Circular saw, pendulum saw or sabre saw - which do I need?

Whether you have a small workshop and woodworking is a hobby or you're a householder who does just about everything around the house, having a tool to cut wood is more than a hobby, it's a necessity. Given the plethora of hand-held power tools, few stick to the old hand saw in favor of the electric version. For sawing wood, there are circular saws, pendulum saws and sabre saws. Assuming you can't afford to buy all three - we all know that a good tool isn't exactly cheap - which one should you choose to handle most of your wood-cutting jobs? What is each one suitable for and what could it be substituted for?

About the Electric Circular

A circular is a powerful saw used to cut solid wood or wood-based panels to the desired dimensions. It only makes straight cuts, in the straight-line sense, and cannot be used to cut curved lines. Can make angled cuts as far as the disk can be tilted. Maximum inclination is 45°. It is suitable for cutting component parts to make a piece of furniture, cutting wood for flooring or for a decorative wall.

Cutting is done with a rotating disk with sharp teeth. As the disk spins, the teeth penetrate the wood and cut it. This circular motion gives the tool its name. To cut safely, the circular saw must sit on a stable table or other fixed and secure support. You should not hold the workpiece with one hand and the circular saw with the other because the cuts will not be of good quality and the risk of injury is very high.

To make quality, clean-looking cuts, a few rules must be followed:

• cutting depth and angle are adjusted before cutting starts
• mark the cutting line with a pencil or marker
• the piece will be cut face down to obtain a clean, smooth cut
• the disk is first started idling and allowed to spin until it reaches full speed. Only then does it enter the wood. Finally, the disk is removed from the wood only after it has come to a complete stop.
• During cutting, move slowly along the marked line. This prevents the disk from jamming
• Over time the disk will need to be sharpened. The teeth should be sharpened evenly. Sharpening should not be delayed to avoid poor quality cuts.

What is a pendulum? When do we use it?

A pendulum saw is a useful tool for both a carpenter and a handy householder. It's an electric tool that cuts with a serrated blade that has an up-and-down motion. It's a saw with which you can cut curved lines, something you can't do with a circular saw. It can be used to cut patterns or cut precise curved lines in wood, plywood or other wood-derived boards. That's not to say that it can't also make all kinds of straight cuts.

The pendulum can be used to cut wood, but also plastic or metal. While it is the power of the machine that determines what type of material is cut and how thick it is, the fineness of the cut depends on the type of blade. A blade with a lower number of teeth/cm is very well suited for coarser cuts, such as lumber. Blades with a higher number of teeth/cm produce finer cuts. Blades with small teeth and though teeth make very precise curved cuts, while those with very though teeth cut very tight curved lines.

The speed at which the blade moves is also important. If the speed is very high and the blade very fine, the wood can burn. It is therefore good to find the best combination of blade type and working speed so that you get smooth and accurate cuts without burned edges.

Sword saw: how it works, uses

The saber saw is the builder's or householder's tool. It works very much like a pendulum saw but is easier to handle. The blade is also used to cut with a reciprocating blade, in this case horizontally. The shape of the tool allows the user to use it at difficult angles, in tight spaces or at floor level. It is easy to control when making cuts from awkward positions (from a ladder) or overhead cuts.

It's a powerful tool that can be used for cutting wood, metal and aluminum (nails, spikes, pipes) or PVC. With specially treated and coated blades it can even cut stone.

It can be used in the yard to clear trees of dry brush or to cut branches. It is useful when remodeling or doing demolition in the home, being easy to maneuver and able to get into the most difficult and awkward places. Because of its maneuverability, it is the perfect tool for cutting pexal or other plastic or not-so-hard material pipes when replacing them.

Sword saw and pendulum seem very similar. Why would you need both?

While the pendulum is used to cut curved lines or cut out various shapes, the saber saw is a rougher tool used for tough jobs like cutting door frames or window frames when remodeling or demolition.

The pendulum is a tool you don't use every day, but if you need to cut a circle on a kitchen worktop or cut out a pattern with it, you'll do it best.

But the saber saw is the tool you may need every day if you're the homemaker type or if you're planning to change windows, modify a door or attic attic. With it you can cut through wood as well as nails or spikes, get into hard-to-reach places or cut from awkward positions. It's useful if you have pipes to replace, but also if you have trees in the garden to clear.

So how do I choose?

I choose according to what I have to do. If the hobby is to craft some small furniture then a circular and pendulum is needed. The circular is powerful and accurate, but doesn't cut curves, a problem you can solve with the pendulum. If you only have to buy one tool then the pendulum is the choice. With it you can also cut straight, even if it takes longer. And if it's a hobby you certainly won't need to cut very big or very thick boards so you need the power.

For the householder type, who still builds, changes doors, windows or remodels interiors, the choice is the saber saw. Even though you have less control and precision compared to other types of saws, it's efficient and versatile.

And if, of all the types, you have to choose just one, most crafters recommend the pendulum when it comes to hobby activities, DIY projects and housework. Whatever your choice I wish you good luck. Good luck!