Stationary Circular Saw: How To Choose A Tabletop Electric Model? Features Of The Manual Circular With The Possibility Of Permanent Installation

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

Without a circular or circular saw, it is impossible to imagine the equipment of a carpentry shop, a school workshop, and even a home craftsman's garage workshop.

Characteristics

Modern circular saws are an extensive class of carpentry equipment. The most important characteristics that determine the classification of these tools are the power of the electric motor, which determines the possibilities of use, and the dimensions.

Thus, more powerful electric motors are capable of providing longer non-stop operation. They also make it possible to install a disc with a larger diameter and, accordingly, process thicker workpieces, not necessarily dried, but also damp, including from hardwood and even frozen ones.

For workshops operating in constant intensive mode, a circular with a motor of 2 kW or even more will be required.

For a home craftsman's workshop, who works from time to time with small workpieces, this power will be absolutely not justified.

An engine with a power of no more than 1.5 kW will quite cope with such homework.

A more powerful machine will require a stationary installation in a specially equipped place, occupying a significant space in the workshop - this is necessary not only in connection with the dimensions of the unit, but also for the convenience of its operation.

A powerful motor will provide a high rotational speed of the saw blade, which, of course, will affect the quality of the cut produced, which is very important, for example, in the manufacture of furniture or parquet blocks.

Powerful professional machines, due to the large dimensions required, including to ensure the stability of a stationary machine, are very difficult to transport. Conversely, mobile circulars with little technical capabilities and a low-power engine are quite convenient for transportation to the country and for the production of small urgent work.

The motor power also determines the class of the electrical appliance, which affects the cross-section of the supply cable and general electrical safety. Lightweight mobile machines are equipped with a flexible cord and can be connected to the mains by means of a plug connection.

Stationary circular saws are often equipped with a soft start system, which avoids overloading the motor and working elements - a very important option at high power.

Some professional models are also equipped with a sawdust removal system - a device for connecting a vacuum cleaner pipe, which can significantly reduce the amount of inevitable dust.

In the most advanced models of professional saws, an emergency stop is provided, which is triggered by contact with a rotating disc of a human hand.

Lightweight tabletop units combine, along with sufficient power and compactness, good functionality. Some models are equipped for easy movement with a special wheeled cart and a frame with holes for fastening to the floor using screws.

The most mobile units can be placed on a table, workbench and similar horizontal surface.

Device

Stationary saws are installed on a base - a bed, the rigid structure of which, coupled with the power of the engine, allows cutting large workpieces up to logs.

To install such a massive unit, floor preparation is required. As a rule, a concrete foundation is made for the machine.

The polished work surface is also available in steel or cast iron. In lighter versions, the tabletop can also be made of aluminum, in its surface there is a groove that allows the saw blade to rotate freely.

The working surface is equipped with various guides necessary to adjust the width of the workpiece being cut, the inclination of the cut, etc.

An electric motor is located under the tabletop, which transmits torque to a pulley, which serves as a support for the saw blade. On stationary machines, the power of the engine is transmitted to the gearbox and only then to the pulley. A belt drive is more often used, but there are models with a cardan method of transmitting torque.

The disc is covered with a protective cover. On many models, a riving knife is attached to the tabletop immediately behind the disc, which prevents the sawn workpiece from reconnecting under the influence of the elasticity of the wood fibers - this is another element of the tool's safety system.

There are models with a tiltable saw blade that allow you to cut at different fixed angles.

Sometimes additional expanding elements are provided for the main work table to increase the working surface of the machine.

The control panel is equipped with a switch, the buttons of which are recessed below the plane of the panel, which reduces the risk of accidental start-up of the unit.

On some models, a redundant safety switch is installed.

Pros and cons

The advantages of the circular saw over other power saws are obvious:

• high revolutions provide high speed and quality of cutting;
• the compactness of the design, even of stationary circulars, also plays in favor of this instrument;
• the ability to ensure greater safety of the unit also plays an important role.

