Home renovations can be a daunting task for many people. However, with the right tools and techniques, things get way easier. A saw is one of the most essential tools in a DIYer’s arsenal for home renovations, as it allows you to cut through anything from wood and pipes to tile and plasterboard. Plus, everyone knows that home renovation is an expensive endeavor, so you have to find a saw that fits your needs and budget.
To keep you from wasting your time with inferior saws or buying costly models, we've compiled this list of the top 5 saws for home renovations.
Scroll saw
Renovations often require making intricate and delicate cuts in wood, and no tool is best suited for this purpose than a scroll saw. This unique saw comes with a thin and superfine blade that makes precise cuts in curves and corners of wood, concrete, or metal. For example, you can make dovetail and intarsia cuts with the scroll saw - two techniques that often require high cutting precision to pull off perfectly. Another thing you should know is that the scroll saw is relatively safe since it doesn't cut too deep if there's accidental contact between its blade and the operator's fingers.
The scroll saw has almost the same cutting mechanism as the band saw, with the only significant difference being that it comes with a reciprocating blade instead of a continuous loop.
Miter saw
If your home renovation requires you to make crosscuts, bevel cuts, miter cuts, or compound cuts (which it will), then you'll need a miter saw. Also known as a drop saw, this versatile cutting tool is suitable for cutting through wood, plastic, and metal, with each material requiring a different type of blade. It'll also be your go-to for trimming door and window frames, window casings, crown molding, and much more.
There are multiple variations of miter saws, each with custom functions that make them unique. For example, some miter saws, known as laser miter saws, come with a laser guide unit to ensure cutting precision. Others like the compound, sliding compound, dual compound, and power miter saws sport different features suited for various cutting purposes.
Circular saw
As the name suggests, the blade of a circular saw is designed to cut different materials in a rotary motion. It can be handheld or mounted to a table while its toothed blades rip through wood, plastic, bricks, metal, and tile. Note that circular saws can be quite dangerous to operate, making it mandatory to have some experience or expert supervision and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while using them.
The usual use for circular saws for making straight-line cuts in wood, but they can also create bevels and crosscuts.
Table saw
A table saw is a type of circular saw. It is usually mounted to a bench or table and powered by electricity. Table saws offer high levels of cutting precision and accuracy and are more time-efficient than regular handheld circular saws. They are commonly used to make dado cuts, crosscuts, and ripping cuts, often associated with creating slots for door panels and cutting timber into smaller pieces. Some of the most common examples of table saws are contractor, hybrid, benchtop, compact, and cabinet table saws.
Tile saw
If you're looking for something custom-designed to cut through tile and ceramic, consider the tile saw. While other saws use traditional blades, tile saws cut with diamond-encrusted blades that steadily slice tiles without breaking them. Another innovative design element in tile saws are the jet sprayers that spray water on the blade to cool it, lubricate it, and wash away dust.
Tile saws run on electricity, and this power source enables them to cut through tiles without little or no human effort. Of course, you'll have to manually direct where and how it cuts, but a tile saw is pretty simple to control, so you should have no problems with that. With the level of precision and ease that this saw offers, it's really no surprise that it's a top 5 saw for home renovations.
Conclusion
Many types of saws exist, but the above saws are the most efficient and budget-friendly when it comes to home renovations.
