At first, you might think that you wouldn't ever have a
need to make a plunge cut, but as your skills improve and you begin to take on
more complex jobs, the need jumps up, and you're not prepared. For example, you
might need to cut out a rectangle out of a piece of OSB, maybe for a window for
that addition you're building. Well, here's the solution.
1. Mark
out the rectangle with either chalk or a pencil.
2. Using
your non-trigger hand, pull the blade guard back out of the way.
3. Place
just the toe of the sole plate on the material. The back of the saw should be
off the material with the blade positioned just above it. As best as you can,
position the saw so that as you lower the heel, the blade will be on your cut
line and close to the perpendicular cut line.
4. Hole
the toe stationary, and pull the trigger. Slowly lower the blade onto the wood,
let it make a slight test cut. Look to be sure that you're exactly lined up on
your cut line. If not, make the necessary adjustment by moving either the toe
or heel or both.
5. After
lining up your cut line, watch the back of the blade and see where it's going
to come down relative to the spot where you want your cut to begin. If it looks
like it's too far back, nude the saw forward a little bit. If it's too far
ahead, life the heel of the saw and move it backwards.
6. Now
slowly lower the blade again, making another test touch to be sure you're still
lined up on the cut line.
7. When
you're sure that everything is lined up, lower the saw until the sole plate is
flat on the surface and the back of the blade barely cuts into the
perpendicular line.
8. If
the base plate is now flat on the material and the saw is properly positioned,
left, right and back, lower the blade guard and begin to push the saw forward
as you normally would.
Caution: You will find that as you lower the saw blade
into the wood, the blade will try to force the saw backwards. This is
controllable, but you do have to exert some muscle to counter the backward
force. If that isn't working, raise the heel of the saw, make the adjustment
and start the plunge cut again. Don't ever, ever let the saw gain control and
start going backwards by itself.
