I recently used the DW XR circular saw for the first time to cut through 3/4" plywood, and I ran into a couple of issues. Firstly, the saw seemed to wander off my cutting line, almost as if it had a mind of its own. Secondly, I noticed that sawdust was shooting right into my face, which was quite annoying. I've used several circular saws before, but not this specific model, so I'm wondering if it's user error or a problem with the saw itself. For setup, I made sure the blade was set to about 1/2" below the plywood. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Make sure you’re using a good quality blade! Stock blades can be okay for rough cuts, but if you want precision, consider swapping it for a high-quality thin kerf blade. Also, for a straighter cut, try clamping a straight edge to your plywood or using a tracksaw setup. It makes a huge difference in accuracy!
From what you described, having the blade depth at 1/2" might be a bit excessive. It's generally better to have it only about 1/8" to 1/4" past the plywood. This will not only help with the stability of your cuts but might also reduce the amount of sawdust flying back at you.
Also, are you wearing any protective gear? A face mask can really help with that dust issue!
Absolutely! I’ve been caught off guard a few times with sawdust flying. I’d recommend getting goggles or a full face shield to protect your eyes too.
What model of the XR saw are you using? Different models have different quirks. If it's the 20v with the 6 1/2" blade, you might find it feels a lot lighter compared to other saws, which could be contributing to the wandering. It takes a bit of adjustment to get used to lighter tools.
Yeah, it's definitely the 20v version. I noticed it’s much lighter than my old Ryobi 5 3/4. I should've practiced a bit more on scrap wood before tackling a big piece; that would’ve helped me get the hang of it.
Good point. I’ve only used the stock blade and noted it doesn't always track as well, especially with plywood. I'll definitely look into getting a better blade to improve my cuts!