Advice on circular saw please
 

Hello! I'm a bit of a tool novice, bought a 'skil' circular saw a couple months ago to cut fence panels etc. It worked great at first but now it is cutting very slowly and I find I have to push it to get through (which I understand you are not supposed to do generally). Could the blade be dull already? It is a corded model so it's not a battery problem. I accidentally cut into some rubbery material with it once (long story) could this have damaged or gummed-up the blade somehow? I think I have the blade tightened correctly because I don't get any problems with slipping, etc but maybe I'm wrong about this. One more thing, I bought a very small tooth blade for it because I hear they make 'neater' cuts (less splintering), do these wear out easier? I know the smaller teeth will cut slower in general but it was much faster when I first used the blade than it is now. Advice greatly appreciated!

Try putting a new balde on, they are not that expensive. You shouldn't have to force the cut, the saw should be able to cut without to much pressure.

I don't use my circular saw every day but this is the blade that I have been the most happy with. 7-1/4 in. x 24 Tooth Carbide Circular Saw Blade-D0724R at The Home Depot
It has a very thin kerf and just flys through the lumber. Pine or MDF... makes no difference.

Did you happen to put the blade on backwards?

The small teeth will wear out more quickly, especially if they are not carbide. Get the blade appropriate for the job... A neater cut doesn't make framing any better, or mdf requires finer teeth than cdx plywood, for example. Also, be aware that saw blades have a "break in" period. Use 1/3 to 1/2 of normal force for the first handful of cuts, then cut as usual.

Most blades that come with a new saw aren't the best quality. Change the blade with a new carbide tip teeth. You'll be surprised.

Rubber-coated teeth can be problematic. Try giving them a vigorous scrub using an old toothbrush and lacquer thinner. And once clean, look them over carefully under a bright light. If the point and edges of each tooth are not "crisp," consider having it professionally sharpened. Around here the going rate is $0.25 per tooth, so a 40-tooth blade will cost $10. If it's a cheapo blade, don't waste your $$$ on sharpening, just invest in a higher-quality blade (and stay away from old tires with it!).

I agree with you. Just try a new blade.

...and make sure, like earlier mentioned, make sure the blade rotation is correct. The blade should have an arrow on it. Oh, and read the manual! You'd be surprsied what a little knowledge can do... ;)

new blade.

try Harbor Freight if you don't want to spend a ton of money on guessing... JMO