I’m half way thru my apprenticeship and 5 years in construction. I learn more practical tips from this channel than trade school and work sites combined. Keep this up. You are a true master and an international treasure. God bless you.
@@JustinVodden yes. Larry was a framing legend, RIP. I have seen his videos and read the Very Efficient Carpenter and highly recommend it. Haven’t read the rest of his books yet.
I am a beginner to woodwork, the main test I have with this bundle ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt is that I think that its hard to settle on a choice of the plan and outline to use as there are a large portion of them there. Nonetheless, I like the simple stride to step directions laid out there.
I was a little worried about installing the blade after reading a couple of reviews. But it was amazingly easy. Took about 1 minute. Works great ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxjpBI8OOeUXib_iT7UomCrQ-uauwZJ62c . Cuts easily and is perfect for pocket cuts I needed to make for replacing some old deck boards.
You mentioned Larry Haun... I'm 52. I've seen much. I consider you & him of the same ilk. Cut from the same cloth. Two of the best carpenters/builders/teachers I've ever encountered. I wish I could shake your hand.
Anyone else having fun watching the essential craftsman's videoes, like me?? Good, because I sure appreciate his time and knowledge. Thanks Mr. Craftsman!
The "firm wrist" tip is the best skilsaw tip I've ever received. Thank you! It makes all the difference in the world. My cuts have greatly improved as a result of keeping my arm locked as much as possible throughout the cut.
You have taught me so much and given me so much career advice. I have grown as a carpenter, a family man, and as a person from your channel. God bless you, Scott, you are truly a mentor and a father to the fatherless. Thank you for your legacy.
It's a shame every man didn't have a dad like this! Wish I would've worked with and listened to my grandpa more when he was still here! I absolutely love the EC!
As a 52 year old, with skills in everything from electrical, to plumbing, to general construction.... I just can't get enough of your channel. I always find some little extra-tidbit in your videos that I never thought about before. Thanks for sharing!
My 2 tips. When using a rip fence, mark the material, cut in about half the blade length then install the rip fence and continue the cut. No dicking around trying to measure from the blade to the fence. When cutting 45 angles, if somebody gives you long to long or short to long and you would rather cut it differently you can change between these dimensions by adding or removing the material thickness to your measurement.
I have a dad that taught me most if not all of these things. If you weren't so lucky, this guy is a great stand in. As an old guy, I have watched most of his vids as a refresher during projects and still revisit some of them more than once.
I remember back a while ago, you asked what type of content would we like to see. This video reminded me of that question. I think more videos like this would be wonderful. You have a wealth of knowledge. I love hearing your stories and hearing you explain things, like in this video. I have a feeling a lot of people look up to you (as I do) and would love to see more videos like this. You, sir, are a genius!! Keep em coming!
Grear tips Sir. You are clearly very experienced with that saw! Skill saw: for those with skills Everyone else: circular saw 😂 The drop makes so much sense. Thank you very much! I see sqaure too, lol. Didn't know it was a thing. Finally, that gap you covered up with beveled edges and cut in place 👏🏽 hats off to you Sir!
My Dad always used about a two foot "loop" of cord at the position of the saw grip, so if the cord "snagged" on something it could slip & prevent twisting the saw (or belt sander) from kickback or missing the line, or possibly cutting or grinding the cord. He was a cabinet maker for over 75 years & never lost a digit, had a serious cut or broken a bone. He did some risky things, but always left "an out" by visualizing what COULD happen, & expecting to have to compensate. During his many years he also did rough carpentry. His motto was never allow yourself to be in line with the cutting blade if possible, & never EXPECT that a guard will ALWAYS work.
The thing about leaving yourself an out, that's the same thing I do. I constantly do sketchy things that will get me instantly banned from sites if osha/wcb show up, but I always make sure to do them in a way that minimizes my risk, while also skipping the bureaucratic safe steps. The way the world's moved away from personal responsibility is sad and wrong. If I die from something I do, its my fault and my fault alone.
Loved it as an experienced carpenter of nearly 30 year's I learn something from everyone of your videos this one didn't let me down the sheeting tricks will be practiced I have been cutting out circles with a skilsaw for years and on a few occasions even won some wagers doing so. The 2 sheets 1 cut with a bevel to hide the kerf is going to be my next free lunch ticket thanks for sharing all of the great stuff in all of your videos
I just found your channel and I'm subscribed right after the first video... :) You are like a wise father/grandfather that I never had, with such a delightful style of teaching! Thank you, sir!
A retired carpenter your videos are great wish 50 years ago they were around . Worked with some rough guys but my Dad was a self made boat builder best teacher ever
You are a gem... I've been a stair builder for 25 years... I have the privilege of working on complicated projects for millionaires, and yet I use a skil saw every day, and I continue to learn more about it every day...
OK that overlapping two sheets and partially tacking them popping a line and cutting right on the truss Just blew my mind. Yeah, all these tricks are going in my pocket lol thank u sir!!! Your videos are amazing!
