Once you’ve double measured the space and meticulously made plans for your custom shelves, it’s finally time to start cutting the lumber. There are many different types of saws that can help with this task and each specializes in different methods of cutting wood. Table saws are best suited to long rip cuts on narrow boards, while miter saws (aka chop saws) are best suited to short cross-cuts. Jigsaws are ideal for wavy, circular, and other non-linear cuts. Ryobi makes all these tools, but a good circular saw is probably the best they make for cutting custom shelves.
Circular saws excel at making straight cuts on long lengths of wood. It’s the best tool for breaking down large sheets of plywood and for making cross-grain cuts on boards that are too wide to fit on a miter saw. They also tend to be a lot cheaper.
Ryobi makes several of these, but it’s hard to go wrong with the basic 7¼-inch Circular Saw. You can spend more money on a cordless saw if you want, but you can’t beat the power, reliability, and affordability of the plug-in model. This tool has a 13-amp motor, (though they also sell 14- and 15-amp versions,) which should be more than sufficient for all but the densest hardwoods. It comes with a 20-tooth, carbide-tipped combination blade. It has a built-in guide that you can use to line up your cuts and has depth adjustment settings that you can use to minimize tear out and keep the saw from hitting the floor when cutting on plank supports.
