3 Illegal Circular Saw Tricks.....and a safer way to do them!!!

[@philmccole4309]

When I was in the Navy a guy I was working with jammed the blade guard up with a pencil, made the cut, and put the saw down while it was still spinning. It ran across the deck (unplugging itself on the way) and skittered over the side, into the North Atlantic. So we had to finish the job with a hand saw.

[@jsbmx2039]

Had a guy set one down on a deck and it messed up like 7 boards lol

[@vancouvercarpenter]

😂

[@YoutubeAccountName]

@suspicionofdeceit They might have been made to do it with a hand saw. Lucky they didn't make them use their teeth.

[@dragonstunna]

I like to make a simple knot where the power tool cord plugs into the extension cord , keeps it from unplugging itself when when I yank the cord

[@philmccole4309]

@suspicionofdeceit yup. It was a minesweeper, so they minimized magnetic things that would have to be tossed overboard in the event we had to sweep real mines.

[@stimu_li]

5:04 the ball-chisel alignment here is superb. Truly the best way to become a princess if you aren't one already.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

I noticed that while editing too😂

[@exactlywhatisaid]

came to the comments to say this too 😂

[@HelicopterBill]

What I learned was three illegal circular saw tricks I was never aware of. 😎

[@blue_collar_apologist]

Or needed….

[@tomwild7455]

I was a carpenter's helper one summer in high school, and one old grizzly dude (from whom I learned a ton of stuff) would always jam the guard up. He also liked to clean the sawdust off the newly-sheathed room using the air from the spinning blade. Good times. He also tossed his aluminum square from the roof so he wouldn't have to carry it down the ladder, and drank copious quantities of Budweiser, so there's that.

[@woodendoorsbtw2869]

based

[@mrkraymnd]

This princess loves your examples and alternatives. Rock on

[@surprider13]

Working in construction we've all been called worse things than princess.

[@christianhafferty1652]

Thanks for taking the time to Teach. I have been a carpenter/ general contractor for about 30 Years and I still learn from your videos. Good stuff.

[@Kensdisguise]

"if you're a bit of a princess"...LMAO

[@MrPeach1]

funny watching this video just taught me the unsafe things. I already did all the safe ways and had never thought about wedging a pencil in my guard.

[@davidhuber6251]

I didn't even know skillsaws had rip guides! Thanks for educating me!

[@bretth3718]

The "princess" remark was hilarious! And yup, I'm guilty of everyone one of these bad moves. :-)

[@andreschiriff4354]

I started watching your videos because I needed to learn about drywall mudding and taping. I am an amateur woodworker and this is my first time watching you working on wood "Vancouver Carpenter"🤣

[@JamesBeasley-s3x]

Wtf I was expecting drywall stuff😂😂😂😂. Had no idea of the rip fence. Thanks!!!

[@Will-dt3yg]

I died once when I was five. My mom told me to walk it off! "But, if you are a bit of a princess..." 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks, I NEEDED that laugh!

[@fromthistexasbreath]

Stanley has a 1" butterfly-knife style folding chisel and it's suuuper handy. Keep it in my pouch every day, other dudes always end up asking for it because sometimes a chisel is exactly what you need yet nobody else keeps one on them.

[@okawesome5596]

That is so cool never knew such a thing existed

[@Mr2greys]

In Canada that would be illegal to own. Welcome to our suckitude

[@kd0407]

Good topic for a video. Mastering a circular saw and becoming a bit of a surgeon with it was one of the most useful and employable skills I learned early in my transition to working in the trades (and one of the most enjoyable; I love working with saws). That being said I'd offer a few bits of advice: I've never even bothered to wedge my blade guard open, no matter what cut I'm making. If your guard is in the way learn how to hold your saw steady with one hand while holding the guard back with the other hand throughout the cut. This may seem to be dangerous as you'll be holding a hand near your saw blade, but your hand is never in a place where it's in any real danger (based on the design of this particular tool). Also, I've modified the deck plate pinching technique a bit, mainly just to avoid splinters. Pinch the deck to start the cut and when the full length of the blade is within the cut stop pinching the plate and instead use your finger nails as a moving "rip guide." It takes very little pressure from the guide hand to keep the cut aligned straight. Finally it's VERY important to know the saw you're using. No matter how experienced you are with this type of tool any experienced carpenter would take a few "practice" cuts with a saw they had never used before. All saws have their own nuisances. One or two trial cuts will make for safer and more accurate results. BONUS: I STRONGLY recommend learning how to use this tool equally with either hand, no matter the configuration of the saw itself.