I do remodeling and any jobs that come along like decks, pergolas, docks etc. by myself or just me and my dog really.. can you make a video on how to stay self-motivated? Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I don't want to go to work and working by myself and for myself sometimes it's tough and I wonder why I'm doing this when my back and feet hurt and the Florida heat gets up there... Sure I'm making money but with being single and no kids I'm just losing site of the goal I guess. Thanks for your videos brother.
Been here bro same deal. You get to a point where money doesn't motivate you anymore. There's a bigger purpose in life then money and things and its a personal journey. You might say spiritual or built around knowledge of why we're here.
So, I know this won't be what you're expecting, but maybe examine your diet? I have depression, and eating an extremely low carb diet helps me manage it better than any medication I ever took. It improves my focus, my anxiety, my motivation, and my mood in general. I'm not sure how well it would translate to your situation, but it's perhaps one more lever you could pull to influence things. Worth looking into, IMO.
Get yourself a dog, walk it twice a day. Make that a goal, there’s plenty of things you’ll need to do to achieve it, but it’s a perfect answer to your question. Even if you just walk twice a day and don’t get a dog 😎
@@brucelarcombe4679 I have 7 month old Staffordshire Terrier named Zeus. He's my best buddy and always by my side. He has definitely been the best thing for me so you are speaking truth sir.
I am starting a handyman business that may as my skills grow morph into a contractor job in a few years to a decade and let me say, I am grateful for finding your channel.
When using the instep method I place the board over my right foot, not my left. (I’m right handed) That puts the path of a potential kickback outside my body. 🤷🏻♂️ I try to do this whenever I cut if at all possible. It applies to chainsaws also.
Well done! One tip I've done and was shown early on was to remove the 7 foot cord day one and wire in a 50 footer as to not be hung up by the plug when cutting 8 foot sheet goods or get hung up dragging cord through framing.
And by looping the cord through the top handle and hooking it over the bevel clamp, it acts as a strain relief and lets you lower your saw to the ground from a roof with no drama or damage.
I started my carpentry career by framing houses. I had a lot to learn and I finally bought my first worm drive 30 years ago. Neat tricks that are useful, logical and entertaining to watch. I'm going to get out my old Skil Saw, dust her off and remember the good old days!
As a lady who is learning woodworking, (only for hobby and household DIY) I do have to consider the strength factor often. I appreciate your mention of that. I don't have the arm strength of a man and I never will. There is so much wisdom in your videos, but this one is really helpful. I have been a chicken ever since I first experienced kickbacks a couple of years ago. So I tend to clamp down everything and obsess over the safest and best-supported ways to make my cuts. I also clamp long rulers down as saw guides. It absolutely takes me forever to break down plywood. I definitely needed a lot of this video. Even just the locking of the wrist tip is something I really needed to hear. I do always hold the saw like it is gonna jump back on me though. I am still a bit terrified of my little table saw far more than the circ saw. I have at least learned to manage the circ with less fear....I just overmanage I think. I seriously need to do better and lose some of the clamping and fussing I do. I am not doing this as a job, so I don't need to rush but neither do I like my current speed. Last weekend it took me several hours to add shelves in my kitchen. It should have taken a lot less time. I spent so much thinking out every step and cut. I need more time just doing.
Buy graph paper, pencils, erasers, and a 12” architects ruler. I bet if you draw out the plans of what is in your head you will have a tangible plan that will serve as an instruction set. Thus making the project more efficient
Massive thanks for sharing years worth of learning in a 30 minute video. Clever tricks, safety, and skillful techniques all explained artfully and expertly. Thanks for the knowledge. Stay well
Scott, while all these might help someone who isn’t hip to all these tricks, I’ve never once thought to use my saw as a blower. That is such a good tip! Thank you sir!! Keep up the good work.
Even an impact can help blow out screw heads when you're stripping temp construction fasteners. I use the saw blower for years, abd never thought of using a drill until I w a coworker doing it.
I saw a number of Old Dogs use that trick. Difference being that nuh nuh those sunsabiches taught a thing. They were tough for a reason. But if you watched closely enough they didn’t hide what they could do. They knew none could do it better
I'm almost 72 enjoy doing carpentry I really enjoy watching you and Larry Hann's video's learning things every time your doing and a good thing for people who want to learn the trade
EC convinced me to buy a wormdrive. AvE (see his channel) convinced me to buy the Makita 5377mg (sorry M. Wadsworth... you are so dedicated to Skil) What a change from the sidewinders I was using. I was really worried about the added weight. But the cutting technique is different and the weight works for you, not against. First, you are "behind" a wormdrive while you are "on top of" a sidewinder. That alone makes a huge difference in the ease to make a straight cut. Second, to initialte a cut, you "drop" a wormdrive into the piece using the front edge of the saw table as the "hindge", as opposed to the sidewinder you "push" into the cut. As M. Wadsworth explained, this makes it easier to engage the piece with the right trajectory/blade alignment right from the start. Since a circular saw wants to go straight, this is 75% of the battle won right at the beggining. As a not very skilful DIY, moving from a light sidewinder to a heavy wormdrive improved my accuracy tremendously.
I’d take the Skill Saw over the Makita. DeWalts worm drive is king if you can find one. I had a Makita and got rid of it within a day… bought the Dewalt.
