How To Use A Circular Saw To Cut 2x4

*This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you cull to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to yous). As an Amazon Acquaintance, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclaimer for additional details.

Cutting a 2 ten iv with a circular saw may seem easy plenty, but what do y'all do without a table, or on a chore site with only a sawhorse? Maybe you need to make a straight edge cutting or rip some two x 4's into 2 ten ii'southward. Today we are going to talk about how to cut a 2 10 four with a circular saw.

How do I cut a 2 x four with a circular saw?

Select your cutting method
Set your 2 x 4 across the sawhorses
Clampdown the 2 x four using c clamps, or bar clamps
Measure the cut twice
Marker the cut with your speed square
Fix the bract depth to cutting just below the 2 x 4.
Place the wide edge of the bottom part of the circular saw on the left side of the line.
Take information technology boring, and cut carefully

These steps are relatively straightforward. However, in that location are several dissimilar situations that yous tin can run into, such as non having a table or guide. Sometimes yous demand to cutting all of the boards the verbal same length. It may seem complicated at the moment, but by the time you end reading this, y'all will see how piece of cake it is.

How to Cut a ii x 4 With a Round Saw

There are several methods available to exist able to cutting a 2 x 4 with a round saw depending on the equipment that you accept handy.

For the workbench, you can place the 2×iv on edge with the side that you want to cut overhanging. Set your circular saw blade to the right depth to slice through the two x 4.

Clamping the 2×4 to the workbench or sawhorse volition provide stability and prevent the 2 ten 4 from spinning or launching off of the workbench.

If yous set the circular saw at the maximum depth, you lot tin can easily cut through a 2×four even at a 45-degree bending.

When you make the cut, utilise a speed square to butt the saw blade up confronting. This helps ensure that your cuts are straight.

If you don't have a sawhorse or workbench, you lot can identify the 2 10 4 on the edge of something where the blade will non bear on anything below the 2 x iv. Any staging item will work as long as it is off the ground.

How to Rip a 2 x 4 Lengthwise with a Round Saw

The first step is to measure the halfway bespeak on the 2×4. A 2×4 is not 4 inches wide; it is only iii and a one-half inches wide and one and a half inches thick.

Yous can reference bodily sizes of lumber subsequently drying and treatment here. You are going to need the right combination square to draw your line down the centre of the 2 x four.

Clamp the 2 x 4 to where you can support the board and still have enough room underneath the board for the saw blade. Identify a minimum of 2 clamps on the lath to concord the board downwardly.

You volition have to move the braces during the cut. Employ wooden saw horses for this task, or place a few sheets of plywood nether the 2 ten 4 because the circular saw volition cutting through the bottom of the ii x 4.

Set your combination square to one and iii-quarters of an inch. Describe the line straight down the middle of the 2 x4 and cut slowly. One play tricks is to use a round saw that has a laser sight attached to information technology to help you make the cutting.

Here are some helpful tips:

Mensurate twice; cut in one case
Accept information technology boring and steady
Suspension the cut into three dissimilar sections
Use something to assistance guide the saw bract on the line. Some useful tools are the laser guide or speed square.

Hither is an instructional video that shows you lot step by step.

How to cutting 2 x 4's to the Same Length

In that location are a few unlike methods for cutting 2 x four's the same length. The simplest mode to have the border off the ends of your 2×iv and barrel them upwards confronting a flat level surface.

And so measure them all across at the same fourth dimension (Remember mensurate twice). Use a level or a square to draw the cut line across all of the 2 x iv'due south at the same fourth dimension; Then cut them i at a time.

If you lot take some extra material to piece of work with, such as some spare pieces of plywood, you tin make a jig that will cut at the aforementioned length every fourth dimension. At that place are different size jigs, and yous would just have to create the size that works for you.

If you want the jig to cutting iii 2 ten four's at the aforementioned fourth dimension, then the width in the jig needs to exist (1.v* 3) + 1/viii inch. The 1/8 of an inch gives y'all some leeway for the saw bract. You would just need to brand adjustments for your workspace.

You lot are going to create a organisation of rail using 2 x iv'southward and plywood. This will mostly just piece of work for smaller lengths, 2-3 anxiety for example.

Measure your two×4 and screw them into the plywood with the edge at the same point on the plywood all the way down. Say ane-¼ inch from the side. You can then cutting the 2×four'south to the length that you want them to exist cut to. This is your stop line for your cuts.

Accept another piece of plywood and measure it between the two 2×four'southward to sit on top of the other plywood, creating a raised bed on the within of your jig. Glue the tiptop piece of plywood to the bottom portion of plywood or spiral it downwardly.

Take a piece of two×3 and place it in between the ends of the other ii guide rails and rip through the tiptop part of the top section of plywood, creating a small incision as a guideline.

Remove the slice that you just placed in between the two long pieces of ii x iv's. Now that your jig is gear up, place your 2×4's in the jig and use the guides to cut the 2×4's to length.

How to Utilize a Round Saw Without a Tabular array

The easiest way to utilise a circular saw without a tabular array is to place two pieces of scrap lath on your saw horses and then place your 2×iv's on peak of the scrap wood. Then clamp it down, mensurate and cutting the pieces of wood.

You could also use a rail (like this one) to place on the round saw to guide the saw across the plywood, or 2×4 you are trying to cut. The track is better used for longer pieces of woods, such every bit plywood, or even making rip cuts in 2 x four'south.

Yous could also make a guide, by taking a piece of plywood and attaching information technology to a smaller flatter board. You want to place the piece of plywood on peak of the larger board and utilize it as a guide. Creating a goose egg-clearance edge will allow y'all to make perpendicular cuts up to the length that you fabricated the guide for.

Here is an excellent video that shows you how to make a guide.

10 Tips for Using a Circular Saw Safely

Using a circular saw can exist a piddling intimidating if y'all are just starting out in woodworking. You want to make sure that you are safe using the saw.

A lot of circular saw accidents happen in the U. Due south. annually. You lot can see the statistics for yourself on the OSHA website. We care almost your safety, so here are x safe tips for using your circular saw.

Employ rubber gear
Never make adjustments to the saw when the Battery is continued or the saw is plugged in.
Plough the saw off after every cut
Article of clothing safety goggles
Wear thick clothing such equally jeans
Utilise a respirator to protect your lungs
Have your fourth dimension and cutting slow
Always use precipitous blades
Keep your fingers behind the border at all times
Don't use the saw in a manner that it was not designed for.

Final thoughts

Woodworking is a fun hobby, every bit well equally a great profession. Sitting back and getting to bask the canis familiaris firm or chicken coop that y'all built terminal summertime gives you a neat sense of accomplishment. Learning the essential skills that you demand to make the correct cuts and save time is an everyday process. Y'all acquire something new with every project.