How To Rip Narrow Boards With A Circular Saw.. Find Out Here!

Last Updated On September 20, 2021 By Elliot

Our Guide To Ripping Narrow Boards With a Circular Saw

Ripping narrow bits of wood boards with a circular saw is not an easy job, the cutting process requires a lot of precision and can be a difficult process to keep the saw on the straight guide you measure. 

To rip a narrow piece of board with a circular saw you need to make sure you have safety equipment and a sacrificial wood platform underneath the piece of wood which is larger, you will also need to measure narrow pieces for cutting guides and use clamps for stability.  

So as you can have an easy time ripping your narrow boards, we have put together a small guide below that will cover everything you need to know about ripping a piece of wood, including how to do it safely with our best tips.

Is Ripping a Narrow Board With a Circular Saw Difficult?

Ripping a piece of wood can be difficult with a circular saw, mainly because typical guides can be hard to follow with a circular saw without a stable platform and clamps can often get in the way of the powerful motor and your cut.

The best way to rip for cuts through boards is to clamp the circular saw to a platform on a table then let the circular saw blade rotate underneath the sole of the machine, this makes it easy to pass the wooden board through with ease, cutting in a matter of seconds. 

Our Step By Step Guide To Ripping Your Piece Of Wood

A circular saw is not a beginners woodworking tool, so it's important you get to know your tool and exactly how to use it before ripping chunks of wood. 

We have listed a simple step by step guide below to show you how to use your circular saw blade to rip wood. 

Tools Needed 

  • Pencil for marking measurements. 
  • Clamps. 
  • Measurement tape. 
  • Stand. 
  • Speed square. 
  • Larger piece of sacrificial board for support.

Step By Step

  • Step one - First of all, before you start cutting any chunk of wood you want to ensure that the supporting slab of wood underneath is bigger than the longboard you are cutting, this should also be thick, but not expensive. 
  • Step two - Clamp the board on the platform you have measured and make sure the sole is clamped too so the entire blade can pass through the uncut wood with ease. 
  • Step three - Find the front of your circular saw and feed a sacrificial piece of wood into the blade to reference cut with the sharp blade, after doing this you can then measure the thickness of the cut and adjust the front according to the thickness you need on the larger board. 
  • Step four - To avoid warping the blade during the cutting process make sure the circular saw blade is parallel to the face of the platform. Use another sacrificial piece of wood and push into the blade at the front of the saw, turn it over so as the reference cut is on the underside of the wood.
  • Step five - Take this sacrificial piece of wood and feed it through the blade from the back of the unit with blade guard out of the way for the other reference cut, both of these reference cuts should meet up at the same point to show that the blade is parallel. 
  • Step six - Adjust the height of the circular saw blade, to do this drop the saw blade down to the table surface and check if you can slide a piece of paper just under the blade. 
  • Step seven - Wear your PPE and turn the trigger of your machine on to start the circular saw blade up, feed the board slowly through the blade to ensure an accurate cut.

Safety Tips For Using a Circular Saw To Rip 

Now we know how to rip a board with our circular saw you need to make sure you are doing this cutting process in the safest way possible to avoid accidents or damaging the board itself. 

We have bullet pointed our essential safety tips for ripping narrow boards below. 

  • Use protective gear - Wearing protective gear such as goggles, masks and ear protection is essential when operating a circular saw, a piece of wood will create sawdust when rip cut so it is important to protect your lungs.  
  • Operate with two hands - Two hands are needed for rip cutting with a circular saw, failure to do so will lead to instability and you will have a greater chance of producing an inaccurate cut.
  • Ensure the blade is sharp - Trying to cut your narrow board with a dull circular saw blade is not recommended, doing so can damage the blade itself and the saw. Always sharpen your blade beforehand.
  • Inspect the saw - Before operating your circular saw you should make sure the machine is working fine and the blade is operating how it should be. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Ripping Narrow Boards With a Circular Saw

How much does a circular saw cost? 

A decent circular saw model will set you back around £50-£100.

What else can I use for ripping boards? 

Table saws tend to be the best for ripping boards as they provide better accuracy and stability thanks to their table. 

Can I make a rip cut without clamping my workpieces? 

No trying to make a rip cut without clamping your workpieces or guide down is one of the biggest mistakes for skilled woodworkers, your cut will more than likely be inaccurate if you do this.

What are some essential tips for ripping wood?

Some great tips for ripping wood are; using an 8d nail as a third hand by driving it through the board and sawhorse to keep everything stable, making a push block to keep your hands away from the saw and mounting a feather board for even more accurate rips. Feather boards will come in handy if you are trying to make rip cuts for doors or cabinets that need an accurate angle.

Last Words

Overall, ripping narrow boards with a circular saw is not an easy task, but can be achieved if you take the right safety precautions, measure and mark your lines, clamp your work and follow your guide. Always take time before making your cut to find a solid supporting board and make reference cuts to ensure your saw is in the right position.

Elliot

I'm Elliot Higgins the Founder of multiple hardware stores around the UK. I love wood and wood working. Watching a fine piece of pine or cedar turn into a work of art is extremely satisfying. The one thing I love more than woodworking is the toys that we use! On HandyToolsHome.com; we bring you information and reviews on all kinds of tools.

Related Posts

August 28, 2021

Can A Hammer Drill Be Used As A Regular Drill? Here's What You Need To Know..

Is It Possible To Use a Hammer Drill For Regular Drilling? Buying a hammer drill is a great investment if […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

What Is A Circular Saw Used For? Our Guide On The Top Uses in 2021!

What Materials Can You Cut With A Circular Saw - are Some Easier To Cut? Circular saws are a common […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How to Change A Circular Saw Blade? Our Step-By-Step Guide 2021

How Do You Change A Blade On A Circular Saw Without A Lock? All you need to do is to […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Cut Laminate Shelving With A Circular Saw? Our Guide!

Can You Cut Laminate Shelving With a Circular Saw? (Our Step By Step Guide) Cutting laminate veneer particle boards with […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Clean Circular Saw Blades Effectively (& Safely!)

Over time, cutting different materials with your circular saw can cause material build-up from wood and plastic, this leftover debris […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Can You Cut Tile With A Circular Saw? (Without Chipping)

Our Top Guide To Cutting Tile With a Circular Saw Tile material is not the easiest type of material to […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Why Does My Circular Saw Keep Stopping? Some Possible Reasons..

Our Troubleshooting Guide To Why Your Circular Saw Keeps Stopping Even though a circular saw is one of the toughest […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Will A Mitre Saw Cut Metal? Here's Some Things To Know..

Can I Use a Mitre Saw To Cut Metal? (Our Best Guide!) Mitre saws are an excellent tool for woodworking, […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

How To Cut Coving Corners With A Mitre Saw? Our Guide!

Our Best Guide To Cutting Coving Corners With a Mitre Saw The idea of cutting pieces of coving with a […]
No Comments
August 28, 2021

Can You Use A Mitre Saw To Cut Brick? Should You? ...

Is It Possible To Use a Mitre Saw To Cut Brick? If you have a mitre saw at home and […]
No Comments
1 2 3 7

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HandyToolsHome.com

HandyToolsHome.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram