DIY guide bar for a circular saw - detailed instructions

In industrial and home workshops, workers use electrical appliances for different purposes. Various elements are used to process workpieces. They ensure high-quality work.

Circular

Guide bar for circular saw

Thus, the guide bar for a circular saw serves as an additional device for performing smooth, precise cuts.

Sometimes the tool manufacturer sells parts that accompany the main mechanism in a kit. If the tire is missing, it is not difficult to make it with your own hands from available material.

What role does the guide play?

The circular saw guide guides the sliding of the tool along the cutting line and prevents its deflection. The correct design of this part determines the even cut of the workpieces and the absence of defects in the processing areas.

When using a circular saw, the worker controls the movement process.

To comply with safety regulations, he must:

• securely fix the electric saw;
• secure the workpiece.

It is easier to ensure safety and quality of work using the second method. When the parts are not in the package with the saw, you can make them yourself.

Guide bar - what is it?

Before you create such a design yourself, you need to familiarize yourself with its main features.

A guide bar is a special rail that is responsible for sliding the saw forward and backward. At the same time, it limits the movement of the tool and therefore it cannot be directed to the left or right.

This device is used not only to ensure an even cut. It also helps reduce the number of chips in places where the saw came into contact with the wood being cut.

Additional Information! Sometimes guides are included with circular saws from Bosch and Interskol.

How many types of tires does a circular car have?

The circular saw guide not only serves as a safety element, it allows you to increase productivity. Devices of different designs have been developed, they are:

• bilateral;
• one-sided;
• symmetrical;
• asymmetrical.

A universal device is used to process a workpiece of non-standard shape. This guide can be used with a circular saw or a hand saw.

Tires for circular saws

Specialized tires are used when performing professional tasks.

When crossbars are cut at an angle, a textolite or plywood restriction made of bars is installed. Before installing supports, check:

• reliability of clamps;
• tire surfaces for deformation;
• for compliance of the workpiece materials with the guide.

Thrust slats are made of metal or wood. It is important that they are stable under mechanical stress. They did not change their shapes and sizes. Products are used for production from:

• profile;
• rail;
• corners;
• bars.

The structure is attached to the base:

• self-tapping screws;
• screws;
• bolts.

Ruler

There is another stubborn tool - a ruler.

It's quite simple to make from a strip of plywood. The width of the fragment is taken 20 cm more from the working area. And the base is fixed with fastening hardware. Before work you need to check with test cuts:

• tool behavior;
• vibration;
• the level of physical effort required to perform the operation.

Reliable, safe execution of actions depends on the fastenings:

• clamps;
• clamps;
• movable carriage;
• retainers.

These elements fix the workpiece in the required position. The installed limiter prevents the sharp cutting part from deviating from the perpendicular arrangement of the wood fibers.

Additional guide bar functions

Using a guide bar, it is extremely difficult to damage the material being cut.
Such designs have a number of additional functions that you should familiarize yourself with before using a homemade guide bar for a hand-held circular saw:

• protects the sawn material from damage;
• allows you to adjust the exact length of the cut;
• significantly speeds up the process of sawing wood;
• securely fixes the wood to the work surface.

Additional Information! Both branded guides and homemade designs can boast of the above additional functions.

Technical features of homemade devices

The factory guide for a circular saw does not solve all production problems. The manufacturer sets its dimensions, which often do not suit the master in terms of board length or other technical characteristics.

Guide production procedure

If a homemade stop is installed during work processes, take into account:

• size of the workpiece;
• saw feature;
• how often the tool is used.

Exercise control over operations:

• slice lengths;
• productivity and specifics of technology application;
• groove widths;
• according to the cutting directions;
• density of materials.

The carpenter must correctly evaluate the workpiece in terms of size and material of production.

A properly selected tire will simplify the operation with precise cuts.

Guide rail functions

There are several main functions that these structures perform:

• increased accuracy when sawing large materials;
• improved quality when creating a curved cut;
• simplifying the creation of parts in accordance with a certain standard;
• the ability to manufacture several parts using one template;
• increasing safety when using circular saws.

Also, with the help of guides, it will be possible to make cuttings with high accuracy.

What is the use of stops

A self-made guide for a circular saw will save the craftsman from many problems when operating a complex and dangerous tool. Working with the disc is not always carried out exactly along the marked line and without chipping. Whatever the reason for the defect—lack of plumbing skills or experience in handling a saw—everyone wants a result without damaged materials. Arguments proving the benefits of homemade devices:

1. It happens that it is enough to attach the plates with clamps, but not always. The saw will hit the clamps.
2. If you need to make a single cut, you can apply a painting rule, but you will have to constantly check it to adjust the position.
3. A branded guide is used to accurately set the direction along the cutting line; after aligning the strips, the operation begins immediately. High-quality tires have adhesive tape that protects them from chipping. But factory tires are made to limited sizes.

Guide

The name of the guide indicates its purpose - to move the saw smoothly to a given position.

Regardless of what materials the production will be from:

• channel;
• rectangular pipe;
• laminate - it is necessary to create a geometrically correct structure.

Pressed and wooden stops have a significant drawback:

• absorb moisture;
• swell;
• lose their shape.

If they place a loose stop, they create uncomfortable conditions with simultaneous cutting and control of the position of the rail. You need to monitor the force of pressing on the rule so as not to spoil the base.

Advantages of a homemade guide bar

The guide allows you to make straight cuts.
Many people think that homemade splints have no advantages. However, in fact they have a number of advantages:

• ease of use;
• repeated use;
• durability;
• versatility.

Homemade designs also have their drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that they are not easy to make. Therefore, to avoid problems, you need to figure out in advance how to make guides for a circular saw with your own hands.

Preparatory activities

To work, you will need a tool kit with components for assembling and cutting a persistent product. You need to prepare:

• wood blanks for processing;
• solid wood from blocks, dense plywood, laminate boards;
• fasteners made of screws, self-tapping screws;
• electrical appliances – circular saw, jigsaw, drill, screwdriver;
• clamps.

If production is carried out in a home carpentry workshop, there should be a primitive furnishings of a table, cabinets, and electricity.

Useful tips

Blank templates make the work much easier.
There are several useful recommendations that will help beginners use a circular saw with a guide:

• It is necessary to use special blank templates. With their help you can quickly make identical parts.
• Before starting work, you need to adjust and configure everything in advance. Only with a properly configured tool will it be possible to cut wood efficiently.
• Do not work at the circular saw for too long. The tool must be turned off periodically to prevent it from overheating.
• The tire must be securely attached. It must not slide on the work surface. Bolts or screws can be used as fastenings.
• If, during sawing, the circular saw begins to sharply slow down, it must be turned off. This often happens when a tool works continuously for a long time and begins to overheat.

Important! If you need to cut an even cut, you must use a guide. Without it, it is quite difficult to do this.

A circular saw is an indispensable tool that allows you to quickly cut wood products. People who want to do quality work should use special guides. Such designs can be purchased or made independently.

Instructions for production

Different materials for the production of guides require the same attitude. When laminate is being created:

• cut off 2 parts according to the size marks;
• mill the edge;
• fixed to the base with a self-tapping screw;
• Use a sheet of paper to measure the groove in width and screw it to the device;
• A tire is attached to the sole of the saw; it will serve as a side support;
• the guide is extended to the maximum so that the sole steps on it;
• saw off the laminate according to the edge markings.

The circular saw can be equipped with an external carriage

DIY guide

Such a device is not difficult to create, but it absorbs the depth of the cut.

Limiters are also made from the painting rule. A design with grooves and handles is suitable for this:

• The handles are removed from the construction model to install spring clamps in these places; after removing them, the clamp is fixed on the rule;
• propylene is used for adapters, parts are cut out in a special shape to be inserted into the grooves of the handles;
• Hollow recesses are cut out at the base of the adapter for screwing in screws;
• Place the stop on the surface and secure it firmly with a fastening element.

Fixation is carried out to the sheet with grooves located below, so as not to create obstacles for the saw to slide; only the size of the rule can limit the work.

The production of a rail miter box will allow you to cut:

• boards;
• bars;
• small workpieces.

You need to prepare:

• metal corner;
• board or plywood base;
• hardware.

Make markings along the length of the tire with places of fixation. For sizes you need to provide the following conditions:

• free movement of the board under the tire;
• not high arrangement of saw blades.

The structure is secured with bolts with parallel angles so that the sole of the circular can slide freely. This is achieved by gluing fluoroplastic strips, which reduce friction and reduce the force acting on the saw.

Create a device from a finished aluminum profile

Metal lasts much longer than wooden products. In addition, it holds steadily without distortion. For installation you will need:

• profile fragment;
• fasteners;
• plywood sheet.

Additional tools you will need to prepare:

• electric drills, metal drills;
• wrench;
• measuring items.

During production:

• take 2 profiles;
• Aluminum is attached to the plywood on both sides; chipboard is used for rigidity;
• the excess is cut off.

When combining all the work carried out, the following settings are carried out:

• a profile with a smaller cross-section is installed in the rail, the height of which should not absorb the main profile;
• fix the structure with wing screws to the sole of the circular saw parallel to the disk circle;
• the saw should be on top of the guide;
• The edges of the tire are directed to the marking line and secured.

Such limiters ensure smooth sliding of the cutting device and make it easy to operate the saw.

The simplest device can be made from plywood

For proper production, you need to make markings and strictly follow the dimensions without deviations. For this:

• measure the gap between the inner edge of the saw and the guide groove in the longitudinal cut; it is located on the supporting base of the mechanism;
• cut the plywood strip to a width less than the measured distance with the fibers on the material arranged in the longitudinal direction;
• use self-tapping screws to secure the resulting segment to the base, aligning the ends to form the working edge of the guide;
• take a caliper to determine the width in the longitudinal section; the remaining strip should fit here, parallel to the first plate, ensuring a gap between the 2 sheets.

A soft cloth is glued onto the finished tires to protect the working material from damage.

How to adjust correctly

Before you start working, you need to properly adjust the structure. You will have to independently choose the optimal location and point for further fixation.

It is necessary to position the device so that its edge lies flat against the cut line and without distortion. After this, you need to adjust the placement of the saw blade. It must be torn off from the casing and aligned perpendicularly to the cutting line.

When the disk and guides are adjusted, the structure is fixed with clamps. This is done to minimize vibrations that may occur while the saw is running.

Important! To cut wood at an angle of 45 degrees, you will need to adjust the saw blade or adjust the angle on the bar itself. This must be done very carefully to avoid mistakes when adjusting the tilt.

Operation of plywood tire

In addition to the guide, preparation of the saw for work is required. You need to saw off durable material with dimensions:

• height exceeding the depth of the groove;
• equal in width;
• longer than the sole.

Fastening is carried out with the restriction protruding from under the edges of the sole. To carry out the work, you need to take 2 clamps with two flat bars, but larger in thickness than the part prepared for processing. The ends of the tire are installed on the limiter so that they protrude beyond the tabletop. In areas of contact with wooden blocks, the guide is attached to the base of the table.

On the workpiece to be cut, markings are made along the cutting line. It is placed under the guide, the cutting direction and the working edge are aligned. A circular saw with a fixed limit strip is placed on the guide in such a position that the stop on the sole is aligned with the prepared gap. They saw the part, slightly guiding the part, and at the same time press the tool.

The design has proven in practice the high stability of a high-quality cut. For production, a metal I-beam is taken, which is attached to the lower plane of the workbench. The platform moves along the surface on bearings with the lower edges curved into a profile. The outrigger carriage slides freely thanks to bearings, which, due to tight pressing, relieve the structure from lateral play. The extension guide is held by the sole of the cutting tool.

Parallel angles and pipes are used to make a tire. When the sole moves, the cut is adjusted to size. Thanks to the support platform, which fits tightly to the workpiece, the stability of the cutting depth is not compromised.

The manufacturer of circular saw bars must take into account the working conditions, where the rules of use must comply with:

• the mode of use of the saw - the more often the tool is used, the stronger the raw materials for making the guide should be;
• processing parameters - you need to make sure that the disk completely cuts the thickness of the workpiece;
• technical capabilities of the mechanism.

In addition to the guide, quality cutting is affected by:

• condition of the saw and discs;
• position of the support platform.

Blunt disc teeth leave chips on the material. Tires significantly expand the functions of a circular saw, but poor care of the tool nullifies all the capabilities provided by the manufacturer.

Summary

Article Name

Guide bar for circular saw

Description

DIY guide bar for a circular saw

Author

Sarychev Alexander Viktorovich - forensic construction and technical expert, candidate of technical sciences

Publisher Name

Wikipedia of construction tools

Publisher Logo

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« Previous entry

Making a laminate tire

This method of making a carriage for a circular saw with your own hands is the easiest to implement; it uses readily available raw materials.

Required:

• laminate sheet;
• several screws;
• A4 piece of paper.

Three blanks are made from the laminate. One of them will serve as the basis for the guide. The other two are cut in the shape of two strips, each about half a meter long. For both, the edges are aligned on one side using a milling cutter. Using self-tapping screws, the strips are attached to each other parallel to the straight edges. The width of the groove between them is checked using an A4 piece of paper, inserting it into the device and scrolling.

The tire is secured to the base of the circular saw using side support fasteners. If the warranty period of the saw has already expired, for greater reliability of fastening you can use the body of the circular saw by making an additional hole in it.

Before starting work, the homemade guide must be extended in front of the circular saw handle. In this case, it is necessary that the guide is covered by the nose of the sole by several centimeters. For perfect compatibility of the edges of the guide strips with the marks on the material, you need to carefully saw off the uneven strips with a laminate cutting disc.