[@fromthistexasbreath]

When using a new saw, I also like to check with a square exactly where the edges of the kerf lines up with the reference notch on the front of the plate, since some are wider or narrower, or either cut dead on or ~1/32 off. So easy to be quick and accurate when you know the relation on a particular saw

[@tomwild7455]

@@fromthistexasbreath I've actually made serviceable half-lap joints in pine 1x4s with a circular saw. We made a quick-'n-dirty bathroom vanity that way one year.

[@leeparsons2954]

Great portable planer idea. It's going to save me soo much time. Thanks.

[@briankowald6465]

Thanks for showing me how to wedge the guard up. I never tried that.

[@travisharms9772]

Wow, jamming the guard never crossed my mind until now. Knowledge leading me astray.

[@jamescook5617]

I love this channel.

[@mc-sp8zr]

If you really feel bad about the Princess comment, then you should own it and intro your next video with "Welcome back to Vancouver Princess" 😂

[@dougabbott8261]

Here is a Circular saw trick. Use hearing protection. How many framers have hearing damage 1 ear?

[@conradcoolerfiend]

team princess 👑🤣

[@jongunnarsteinarsson6578]

Nice, I would watch more of those tips videos

[@jackdawg4579]

finally a good use for those mongrel square carpenters pencils...

[@jthomos21]

Old grandpa 8 fingers approved - be safe around power equipment.

[@fredhubbard7210]

Alternate title: 3 skills you never knew, and are safer not knowing them.

[@DanielDickin]

Damnnnn Ben really calling out @Home RenoVision with all of these 😂

[@robertrumsey6422]

It's always ok to take your time. Awareness of what the hidden part of the blade is doing. A clamped straight edge , marked for offset works great. I originally down voted. Gut reaction ! Please be very conscientious /aware of the blade at all times, Turn off external sti.ullii /cinversations/ pressurees. Other hand only to help brace the saw.and keep the cord away. Be aware if you need to reposition for the work piece to drop safely and forthe dust ur light to obscure the line.. A gentle peace. I love your channel. Initiate carefullness.😊

[@greentjmtl]

Regarding the last one, just cross cut a few more times and you can start to move the blade left and right (with base rested on wood surface) to spit out the thin leftovers, you'll have a very smooth bottom, same as cutting a dado.

[@therealcirclea762]

There is also the much underappreciated technique of _turning the wood on edge_ to set the chisel edge _down and away._ Using the blade like that will work, but there the seating for it is not designed for lateral forces, you know that...

[@greentjmtl]

@@therealcirclea762 True, what I usually do is break most of the leftover with a screwdriver, and the lateral force from what's left probably won't hurt your saw much, if at all.

[@greentjmtl]

@Tekagi You can still do it with wider notch in multiple steps, just make sure you are doing it from a direction that the motor side of your base plate is always resting on uncut wood.

[@greentjmtl]

@Tekagi I've done it too lol, definitely easier if your saw has a wide base plate

[@disillusioned070]

I use that technique a lot especially when using half-laps for fence gates. It works great and saves time.

[@tommycho9068]

Great video. Thanks

[@albertm8576]

Excellent video. I’ve had guys working on my house doing that exact same thing crazy!!!

[@tomsommer54]

Great stuff. Thank you

[@bobnoble9442]

Good chiseling, princess....Thanks for the video!

[@scaldinghotcoffee3206]

Princess. Priceless. Demonetized.

[@SpazoPotato]

Best Carpenter on KZbin! 😄

[@WayneMiller-zx4cv]

Government: how can we make laws on a saw

[@ZeroColdx911]

You can also use a stair gauge to do rip cuts instead and are a lot cheaper than rip fences. Best of all it fits all saws!

[@mrrepurpose9596]

Yes, I did enjoy the video. I've used all of your demonstrated dangerous methods and several more as well. Also used the safer ways to do it. Circular saws are way big fun.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

:)

[@Maxrebow]

According to your ability. I like it

[@WanJae42]

CARPENTRY? Since when did this channel ... oh ... nevermind ...

