Circular saws are the workhorses of the construction industry

They're as important to carpenters as computers are to architects. They'll not only rough-cut framing lumber and sheet goods but also, used creatively, serve as a fine precision tool. And they're not just for wood anymore. With a few low-cost specialty blades, you can cut through metal, plastic and masonry, saving you a costly, time-consuming trip to the rental store for some fancy tool.

This article will tell you how to select a saw and show you some of the techniques that construction pros use daily to cut quickly, accurately and safely.

As a builder, I've owned and used circular saws in just about every style and size made-from a 4-1/2 in. panel saw (great for installing cabinets) to a 14-in. behemoth used for trimming out a log home with 10-in. logs. (Saws are classified by their blade diameter.) But the meat-and-potatoes saw you'll find at the fingertips of every carpenter is a high-quality 7-1/4 in. sidewinder. The blade is on the right side of the motor, the same as with most of the saws pictured in this article.

A few years ago, manufacturers began making versions with the blade on the left side of the motor. Some right-handed carpenters prefer them because it's easier to see the blade. The disadvantage for a right- hander is that the main part of the saw base rests on the smaller wood piece that falls off. Neither version is perfect. At the toy store-oops, I mean tool store-get a feel for which version you prefer.