What Is the Difference Between a Circular Saw & a Sliding Saw?

Found in sawmills and wood shops, radial arm saws are among the largest sliding saws. Characterized by disc-shaped blades, circular saws and sliding saws appear among many building trades and apply to a variety of woodworking and construction projects. Construction professionals generally use the term circular saw to refer to a portable power tool and the term sliding saw to refer to a bench tool or stationary shop equipment. A comparison of the cost, cutting capabilities and applications of both types of saws allows you to choose the right tool for your project.

An indispensable carpentry and general construction tool, the portable circular saw accepts both toothed blades and abrasive blades. Toothed circular saw blades are usually used in woodworking projects, particularly framing carpentry. Abrasive blades cut through either metal or masonry materials. Portable circular saw blade diameters range from roughly 3 inches to 9 inches, but the most common blade diameter is 7 1/4 inches. The portable circular saw's blade protrudes from a flat, bottom-mounted plate. The saw is typically powered by an electric motor, is lightweight and easy to maneuver, making it ideal for cutting across flat pieces of lumber.

The term sliding saw typically refers to a radial arm saw or sliding compound miter saw. Unlike portable circular saws, sliding saws are usually stationary tools, mounted to a bench or available as a stand-alone, floor-mounted piece of shop equipment. Often 1 foot or more in diameter, sliding saw blades are substantially larger than portable circular saw blades. Regardless of type, all sliding saw blades mount to a rail system that allows the blade to extend outward from the tools' motor housing and base. While the sliding saw base's position remains fixed, the rail-mounted blade typically extends 10 inches or more toward the operator.

Portable circular saws quickly perform on-site cuts through large materials, such as sheets of plywood or existing walls. Sliding saws remain stationary and, despite rail systems that allow sliding saws to cut through wide lumber, sliding saws cannot cut sheet goods, existing walls or floors. Alternatively, most sliding saws feature miter and bevel adjustment capabilities, allowing carpenters to create accurate angled cuts through rough planks and finish materials such as molding and fascia.

Although both sliding saws and circular saws accept a variety of blades, the buildup that results from cutting masonry and metal often damages standard sliding saws. Alternatively, tool manufacturers design standard circular saws to handle a variety of materials, including wood, metal and masonry. Importantly, portable circular saws are generally too weak to handle prolonged or deep cutting through metal and masonry materials.

Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images; Read Next:

View the original article here