Cutting 2x2" timber

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Funny - I would have suggested a jigsaw if a powertool had to be used. I have used mine for tens of tons of firewood. Far, far safer than a 7 1/4" circular (horrible things :evil: )
I wouldn't wear a mask outdoors - but then, just for sawing softwood with jigsaw I wouldn't wear one indoors either.
 
marcros":260jscfj said:
i would use a normal handsaw for this task.
phil.p":260jscfj said:
7 1/4" circulars are loathsome things. Use a handsaw - more accurate, safer and easier. :D As above, you've probably altered the depth of cut when it kicked back.
WellsWood":260jscfj said:
So would I. A hand held circular saw is entirely the wrong tool for the job of small crosscuts like this - dangerous, noisy, dusty, and less accurate than a £6 jack saw from B&Q/Wickes etc.
beech1948":260jscfj said:
Yup. Cheap hardpoint hand saw from Wickes/B&Poo etc. There is no need to use power saws on such small sections because the hand saw is faster, cheaper and simpler. Cost about £7 to £9.

Another vote for handsaw from me. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but in my opinion a circular saw is not the tool for the job (nor a jigsaw). A handsaw is just as quick if not quicker, and much safer.
 
Juliekeensnapper":1zk3qtw6 said:
I'm not new to power tools, I've been using drills and jigsaws for decades (previously I would have cut the 2x2 with a jigsaw!)

I do use ear and eye protection, but not a dust mask as I'm cutting outdoors, do you think I should still wear one?

Thanks for your concern for my safety

Ah OK. Hard to tell over the Internet sometimes. And I'm as far from an expert as you could get BTW! Hope I didn't sound patronising.
It's a bit of common I spose using a mask outside. And a jigsaw makes far less dust than a chopsaw as Phil says. Bit of a breeze, cutting softwood.... your choice. I've certainly done (do) it. I used to spend hours cutting stone with a grinder in ma youff. Dustmask was (sometimes) a t shirt tied round my face. Just madness and the infallibility of the young and daft.
For the few odd cuts... I probably wouldn't lets be honest.
But if I was lining up to do a load of cuts with a chopsaw. One after the other then, Yeh. Why not? Takes no time to put one on. A cheap dust mask costs pennies. No substitute for a decent one before I start a mask debate. Far better than not wearing one at all.
If you want to start looking at better quality ones without breaking the bank, there's plenty of threads on here just search. I use a trend airshield (edit. No i dont ihave a trend air ace) and it's fantastic in my book at least.
Or you could buy a pair of gloves and a handsaw lol. New saw will tear through it like butter. And after a 100 cuts you'll have new godlike saw skills.
:wink:
 
phil.p":rvi2zahw said:
Incidentally - you say you've a hundred to cut - if they're the same length take five minutes to make a jig - it'll save marking them all out.
Well, if you're making a jig, then why not include some kind of guiderail and carry on with your circular saw - provided you can get it to cur full depth, of course.

I'd agree that it's not the ideal tool for the job, but 100 off with a handsaw - no thanks!

HTH Pete
 
phil.p":8uyzpi7y said:
Funny - I would have suggested a jigsaw if a powertool had to be used. I have used mine for tens of tons of firewood. Far, far safer than a 7 1/4" circular (horrible things :evil: )
I wouldn't wear a mask outdoors - but then, just for sawing softwood with jigsaw I wouldn't wear one indoors either.

I struggled to get a straight edge with a jig saw, I hoped a circular saw running along a straight edge would be better, and I think it would have been (for me) if it would cut all the way through
 
Bm101":2iiw1mru said:
Juliekeensnapper":2iiw1mru said:
I'm not new to power tools, I've been using drills and jigsaws for decades (previously I would have cut the 2x2 with a jigsaw!)

I do use ear and eye protection, but not a dust mask as I'm cutting outdoors, do you think I should still wear one?

Thanks for your concern for my safety

Ah OK. Hard to tell over the Internet sometimes. And I'm as far from an expert as you could get BTW! Hope I didn't sound patronising.
It's a bit of common I spose using a mask outside. And a jigsaw makes far less dust than a chopsaw as Phil says. Bit of a breeze, cutting softwood.... your choice. I've certainly done (do) it. I used to spend hours cutting stone with a grinder in ma youff. Dustmask was (sometimes) a t shirt tied round my face. Just madness and the infallibility of the young and daft.
For the few odd cuts... I probably wouldn't lets be honest.
But if I was lining up to do a load of cuts with a chopsaw. One after the other then, Yeh. Why not? Takes no time to put one on. A cheap dust mask costs pennies. No substitute for a decent one before I start a mask debate. Far better than not wearing one at all.
If you want to start looking at better quality ones without breaking the bank, there's plenty of threads on here just search. I use a trend airshield and it's fantastic in my book at least.
Or you could buy a pair of gloves and a handsaw lol. New saw will tear through it like butter. And after a 100 cuts you'll have new godlike saw skills.
:wink:

I accept that a handsaw might be the best solution, maybe I'm just making excuses as I like playing with power tools :)
 
phil.p":xy09vhkt said:
Incidentally - you say you've a hundred to cut - if they're the same length take five minutes to make a jig - it'll save marking them all out.

I'm cutting to about five different lengths, I think rigging some jigs up might be good
 
I bought my cheapo guild mitre saw today, I'll have a play with it tomorrow, I've always wanted one but was put off by how large and difficult to store they are, but mine looks quite small,,not at all intimidating, I'll have a lot of T&G cladding to cut too, so hopefully it should be good for that as well.
 
I've just made some test cuts and it's fantastic ( I guess I'm easily impressed lol )

I breed and show Guinea pigs as a hobby and I'm getting a new large shed and I'm building 14 cages to go in there, I know 2x2 is overkill for making Guinea pig cages, but I managed to get a huge quantity very cheap at a local wood auction, I'm trying to keep the costs down by getting inexpensive wood and improvising a bit.

After that I want to extend my cats outdoor enclosure that is attached to the house, so 2x2 will be great for that.
 
how precise and how much do you need to cut?
If it's within 2mm and I can live with the angle not being fully 90degrees always and don't need to saw a lot I use my trustee Irwin ''disposable'' handsaw , costs like 9euros and is way faster than to turn on the mitre saw as well..
if I need more precise, Good old mitre saw.
 
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