Circular Saw for first DIY job

[lisach]

Hi there

Any advice on the size, speed of saw and best blades to complete an outside decking job (frame construction and board cut), bearing in mind I have never used this type of tool what should I purchase.

Cheers

John

 

[2scoops0406]

A mitre saw would probably be better.

 

[Thermo]

mitre saw will definetly be better, however if your using it for a one off then any standard circular saw will do that has a cut depth of at least 50mm

 

[markie]

as the above posts an mitre saw, cheep one if it's going to be used once or a hand saw if you don't mind abit of body building.
You'll get a straight cut with a mitre saw and it will be quicker than an circular saw.

 

[Karl Austin]

Alternative to buying of course is to hire one, about £25 for a single day for a power mitre saw(or at least it is at local place to me). I think I'm right in saying as well, that most cheap circular saws come with a blade only really suited to ripping and not cross cutting (I know the cheapie I was given is in that category)

 

[b21playa]

you could get a hand mitre saw

seen one in Lidl around £10 - £15.

I purchased the elctric one myself from there a while back for £60 with 3yrs guarantee

 

[Thermo]

i wouldnt want to cut one deck board with a hand mitre saw let alone more than that!

 

[^woody^]

A hand mitre saw? One of the worst, most useless things in the world. Has anyone ever cut a straight mitre with one?

For the price of this or of hiring, you can get one of those cheap electic ones.

 

[Scrit]

A hand mitre saw? One of the worst, most useless things in the world. Has anyone ever cut a straight mitre with one?

Yes, but you've got to buy a decent one like a Nobex or Ulmia (i.e the sort that picture framers favour) - and they cost almost as much as a small reasonable quality 'leccy one. The cheap Chiwanese cr*p the DIY shops sell are completely useless. In fact hand mitre saws have blades which are way too fine for decking in any case.

Scrit

 

[DonKiddick]

I would definitely go with an electric mitre saw for cutting deck boards to length. Just make sure that it will cut the full width of a board easily.

How are you going to rip the final board to width though?

The ultimate solution if you are going to be doing a lot of this sort of thing would be a flip-over saw.

Cheers
Don

 

[Scrit]

The ultimate solution if you are going to be doing a lot of this sort of thing would be a flip-over saw.

As a flip-over saw user myself I'd have to agree, but the problem is that they ain't cheap

Scrit

 

[big-all]

i personaly would plan full boards if possible

there are few situations where you need to cut a full board along its length
with a bit of forward planning

 

[Elitepm]

Try the MAC 10" sliding compound mitre saw from B&Q