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How to use a Bosch circular saw

Updated: October 2026

You have the saw on the bench in a UK garage, or you are about to, and the first cut is the one that wanders, binds, or throws dust across the kitchen. This is how to use a Bosch circular saw for a straight cut in wood: set the depth, support both sides, follow the line, and let the blade stop. It assumes one of the saws in the [Bosch circular saw comparison](/hub/power-saws/bosch-circular-saw) is already chosen, and it does not rank them. The depth rule is from the UniversalCirc en-GB manual. The guard and plug points are the general UK advice from Electrical Safety First. Where a step belongs to one listing only, the text says so.

You have the saw on the bench in a UK garage, or you are about to, and the first cut is the one that wanders, binds, or throws dust across the kitchen.

Our top picks

Bosch Professional Bosch Professional cordless circular saw

Best overall

Bosch Professional Bosch Professional cordless circular saw
9.0/10about £171
View offer
Bosch Bosch PKS 55 corded circular saw

Best value

Bosch Bosch PKS 55 corded circular saw
8.1/10about £87
View offer
Bosch Bosch UniversalCirc 18V-53 solo

Alternative

Bosch Bosch UniversalCirc 18V-53 solo
7.8/10about £85
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Set the depth and check the guard
  2. 2.Support the work so the kerf cannot close
  3. 3.Follow the line, then make a test cut
  4. 4.Dust, noise, and when to stop

Set the depth and check the guard

On the UniversalCirc, the manual tells you to set the blade so that less than one full tooth projects under the workpiece. Bevel cuts come out shallower than the depth scale, so test a 45 degree pass in scrap first. The EasyCirc bullets stop at 48 mm, the UniversalCirc states 53 mm, and the Professional bullets state 57 mm. The PKS 55 depth is blank on amazon and listed as 0–55 mm at 90 degrees on the Bosch DIY GB page. The lower guard should return on its own. Electrical Safety First says to let the blade stop before you set the saw down. Before a blade change, take the battery off a cordless saw, or unplug the PKS 55. If the guard sticks open, stop.

Support the work so the kerf cannot close

Both sides of the cut need something under them. If the offcut sags, the kerf closes on the blade and the saw wants to kick. The fix is support, not a harder push. A door on two trestles with the offcut hanging past the second trestle will pinch about halfway. Leave the blade in the wood until it has stopped, or run the cut through onto a support you placed earlier. Pulling a spinning blade back up the kerf is the kickback pattern ordinary guidance warns about. A hand-held saw in this set sits under BS EN 62841-2-5:2014, and you follow that saw's guard instructions. Clamp the board so the shoe has a flat path. A worktop offcut that rocks on one stand will twist the line. Keep the lead or the battery clear of the falling piece.
Bosch Professional Bosch Professional cordless circular saw

Testsieger

Bosch Professional Bosch Professional cordless circular saw
9.0/10about £171
View offer

Follow the line, then make a test cut

Cut on the waste side of the pencil line. The kerf has width, and a blade on the middle of the line steals the finished size. On the UniversalCirc, CutControl marks are provided for 0 degrees and for 45 degrees. Sight the mark, then cut scrap and measure it. The PKS 55 bullets also name Cut Control. A parallel guide rides the edge of the board. The plastic rail, where a kit includes one, has to sit on the workpiece, which the guide rail page covers. Start the motor before the teeth touch the wood. If a supported cut still burns, the usual causes are a dull blade or a depth set far below the board.

Dust, noise, and when to stop

Wood dust is a real exposure indoors. The Health and Safety Executive expects extraction to an M-class or H-class unit, and respiratory protection at APF 20, with FFP3 as the example, for roughly 15 to 30 minutes on the trigger. A dust adapter still needs a vacuum. The PKS 55 lists no dust bag. No listing states decibels. Get a joiner for an overhead cut, a structural cut, or a worktop joint you cannot redo. Stop if the guard sticks or the motor smells of burning. Cord choice sits on the cordless or corded page. Written 15 October 2026 from the manuals and UK safety pages. No workshop test.

Common questions

How far should the blade stick out under the wood?
The UniversalCirc manual says less than one full tooth under the work. Copy that, then check on scrap. A deeper set leaves more blade in the kerf. Bevel cuts come out shallower than the scale, so test again with the shoe tilted. Use the depth your listing states, 48, 53, or 57 mm, and take the PKS 55 figure from Bosch's DIY page: 0–55 mm at 90 degrees.
How do I use CutControl without missing the line?
Line the mark up for 0 or 45 degrees, then cut scrap and measure it. The mark shows the blade path, and the kerf still has width, so the cut stays on the waste side of the pencil line. The PKS 55 bullets also name Cut Control. Reviewers clamp a straight edge when the cut is longer than a short freehand pass.
Which side of the pencil line do I keep?
Keep the finished side whole and put the kerf on the waste side. A blade on the centre of the line shortens a worktop end. The scrap cut shows how far your mark sits from the tooth. Masking tape on the show face, mentioned in PKS 55 reviews, reduces chipping. It leaves the kerf where it is.
What do I do if the blade binds?
Stop and let the blade finish spinning. The usual cause is an offcut that sagged and closed the kerf. Support both sides, then continue. Pulling a spinning blade back up the kerf is the kickback move. If the guard sticks or the motor smells of burning, leave the cut. Extra force will not open timber that has pinched.
Do I need a mask in a garage?
Outdoors, a short cut sheds dust on the breeze. Indoors, the Health and Safety Executive points to M-class or H-class extraction, and to respiratory protection at APF 20 for roughly 15 to 30 minutes on the trigger. FFP3 is their example. A dust adapter still needs a vacuum. The PKS 55 box lists no dust bag.
When should I stop and hand the cut to a joiner?
Hand over an overhead cut, a structural cut, or a worktop joint you cannot replace. Do the same if other people are at risk, if the guard sticks, or if the motor smells of burning. A supported shelf or decking board, with the depth set, is the cut this page is for. If the saw has already kicked, reset the supports before you go on.

Related pages

Bosch circular saw buying guide

Bosch circular saw

Best Bosch circular saw: match the listing to the job

Bosch cordless or corded circular saw: which to keep

Bosch circular saw guide rail: three different aids

Sources

HSE, GOV.UK and Bosch UK pages listed below, plus the six amazon.co.uk listings in this comparison. Figures read on 15 October 2026.

  1. HSE, cutting and sanding wood (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. HSE, noise duties (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. HSE, work-equipment FAQ (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. Bosch DIY GB circular saws (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. Bosch Professional GKS 18V-57 G, 06016A2101 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. UniversalCirc 18V-53 technical data (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. Bosch Professional AMPShare (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. GOV.UK, returns and refunds (retrieved 15 October 2026)