could cause more harm than good. The easiest and most effective option is using compressed dry air. Use an air hose and blow inside the vent at under 30 psi.  According to OSHA, this is the highest air pressure allowed to clean tools. You also need proper guarding and proper PPE while using compressed air. At higher pressure, flying debris could become a potential hazard to people in the area.

 

Switch Levers and Guards

Nothing should hinder switch levers or guards from performing as designed. If any debris is near these parts, clean off before it can accumulate. This should happen before a real issue is possible. Keeping on top of minor cleaning often takes less time than sporadic major cleanings.

 

Wipe Down

Cleaning your circular saw isn’t only for aesthetic purposes. All sorts of muck can be slick and aid in your tool slipping from your hand. Dirt can also make its way from a harmless spot to somewhere more critical. Avoid these results by wiping down your tool.

 

No liquid should ever seep into your circular saw. This means dipping it into a liquid is NOT a good idea. Water and any other liquid will damage the electrical components inside the saw. To clean, use a cloth dampened with mild soap and water. Wipe all around the tool, staying clear of the blade.

 

Use water and mild soap because many chemicals can damage your tool’s plastic parts. Don’t use gasoline, carbon tetrachloride, chlorinated cleaning solvents, ammonia and household detergents that contain ammonia.

 

Image: Shutterstock 

CUT DOWN BLADE WEAR—watch out for the saw 

 

Treat saw blades different than the rest of your tool. Blades need careful treatment, but in different ways than the tools that utilize them. Be sure to wear cut-resistant gloves when handling blades. Even dull blades can cause cuts, so it’s better to be overprotective.

 

Cleaning

Keep saw blades clean for peak performance. Built up sap and other material can dull the blade. If the blade becomes soiled somewhere other than near the cutting area, it can still damage the blade. Rust and corrosive substances can cause a blade to lose strength over time. If a blade has any deficiencies, it should not see use until repaired.

 

Clean saw blades with a nylon or brass brush. Never use a wire brush, as it will damage the blade. If you need a cleaner, Formula 409 works well.

 

Sharpening

Dull blades need more force, which causes more friction and heat. Sharpening dull blades is a cheap alternative to buying new ones. Here are the steps to take when sharpening a circular saw blade:

• Remove blade from circular saw—make sure to disconnect tool’s power.
• Use a diamond-tipped table saw blade or a diamond file.
• Mark the blade you start on so you don’t double sharpen.
• Grind down the top (bevels) until the tips get sharp again.
• When complete, clean off any residue and reinstall blade.

 

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

When looked at separately, keeping your circular saw maintained seems daunting.  But this shouldn’t discourage you from the goal of keeping your tool working flawlessly. The time spent doing this will save time and money later on. Broken tools and injured employees cost more than cleaning and inspecting your tool. Balance the time spent in upkeep versus the total cost of not doing it. The positives of maintaining your saw outweigh the negatives every time. What other preparations are there to prevent negative results at work?