The makita worm drive is acceptable. The dewalt one is a horrid design, the skilsaw is and always will be King. the "new" ones are good but if you can find the older style they are IMO better albeit heavier.
Great video as always, you are truly the daddy of them all. You talk so sweetly and intelligently as well and all the time ..thank you very much indeed.
Thank you for keeping it real. if you pay attention to what you're doing with your SKIL saw all of your tips work and I actually learned some new ones.
I'm from the UK, and I have to say with my 40 plus years of experience ...... The is what is lost with "Health and Security" on site today, In my day you learned how to take care of yourself and your mates working around you. Great video. I went from working with a good team to working alone in later years, you just adapt. Thanks I enjoyed that.
I continue to see you do tasks that seem so simple i wonder why I never thought to do such that way. Thats experience and isnt it such a blessing to be capible of learning from you instead of trail and error or the same old difficult or mistake pron way Ive done. Thank you for all you have taught me.
So much truth in those words. Techniquality is only about half the job. ;-) Sharing the knowledge makes the world a better place every time. Thank you.
Thank you again! Due to your channel and the old Larry Haun videos I now own a couple of these saws and use them much more often than all of my other saws (with the exception of my table saw).
These are all very satisfying to watch. Its also comforting to know I figured a few of these out on my own. Great minds run in the same ditch as my mom said.
So much practical information and teaching...truly amazing. What a craftsman. He should have his own trade school so that he can pass on all of this experience.
I put a metal roof on our house we’re building in the texas hill country, and i used the trick to put the blade backwards on a circular saw to cut my metal roofing! Worked perfectly.
I totally agree with you I have a lot of friends that get picky about whether it’s a skill saw or circular saw and every single time I have to tell them “it’s the same thing” so I appreciate that someone else agrees with me on that
Thanks. I've never understood the advantage of the worm drive till seeing this. I'm not as strong as I used to be but I may take this brand new 15 amp side winder back to exchange for the heavier worm drive. We'll see. You're tips and tricks have definitely opened my mind to some new possibilities. I'm not in the trades but I noticed that an added benefit to the way you cut the botch, is that the plug is a wedge. Fastened in from the front side and wedged from the backside, there are situations where that might help to hold the plug in plane without adding a second nailer behind it.
I saw u cut in the first video and I've been trying to mimic it bc your cuts are so great. I live how you are going into the specifics of the technique.
This is my 4th year doing carpentry professionally and I I have never thought of a lot of those tricks, specifically the angled cut around the patch; blew my mind. I am working on building a shop in my basement, and it will feature plywood walls and I hadn't considered how effective I could patch the walls yet. That is an awesome trick
Thank you Sir! Worm Drive saws are basically unavailable where I live and frankly, I do more furniture building (I don't build houses). These videos of yours have been welcome and informative and I'm grateful to you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It is interesting how the knowledge gets applied in different areas of work and how we can take a little idea from here and a little idea from there, put them together and get something that (perhaps) wasn't thought of, so thanks. Greetings from Nigeria.
Used 7" Skilsaws are in the US on eBay and Facebook Marketplace all the time. Maybe friends in the US could bring some when returning to Nigeria. I buy Skilsaw gear oil online at Etsy.
@@markprange2430 Thanks for the heads up but in all honesty, getting hold of a skilsaw is not a priority for me, especially with the voltage difference, it becomes impracical. But beyond that, I have access to the tools I need. Sidewinders are not that dreadful ...Thanks!
Haven't even started watching the video but I found myself instantly clicking the like button. I hope you and your family is well and healthy! Love from Europe.
I learned how to use a skillsaw with a sidewinder, and living on the east coast I honestly never saw a rear handle or worm drive in my life until around 2020. That's around a decade of using circular saws, but I saw a worm drive and knew I had to have it! These videos are great for helping me switch to a rear handle.
You are the reason to buy a circular saw I have it for 4 years now and I made a lot of stuff 3 king beds with ruff lumber and many many things in ur home!! Soon we start renovating floors demolishing ECT... Thanks for the tips and safety!! Always loved your videos. And always you guys gives me a boost to do things even concrete!! Cheers from Greece!!!
Thankyou, I have used your advice and now cut without straight edges and many other things I used to do before sawing. Your videos are informative and confidence building and thankyou for sharing with us.
hi. I've just found your site, and immediately you're making sense. Just to add to the point you made about visualising the 90 degree square/angle, it is a very good method, or technique in not only cutting but really , in everything we do. The point you made about finding a straighter line with the circular saw the faster you chase that line along the surface, well its the same with ridding a bike, the faster you go the straighter the line. And to add to that, I found the further I look out in front of me while ridding, the surer and straighter my ridding line will be. Which is very important when rider a fast motorcycle. So I feel the same applies to cutting a line with a circular saw, look out to the finish point and trust yourself. Try this for an experiment, draw a line on a board, start cutting on that line then look out and focus on that end point, then look back to see how accurately you cut on that line. I bet you you'll find it cut perfectly on the line. Great videos. Thanks so much for making them.