The significant disadvantages of any circular saws are:

• limited ability to cut dense wood;
• the danger of "kickback" of the workpiece and getting a rather painful blow or even injury;
• slightly increased dimensions of the unit due to the design features of the engine placement;
• consistently increased noise levels during operation.

Stationary saws, due to the high power of the motors and the overall massiveness (up to 300 kg) and the strength of the structure, have a relatively low level of noise and vibration. Allows you to process workpieces with high precision.

The working surface of such machines allows processing workpieces over 1 meter wide. A factor such as a wide range of processed materials is also significant: wood, fiberboard, chipboard, plywood, plastic, and even with the installation of an appropriate disc, soft alloys.

The general massiveness of the structural elements allows precise adjustment of the saw.

The disadvantage of industrial machines of this type, in addition to general system ones, is their high cost, reflecting the increased requirements for the quality of the materials used and electrical safety.

The advantage of table-top machines can be considered small weight and dimensions, power supply from a standard network with a voltage of 220 volts, a good width of the processed surface (at least 60 cm).

The disadvantage of this category of instruments is the noise caused by the low-power motor; a weakened lightweight bed experiences significant vibrations, which affects the accuracy of processing workpieces.

Varieties

Electric circular saws have a wide range of options, from hand-held to stationary. This versatile working power tool allows you to perform a number of the most necessary operations for the processing of wood raw materials, plastic, in some cases even soft metal alloys.

The simplest single-blade hand saw is a saw blade mounted on the rod of the machine, referred to by the craftsmen as a "grinder".

This unit allows you to perform a fairly wide range of work, however, it will be very difficult to make an accurate accurate cut with its help. The installation of a special disc allows you to work on metal.

The advantage of this type is unprecedented mobility and lightness.

But its safety is quite low: the proximity of the hand to the working surface, incomplete protection of the saw blade, the high probability of skewing and "kickback" of the tool, the need to monitor not only the cutting process, but also the position of the electric wire - this is an incomplete list of disadvantages of this type.

A more expensive option is manual circular, with the possibility of stationary installation.

The body of this unit is more massive, it is safer, and the presence of a special platform makes it possible to install the saw on the machine.

Even in the manual version, the cut with this tool can be smoother, which is ensured by the tight contact of the saw support with the workpiece.

To carry out the same type of work, a hand-held circular saw can be installed on a stationary home-made bed with a mount that allows subsequent dismantling.

To create such a collapsible structure, you will need:

• workpiece for the manufacture of machine tabletops;
• base - material for the bed;
• working hand circular saw;
• switch;
• it is not bad to have a welding machine for work;
• other tool (drill, screwdriver, a set of fasteners, etc.).

Before starting work, it is advisable to prepare a simple drawing of the future product, calculating its approximate height and other necessary characteristics. Even a homemade machine should be comfortable and safe.

The sawing table of a homemade machine can be made of plywood, boards or metal. The frame is also made of timber or steel angle. The choice of material is determined by the capabilities and needs of the master.

It is also possible to make a protective cover that will protect the worker from contact with the rotating parts. This structural element is the cheapest to make from plywood, in which it is necessary to make holes necessary for air circulation to cool the electric motor.

On the working surface, you need to cut a hole along the contour corresponding to the surface of the manual circular, which is fixed with screws in the sweep.

Electrical equipment is mounted in the housing: a socket and a wire to the switch located outside. The cord of the hand-held circular saw will be plugged into the outlet. The entire structure is also equipped with an electrical cord with a socket for connecting to the mains.

Such a homemade machine can be placed in any convenient place.

When making homemade equipment, one must not forget about safety: a protective casing is required, as well as a reliable installation of electrical equipment.

A special group of circular saws is represented by products known as angle saw … Their design contains elements that allow you to change the cutting angle.

Stationary circular saws for wood are distinguished by their massive design and engine power. With their help, you can process fairly large workpieces.

