Can You Cut Drywall with A Circular Saw? [Straight Answer]

Last Updated On May 2, 2023

Circular saw is a basic tool every woodworker possesses. Although versatile and very useful, circular saws are particularly good for cutting large timbers, cutting Windsor and door frames with a bevel cut, cross-cutting, etc.

But can you cut drywall with a circular saw? Yes, you can easily cut a board of drywall with a circular saw but it is not the best fitted tool for drywall cutting. We don’t recommend you use a circular saw to cut up drywall.

Keep on reading to know why circular saws aren’t suitable for cutting drywall.

Can You Cut Drywall With A Circular Saw?

In our experience, yes, a circular saw can cut through drywall easily but in doing so, a lot of dust is produced. When you inhale so much of the drywall particles floating around, it may cause issues in your respiratory system.

On the other hand, it is very tough to achieve a clean cut on drywall using a circular saw. You will need to spend time and effort to finish the cut and smoothen it up. So, can you cut drywall with a circular saw? Yes, quite easily. But should you? We think that’s a solid no.

What Is The Best Tool To Use To Cut Drywall?

You already know a circular saw isn’t the best at cutting drywall. However, what should you use instead? We think that a Dremel rotary tool is not only safe but also an easy way to cut through drywall.

This power cutting tool has a small blade coming out of a tubular attachment that can cleanly cut up drywall and other materials such as wood or plastic. The reason why we chose this tool is its precise cutting that doesn’t leave any uneven edges to clean up later with finishing tools. Also, there isn’t an excess of dust produced when cutting drywall with a Dremel rotary. So, there’s no risk to your health.

Moreover, this tool is portable as you can run it on battery. You can get these tools with different blades attached to them. The size and structure of the blades vary based on the function you need to perform.

How Harmful Is Drywall Dust?

Drywall dust isn’t harmful if you have to deal with only a little bit of it. Even continued exposure of small amounts of drywall dust doesn’t develop any disease. However, too much of it irritates your eyes, nose, and respiratory tract.

As drywall is made of gypsum, you can blame this chemical compound for the possible discomfort caused by excess drywall dust. Drywall dust is very fine and if you are a carpenter or someone who fixes drywall on a regular basis, wear a dust mask to prevent occurrence of asthma-like respiratory distress symptoms that can show up in the long term.

So to sum up, even with regular work involving cutting drywall, in case you do your best to control drywall dust and wear a mask when cutting drywall, you should have nothing to worry about. Also, wear your mask while sanding drywall.

Can You Cut Drywall With A Jigsaw?

Yes, cutting drywall with a jigsaw is common practice.

In addition to a jigsaw, you will also need a utility knife, saw blade, drill, drill bit, carpentry pencil, square speed, and drywall rasp. The jigsaw is most useful to make interior cuts on the drywall while you cut most of it with your utility knife. Here are the 3 cuts you can use to cut drywall with a jigsaw.

1. Rectangular Cut

Start by marking the cutting line on your piece of drywall. Using a combination square in addition to a bubble level, you can then cut the sheetrock in a straight and precise manner.

2. Standard Cut

You want to press the jigsaw blade into the drywall to cut a whole into it. You don’t want to put too much force into it as sheetrock cuts pretty easily under a bit of pressure. This way you make a standard cut without any additional tools.

3. Plunge Cut

You need to start by marking the line you want to cut along. Place the blade so that it is in alignment with the marking without actually touching it. The heel of the jigsaw should be resting on the sheetrock while you select an orbital function.

Start the saw up at the highest setting and gently push the blade into the sheetrock till you can see it cutting.

How Do You Cut Drywall Without Cutting Studs?

The process of cutting drywall without damaging the studs behind it can be tricky and require a good deal of pressure.

First, you will need to find the exact location of the study to avoid the area. You can then use a jab saw or utility knife to cut away the surface in a controlled manner.

You should be able to visually locate the studs. If not, knock on the drywall to hear where it’s solid or use a stud finder to scan the drywall. Mark the spot with a pencil.

Cut into the drywall with a utility knife holding it straight and ensuring to get at least half of the drywall depth off. This will take a lot of pressure and you may need to go over the same spot with your knife to make deep cuts. However, a utility knife gives you a lot of control which is mainly what will protect your studs.

Note: Here is a related video on how to cut drywall. Hope you will be benefitted from this.

How Do You Repair Drywall Damage?

Whether you have a large, unattractive hole that has to be repaired or a small one, knowing how to cut drywall correctly is essential for a job well done.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Drywall
2. Dremel rotary tool
3. Utility blade
4. Drywall patch repair kit
5. Drywall screws
6. Stud finder
7. Measuring tape
8. Straight Edge
9. Pencil
10. Fine grit sanding block

For Extensive Repairs:

If the damage is severe, you’ll need to remove the drywall and replace it with a fresh piece.

Step 1: Find and mark the studs that are most near the damage. After that, trace the area you intend to cut out with a straight edge, being careful to expose or overlap a stud on either side of the damage.

Step 2: After that, fit a Dremel oscillating tool with a drywall-cutting blade. This is the best way to cut drywall on the wall. Put it on the wall after turning it on. Allow the blade to do the majority of the job as you slowly move along the outline. Thus, your cut is precise and symmetrical.

Step 3: Now, after cutting drywall with oscillating tool, gently remove the drywall that was damaged. Carefully measure the new wall’s free space. Utilizing the Dremel tool, size the new piece of drywall. Once your cuts are finished, make sure you use a sanding block to remove any rough edges.

Step 4: The new drywall portion should next be secured to the studs with the proper drywall screws. You’ll be prepared to cover the gaps with mesh tape and a coat of joint compound after the new drywall is installed.

For Smaller Repairs:

The drywall repair kit can be all you need, requiring only minimal cutting, if the damage to the wall is less than seven inches in diameter. A small jar of joint compound, a spreader, and a sturdy patch perfect for covering large holes or gouges are typically included in these kits.

Step 1: To prepare the area for the patch installation, use the utility plate to remove any ragged or loose paper. Then use fine-grit paper to sand it. When the area is smooth, use a cloth to clean it and remove any dust. After that, apply the self-adhesive patch over the hole and push it firmly in place.

Step 2: Finish up your repair by covering the area with several coats of joint compound to hide the roughness of the patch. Sand the patch, prime it, and then paint it to make the repair blend in with the wall.

Final Words

If you like doing repair work around the house to keep with its maintenance, chances are you were confronted with the task of cutting drywall. Small and large drywall damage are common on walls, especially, caused by water. There are so many ways in which you can cut up drywall.

However, as explained above, a circular saw is one of the least efficient ways to do it because circular saw is a basic tool for every woodworker process. Instead invest in a Dremel oscillatory tool that can easily make plunge cuts on your drywall without leaving behind jagged edges and a cloud of drywall dust.