Carpentry and Woodworking - 45 degree and surface

Hello: I had to use a circular saw to cut 3/4inch red oak plywood to make a x-shaped wine box and made 45 degree connection between the 4 sides of the box. Now when cutting the 45 angle with approx 1/2" of blade coming through the wood, the top surface was splintered fairly badly. The normal 90 cuts were nice and clean.

Did I go too fast during the cut, or have the blade depth incorrect, or what? I want to avoid this when I try to make the mate of this box using my table saw. Peace: e3 - spamman

I'd be willing to bet the pull away and splintering was predominately on the side the blade was angled toward when you made the cut.

The 90 cut placed equal stress on wood fibers on both sides of the cut - the 45 places more stress (pull) on the side the blade is partially covering as it emerges from the wood.

You won't have nearly the problem with a table saw. The circular saw cuts from the bottom side up - the table saw will cut from the top side down. Since the down side has uniform support from the table itself, there's much less chance of splintering.

If you weren't using one before, I'd strongly suggest a plywood blade - more teeth, finer cut and kerf, and much less prone to splintering.

Thanks for the input. I wish I had the table saw when i made it but it was just donated to me recently. Its helping a ton on my home remodel now though with doors and such. I had used the rip type blade that came with the circular saw so that may be the problem as well, like you stated.

Peace: e3 - spamman