That final procedure was genius! I know about beveling dry wall patches, but never realized the same technique could be done with the skill saw for plywood.
Been using a skill saw since I was 12 years old. I've ran both worm drives and direct drives. I've also learned from a young age that you should get comfortable with operating tools with both your left and right hand this way when you need to use a saw or a tool in a certain position it'll be a breeze and reduce the risk of an injury. Skill saws can also be used to make dado cuts and be used to as a planer. With the wide range of blades out there it's best to have a couple saws especially if you plan on using it to cut steel and concrete as they wear the shoe down and can possibly mark up wood.
@@timm439 Another pistol shooting analogy... "heavy = steady". Heavier is easier to keep steady. Harder to carry though, harder to hold up if you need to.
Few years ago when I was working on my house, I wanted tips on how to use a circular saw. Ended up finding your pro tips video, and although the tips were far more advanced than what I've needed or used, I ended up loving the channel. Also glad to see the channel is doing well enough to chop up $1000's (joking) in wood for a video.
Great video, I learnt to frame with a skilsaw in California in my 20s. I moved back to the UK in my 30s and had to use sidewinders and then left bladed battery saws (closer to the skil ) your video has just made me realise how much you drop the saw and how much more effective it is as a result. For years I missed my mag 77. The track saw solved some sheet cutting issues but it's not quick to set up. Then I got a 36v makita rear handle and while it's not a worm drive it handles the drop like a skilsaw, it's like working with an old friend. My first fix work is so much easier with it. I still wish I could do the kind of work I did in the States. Keep up your great channel. 👍
I'm pretty sure I heard on 1of your video s that Mr. Swan pssed away. Reason I'm posting something is because am a retired Saw Filer & I learned to gas wield up cracks,build up shoulders anel Retip anyway l learned a lot. But I saw something tonight that i knew but have not been able to retain tel I watched Sy silver solder a knife heilt on. I believe this world needs meny more folks like Mr. Syr Swan & your self. Thank for all your Info.
I’m 19 doing drywall since like 15 now doing framing love it drywall measuring helped a lot going in to it but love these vids learn something new everyday 🙏🏽
Done some remodeling, repair and residential construction. Ran into all kind of problems on mobile homes. Wormdrive Skilsaw saves the day. Might want to give new cordless wormdrive a try. My brother and I like short cord , 1 or 2 feet as we always use extention cords anyway.
Truly appreciate the time you put into this..If nothing else... Tracing, rather than taking 4 measurements w/long or short points was a helluva takeaway for DIYers. Thank you.
Love all the skills videos. I remember watching my dad and uncles build all kinds of stuff and all the crazy stuff I have seen them do with saws. I bet many people watching these have no idea that what you are showing is just the a small amount of what is actually done. I seen the tool belt used as a harness to a rafter while cutting upside down more than once and all the crazy ways of measuring and then yelling those measurements to the ground guy and somehow it all fits.
I’m half way thru my apprenticeship and 5 years in construction. I learn more practical tips from this channel than trade school and work sites combined. Keep this up. You are a true master and an international treasure. God bless you.
Intergalactic.
@@EireFirst2024 thanks a lot I’ll check him out
Have you seen the videos with Larry Haun? Or his books!
@@JustinVodden yes. Larry was a framing legend, RIP. I have seen his videos and read the Very Efficient Carpenter and highly recommend it. Haven’t read the rest of his books yet.
Word broo
I am a beginner to woodwork, the main test I have with this bundle ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt is that I think that its hard to settle on a choice of the plan and outline to use as there are a large portion of them there. Nonetheless, I like the simple stride to step directions laid out there.
I was a little worried about installing the blade after reading a couple of reviews. But it was amazingly easy. Took about 1 minute. Works great ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxjpBI8OOeUXib_iT7UomCrQ-uauwZJ62c . Cuts easily and is perfect for pocket cuts I needed to make for replacing some old deck boards.
You mentioned Larry Haun... I'm 52. I've seen much. I consider you & him of the same ilk. Cut from the same cloth. Two of the best carpenters/builders/teachers I've ever encountered. I wish I could shake your hand.
Anyone else having fun watching the essential craftsman's videoes, like me??
Good, because I sure appreciate his time and knowledge.
Thanks Mr. Craftsman!
The "firm wrist" tip is the best skilsaw tip I've ever received. Thank you! It makes all the difference in the world. My cuts have greatly improved as a result of keeping my arm locked as much as possible throughout the cut.
You have taught me so much and given me so much career advice. I have grown as a carpenter, a family man, and as a person from your channel. God bless you, Scott, you are truly a mentor and a father to the fatherless. Thank you for your legacy.
It's a shame every man didn't have a dad like this! Wish I would've worked with and listened to my grandpa more when he was still here! I absolutely love the EC!
As a 52 year old, with skills in everything from electrical, to plumbing, to general construction.... I just can't get enough of your channel. I always find some little extra-tidbit in your videos that I never thought about before. Thanks for sharing!
53, handyman, ditto.
My 2 tips.
When using a rip fence, mark the material, cut in about half the blade length then install the rip fence and continue the cut. No dicking around trying to measure from the blade to the fence.
