Not bad, and now there is slightly more strength for the concrete top, them fine X’s aren’t just for looks!! The blade is set to the same measurement as your depth, so 1 1/2″ for this project. First let's look at making dado cuts with circular saw. You will cut most raw wood materials with a circular saw. There are high powered precision advanced saws made for experienced carpenters. How to Use Flour to Keep Pests Off Plants, https://todayshomeowner.com/team/joe-truini/, Measure the width and thickness of the wood, Mark a square line the same distance from the end of the board as the board is wide, Use a circular saw, with the blade depth set at half the thickness of the board, to cut on that line, Then make additional cuts every 1/8 inch or so out to the end of the board (this is the waste wood), Use a hammer to break out the bulk of the waste wood and a wood chisel to scrape out the rest and smooth out the cut, When you have done this with both pieces of wood they can be overlapped to create a tight interlocking joint. Ever since I first drew a sketch for this table, I knew two things: one was that I wanted a round concrete top on it. All rights reserved. Here are a few tips to make an easy half-lap joint: Used technique on very wide deck gate. Once I had the legs in place, I was able to hold my 2x2s up to the frame and draw the lines of where they needed to be cut. The versatile power circular saw is ideal for carpenters because of the types of cuts they want to make. Starting on one marked side of your board, and making small cuts over and over across the board until you get to your other mark is all you have to do! Sheesh! I also did have to remove my riving knife to make these cuts, if you are not comfortable doing this you may want to try creating half lap joints by one of the other ways I mentioned above! Measuring is one of the most important parts to getting your joints just right! You need the depth and width spot on. on Jan 27, 2010. Using plans or information found on SawdustGirl.com indicates that you agree with the Terms of Use policy and will accept full responsibility for the process and outcome of any project you attempt. Once they have been ran through the table saw, you have your two boards ready to lap each other and create an X! It is just the confidence boost I need to just jump in with both feet and try! Have you tried any new woodworking joints or methods recently? Take them apart and this is what you have! I don’t see how you could have added all that to your post and I want you to know this blog is fantastic. But the nature of a circular saw makes it a little more challenging to cut at an angle. Thank you. Shop Tip Not all half-laps or notches require a 90° cut, but you can manage any joint angle quickly and easily with a modified version of the 90° jig. I cut both pieces at the same time, this was a method that I thought would work so great, but ultimately it didn’t lead to any greater outcome than if I would have cut them separately. Lol! This is the easiest circular saw joint that you can make with a circular saw. You don’t need to stick with 90-degree angles when you are cutting these joints. To find the depth, you just want to cut half way through the board, since my board was 3″, I marked the boards at 1 1/2″. You can use a router, a circular saw or even your miter saw to accomplish great joints! Boom! You may not have tried this method before. We hope that we have been able to help you find new ways to use your saw to make circular saw joints. Although it is my intention to provide accurate plans and clear instructions, not all plans have been tried and tested. Joe Truini is a seasoned contractor, accomplished author and hosts Simple Solutions on Today’s Homeowner TV. This power tool that can perform most kinds of cut, a circular saw is a perfect option. Place a sacrificial board against the miter saw fence, with the face flat (as seen in the video below). I always worried about kickbacks and pulling a board back through a turning blade can do that if the board has shifted slightly. Try not to laugh at my rusty ole’ chisel! Once you cut your kerfs into the wood, you can remove them by hand chisel and a hammer to make it easier. Next use a chisel or flexible hand saw (I think they are actually called flush cut saws) to smooth the inner surface of any leftover pieces. We will look at this information and give you the facts. The scrap piece will push your board out so that the miter … They are cut in such a way so that the pieces are joined without adding height. Well, one of the X’s is just for looks because as much as I wanted to lap and interlock it with this X, my brain couldn’t even begin to figure that out, so the second one looks good but doesn’t add any strength! Note: I was checking the height of the blade without the saw even being plugged in. We are going to be taking a look at how you can cut a joint with a circular saw. It is interesting to compare the work of two different carpenters doing the same job. You will cut most raw wood materials with a circular saw. We aren’t quite done yet! I use a lot of pocket holes in my projects and I am comfortable with them, but I knew they weren’t going to be a good fit for this project! It was mighty cold for this Texas girl, so all building was brought inside for a few days, which essentially has turned into months! Subscribe today for exclusive content & tips in your inbox! I started building the table base so I could get an accurate measurement for the boards that would create the X. Alright, with the saw set up and ready to go, cutting can commence! The boards for the X are cut the same as the previous boards, only the blade is lowered since this board is only 1 1/2″, the blade is set at 3/4″ and the miter gauge is changed to the angle you are cutting. You form a biscuit joint between two wooden pieces gluing a wooden disk in adjacent slots. An easier method is using a combination square. Can’t wait to see you there! Hobbyists and carpenters have some freedom when it comes to accomplishing their task. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I then took them out to the table saw and using the lines, I was able to determine the angle! I used the table saw to cut my half laps, but there are several ways you can accomplish half laps if you don’t have a table saw. First, I must confess that shamefully I am someone who will get so excited to try something new…only to quickly talk myself out of it, and put it off. Some saws may not work at the low RPM required to cut through dense materials without burning out the motor. A wee bit backwards but it works! Hey there Sawdust Girl Friends! For those reasons a circular saw is often one of the first tools that a carpenter will get their hands on. You need the depth and width spot on. In woodworking most people will use for them in their tasks. A circular saw lacks the required precision when cutting the connecting slot. Here are a few tips to make an easy half-lap joint: Measure the width and thickness of the wood; Mark a square line the same distance from the end of the board as the board is wide; Use a circular saw, with the blade depth set at half the thickness of the board, to cut on that line