By Philip Schmidt, Networx In terms of versatility, the circular
saw is king among power saws, but it's also a classic example of
a jack of all trades, master of none. It can make rip cuts,
crosscuts, notches, bevels, and miters in almost any size or
type of material, but it generally can't promise a high degree
of accuracy or repeatability. Pros rely on circular saws for
fast framing cuts or to go where other saws can't, like when
trimming decking that's already installed or notching out a
stair stringer. If your home shop doesn't include a table saw,
the circular saw also fills in for all rip cuts and bevels. The
following tips cover several of the most common circular saw
functions, whether it's the best tool for the job or not
(because for some of us it's often the only tool for the job).
Circular Saw Terminology This is a very straightforward tool, so
there isn't much to work out in terms of identifying parts and
their functions. We just need to make it clear that here we're
calling the big metal plate t