When cutting 45 angles, if somebody gives you long to long or short to long and you would rather cut it differently you can change between these dimensions by adding or removing the material thickness to your measurement.
I have a dad that taught me most if not all of these things. If you weren't so lucky, this guy is a great stand in. As an old guy, I have watched most of his vids as a refresher during projects and still revisit some of them more than once.
I remember back a while ago, you asked what type of content would we like to see. This video reminded me of that question. I think more videos like this would be wonderful. You have a wealth of knowledge. I love hearing your stories and hearing you explain things, like in this video. I have a feeling a lot of people look up to you (as I do) and would love to see more videos like this. You, sir, are a genius!! Keep em coming!
Grear tips Sir.
You are clearly very experienced with that saw!
Skill saw: for those with skills
Everyone else: circular saw 😂
The drop makes so much sense. Thank you very much!
I see sqaure too, lol. Didn't know it was a thing.
Finally, that gap you covered up with beveled edges and cut in place 👏🏽 hats off to you Sir!
My Dad always used about a two foot "loop" of cord at the position of the saw grip, so if the cord "snagged" on something it could slip & prevent twisting the saw (or belt sander) from kickback or missing the line, or possibly cutting or grinding the cord. He was a cabinet maker for over 75 years & never lost a digit, had a serious cut or broken a bone. He did some risky things, but always left "an out" by visualizing what COULD happen, & expecting to have to compensate. During his many years he also did rough carpentry. His motto was never allow yourself to be in line with the cutting blade if possible, & never EXPECT that a guard will ALWAYS work.
The thing about leaving yourself an out, that's the same thing I do. I constantly do sketchy things that will get me instantly banned from sites if osha/wcb show up, but I always make sure to do them in a way that minimizes my risk, while also skipping the bureaucratic safe steps. The way the world's moved away from personal responsibility is sad and wrong. If I die from something I do, its my fault and my fault alone.
Just like my gunny always said: "If you're gonna be stupid, be smart about it."
Loved it as an experienced carpenter of nearly 30 year's I learn something from everyone of your videos this one didn't let me down the sheeting tricks will be practiced I have been cutting out circles with a skilsaw for years and on a few occasions even won some wagers doing so.
The 2 sheets 1 cut with a bevel to hide the kerf is going to be my next free lunch ticket thanks for sharing all of the great stuff in all of your videos
I used the tip about leaving the start of a long cut intact today and coming back to cut it. Great tip. Thanks.
Love you brother. I spent 40 years of my life as a cabinet and furniture maker.
I just found your channel and I'm subscribed right after the first video... :)
You are like a wise father/grandfather that I never had,
with such a delightful style of teaching! Thank you, sir!
A retired carpenter your videos are great wish 50 years ago they were around . Worked with some rough guys but my Dad was a self made boat builder best teacher ever
You are a gem... I've been a stair builder for 25 years... I have the privilege of working on complicated projects for millionaires, and yet I use a skil saw every day, and I continue to learn more about it every day...
Some pure gold nuggets of wisdom right there. That 5 degree trick is crafty - going to file that away for sure.
That roof sheathing trick is awesome!!!!
" I ask for a skilsaw " spoken like a boss thank you for sharing this quality content for us to enjoy and learn from
OK that overlapping two sheets and partially tacking them popping a line and cutting right on the truss Just blew my mind. Yeah, all these tricks are going in my pocket lol thank u sir!!! Your videos are amazing!
Have you tried it yet and did it work?
Tricks that came from a lifetime of productivity. And here we are getting them for free.
This man definitely has the heart of a teacher. Great videos.
Shout out to Nate for all the extra sound editing he had to do on this video 😁
I do remodeling and any jobs that come along like decks, pergolas, docks etc. by myself or just me and my dog really.. can you make a video on how to stay self-motivated? Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I don't want to go to work and working by myself and for myself sometimes it's tough and I wonder why I'm doing this when my back and feet hurt and the Florida heat gets up there... Sure I'm making money but with being single and no kids I'm just losing site of the goal I guess. Thanks for your videos brother.
Been here bro same deal. You get to a point where money doesn't motivate you anymore. There's a bigger purpose in life then money and things and its a personal journey. You might say spiritual or built around knowledge of why we're here.
So, I know this won't be what you're expecting, but maybe examine your diet? I have depression, and eating an extremely low carb diet helps me manage it better than any medication I ever took. It improves my focus, my anxiety, my motivation, and my mood in general. I'm not sure how well it would translate to your situation, but it's perhaps one more lever you could pull to influence things. Worth looking into, IMO.
Sounds like every day of my life buddy
Get yourself a dog, walk it twice a day. Make that a goal, there’s plenty of things you’ll need to do to achieve it, but it’s a perfect answer to your question. Even if you just walk twice a day and don’t get a dog 😎
@@brucelarcombe4679 I have 7 month old Staffordshire Terrier named Zeus. He's my best buddy and always by my side. He has definitely been the best thing for me so you are speaking truth sir.
as a cabinetmaker and furniture builder, I have a lot more hours on the table saw than the skill saw so I learned some neat new tricks. Thanks!
