An undercut saw is a tool used in woodworking and construction to cut door jambs and trim when installing solid flooring. It is essentially an upside-down circular saw with a flat circular blade that can be used parallel to the floor. The blade can be adjusted vertically, but the process is slow and has flaws. Undercut saws typically have a vacuum port for safety, but peripheral height adjustments can interfere with it.
An undercut saw is a tool used in woodworking and construction. An undercut saw is very similar to a standard circular saw. In fact, it’s essentially an upside-down circular saw. Although used for cutting materials, an undercut saw has a slightly different function and purpose than a standard circular saw.
When installing flooring materials such as wood into an existing home or building, you may need to cut door jambs or trim so the flooring fits under the door. This is especially necessary when carpeting is being replaced by solid flooring. When using carpet, the jamb and trim are installed all the way down to the sub-floor, which creates problems when installing solid floors. When solid flooring replaces carpet, it’s usually necessary to trim the jamb and trim just above the subfloor. If this is not done, the result after laying the floor against the trim is an unattractive gap that extends all the way down to the sub-floor.
The process of cutting the cornice and jamb was done manually before the invention of the undercut saw, as there were no tools capable of cutting parallel to the sub-floor and as close to the sub-floor as possible. The distance between the trim and the floor is typically about 1.75 inches (about 4.45 cm), so common saw motors were too large to fit in this space. The only options were to cut them by hand or to remove the trim and jambs and then cut them. Both options required a lot of time and high cutting accuracy.
Undercut saws consist of a rotating electric motor that drives a flat circular blade horizontally. The cutting unit is guided by a base which provides not only a stable surface for cutting but also a non-slip sliding action. The blade is attached to a flange which extends away from the plane and this blade is then attached to a drive shaft and configured in such a way as to allow it to be used parallel to the floor.
The blade can be adjusted vertically, but the method of doing so has its flaws. It is usually a slow process and the fasteners need manual adjustment. Because of the need for peripheral adjustments, it is often difficult to ensure that the blade stays level.
Undercut saws typically also provide a vacuum port for safety. This accessory ensures that all cuttings are captured. Unfortunately, peripheral height adjustments often interfere with the vacuum attachment, making using the undercut saw complex and difficult at times.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
