How To Cut A 6×6 Post In 3 Easy Ways

How to cut a 6x6 post

There is no room for doubt that your inner voice is repeatedly asking “How to cut a 6×6 post?” if you are going to build a sturdy deck or a robust fence. Since you intend to choose 6×6 post instead of 4×4 post considering the durability, strength and heavy load, you can’t but make a proper 6×6 post for your deck or fence.

Wait a minute!!! Can you cut 6×6 post accurately? You will never want to have an inaccurate 6×6 post for your deck or fence which you may get if you are in dark about knowing how to cut a 6×6 post properly.

Don’t worry, we know your concern very well and we are here to transform your confusion to confidence.Yes, you will get each & every information about the processes of cutting 6×6 post that we are elucidating here very neatly from our research & experience.

Table of Contents

TOOLS NEEDED TO CUT 6X6 POST:

Before going to cut your 6×6 deck post or fence post, you must gather some cutting and safety tools for having appropriate cut safely. Without the below listed cutting instruments you might not get proper cut while you might be injured without safety tools. You better have a look on the below list and gather them.

PROTECTIVE TOOLS – 

1.Masks/Face shield

2.Earbuds (1 pair)

3.Leather Hand gloves (1 pair)

4.Safety goggles/ Eye glasses

5. Helmet

CUTTING INSTRUMENTS –

1.Circular saw/Miter saw

2.Strong steel/Iron saw blade of good quality.

3.Hand saw/ Reciprocating saw.

4.Set square.

5.Carpenter’s pencil/ Marker.

3 EASY WAYS OF CUTTING 6X6 POST: 

Famous DIYers or experts of worldwide woodworking community never talk of different processes or methods for cutting 6×6 post. But most often they are asked “How to cut a 6×6 post with a miter saw or a circular saw?” It’s not about the different processes, rather it’s about using different powered saws for cutting 6×6 post. Let’s get learned how to cut a 6×6 post with different saws step by step-

HOW TO CUT A 6×6 POST WITH A HANDSAW

If you have no powered saw but only a handsaw, you can cut 6×6 post. But the finishing may not be as nice as powered saw- here is how you do it.

Step 1 : Just put the post on a sturdy surface at a your convenient height.

Step 2 : Then mark a line with a pencil on every side of your post.

Step 3 : Now start cutting the post with the force of your hand on the marked line. Thus, you may have a 6×6 post using only a handsaw.

HOW TO CUT A 6×6 POST WITH A CIRCULAR SAW

Circular saw is comparatively more convenient & popular powered saw to cut a 6×6 post. With its 7¼” diameter carbide blade circular saw can cut 2½” precisely in one swing. Still you have nearly 1″ uncut portion to cut. With your handsaw you can cut this uncut portion. Let’s see below the step by step cutting procedures using a circular saw.

Step 1 : First keep your 6 by 6 wood lumber on a robust & flat surface so that it can not vibrate while cutting and you can get flawless cut.

Step 2 : Then use your pencil or marker to draw/point a straight line where you want to cut. Make sure you draw line on all 4 sides and the lines meet with each other by rotating the post.

Step 3 : Now set your circular saw blade on the marked line and start sawing. After cutting 1 side, you need to rotate the post at 90° to cut another side. Thus,you can cut all the 4 sides with your circular saw. For appropriate cut just follow the marked line. By now, you have cut more than 4″ deep of the post but still you need to cut almost 1″ without circular saw.

Step 4 : You are almost done cutting 6×6 post with your circular saw. After sawing with your circular saw, you have almost 1″ left for completing your cut. At this moment take your handsaw and start cutting the rest portion with it.

HOW TO CUT A 6×6 POST WITH A MITER SAW

 cutting 6x6 post with a miter saw

A 6×6 post can also be cut by using miter saw. If you have a miter saw in your possession, you can follow these simple steps to cut the post –

Step 1- Put the set-square at the point of a side of the post you want to cut. Then with your pencil draw a straight line along side of the set-square and do this at 3 other sides of the post.

Step 2- Put your post horizontally on the bed of the saw against the back gate. Position the saw blade on the marked line at the top side of the post. Start the saw and lower the running blade so that it can cut through the post.

Step 3- One side cutting is done. Now raise the saw blade and turn the post 90° to cut other side in the same way. Repeat this step two more times to cut your post fully.

You May Also Like To know About Cutting Circle With Jigsaw

TIPS & CAUTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED WHILE CUTTING 6×6 POST:

You can’t deny following some tips & safety measures suggested by many expert woodworkers before you start cutting. Let’s see the below listed tips & measures.

SAFETY CAUTIONS:

  1. Never miss wearing goggles. Your eyes should be protected first from sawdust.
  2. Wear a face mask in your face so that debris can’t enter in your lungs with your breath.
  3. Put earbuds to protect your ear from sound & sawdust.
  4. Use a pair of working leather hand gloves for ensuring firm grief of materials.

CUTTING TIPS:

  1. Make sure you are cutting your post   on a sturdy & flat surface.
  2. Use new/fresh blade instead of rusty or blunt or used blade.
  3. Don’t forget to mark the line or point you want to cut.
  4. Keep your cutting space clean & ensure there is enough light.
  5. Don’t perform your cutting operation at a congested or crowdy place.
  6. Cut slowly & carefully so that you can make a precise & perfect cut.

Whatever you want to cut, you will need some tools and most importantly some guidelines. Because without knowing the proper way, you can’t cut anything with accuracy. Most of the woodworkers or carpenters prefer 6×6 deck post or fence post for building their deck or fence. But it’s a matter of great concern for the carpenters to get 6×6 deck post.

Since, you have read this article by now, we are pretty much sure that you have gained a profound idea about how to cut a 6×6 post for deck or fence.

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