I am starting a handyman business that may as my skills grow morph into a contractor job in a few years to a decade and let me say, I am grateful for finding your channel.
Great video 👍 I bought my first 77 worm drive forty years ago it still works great, I had to quit framing when I was 60 I still do finish carpentry
When using the instep method I place the board over my right foot, not my left. (I’m right handed)
That puts the path of a potential kickback outside my body. 🤷🏻♂️ I try to do this whenever I cut if at all possible. It applies to chainsaws also.
Angle grinders, too
Well done! One tip I've done and was shown early on was to remove the 7 foot cord day one and wire in a 50 footer as to not be hung up by the plug when cutting 8 foot sheet goods or get hung up dragging cord through framing.
I’ve started doing it to most of my most commonly used tools was great advice .
And by looping the cord through the top handle and hooking it over the bevel clamp, it acts as a strain relief and lets you lower your saw to the ground from a roof with no drama or damage.
@@RambozoClown yeppers!
I believe that was on his first skill saw video iirc
I didn't think people used corded skill saws any more. All I see on the jobsites are cordless.
This man still rips with an ancient saw. No battery power In sight. Just good ole fashioned knowledge!
The Skil saw and string videos are my favorites watched several times
I started my carpentry career by framing houses. I had a lot to learn and I finally bought my first worm drive 30 years ago. Neat tricks that are useful, logical and entertaining to watch. I'm going to get out my old Skil Saw, dust her off and remember the good old days!
Thanks & keep up the good work
As a lady who is learning woodworking, (only for hobby and household DIY) I do have to consider the strength factor often. I appreciate your mention of that. I don't have the arm strength of a man and I never will. There is so much wisdom in your videos, but this one is really helpful. I have been a chicken ever since I first experienced kickbacks a couple of years ago. So I tend to clamp down everything and obsess over the safest and best-supported ways to make my cuts. I also clamp long rulers down as saw guides. It absolutely takes me forever to break down plywood. I definitely needed a lot of this video.
Even just the locking of the wrist tip is something I really needed to hear. I do always hold the saw like it is gonna jump back on me though. I am still a bit terrified of my little table saw far more than the circ saw. I have at least learned to manage the circ with less fear....I just overmanage I think. I seriously need to do better and lose some of the clamping and fussing I do. I am not doing this as a job, so I don't need to rush but neither do I like my current speed. Last weekend it took me several hours to add shelves in my kitchen. It should have taken a lot less time. I spent so much thinking out every step and cut. I need more time just doing.
Buy graph paper, pencils, erasers, and a 12” architects ruler. I bet if you draw out the plans of what is in your head you will have a tangible plan that will serve as an instruction set. Thus making the project more efficient
Massive thanks for sharing years worth of learning in a 30 minute video. Clever tricks, safety, and skillful techniques all explained artfully and expertly. Thanks for the knowledge. Stay well
Scott, while all these might help someone who isn’t hip to all these tricks, I’ve never once thought to use my saw as a blower. That is such a good tip! Thank you sir!! Keep up the good work.
Even an impact can help blow out screw heads when you're stripping temp construction fasteners.
I use the saw blower for years, abd never thought of using a drill until I w a coworker doing it.
I saw a number of Old Dogs use that trick. Difference being that nuh nuh those sunsabiches taught a thing. They were tough for a reason. But if you watched closely enough they didn’t hide what they could do. They knew none could do it better
These are my favorites. I've gone back and watched the other ones dozens of times. I hope you do 100 more
You are the best instructor out there. Thank you for making Essential Craftsman videos. Keep up the camera rolling. :-)
I'm almost 72 enjoy doing carpentry I really enjoy watching you and Larry Hann's video's learning things every time your doing and a good thing for people who want to learn the trade
EC convinced me to buy a wormdrive. AvE (see his channel) convinced me to buy the Makita 5377mg (sorry M. Wadsworth... you are so dedicated to Skil)
What a change from the sidewinders I was using. I was really worried about the added weight. But the cutting technique is different and the weight works for you, not against. First, you are "behind" a wormdrive while you are "on top of" a sidewinder. That alone makes a huge difference in the ease to make a straight cut. Second, to initialte a cut, you "drop" a wormdrive into the piece using the front edge of the saw table as the "hindge", as opposed to the sidewinder you "push" into the cut. As M. Wadsworth explained, this makes it easier to engage the piece with the right trajectory/blade alignment right from the start. Since a circular saw wants to go straight, this is 75% of the battle won right at the beggining.
As a not very skilful DIY, moving from a light sidewinder to a heavy wormdrive improved my accuracy tremendously.
I’d take the Skill Saw over the Makita. DeWalts worm drive is king if you can find one. I had a Makita and got rid of it within a day… bought the Dewalt.
He seems to have one in a box at the end of the video!
The makita worm drive is acceptable. The dewalt one is a horrid design, the skilsaw is and always will be King. the "new" ones are good but if you can find the older style they are IMO better albeit heavier.
Your first set of videos gave me the confidence to purchase and use a circular saw for hobby work. Great to see a follow up!
