A circular saw is a must to have for every woodworker; this is one of the most useful tools for them. Using a circular saw requires a lot of expertise and caution as it can suffer from some problems, and one such problem is it keeps stopping.
The most frequent cause of a circular saw stopping in the midst of a project is typically a dull or broken blade. Additionally, a malfunctioning motor, a damaged battery, or a defective power cord might all cause it to stop working.
These three problems are only a glimpse of the reasons, and if you are wondering why my circular saw keeps stopping, then keep reading to know more.
Table of Contents
Why Does My Circular Saw Keep Stopping?
A circular saw is one of the most technical instruments, requiring a great deal of skill and maintenance. So, without proper maintenance or when the machine ages, it can suffer from a few problems, which we will talk about below.
- Damaged or dull blades
- Faulty Motor
- Damaged Battery
- Improper Wood
- Faulty power cord
- Insufficient power
- Power switch issues
7 Easy Solutions For Circular Saw Keep Stopping Issue?
When working on a project, it can’t be enjoyable if the circular saw keeps stopping. Hence, it is important to find out the reason for these problems and fix them asap.
To save you from the trouble, we will talk about all the fixes you can try to solve these issues.
Solution 1: Tighten or Replace the blade
The problem with blades is the most prevalent of all the problems. Before using your tool each time, it is important to check the blade for any damages. If the blade is worn out and distorted, it won’t be able to cut. Power off the circular saw and observe the blade and check if the teeth are broken or not.
If you see that your blade is wrapped, broken, cracked, or dull, you must change them. Depending on the brand and model, a new blade will cost you around $15-$44. Read below to know how to change the blade by yourself.
Step 1: Unplug from the power source
The first step is to remove the circular saw from any power source, and in case the saw is battery-powered, remove the battery.
Step 2: Activate the latching mechanism
Rotate the blade after depressing the arbor-lock key on the saw to activate the latching mechanism.
Step 3: Unscrew the arbor nuts
Arbor nuts should be wrapped with a wrench. The arbor nut of a battery-operated saw may feature a hex-wrench groove. If yes, place one within the space.
Step 4: Take out the old blades
For the saw blade to remain stationary, press the spindle-lock key. Now push the blade guard up and simply pull out the old worn-out blades.
Step 5: Placing New Blades
Maintaining the lock nut compressed or the blade pushed into the hardwood floor, slip the replacement blade into position, insert the bolt, and secure it with the wrench.
Solution 2: Inspect and replace motor brushes and tighten arbor nuts
Usually, expensive, good-quality circular saws come with a reliable motor that does not go bad. However, motors in cheap circular saws have a name for going bad. Motor is consisted of many parts hence many parts can go bad inside the motor, causing problems.
1. Motor Brushes
Over time, motor brushes have a high chance of becoming damaged. So check the brushes first, then check everything else. Simply examine the brass for damage by opening up the motor; if it is, then change the old damaged brushes with a new one. It can cost you between $9.65-$18.95.
2. Hardened or lack of grease
If you have overgreased the circular saw, then the grease can get hardened and cause damage to the motor. You will need to clean and remove all the grease if this happens. After cleaning the motor, regrease it only till the required amount.
3. Loose Arbor nut
Sometimes, the issue is as simple as loose arbor nuts. When this happens, the blade isn’t properly connected to the motor, so it can’t rotate properly. Thus, tighten the nuts using the wrench that comes with the saw.
Solution 3: Replace Damaged or Dead battery
If you have a battery-powered circular saw, a damaged or dead battery can be another reason your circular stops working. The easiest way to detect a dead battery is when your saw will start normally and run for a few minutes and stop, which keeps repeating whenever you try to turn it on.
You do not need to replace the old battery asap; you can try to clean and recharge them. If it doesn’t work, then replacement is a must. Keep on reading to know how to do it. Replacement batteries come at various prices depending on the models; they can be as low as $45 to as high as $300.
- Step 1: Open up and remove your old battery and check the terminals for any corrosion
- Step 2: Take some rubbing alcohol and try to clean the terminals.
- Step 3: Recharge the battery using jumper wires and another fresh battery; you can use your car’s battery for recharging it.
- Step 4: If the issue still continues, then you are left with no option but to replace the battery.
Solution 4: Only Work on Recommended surfaces
The workpiece you are attempting to cut is not properly supported, which is one of the greatest and most frequent reasons circular saws could stop in the middle of work. The saw may become stuck if you use a material that is thicker than the saw’s true depth capability.
So, the best solution to this problem is to work on the surface that is recommended for the circular saw you are using. Circular saws come in different sizes with different capacities and blade sizes, which allows them to be used on different surfaces.
