Plunge Cut
Affiliate link — we may earn a commissionA plunge cut starts in the middle of a workpiece instead of from an edge. With a circular saw, you retract the blade guard, rest the front of the baseplate on the material, and lower the spinning blade into the surface. With a jigsaw, you tilt the tool forward on the shoe until the blade enters, then level out. A track saw plunges by design. An oscillating multi-tool plunges with a flat blade. Plunge cuts are used for cutouts in subfloor (around pipes and vents), countertop sink openings, and any situation where you can't start from the edge.
Why It Matters
Without plunge cutting, the only way to make a cutout in the middle of a panel is to drill a starter hole and use a jigsaw. That works, but it's slow. A circular saw plunge cut is faster for straight lines in subfloor and sheathing. Practice the technique on scrap first, because a bad plunge can bind the blade and kick the saw.