Great video as always, you are truly the daddy of them all. You talk so sweetly and intelligently as well and all the time ..thank you very much indeed.
Thank you for keeping it real. if you pay attention to what you're doing with your SKIL saw all of your tips work and I actually learned some new ones.
I'm from the UK, and I have to say with my 40 plus years of experience ...... The is what is lost with "Health and Security" on site today, In my day you learned how to take care of yourself and your mates working around you. Great video. I went from working with a good team to working alone in later years, you just adapt. Thanks I enjoyed that.
I continue to see you do tasks that seem so simple i wonder why I never thought to do such that way. Thats experience and isnt it such a blessing to be capible of learning from you instead of trail and error or the same old difficult or mistake pron way Ive done. Thank you for all you have taught me.
So much truth in those words. Techniquality is only about half the job. ;-) Sharing the knowledge makes the world a better place every time.
Thank you.
I had TWO teachers, one for quality, and one for speed. You have done an excellent job of combining both!
Thank you again! Due to your channel and the old Larry Haun videos I now own a couple of these saws and use them much more often than all of my other saws (with the exception of my table saw).
Of all of those amazing lessons, the one you seemed proudest of was the sawdust blower function of the saw. Brilliant!
Thank you for this. I'm an apprentice in construction and I'm trying to get more efficient. Stuff like this really help.
Buy the Larry Haun book. It makes you money.
These are all very satisfying to watch. Its also comforting to know I figured a few of these out on my own. Great minds run in the same ditch as my mom said.
So much practical information and teaching...truly amazing. What a craftsman. He should have his own trade school so that he can pass on all of this experience.
The original video is what brought me to this channel! Glad to see an addition
so many great tips and tricks, expressed through experienced knowhow with care and a touch of humor. great video. thanks
I put a metal roof on our house we’re building in the texas hill country, and i used the trick to put the blade backwards on a circular saw to cut my metal roofing! Worked perfectly.
This guy is so good I feel stupid watching. But he is such a good teacher he makes me feel like I can be smart. Awesome guy right here
I totally agree with you I have a lot of friends that get picky about whether it’s a skill saw or circular saw and every single time I have to tell them “it’s the same thing” so I appreciate that someone else agrees with me on that
These seem like such basic, simple things that everybody should know. Yet I did not. Thankyou for your wisdom sir.
Thanks. I've never understood the advantage of the worm drive till seeing this. I'm not as strong as I used to be but I may take this brand new 15 amp side winder back to exchange for the heavier worm drive. We'll see. You're tips and tricks have definitely opened my mind to some new possibilities. I'm not in the trades but I noticed that an added benefit to the way you cut the botch, is that the plug is a wedge. Fastened in from the front side and wedged from the backside, there are situations where that might help to hold the plug in plane without adding a second nailer behind it.
I saw u cut in the first video and I've been trying to mimic it bc your cuts are so great. I live how you are going into the specifics of the technique.
This is my 4th year doing carpentry professionally and I I have never thought of a lot of those tricks, specifically the angled cut around the patch; blew my mind. I am working on building a shop in my basement, and it will feature plywood walls and I hadn't considered how effective I could patch the walls yet. That is an awesome trick
I have been using a skill saw for 35 years and I always get something out of these.
Fun to see you cut shims like that! I cut them the same way and I don't remember anyone showing me this method I just came up with it on my own!
Thank you Sir! Worm Drive saws are basically unavailable where I live and frankly, I do more furniture building (I don't build houses). These videos of yours have been welcome and informative and I'm grateful to you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It is interesting how the knowledge gets applied in different areas of work and how we can take a little idea from here and a little idea from there, put them together and get something that (perhaps) wasn't thought of, so thanks. Greetings from Nigeria.
Used 7" Skilsaws are in the US on eBay and Facebook Marketplace all the time. Maybe friends in the US could bring some when returning to Nigeria. I buy Skilsaw gear oil online at Etsy.
@@markprange2430 Thanks for the heads up but in all honesty, getting hold of a skilsaw is not a priority for me, especially with the voltage difference, it becomes impracical. But beyond that, I have access to the tools I need. Sidewinders are not that dreadful ...Thanks!
Haven't even started watching the video but I found myself instantly clicking the like button. I hope you and your family is well and healthy! Love from Europe.
Same!
I learned how to use a skillsaw with a sidewinder, and living on the east coast I honestly never saw a rear handle or worm drive in my life until around 2020. That's around a decade of using circular saws, but I saw a worm drive and knew I had to have it! These videos are great for helping me switch to a rear handle.
I finally bought a worm drive Skill last year because of your video, and I simply love it!
I have been building stuff for years and i defiantly learned some new techniques from this video. I cant wait to try some of these tips
You never cease to amaze. Keep those videos coming sir.
My friend, you are amazing! I love your videos and all the experience you have to share with us. Thank you for the beautiful work.
You are the reason to buy a circular saw I have it for 4 years now and I made a lot of stuff 3 king beds with ruff lumber and many many things in ur home!! Soon we start renovating floors demolishing ECT... Thanks for the tips and safety!! Always loved your videos. And always you guys gives me a boost to do things even concrete!! Cheers from Greece!!!
