While there are certainly more efficient tools for cutting a groove in wood, you can still get a fairly good result using just a circular saw and a few basic hand tools.
Routers are probably the most commonly used tools for creating this type of groove or dado, with table saws being a close second. If don’t have access to these tools, then don’t worry about It – you’ll still be able to create a nice-looking groove without them.
I’ll break down exactly how to accomplish this in step-by-step detail, so you’ll be able to cut your own groove in wood with a circular saw in no time.
Jump To:
Tools & Materials
- Circular saw with rip fence
- Speed square
- Pencil or pen
- Clamps
- Chisel
- Hammer or mallet
- Sandpaper
Cutting a Groove in Wood with a Circular Saw – Guide
The basic process of using a circular saw to cut a groove in wood is fairly straightforward and can be repeated with different materials and dimensions depending on what you’re trying to accomplish.
I’ll be making a groove across the length of a board using a rip cut, but you can also use the same principles to make a groove using a cross cut.
For making a groove along the length of a board, a rip fence is going to be your best friend – as it’ll let you make near-perfect straight cuts with any circular saw. For cross-cut grooves, you can use the edge of a speed square as a guide for cutting the edges of your groove.
Step 1: Mark Edges of Groove
The first step is clearly marking the edges of your groove.
I used a speed square and a pencil to mark the edges and a straight ruler to extend the line across the length of the board.
Step 2: Set the Saw’s Blade Depth
Next up, you’ll want to set the saw’s blade depth to your desired groove depth. Most circular saws have an indicator telling you how deep you’ve set the blade, but you’ll want to double-check to make sure it’s cutting to your desired depth.
You can test the cutting depth on a scrap piece of wood to be sure it’s accurate.
Step 3: Position Saw and Set Rip Fence
Next, line up your saw’s blade with the inside of the cut line you drew earlier. You want to keep in mind the blade’s kerf when positioning the blade.
Then line up the rip fence so it’s flat against the edge of the board and secure it in place with the screw or lever.
Step 4: Make a Test Cut
Make sure the board is secured with a pair of clamps and make a tiny test cut with your saw. The goal here is to make sure the blade is properly lined up with the cut line you drew previously.
If it’s off, then reposition the saw and rip fence, and proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Cut the Groove’s Edges
Now, turn on the saw and run it along your line until you reach the edge of the board. Pay particular attention to the end of the cut as this is where people commonly mess up.
Now that you’ve got one outer edge of your groove cut, you’ll want to repeat the same process for the other outer edge.
Step 6: Hollow out Groove with Saw
Once you have the two outer edges cut, you’ll want to hollow out as much material as you can by making a series of cuts inside the groove area.
The goal here is to remove as much as possible, as the more material you leave behind, the more work you’ll need to do when cleaning up the groove.
Step 7: Clean up Leftover Material with Chisel
When you’ve removed as much as you can with your saw, use a sharp chisel along with a hammer or matter to chisel out the leftovers. Keep the chisel flat against the bottom of your groove when chipping away to avoid gouging too deeply into the wood.
When most of the material is removed, go back over it with the chisel once again, shaving away any excess wood protruding out of the bottom of your groove.
Step 8: Clean up Groove with Sandpaper
Now comes the part where you need to use a little elbow grease!
Use a piece of medium to rough grit sandpaper to clean up the groove and sand any imperfections smooth. This is a bit of a tough job as you’ll probably have to hand-sand the groove smooth – as powered sanders are unlikely to fit inside your groove.