According to the degree of mobility and, accordingly, their mass, they are divided into several groups

The most severe non-displacement saws with cast frames. They are also the most expensive. Such a tool allows you to make a cut up to 14 cm deep; to facilitate work with the workpiece, the most massive models have a movable sawing table with guides. At large forestry enterprises, CNC saws are installed.

Most models use 380 volts for work, which significantly reduces the possibilities of their use.

Lightweight version such saws have an open frame or removable supports, which require their transportation, quick assembly and disassembly. Some models are designed to be placed on a table and have a low stand for stability.

Such saws are widely used in everyday life, they allow you to make a cut up to 5 cm deep.

Hybrid aggregates They are distinguished by smaller dimensions, like the previous category of saws, with a closed-type cast bed, which makes them similar to the first group. These saws are usually much quieter, and their work surface can handle workpieces up to 75 cm wide.

The use of such machines is justified in small woodworking enterprises.

Most stationary household saws are combined models, they can, in addition to sawing, perform a number of operations, the quality of each of which is noticeably inferior to those produced on specialized equipment, however, it will fully satisfy the needs of a home craftsman.

Manufacturers rating

The choice of a circular saw is determined by a number of factors:

• the volume and nature of the proposed work;
• the possibilities of the room in which the unit is supposed to be installed;
• requirements for noise level, mobility and electrical safety;
• product price.

The most popular manufacturers of such equipment are well-known, proven companies: Bosch (Germany), Makita (Japan), Metabo (Germany), Hitachi (Japan), Interskol (Russia), JET (Switzerland).

The reviews on the equipment of these manufacturers are far from always unambiguously enthusiastic, which is natural: people have many preferences and the perfect product is unlikely to ever be created, however, it is these five that are currently leading in the number of positive statements from both specialists and buyers. using their products in the household.

• Japanese models it is distinguished by the highest quality of assembly, including moving structural elements, the presence of additional functions that prolong the operation of the saw (smooth start), high safety requirements. The highest efficiency and convenience of settings are a distinctive feature of the equipment produced under Japanese brands. However, the use in some models, albeit of high-strength plastics for the manufacture of moving transmission elements on the saw shaft, may not play in their favor.
• German models , as a rule, have a lot of power, however, the widespread use of plastic for the manufacture of the body of the machine often causes distrust of buyers. These products are also distinguished by the highest quality settings.
• Russian products is distinguished by high reliability, wide use of tool steel, however, power often suffers - in this indicator, our saws are often inferior to Japanese and European brands. There is also no slow start function, which can cause failure of individual units or the electric motor. At the same time, the price of Russian models is significantly lower than their foreign counterparts; it is also necessary to take into account the maintainability of domestic saws.

Subtleties of choice

Choosing a circular saw in our time is not easy at all. There are many models on sale from a large number of manufacturers.

What you should pay attention to if the saw is purchased for the home

• Work from a network with a voltage of 220 volts.
• The design of the bed: for small jobs, a lightweight, and even a desktop version of the machine is suitable, someone may prefer a manual unit - this factor significantly affects the price of the product.
• Availability and quality of adjusting bars: the more there are, the higher the price.
• The presence (absence) of additional surfaces that increase the size of the machine table top. Machines with such surfaces are somewhat more expensive.
• Engine power. If industrial volumes of work are not assumed, then you will have to seriously overpay for a more powerful unit.

If constant intensive work is expected on an industrial scale, it is better to immediately purchase a stationary machine of high power, it is in this case that we can say that "the miser pays twice."

A light circular will quickly cease to meet the needs of production and even if it does not fail, you will have to buy a second, more powerful machine.

Where is it used?

A circular saw is indispensable in a number of cases, sometimes it is actually irreplaceable:

• building your own house or building custom-made wooden houses;
• manufacture of wooden doors or window frames;
• furniture manufacture;
• roofing works (lathing manufacturing);
• picket fence manufacturing;
• production of stairs and balconies;
• sawing bars and boards (molded material).