Hey everyone! I'm having some trouble making straight cuts with my circular saw while learning to do siding. My boss is super picky about cutting strapping straight so I can get the hang of cutting cement board without messing it up. At first, I struggled to cut straight across the width of the strapping, but I figured out that if I keep an eye on the saw even when the line is out of sight of the guide, it helps a bit. Lately, I've been needing to make plunge cuts for certain angles, but no matter how well I line up my plunge, the cuts always start straight then curve in towards the middle before straightening out at the end. This happens whether I'm using cement board or wood. My boss prefers speed, so I can't use clamps. He manages to make these freehand cuts look easy, but I only get it right about 1 out of 3 times. I've practiced on some scrap at home and improved to about 4 out of 5 times, but I still feel like I'm missing something!
3 Answers
You might want to try using a speed square or some sort of jig that you hold in place without clamping. I read a good article on Popular Mechanics about cutting straight with a circular saw, and it even had pictures. Check it out; it should give you some helpful tips!
Honestly, practice is key! I've seen some videos that really break down techniques for freehand cuts. If you haven't yet, definitely check out this YouTube video I found: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zk3Lm3_avI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zk3Lm3_avI). It helped me a lot, and maybe it can give you some insights too!
Sounds like your boss might be setting you up for a tough challenge with those freehand cuts! One thing that could help is getting a circular saw with a laser guide. I have a Skil that isn’t too pricey, and it definitely helps keep the saw on track — just keep in mind that the laser might be less visible outdoors. Once you get used to it, it makes hitting the line way easier!
Do you know if there are any decent battery-operated ones?