How to Keep Your Circular Saw in Great Condition
The best circular saw is a major investment. Any time you buy a new tool or appliance for your home, you want to make sure you're purchasing the very best option for your needs.
After a few uses, you will realize that circular saws require some regular care and maintenance to keep them looking good and working like new. With a few tips and tricks, you can take excellent care of your circular saw.
What Is the Most Difficult Part of the Saw to Maintain?
According to Pro Tool Reviews, caring for circular saw blades can be tricky. Once the blades become too dull, they aren't useful for sawing projects anymore. There are a few ways you can ensure you're getting the longest life out of your circular saw blades.
Begin by keeping the blades away from moisture. Don't store them anywhere that could leave them wet or exposed to water long-term. If your blades do get wet during use, take time to wipe them dry afterward.
Ensure you're using the right blade for the right cutting project. Certain circular saw blades types are made to be best suited for specific types of projects or materials. For example, if you need to cut steel, buying the appropriate blade for cutting steel ensures you won't ruin any of your other blades that aren't made for such a tough material.
If you need to make more precise cuts, choose blades with a higher amount of teeth per inch (also called TPI). For quicker cuts, choose blades with a lower TPI.
How Do You Clean a Circular Saw?
Like any other tool or appliance, circular saws can accumulate gunk and grime after only a few uses. A shiny, new circular saw can begin to look dirty quickly. Dirty circular saws also don't perform well. To keep your circular saw looking and working like new, take some time to clean it between each use.
To clean a circular saw, you'll need some soft cloths, a nylon brush, solvent, and some warm water. Make sure you select a gentle solvent–some are too harsh and the chemicals can move straight on to eating the finish off your blades rather than simply cleaning them.
Use the soft cloth and some warm water to gently wipe down the entire machine. Sawing generates a lot of tiny particles, many of which wind up sticking to the circular saw in a dusty film.
Next, remove the blades from your circular saw according to the product's instructions. Once the blades are off, begin the cleaning process by testing a small area on the blade with some of your solvent. If the solvent proves to be too strong for your blades, discontinue use and choose a different solvent variety. Testing a small area first ensures you won't accidentally ruin a perfectly good blade.
Once you're sure the solvent you've chosen is safe for your blades, use the nylon brush to gently scrub the solvent onto the blades. Use the soft cloth and warm water to wipe away any excess solvent after you've given the blades a thorough brushing.
Allow all parts of your circular saw to completely dry before reassembling and storing until its next use.
What's the Best Way to Store a Circular Saw?
Once you're done using your circular saw, it's critical to store it in a safe place. Not only will this keep the circular saw safe, but keeping it in a carefully selected storage area can also ensure nobody has an accident with it.
Firstly, the blades should be stored separately from the saw's body. Rather than allowing the whole circular saw to rest directly on the blades, protect those blades (and possibly your fingers) by hanging the blades by the holes in their centers.
This can be as simple as hanging them from a nail on the wall. This ensures that the blades maintain a certain balance and don't develop any bending. It also ensures nobody will accidentally touch the blades or potentially drop the saw with the blades on themselves.
The rest of the saw should be stored in a secure, moisture-free location to keep it safe between uses. Make sure it's secured in a place that is out of reach from children.
Resources— Home Depot, Worx Toolshed
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