[@johngrossbohlin7582]

Yeah.... I've seen some sketchy stuff! The absolute worst was a Skill saw (from back when Skill made great tools) that had no guard as it broke off during a fall from a roof. The saw later had a switch in the power cord as the trigger didn't work any more! I finally convinced the user to throw it away and he got a Porter Cable circular saw (back when they were great tools). I keep a late 19th/early 20th century wooden-bodied carpenter's scrub plane in my apron while framing and prepping for rock. The heavy convex iron knocks high spots off, and creates low spots, quickly and safely. I inherited the plane from a union carpenter who worked from the '40s to '70s... it was his union carpenter father's before that... still an excellent tool!

[@zachtoom]

Used my saw as a plane to flatten high spots in the subfloor before flooring. Catching a nail or screw sure is a fun way to stay awake.

[@davedarling6512]

My circ saw now has a 8" long cord from doing this

[@John.Doe-OG]

You missed one. Made (in)famous by Jeff Thorman (sp) on Home Renovision DIY. ... Using your leg as a saw horse.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

But that’s just a bad idea. The other three are only risky in inexperienced hands. Having one of the largest arteries of your body within striking distance of kickback is silly.

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

Thank you for contributing to my bag of bad tricks! 😂

[@ST-0311]

Never assume the guard snaps back into place even without wedging it open. My BiL cut his thigh open when a piece of decking board stuck between the blade and the guard. Not noticing it was stuck open he rested the exposed blade on his thigh. I climbed down from the roof and took him to the ER for stitches. That was a nasty looking cut for sure. Also the saw made a track across 5 installed decking boards when he dropped it. Not a good day.

[@judih.8754]

But what if I am a Princess?? 😂 unfortunately my chisels are never sharp enough!

[@fredeschen3783]

If you don’t have a clamp you can nail the piece of lumber to the building or sawhorse or stack of lumber. Then cut it.

[@darrellsharp7277]

Tall stair gauges on a circular saw for small rips work well.

[@claytonwindham]

Liked this video because of the princes comment! You are the man! (Get it? haha)

[@cgschow1971]

I worked on a framing crew for a summer before my senior year. Every saw had the guards physically removed. You learn real quick to always set it on its side after a cut. I still do it to this day out of habit with any saw. OSHA enforcement back then must have been very lax. I still pin up guards in certain situations. They can get in the way and start binding during the cut.

[@chriswest1996]

Yeesh. Enough to make one's blood run cold...and I've done the first and third...but never the second.

[@jsbmx2039]

Had a bad guard on a saw once. It didn’t retract and dude set the saw in the trex decking and that saw went running when it hit the floor. That was an expensive mistake lol

[@SpringRubber]

I can totally see that happening!

[@robertroy8803]

Wait, I'm confused. Why is there carpentry on this drywall channel? :) Nice to see you getting back to some wood!

[@MrMalzers]

Thank you

[@AVBros37]

We called it “pinning the guard” in SoCal and practically every carpenter did it lol

[@nmatthew7469]

I actually learned these from the essential craftsman.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

It’s because they are essential tips when your framing ;)

[@jedgeco]

Me too--the "Polish plane" 🤣

[@robertalexander-bk5zj]

Never wedged but a prior cheap boss liked to not repair tools. About midday i forgot to manually reset the warped guard before i set the saw down. It rolled right back across my boot. I had steel toes so i still have toes. Wear your PPE people.

[@MattGupto-ui2mw]

What work shoes are you wearing in this ?

[@devondrayton4006]

I don’t stop the saw every time when making relief cuts. I just let it run and keep making cuts.

[@ltridge504]

Every guard is chocked, just like every gun is loaded. As a carpenter, I've seen a few close friends nearly hack their leg off by being complacent and not realizing that a chunk of their cut had just wedged the guard. As a firefighter, I've made numerous runs on people who were cleaning and "unloaded" gun and it went off. Moral of the story is respect what you're working with and don't exceed your competency level.

[@alistermunro7090]

Everything that helps me stay attached to my fingers is good....

[@ddacombe4752]

hahahaha excellent, advertising dangerous ways of doing things and nice that you added the safer approach. When I was in England I also used a circular saw in pouring rain running the risk of slip hazards and electrocution...not advisable but i got away with it

[@toydoctor0226]

If you're going to rip cut using your finger as a guide, use your fingernail, not the fleshy part of your finger. A nice, deeply embedded boat tail-shaped splinter of OSB, followed by hand surgery and a $3,000 bill, taught me that one. And they wouldn't even let me keep the splinter as a memento!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Ouch!!!!

