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As a carpenter and woodworker, I’ve used my trusty circular saw to make countless rip cuts over the years. Ripping, or cutting along the grain of the wood, is one of the most common tasks for a circular saw. With the right techniques and safety precautions, you can make straight, accurate rip cuts efficiently. In this post, I’ll share my tips for circular saw success when ripping lumber and sheet goods.
Choose the Right Blade
The first step is using a blade designed for ripping. Look for a rip blade with fewer teeth spaced farther apart with wide gullets. This design clears sawdust fast and cuts efficiently with the wood grain. An ideal rip blade tooth count is 24-40 teeth. Don’t use a finer crosscut blade for ripping or you’ll get bogged down.
Adjust the Blade Depth
Set the blade depth so it just barely protrudes through the material with each pass. Usually 1/8″ deeper than the thickness of the wood is ideal. This prevents the back end of the blade from rubbing against the wood and slowing the cut.
Use a Straightedge Guide
Clamping a straight piece of scrap to the workpiece ensures a straight rip cut. Run the foot plate along the guide as you cut. You can use a speed square, level, jig, or simply rip an edge to use as a guide. This gives better accuracy than freehanding.
Support the Work Properly
Use saw horses, tables, or ask a helper to support the workpiece. This allows full blade contact for a cleaner cut. Supporting the waste side allows the good piece to fall away freely as you cut.
Cut Relief Cuts First
On long rip cuts in sheet goods, make relief cuts first from the edge to just shy of your cut line. This prevents pinch-out and binding as you rip. It also reduces strain on you and the saw.
Take Multiple Passes
Rather than wrestling a deep, thick cut in one pass, take multiple lighter passes – 1/4 to 1/2 the blade depth each time. Let the blade do the work with less strain and kickback risk.
With the right preparation and care, you can achieve fast, splinter-free rip cuts with your circular saw. Follow these tips to work efficiently and safely. Let me know if you have any other circular saw questions! I’m always happy to share my knowledge and experience.
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