# How much danger am I in running my circular saw backwards?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-danger-am-i-in-running-my-circular-saw-backwards/855341>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 10, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-danger-am-i-in-running-my-circular-saw-backwards/855341 "2020-06-10T02:13:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-danger-am-i-in-running-my-circular-saw-backwards/855341/21 "2020-06-10T22:46:25Z")

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I had a laminate blade on order but it only just arrived this afternoon. The existing blade has a reasonably small tooth pitch, maybe 1/2". But it does have a sharp rake.

In principle, it feels like the blade exiting the already-cut part should not catch and lift the laminate part. At least that’s what I reasoned by seeing the good quality on the bottom edge. Since I don’t care about the quality there (particularly since it would have been sandwiched between plywood and particleboard), flipping would have been a good solution; it just wasn’t super practical at this point.

I’d kinda wanted a router anyway and it simplifies another part of the project (cutting a hole for cords to pass through), so I figured I’d go that route.

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**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-danger-am-i-in-running-my-circular-saw-backwards/855341/22 "2020-06-10T23:08:22Z")

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> [@Dr.Strangelove](#):
>
> … Another way to cut that would be more effective? Some other tool I could use (a table saw is out, but a router might be acceptable)?

Have you tried switching to a circular blade made for trim and moulding? They’re the ones with the tiny teeth.

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