[@fabianhoward121]

Electrical tape prevents splinters

[@EdwardGill-i1j]

I was wondering if the damaged power cord counted as a bonus illegal trick....... Sorry...... I couldn't resist.

[@patrickflannery1143]

i never understood the rip guide Duh Thanks for the tip

[@PProph]

I have 2 circular saws and I don't think either came with that handy little rip guide. Now I'm going to go check if they have and I'm just an idiot. (I always draw a line or use a guide anyways.)

[@jamess1787]

Why didn't I see this earlier! I was just using a circular saw to plunge cut and old rotten wooden platform.

[@scottdecoster4002]

Ahh but can you use the saw to open your lunch time beer?

[@stewartfrye]

Your techniques are 50% right, but there are still better ways to be safe, after 45 years I'm sure of it.

[@SILVERK5]

#4, which in my mind should be #1: Using your foot as a support to cut a piece of wood...

[@EricBanner571]

Most accidents happen when trying to save a few minutes or cutting corners. My rule of thumb is "Don't put your fingers where you wouldn't put your penis".

[@joehudson5284]

Princess 😂😂😅😅😅❤❤

[@tchevrier]

I'm surprised you don't have the ole hold the piece of wood with one hand against your leg and cut it.

[@slovinstienwanderer6768]

It's safe so obviously not.

[@tchevrier]

@@slovinstienwanderer6768 lol. sure

[@davewarren6359]

Ben making carpentry videos?

[@darwinbodero7872]

Illegal in Canada maybe. In the U.S. these are constitutionally protected

[@HotspotsSoutheast]

Juggling power saws is also not recommended.

[@susanwayne3333]

❤

[@magnumbull]

Lmao @ the princess comment!

[@peterbelisle7768]

You left out the one where you hold the guard back and spin the blade to clear saw dust off the roof deck.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

Honesty is not acceptable these days.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

😂

[@YoutubeAccountName]

Instead of using your finger at the front of the saw, just put a small clamp. It'll do the exact same job as the finger, except you won't cut yourself. I think I've learned more illegal stuff than legal stuff in this video. 🤣

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Forgot about the clamp one

[@paulmoffatt3991]

but its a Dewalt

[@toolhack6816]

Why is he working on a tennis court? Looks like it's probably not his property.

[@trystdodge6177]

Not bad! However, I was extremely offended about the princess remark, report, and unsub Doesn't Canada execute people for that sort of thing?

[@johnrap7203]

Yes, they do. But they're sorry about it.

[@natethegr8230]

Death by hocky puck.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

😂

[@vancouvercarpenter]

😂

[@Tyler-sv4sw]

Wow your super smart

[@twn5858]

Pretty spooky. Hopefully a cop doesn't watch this video and lock you in a concrete box for what you've done.

[@AlainStar]

🙏👏👍💪

[@chrisfelone9500]

I’m still wondering how I follow this guy and the skateboard alternate universe twin guy simultaneously 😂

[@vancouvercarpenter]

🙂❤️

[@mreinecker]

I’m a pro carpenter of the 10th level I just can’t prove it because I’m a fat mess and I’m stuck in my bedroom, I don’t fit thru doors anymore

[@mikesproject4704]

being PC is over rated.

[@davidhale8034]

1 min and I'm already twisting away from the screen.

[@Drewcipher5150]

Can we stop calling a sidewinder, a skil saw? Skil is a brand not a type of saw.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Probably not. See “sawzall” for reference.

[@kickyourfaceandlaugh607]

I tried carrying a chisel on me but it was dead weight 90% of the time. The hammer is a chisel for framing.

[@badmotherhumper]

Wheres the mudd?

[@SamMEtravels]

"Oh that was probably so not PC to say that" Hahaha But great quick vid!

[@vicz3719]

30+ years experience and I got one of my fingers last summer. I didn't lose it, but it took some time to put it back together. So now when I hand that saw to people I say, "watch out that one bites" 😂

[@dhammer5645]

Using the saw as a planer tends to be hard on the blade and can warp the blade or the arbour of the saw as well. I still did it though when I was a framer.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

It’s because you just have to sometimes. Plywood over steel beams anyone?

[@cbrooks0905]

Looking like the most carpentery drywaller on KZbin, eh?