Expert: Jamie Yocono - 2/5/2009

Question
Someone told me that when using a circular saw to cut a piece of wood, it's important to set up the blade so it doesn't penetrate the wood too deeply. Is this true? If it is, how important is this, and what is called "too deeply"?
Thank you


Answer
Hi Seth,

I'm not sure I completely understand your question, but I "think" what you mean is if the height of the blade is important. Yes, it's important for a couple of reasons, here's why:

First, the angle in which the tooth of a sawblade cuts the wood will affect the quality of the cut. When the blade is low, just barely popping though the surface of the wood, the angle at which the tip of the blade is coming though the wood is a very low angle. This means that the teeth are engaged into the wood for just a millisecond longer than if the blade was higher, and coming down (or up) through the wood at a more severe angle. This angle not only affects the quality of the cut, but also the heat that builds up within the saw kerf.  

Cuts with a low angle can be inferior to cuts with a higher blade angle. Luckily, sharp blades make this difference very minimal.

More importantly, especially for the amateur woodworker, is the height of the blade in relation to the wood because of safety issues. The less of the blade that pops through the wood, the better, in terms of having actual blade exposed and potentially cutting someone.

Now I'm not sure if you were talking about an actual circular saw, in which the blade is exposed on the bottom of your wood, or a tablesaw, on which the blade is exposed on top of your wood. Either way, the potential of being cut from that exposed part of the blade is the true "danger" point.

I tell my students to adjust the blade so a mere 1/8" is poking through the wood. If anything should come into contact with that little sliver of blade popping through the wood, the damage is limited, and at least you're not going to lose a finger with only an 1/8" deep cut. Or at least that's the theory!

Hope this helps, write back if you have more questions.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com