I have had the pleasure to recommend many friends and acquaintances to the circular saw and miter saw. Alas! The only response to my recommendation is why does my circular saw keep stopping? People also asked me why miter saw stopped working? Those are valid questions.
Still, even a beginner could wield it with great mastery. The secret to this is a thorough basic knowledge of the saw. Thus, to understand why people have problems handing said equipment, we must first understand what it is.
The discussion on how to use a circular saw will come after that. Once, we have done that we can move on to circular saw troubleshooting.
What Is A Circular Saw
Circular saw is a multi-purpose tool. Its defining feature is its jagged (or toothed), spherical blade which is covered with a retractable guard. It is primarily used for woodworking. Though, we can utilize it to cut plastic, stone, metal, fibreglass, etc.
If it is used for construction or landscaping, the tooth of the blade will be 24. If the blade tooth is 40 0r 60, then its use is carpentry based or for finer cuts. Using incorrect blades will cause malfunction.
Various saws are available in the market. The reason for the different types is due to distinct characteristics. The tool may be cordless or battery powered. It may have saw stop or it may not. For example, Here we make a list of the top-selling 3 best circular saw Each of them has their specialties. They are:-
Parts of a Circular Saw
Using a circular saw is simple when one has an idea of its parts. It is an uncomplicated tool. The main pieces are mentioned below:
- Baseplate
- Bevel Lever
- Depth lever
- Saw guide
- Plug or battery case
- Locking lever
- Saw stop
- Allen key
- Arbor nut
- Blade
- Handle
- Motor arbor
- Motor
Circular Saws Troubleshooting
Here, we discusses circular saws common problems along with the answer:
Power Cord
Before we proceed to troubleshoot our machine, we must determine if it is a table saw or a handheld. Then, we will check if power can travel throughout the plug by employing a voltmeter.
The voltmeter result analysis will tell us if there is a problem with power passing throughout the plug. After that, we will try to find if there is damage to the power cord. Perhaps, a wire is cut or torn.
Complications may arise. We need to change the power cord in that case. Correctly changing it will solve the stopping issue.
Resistance and Circuit
If there is no trouble with the power cord, we will test the resistance of the power cord and the switch. We should measure the resistance of all the main circuit points too. The outcome will differ according to what we are checking.
If the resistance is too low for a certain part, then those parts should be swapped out with new ones. Assuming that low resistance isn’t the problem, a circuit tester should be used to verify whether it is a complete circuit. If the multimeter reads ‘0 L’ or infinity, then the circuit is open.
An open circuit may be the answer to your inquiry of why does my circular saw keep stopping. The solution is to close the circuit where it is disjointed.
Sawdust and Grease
Sawdust accumulation binds the saw and it stops working. Cleaning the blade after every use should solve this issue. A dry cloth can shake the dust from the contraption too.
A circular saw needs grease. But when old grease builds up, it can harden and prevent the blade from spinning. Removing it and applying new grease will help in this case.
Blade
The blade is the common reason the machine breaks down. Before use, we need to fix the angle and depth of it. The saw will not work if we forget to do this.
A standard blade is seven ¼ inches and it can cut to the depth of 2 ½ inches. However, if the material is thicker than this, then the blade will not spin. Adjusting its width will resolve this.
Also, a loose blade can be put back to working order by tightening the arbor nut. A dull blade will not work even after tightening the nut. We need to replace it.
Miscellaneous
- Motor brushes
- Motor
- Trigger switch
Chipped motor brushes, defective motor, and torn trigger switch wires can be the reason for malfunction. Replace them with new ones bought from a store.
Kickback
Circular saws have a sharp blade that spins very quickly anticlockwise. If it is not properly set (the teeth will point downwards), the equipment will move backward. This can cause severe injury.
This is called a kickback. Other reasons for a kickback to occur are circular saw binding, loose arbor nut, and changing angles in the middle of cutting something. It can also happen if the width of an object is greater than the width the blade can cut.
Saw Stop
Recent circular saws are called a sawstop contractor saw. That is because they have a function that makes the saw to a halt if sideways pressure is applied. It also automatically stops if fingers are in front of it.
If your saw is still not working after solving the above-mentioned problems, then it is better to buy a new saw to replace the old one.
Final Words
Why does my circular saw keep stopping? It is an intricate and subtle problem. But, when you have acclimated yourself to a circular saw, you can easily discern why it’s not working. However, we must not get too careless when working with it.
Safety precautions are a must when using power tools. Especially when using this one. Eye protection, noise-canceling headphones, and a dust mask are the bare minimum safeguard you ought to take.
Despite this, a circular saw should be a common household tool. From simple trimming of lumber to precise cuts, almost anything can be done with it. With a little carefulness, we can make anything through it!
