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Power saw buying guide
Five things you need to know about these powerful DIY tools.
Perfect for loads of DIY jobs around the house, power saws use a blade to cut through a variety of materials like kitchen worktops, tree branches and fence posts. There are a few different kinds of power saw out there, so our guide is here to help you pick the one that’s right for you.
What types of power saw are there?
- Jigsaw – Useful for easily cutting weird and sometimes awkward shapes, these are great for kitchen worktops and even making toys. Luckily, they don’t come in 1000 pieces that you build yourself.
- Reciprocating saws – These models are more powerful and used for tougher jobs like taking down fence posts, tree branches or old window frames.
- Circular saws – These blades are – you guessed it – circular and are really useful for professional-quality cuts in wood and worktops as they give you a greater level of precision.
Should I get a corded power saw or a cordless one?
There’s a couple of differences between corded power saws and cordless ones. The main one is obviously that cordless saws aren’t tied to a plug socket, so you can take them anywhere – great for outdoor jobs! Corded models are more powerful so they’re more suited to heavy-duty jobs and cutting through tougher materials.
What is the cut depth?
Sometimes called the ‘length of stroke’, cut depth refers to the distance the blade covers on a jig saw or reciprocating saw. So a 20mm cut depth means that the blade moves 20mm up and down when it’s on.
You may also see a ‘strokes per minute’ figure with some models. This is simply the number of strokes these saws can do in 60 seconds. The higher this number is, the faster and more efficient the power saw. Easy!
Any extra features?
A lot of power saws have handy features that make using them a whole lot easier. Some models give you more control with a comfortable soft grip handle, while dust blowers help keep your work surfaces nice and clear. Plus, as well as wearing the appropriate safety gear, keep an eye out for models that have a safety lock switch which stops the saw from starting accidentally.
What different types of power saw blade are there?
Saw blades have a different number of teeth to give different qualities of cut. The more teeth a blade has, the finer the cut will be so do your best Dentist impression and get looking at those chompers!
Some saw blades are also better at handling different materials than others. Whether you need to cut through wood, plastic or metal, we’ve got plenty of models that are up to the task. Keep an eye out for what you can use a particular power saw for when you’re looking through our product descriptions on our site.