Applications of Circulating Hand Saws

A hand-held circular saw belongs to the category of hand tools.

Diagram of a circular saw.

The required power and saw blade diameters depend on this parameter. According to the cutting depth, the tool is usually divided into categories:

1. Up to 45 mm – power from 0.8-1.2 kW, disk diameter 130-160 mm;
2. Up to 60 mm – power about 1.8 kW, disk diameter up to 200 mm;
3. More than 60 mm – power more than 2 kW, disc diameter up to 350 mm.

When purchasing a saw, it is advisable to inquire about its capabilities. For example, is it possible to move the disk in a vertical plane, which allows you to start cutting material not necessarily from the edge. It’s good if there is an adjustment of the rotation speed and quick braking of the disk after turning off the tool. Smooth starting is also important for the home electrical network, which significantly reduces the surge current in the network.

Figure 1. Electric saw - this type of saw is well suited for woodworking.

A powerful hand-held circular saw can be attached to the bottom of a table and used as a stationary sawmill with a limited cutting depth. Stationary sawmills necessarily have a guide, with the help of which you can cut, for example, a board, so that its longitudinal edges are parallel and the corners in the cross section are straight.

Cutting large sheets even on a stationary sawmill is inconvenient for one. This problem arises when making furniture yourself, when it is necessary to cut plywood or other material in the form of large sheets. When using a hand-held circular saw in the usual version, it is impossible to cut a sheet exactly along the entire length and with perpendicular edges.

Therefore, when buying a hand-held circular saw, the master also purchases a special device for it, which is a guide rail (guide ruler), which allows you to evenly cut the sheet along the entire length. Image 1 shows one of the guide ruler options.

Manufacturing methods

In the factory, the fence for a circular saw is made mainly of metal. But there are also specimens made of wood. The main condition is that the material should not be deformable. Craftsmen use various raw materials for guides.

Materials for making a tire at home:

• plywood;
• wooden blocks;
• metal corner;
• U-shaped profile;
• rail;
• cross-cut pipe;
• laminate.

The easiest way to make a circular guide is from a pressed standard profile. A workpiece made of both aluminum and magnesium alloys is suitable for work. It is necessary to select a part with an unequal flange angular section. For example, one side will be 70 mm wide and 6 mm thick. The other side of the corner measures 41×10 mm.

Guide with grooves Source gama-alati.rs

Homemade devices

Making a circular saw is not that difficult; problems may arise when fitting the components. Choosing all the elements correctly so that they work flawlessly is an important task. The shaft must have self-adjusting bearings if the unit is used daily. It is best to select the bearings themselves with two rows of balls, which will be adjusted using a clamping nut.

The working surface must have a “grid” marking. Without this coordinate system, accurate woodworking is quite difficult. The protective casing must not be neglected - during operation it reliably protects the device from mechanical damage. A circular saw operates in different modes when working with different materials, so it is advisable to have a device that controls such a process. Several grooves should be made on the shaft so that it is possible to rearrange the pulleys, thus changing the speed.

When you have to saw bars or make several cuts from different directions, you need a stop that has a “P” configuration. At its base lies a board 30 mm thick. Sidewalls 12 mm thick are screwed to the base. Thus, the emphasis is installed on a beam, the size of which from the cutting point corresponds to the size of the cutting disc. On both sides it is pressed against the beam with clamps. If the beam is too massive, then it is rearranged and another cut is made.

There is also an edge stop that is in demand. To make it requires a lot of time and good qualifications of the craftsman. Be sure to make a diagram before starting work. This stop is made from plywood (20 mm), and the stop strip is also made from this material. Manufacturing phases:

• longitudinal grooves for keys are cut;
• the keys are mounted on a thrust strip;
• Another groove is cut between the grooves made to secure the thrust strip;
• another hole is made in the base, its size corresponds to the saw blade of a circular saw;

Sidewalls-limiters are mounted, and there must be clamps in order to securely fasten them. To place the emphasis on the workpiece, the bar moves in the grooves and is fixed through the slot with clamps. It is best to immediately attach a ruler or tape measure to the frame - this makes the work much easier. The pusher is convenient for working with small workpieces - it allows you to fasten the part on both sides, which ensures precision in work

It is also important to do:

• elevator;
• riving knife;
• lifting mechanism.

Capacitors are calculated according to the following scheme: per 1000 watts there are 100 uF for a working type capacitor. The capacity of the starting capacitor must be ordered twice as large. It should be remembered that the SB starting block is a device that automatically returns to its original position. This is very convenient, since literally a few seconds after the start you can begin the workflow.