Solution 5: Replace the Power cord
The circular saw may continually stop if your power cable sustains damage or burns while you are cutting. While you operate, the power cable is under tension from the twisting and turning, which finally causes damage.
The safety shield that came with your saw is also composed of a hard substance and isn’t heat-resistant.
As a result, if you are operating on a heated surface like concrete, the laser will quickly begin to shine brightly, which increases the risk of harm to the power cable. So, you should replace the power cord if you see any damage to it.
- Step 1: Get the correct size of the power cord for the specific circular saw model, as the size varies according to the saw mode.
- Step 2: Open all the screws to remove the housing of the circular saw completely, as you can see in the image below.
- Step 3: Once the housing is removed, you can see the point where the power cord is attached. Pull the wires gently, moving them forward and backward. Make sure not to put too much pressure.
- Step 4: When the old wires come off, cut the insulation cover of the new wire slightly, exposing positive and negative terminals.
- Step 5: Now insert the new power cord wire in the same position. The mechanism is like a pinched lock, so you can insert the wires very easily.
- Step 6: Recheck the connection and screw back the whole frame back again, and it should be working fine now.
Solution 6: Get a more powerful circular saw
Your saw won’t be able to cut through the item if it doesn’t have sufficient power, which will cause it to stop continually. A circular saw typically needed 65 to 80 Watts of power to operate.
To cut through the item, you are attempting to cut, ensuring that your saw has sufficient power. The blade will repeatedly stop until it obtains enough power.
Change the material and see whether the saw still keeps stopping. In the event that the circular saw performs as expected, you will want a strong circular saw for the material you were attempting to cut.
Solution 7: Clean the Power switch
The power switch in the circular saw tends to get dirty quite a lot, and when this happens, the saw can stop working properly.
A dirty switch can also stop your saw repeatedly because the connection between the power switch where the battery is attached and the blade can get distorted.
It is a very easy problem to solve and will only take around 10 minutes. Remove the circular saw from any batteries or power sources first.
After that, gently clean the switch using an air compressor to blast the dust away. Reassemble your saw after cleaning, and the switch should now function properly.
Some Guidelines To Remember For Trouble-Free Use Of Your Circular Saw
A circular saw is a bit complicated to use, and you should follow a few tips to ensure the machine’s proper working, which we will discuss below.
- Always wear safety goggles and gloves while working with the saw.
- Cutting between two areas of pressure will probably result in you squeezing the blade, which might result in kick-back. So be prepared for it.
- Before setting the saw down, ensure the retractable bottom blade guard has returned to its initial position.
- Circular saws are designed by keeping right-handed users in mind. So, be extra careful and take greater caution to use the saw safely if you’re left-handed.
- Check once more for any screws or even other metals that your saw can come in contact with. Contact with metal can cause significant harm to a circular saw.
Frequently Asked Question
By now you should already know the main reasons which causes your circle saw to stop in the middle of work. But, to clear all your questions further we will talk about the faqs down below.
Why is my circular saw overheating?
Improper set, dull blades, ungoverned cuts, and sap accumulation on the blades can all result in an overheating blade and backlash. The blade may wrap if it becomes too hot.
When the circular saw overheats, you should stop using it for some time. Before using it again, clean the blades and make sure everything is in order.
Why is the circular saw jamming?
Cutting wood is typically difficult due to the tight connections between wood fibers. The circular saw blade will become stuck when you enter it into the wood because the wood fibers will obstruct its route. To prevent it from jamming up, you can oil the blades well.
Can I use a bigger blade on my circular saw?
No, you cannot. Circular saws must only be used with the size of the blade recommended for safe handling and to avoid any potential harm to your equipment. Blades that are too little or too large pose a risk since the guard won’t adequately protect the teeth.
Why does my saw keep getting stuck?
Motor problems are the major cause of circular saw jams. Your saw may stop working or behave incorrectly if the motor has any problems. A power switch itself may also have problems.
How do you keep a circular saw from binding?
First and foremost, you should use the appropriate blade depending on the type of wood you are cutting.
Additionally, be sure to use a blade with pointed teeth and to choose one that is sharp. Also, adjust the blade tension, and this should completely stop any circular saw from binding.
Conclusion
Circular saws are great machines for wood carvings and designs, but if not used properly, they can show problems like suddenly stopping in the middle of work. Thus, we have discussed all the probable reasons for this issue along with their fixes.
Whenever you work with a circular saw, it is important you follow all proper safety precautions, especially never forgetting to wear goggles and gloves. The blades in them are pretty sharp, and if you are not careful enough, they can take out your finger in an instant.
When their circular saw repeatedly stops, beginners might become panicked. However, now that you’ve read our guide, we think you now know the causes; thus, instead of freaking out, just use the solutions we provided to solve this issue.
