Handheld Circular Saws

MachineInfoBox Circular Saws
Synonyms:	buzz saws; DE: Handkreissägen
Material:	wood
Used with:	circular saw guide, shop vac, goggles, hearing protection, circular saw blades
Access Requirements:	Handheld Circular Saw Introduction
Tutors:	Lukas NitramLegov Pakue Johannes Luzian Keno Utis
Similar (More or Less):	table saw, chop saw

This page is about handheld circular saws. Other varieties exist: a chop saw is useful if you want to cut narrow planks or posts, while a table saw is especially suited for cutting medium-sized boards and panels. Perhaps we'll also build a panel saw for large stock at some point!

All circular saws cut with a rotating circular saw blade that may have teeth or an abrasive edge, depending on what material it is for.

Safety

• check the blade guard: does it move freely and cover the blade when you let it go?
• let us know when the blade is getting dull!
• wear protective goggles and ear defenders no matter what you want to cut
• hook up a shop vac before cutting
  • some sawdust will still be expelled, so you might want to put on a dust mask
• safely clamp down a fence and your workpiece to avoid surprises during the cut
• double-check the planned cut path - no clamps or table in the way?
• firmly guide the saw with both hands, that way they're clear of the blade
• turn on the saw without the blade touching the workpiece and only start cutting once it is rotating at full speed

Festool TS 75 EBQ - Plunge Saw

MachineInfoBox Festool TS 75 EBQ
Synonyms:	plunge saw, plunge-cut saw, track saw; DE: Tauchsäge
Type:	Handheld Circular Saws
Material:	wood
Location:	Saw Station
Access Requirements:	Handheld Circular Saw Introduction
Status:	Working
Manual:	manualslib.com (or ZIP from festool.de
Tutors:	Lukas NitramLegov Pakue Johannes Luzian Keno Utis

The Festool TS 75 EBQ is a plunge saw, that allows, in addition to normal circular saw functions, to be pushed downwards into the workpiece. The maximal depth is 75 mm and can be adjusted in 1 mm increments.

Make sure to remove the riving knife (Spaltkeil) before a plunge cut, it will get in the way!

Guide Rail

Kickback stop

The saw can be used with a Festool guide rail for ease of use. Currently we have a single 1400 mm rail, but in the future multiple ones can be joined together to cut any length wished.

To avoid kickback during plunging, an endstop can be attached to the rail. When not in use it is attached to the backside of the saw.

Available Equipment

Besides the saw itself, we currently have:

• cable
• 2x 1400 mm rail
• systainer (aka. fancy Festool box)
• manual
• splinter guard (green thingy with nut and black thing with screw)
• SYS3 M 137 FS/2 Set
  • FS-WA angle stop
  • 2 clamps
  • rail extension
  • cable/vacuum hose guard

FS-WA angle stop

Used to get an adjustable ±60° angle stop on a guide rail. Handy repeated cuts on a board.

• 

  FS-WA angle stop]]

• 

  Parallel jaws across the upper slot. Guide insert into the lower slot.]]

• 

  Clamp onto the inside of the upper slot.]]

• 

  Edge extension for thicker boards and or large chamfers/fillets.]]

• 

  Insert the two edge extensions into the slot closer to the board edge and screw it down.

• 

  Final placement.

FS/2-AW deflector

Hose/cable guide

FSV/2 connecting pieces

Don't over tighten the screws!

Further Reading

• WOOD magazine - "Get better cuts from any circular saw"
• Festool - Grundwissen Tauchsägen