a. Blade Sizes. The most commonly used blades are 7 1/4-inch and 7 1/2-inch blades. The diameter of the saw blade controls the depth of cut that may be made with the saw.

b. Electric Handsaw. Figure 2-55 shows the parts of the electric handsaw. Learn these parts and become very familiar with the operation of the saw before trying to use it.

c. Circular Saw. The circular saw has a calibrated scale to control the depth of the cut by raising or lowering the base shoe of the saw. The saw may also be tilted to cut up to a 45-degree bevel cut. Figure 2-55 also shows the scale and tilt lock knobs.

d. Safety Guard. The operator is protected by a safety guard (Figure 2-55), which is pushed back by the piece being cut and returns automatically when the saw is removed from the work.

e. Ripping Fence. A very important accessory available for the portable power saw is the ripping fence (or guide) (Figure 2-56), which permits ripping of lumber to a predetermined width. It is used to ensure an exact cut of a predetermined distance from the board edge. Many carpenters reverse the hand position shown here in ripping. Use the most comfortable position.

f. Blade Types. The four common types of blades are shown in Figure 2-57. The combination blade is a multipurpose blade that can be used for crosscutting or ripping.