HELP: trying to cut a 2x4 with a circular saw ..

One problem I've had with my old B&D saw is the safety guard sometimes
doesn't rotate up. This will keep the saw from advancing through the
wood. You may have to move the guard by hand. Also make sure the blade
is sharp and not turned backwards.
Gary

[email protected] (Ajit Joshi) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I am trying to cut a 2x4 with a black&decker circular saw (13 amp, 7
> 1/4 blade) and the blade just stops spinning while cutting through the
> 2x4 a little bit. It looks like it is getting stuck?? The blade I am
> using is the one that came with the saw (I believe about 12 teeth and
> was rated for cutting wood. Does the blade get stuck because of the
> pitch of the teeth or because the motor is a 13 amp motor? When it
> gets stuck, the motor is still running (ofcourse, I turned it off
> before it burnt). Did anyone else have the same experience?
>
> Thanks in advance guys.
>
> -ajit

One other thing to try. It is possible that you're not following a
straight enough line and the blade is binding (getting sort of wedged
in a non straight cut). Try clamping a piece of wood to the 2x4 to act
as a guide to run the base of the saw against to keep it cutting in a
straight line and prevent any binding.

Charles Lerner

Ajit Joshi wrote:

> I am trying to cut a 2x4 with a black&decker circular saw (13 amp, 7
> 1/4 blade) and the blade just stops spinning while cutting through the
> 2x4 a little bit. It looks like it is getting stuck?? The blade I am
> using is the one that came with the saw (I believe about 12 teeth and
> was rated for cutting wood. Does the blade get stuck because of the
> pitch of the teeth or because the motor is a 13 amp motor? When it
> gets stuck, the motor is still running (ofcourse, I turned it off
> before it burnt). Did anyone else have the same experience?
>
> Thanks in advance guys.
>
> -ajit

If the motor is still running and the blade is not turning the blade is
loose. Tighten the bolt holding the blade.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

Thank you all for your advice. As many of you suspected, it was the
loose blade case and worked like a charm when I tightened the bolt.
It is my first time using a circular saw, thus the troubles.

I am trying to finish my basement myself, so I probably will post lot
more questions here. Thanks again for the responses.

-ajit

Any circular saw using just about any blade should do the job. The only
reason I can think of for that to happen is that you are doing something
wrong. Cocking the saw after the cut has started, having the stock resting
in such a way the kerf is closing and binding the blade, that sort of thing.

--
Mike G.
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Ajit Joshi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am trying to cut a 2x4 with a black&decker circular saw (13 amp, 7
> 1/4 blade) and the blade just stops spinning while cutting through the
> 2x4 a little bit. It looks like it is getting stuck?? The blade I am
> using is the one that came with the saw (I believe about 12 teeth and
> was rated for cutting wood. Does the blade get stuck because of the
> pitch of the teeth or because the motor is a 13 amp motor? When it
> gets stuck, the motor is still running (ofcourse, I turned it off
> before it burnt). Did anyone else have the same experience?
>
> Thanks in advance guys.
>
> -ajit

On some Circular saws if one or both of the blade washers are reversed the
blade bolt will not fasten the blade between them tightly & under load of
cutting the blade stops & allows the shaft & motor to run...not a big
problem, just put the washers on right. See if when you tighten the blade
bolt it snugs up firmly followed by a quarter turn to tighten at most.

Sometimes the use of a TK blade (thin kerf) can give you that problem if the
blade washers are designed to hold a standard thickness blade.

If the cutting brings everything to a standstill...probably accompanied with
kickback, then it could be that the lumber is not supported properly & is
binding / pinching the blade, even a 2X4 has enough strength to do that,
make sure the weight of the unsupported part is lightly supported while
cutting.

Other than that if the motor is still running but the blade stops then there
could be damage to the yoke / gear / spindle assembly...does it sound rough
& noisy?

Even an inexpensive circular should go through 2X4s with ease when supported
properly & using a half decent blade properly tightened in place.


--
© Jon Down ®
http://www.stores.ebay.com/jdpowertoolcanada

> > I am trying to cut a 2x4 with a black&decker circular saw (13 amp, 7
> > 1/4 blade) and the blade just stops spinning while cutting through the
> > 2x4 a little bit. It looks like it is getting stuck?? The blade I am
> > using is the one that came with the saw (I believe about 12 teeth and
> > was rated for cutting wood. Does the blade get stuck because of the
> > pitch of the teeth or because the motor is a 13 amp motor? When it
> > gets stuck, the motor is still running (ofcourse, I turned it off
> > before it burnt). Did anyone else have the same experience?
> >
> > Thanks in advance guys.
> >
> > -ajit

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Ajit Joshi) wrote:
>Thank you all for your advice. As many of you suspected, it was the
>loose blade case and worked like a charm when I tightened the bolt.
>It is my first time using a circular saw, thus the troubles.
>
>I am trying to finish my basement myself, so I probably will post lot
>more questions here. Thanks again for the responses.
>
You might think about posting to alt.home.repair as well.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

On 29 Oct 2003 19:42:34 -0800, Ajit Joshi <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am trying to cut a 2x4 with a black&decker circular saw (13 amp, 7
> 1/4 blade) and the blade just stops spinning while cutting through the
> 2x4 a little bit. It looks like it is getting stuck?? The blade I am
> using is the one that came with the saw (I believe about 12 teeth and
> was rated for cutting wood. Does the blade get stuck because of the
> pitch of the teeth or because the motor is a 13 amp motor? When it
> gets stuck, the motor is still running (ofcourse, I turned it off
> before it burnt). Did anyone else have the same experience?
>
> Thanks in advance guys.
>

Double-check that the blade is installed correctly. Sounds like it may
be reversed on the arbor. DAMHIKT.

Are you by any chance using a ripping-only blade? 12 teeth is not much,
even on a 7" saw? Is the blade in good shape and sharp? Its not about what
you are doing wrong, its about what's wrong with the equipment. Any
circular saw, no matter how cheap should cut a 2x4.

Oh, I just realized I assumed you were cross-cutting. Are you trying to
rip? That's a different story. Do you have your work well supported? Maybe
you need to insert a spreader behind the cut so it won't bind the blade. Any
saw can get bound up when ripping and the board is twisty and not supported
well.

Bob

"Ajit Joshi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am trying to cut a 2x4 with a black&decker circular saw (13 amp, 7
> 1/4 blade) and the blade just stops spinning while cutting through the
> 2x4 a little bit. It looks like it is getting stuck?? The blade I am
> using is the one that came with the saw (I believe about 12 teeth and
> was rated for cutting wood. Does the blade get stuck because of the
> pitch of the teeth or because the motor is a 13 amp motor? When it
> gets stuck, the motor is still running (ofcourse, I turned it off
> before it burnt). Did anyone else have the same experience?
>
> Thanks in advance guys.
>
> -ajit