Thankyou, I have used your advice and now cut without straight edges and many other things I used to do before sawing. Your videos are informative and confidence building and thankyou for sharing with us.
The father everybody needs!
Thanks!
I know why I watch, never to old to learn ( and be entertained) 👍🙃
hi. I've just found your site, and immediately you're making sense. Just to add to the point you made about visualising the 90 degree square/angle, it is a very good method, or technique in not only cutting but really , in everything we do. The point you made about finding a straighter line with the circular saw the faster you chase that line along the surface, well its the same with ridding a bike, the faster you go the straighter the line. And to add to that, I found the further I look out in front of me while ridding, the surer and straighter my ridding line will be. Which is very important when rider a fast motorcycle. So I feel the same applies to cutting a line with a circular saw, look out to the finish point and trust yourself. Try this for an experiment, draw a line on a board, start cutting on that line then look out and focus on that end point, then look back to see how accurately you cut on that line. I bet you you'll find it cut perfectly on the line. Great videos. Thanks so much for making them.
That final procedure was genius! I know about beveling dry wall patches, but never realized the same technique could be done with the skill saw for plywood.
Love these videos. Sure wish we had UA-cam in the 80’s but I wouldn’t change having my dad and grandpa schoolin me on power tools when I was a kid.
A legend I learn so much from every time time I watch! Thank you!
Been using a skill saw since I was 12 years old. I've ran both worm drives and direct drives. I've also learned from a young age that you should get comfortable with operating tools with both your left and right hand this way when you need to use a saw or a tool in a certain position it'll be a breeze and reduce the risk of an injury. Skill saws can also be used to make dado cuts and be used to as a planer. With the wide range of blades out there it's best to have a couple saws especially if you plan on using it to cut steel and concrete as they wear the shoe down and can possibly mark up wood.
What do you see as the benefit to the worm drive, considering it's so much heavier / unwieldy?
Mainly the power behind it will cut thru some of the hardest woods. Plus it gives your arms a good workout
@@timm439 Another pistol shooting analogy... "heavy = steady". Heavier is easier to keep steady. Harder to carry though, harder to hold up if you need to.
Thank you for all of your content , and sharing your priceless wisdom .
National treasure for today's times.
safety third. family first.
God Bless your home.
Few years ago when I was working on my house, I wanted tips on how to use a circular saw. Ended up finding your pro tips video, and although the tips were far more advanced than what I've needed or used, I ended up loving the channel.
Also glad to see the channel is doing well enough to chop up $1000's (joking) in wood for a video.
Great video, I learnt to frame with a skilsaw in California in my 20s. I moved back to the UK in my 30s and had to use sidewinders and then left bladed battery saws (closer to the skil ) your video has just made me realise how much you drop the saw and how much more effective it is as a result. For years I missed my mag 77. The track saw solved some sheet cutting issues but it's not quick to set up. Then I got a 36v makita rear handle and while it's not a worm drive it handles the drop like a skilsaw, it's like working with an old friend. My first fix work is so much easier with it. I still wish I could do the kind of work I did in the States. Keep up your great channel. 👍
Dewalt do a flexvolt worm drive saw available in the UK, not cheap but I have heard good things and plan on investing in one
The drop-saw advice was a good one for this guy.
This video belongs in UA-cam's hall-of-fame; unbelievably, perfect.
I'm pretty sure I heard on 1of your video s that Mr. Swan pssed away. Reason I'm posting something is because am a retired Saw Filer & I learned to gas wield up cracks,build up shoulders anel Retip anyway l learned a lot. But I saw something tonight that i knew but have not been able to retain tel I watched Sy silver solder a knife heilt on.
I believe this world needs meny more folks like Mr. Syr Swan & your self. Thank for all your Info.
I’m 19 doing drywall since like 15 now doing framing love it drywall measuring helped a lot going in to it but love these vids learn something new everyday 🙏🏽
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… you are a surgeon with that skillsaw! 🙌🙌🙌
My jaw was permanently dropped the last ten minutes of the video, amazing stuff!
Thank you for making these videos. They're interesting, helpful and entertaining.
Likely my favorite tool.Thanks for the masterclass.
as always, your videos are comprehensive and your voice tone is great for your presentations---Mikey, in Belfair, Wa
Done some remodeling, repair and residential construction. Ran into all kind of problems on mobile homes. Wormdrive Skilsaw saves the day. Might want to give new cordless wormdrive a try. My brother and I like short cord , 1 or 2 feet as we always use extention cords anyway.
Truly appreciate the time you put into this..If nothing else... Tracing, rather than taking 4 measurements w/long or short points was a helluva takeaway for DIYers. Thank you.
Absolute "geniousity" and most eloquently stated with excellent content. Amazing stuff!!! A+
Love all the skills videos. I remember watching my dad and uncles build all kinds of stuff and all the crazy stuff I have seen them do with saws. I bet many people watching these have no idea that what you are showing is just the a small amount of what is actually done. I seen the tool belt used as a harness to a rafter while cutting upside down more than once and all the crazy ways of measuring and then yelling those measurements to the ground guy and somehow it all fits.