7 Essential Circular Saw Safety Tips You Shouldn’t Ignore

Circular saws are one of the most powerful and versatile cutting tools available today. A staple for DIY’ers and Professionals alike, with capabilities ranging from cutting through sheets of material to a go-to piece of kit on the jobsite or for home renovations.

As with all power tools, you have to use them correctly - you can’t just pick it up and get going! In this blog, we go through the top 7 essential circular saw safety tips you should know.

1. Start Simple - Know Your Saw

The best place to start is to ensure you know all the parts of your saw and how they function, as all brands and models may differ slightly in design. We would recommend reviewing your user manual if you are a total beginner.

• Before beginning work with circular saws - or any tool, for that matter - it’s wise to make sure everything is in working order first. If using a corded circular saw, ensure that your plug and cord and free from damage. If you use a cordless model, ensure you charge the battery!
• Check your blade guard:
  • Ensure your saw is disconnected from the power source.
  • Check the lower blade guard. Move the guard back by hand. Make sure it springs back to cover the blade teeth smoothly and quickly, without getting stuck on anything.
  • Inspect the upper blade guard - Make sure it covers the teeth and is free of damage. If you’ve used the saw before, make sure it is free of any debris.

If you find a fault, do what you can to fix it, or consult the user manual if you’re unsure. If you have an Evolution Circular saw, feel free to contact our customer service team, who are equipped with the knowledge to assist.

2. Always Wear The Correct PPE

When working with power tools, personal protective equipment (PPE) is a must. When sawing timber or other materials, there’s always the chance of dust, wood chips, metal shavings, or other substances flying off the surface towards you. Essential PPE includes:

• Eye Protection - A study found that 90% of eye injuries were preventable, so get your goggles on!
• Avoid loose clothing and tie long hair back - you don’t want the blade taking anything in its path, other than your material.
• Hearing protection - Depending on what you are cutting and for how long, you might consider wearing ear protection.
• Dust mask - to ensure you aren’t inhaling any particles from the material you are cutting.

3. Choose The Right Blade for Your Task

There is a wide range of blades you can choose from, depending on the project you’re working on. The more teeth the blade has, the finer the finish.

We have a range of blades to suit different tasks, including wood, mild steel, and multi-material cutting if you’re cutting a variety of different materials, including plastics, composites, metal and wood. Find out more about multi-material blades in our dedicated blog, One Saw, One Blade, Cuts All: Why Multi-Material Blades Are Essential.

It’s best to choose the blade for your material, and for the finish you want to achieve. Always ensure:

• Your blade is clean & sharp.
• The blade is replaced regularly for a better finish and for a safer machine.

Tip: If, when you begin cutting, you feel you are putting in excessive effort, your cuts are rough or getting burned - these are signs a blade change is needed. 

4. Be Prepared - Get Your Set-up Right

Making sure you prepare your work station set-up is a really important step before you get going. A few simple rules to follow:

• Ensure your material is secured properly to eliminate any risk of movement while cutting.
• Always inspect your materials to identify if there are any nails, foreign objects, and check for thickness variations that will impact your cut.
• Make sure you have checked that your saw is clean, free of debris, and your blade is sharp (checking for rounded or chipped teeth).
• Ensure your blade depth is set correctly for the material being cut.

5. Safe Saw Handling - Always Use Both Hands!

Circular saws might be more portable and lightweight when compared to other power tools, but that doesn’t mean they require any less attention or control.
If anything, your control over the machine is greatly reduced as it is hand-held as opposed to stationary.

Always ensure your materials are secure before cutting. Score your material where you are to cut to get a cleaner cut and better visibility, and to ensure more control over the machine, use both hands!

6. Never Take Your Eyes Off Your Work

You might work in an environment where a lot is going on, with numerous jobs and other workers all moving around at once. Even if you’re a home DIY expert, there could be a lot of distractions around you while you work.

The important thing is to never let any of these distractions force you to take your eyes off of your saw while it’s active.

7. Know How To Avoid Kickback

Kickback is one of the most common ways injuries occur when using circular saws and similar tools.
This happens when the tool or the material unexpectedly jolts back at force towards the user. Usually, the result of a pinched blade or general saw misuse, which is why getting yourself set-up correctly, securing your materials and checking your saw and blade are crucial!

Standing at the side while cutting, where possible, removes you from the likely line of trajectory should you experience kickback.

Evolution Circular Saws

Our wide range of circular saws have been engineered for both the DIY’er and professional toolkit. With a range spanning cordless, electric, guide rail compatible, and metal-cutting specific models, you’re sure to find the perfect tool for the job at hand.

Got the saw but need a new blade? Check out our circular saw blade range to find the right blade for your project.