Choosing your power saw....
Circular Saw
A circular saw is a versatile handheld power saw with a rotating blade, perfect for making straight cuts in wood, sheet materials, and plastics. It’s ideal for jobs like trimming timber, cutting plywood, and general construction work. Great for quick, clean, and accurate cuts when working on-site or at home.
Best for: Fast, straight cuts in wood and sheet materials.
Mitre Saw
A mitre saw is designed for making precise crosscuts and angled cuts in wood, ideal for cutting mouldings, frames, and skirting boards. The saw blade is mounted on a swing arm that pivots left or right to produce angled cuts.
Best for: Cutting perfect angles for trim, frames, and finishing work.
Compound & Sliding Mitre Saw
A compound mitre saw can tilt (bevel) as well as pivot, allowing both angled and bevel cuts — great for complex joints like crown moulding. A sliding compound mitre saw adds a sliding arm, increasing the cutting width so you can cut through wider boards and timbers.
Best for: Wider, deeper cuts and precise angled work in wood or MDF.
Plunge Saw
A plunge saw (or track saw) is built for accurate, splinter-free cuts along guide rails. It’s ideal for cutting kitchen worktops, doors, and sheet materials with precision. Unlike circular saws, the blade plunges directly into the material, allowing start-and-stop cuts anywhere on the board.
Best for: Perfectly straight, smooth cuts in panels, flooring, and worktops.
Jigsaw
A jigsaw uses a small, fast up-and-down blade for cutting curves, shapes, and intricate patterns in wood, metal, or plastic. It’s lightweight and easy to control, making it ideal for detailed or curved cuts that other saws can’t achieve.
Best for: Curved and detailed cuts in a variety of materials.
Reciprocating Saw
A reciprocating saw (often called a “recip saw” or “sabre saw”) uses a long, straight blade that moves back and forth rapidly. It’s a rough-cutting tool great for demolition work, cutting pipes, or pruning branches — anywhere precision isn’t the main goal.
Best for: Fast demolition and cutting through wood, metal, and plastic.
Chop Saw
A chop saw is a heavy-duty, fixed saw designed for straight 90° cuts, often in metal or masonry. It uses an abrasive disc or toothed blade and is built for power and durability rather than fine detail.
Best for: Straight, clean cuts through metal, pipe, or steel sections.
