In advance of purchasing a new circular saw, I have been googling to
understand the pros/cons of blade left vs. right saws.

Can someone confirm that this is the right summary understanding:

For RIGHTIES:
Blade right: easier to hold & balance, potentially safer since
dust and chips don't blow back in your face

Blade left: allows you to see the cut line easier since it is in
your line of sight

For LEFTIES:
Blade right: allows you to see the cut line easier since it is in
your line of sight

Blade left: easier to hold & balance, potentially safer since
dust and chips don't blow back in your face

The takeaway for me is that as a lefty who usually holds the circ saw
in the left hand and to-date has only used blade right saws, I would
probably be best off continuing with a blade-right saw. Particularly,
since like many lefties, I am partially ambidextrous and can hold the
saw in my right hand if need be.

Does that make sense?

The takeaway for me is that as a lefty who usually holds the circ saw
in the left hand and to-date has only used blade right saws, I would
probably be best off continuing with a blade-right saw. Particularly,
since like many lefties, I am partially ambidextrous and can hold the
saw in my right hand if need be.

Does that make sense?

Absolutely. This subject has been beaten to death in the past. I am a
rightly who really likes his lefty saw. One of the things that I took away
from prior discussions is that it's tough for alot of people who are
well-seasoned right-handed right-saw users to make the switch. "what you are
used to" seems to be the big tie-breaker.

For me, a left-saw seemed to make somuch more sense, any was not "burdened"
by much experience with a hand-held circular saw.

-Steve

"blueman" wrote in message
...
In advance of purchasing a new circular saw, I have been googling to
understand the pros/cons of blade left vs. right saws.

Can someone confirm that this is the right summary understanding:

For RIGHTIES:
Blade right: easier to hold & balance, potentially safer since
dust and chips don't blow back in your face

Blade left: allows you to see the cut line easier since it is in
your line of sight

For LEFTIES:
Blade right: allows you to see the cut line easier since it is in
your line of sight

Blade left: easier to hold & balance, potentially safer since
dust and chips don't blow back in your face

The above is correct. There is an indicator mark on the front edge ff the
foot of the saw. This is what you SHOULD use to align the saw and guide the
cut.
Although like most people that do not use a blade guard with a TS many also
like to watch the blade and line being cut. Neither method is correct.


The takeaway for me is that as a lefty who usually holds the circ saw
in the left hand and to-date has only used blade right saws, I would
probably be best off continuing with a blade-right saw. Particularly,
since like many lefties, I am partially ambidextrous and can hold the
saw in my right hand if need be.

Does that make sense?

It makes since but is incorrect. Regardless of which hand you use, the
motor of the saw should be between you and the blade.

"Stephen M" wrote in message
...

For me, a left-saw seemed to make somuch more sense, any was not
"burdened"
by much experience with a hand-held circular saw.

-Steve


It does make more since if you also believe that standing in line with the
blade of a TS makes more since than to the side of the blade. While left
and right hand saws are understood to many as a convenience it is really a
personal safety feature.

Leon wrote:


It does make more since if you also believe that standing in line with the
blade of a TS makes more since than to the side of the blade. While left
and right hand saws are understood to many as a convenience it is really a
personal safety feature.

Not to be a grammar bitch, but "sense" is the word you are looking for.
"Since" is usually used as a measure of time, like.

It's been years since I've seen anyone cut their finger off with a
blade left circular saw.

"blueman" wrote in message
...
In advance of purchasing a new circular saw, I have been googling to
understand the pros/cons of blade left vs. right saws.


I have the right tilt. I'm sticking with it because it is so hard to find
blades for the left tilt.

"blueman" wrote in message
...
In advance of purchasing a new circular saw, I have been googling to
understand the pros/cons of blade left vs. right saws.

Can someone confirm that this is the right summary understanding:

For RIGHTIES:
Blade right: easier to hold & balance, potentially safer since
dust and chips don't blow back in your face

Blade left: allows you to see the cut line easier since it is in
your line of sight

For LEFTIES:
Blade right: allows you to see the cut line easier since it is in
your line of sight

Blade left: easier to hold & balance, potentially safer since
dust and chips don't blow back in your face

The takeaway for me is that as a lefty who usually holds the circ saw
in the left hand and to-date has only used blade right saws, I would
probably be best off continuing with a blade-right saw. Particularly,
since like many lefties, I am partially ambidextrous and can hold the
saw in my right hand if need be.

Does that make sense?

If you live East of the Rockies, sidewinders or prevalent. West, worm
drives rule the roost.
I too am ambidextrous but I find myself cutting with my MAG77 while holding
stock with my left hand and the saw with my right.

Dave

Dave



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In article ENGVe.22254$Qv6.16958@trndny04,
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

"blueman" wrote in message
...
In advance of purchasing a new circular saw, I have been googling to
understand the pros/cons of blade left vs. right saws.


I have the right tilt. I'm sticking with it because it is so hard to find
blades for the left tilt.

You can use your right-tilt blades on a left-tilt saw. You just have
to feed the material in from the back of the saw.

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:54:08 +0000 (UTC), Roy Smith wrote:
In article ENGVe.22254$Qv6.16958@trndny04,
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

I have the right tilt. I'm sticking with it because it is so hard to find
blades for the left tilt.

You can use your right-tilt blades on a left-tilt saw. You just have
to feed the material in from the back of the saw.

You people aren't seriously still buying polarized blades, in this
century, are you?

If you live East of the Rockies, sidewinders or prevalent. West, worm
drives rule the roost.

Hmm. I thought the opposite.

I'm kinda sorta ambidextrous. I write with my left hand and throw a
baseball with my right. I hold a circular saw with my left and operate
a mouse with my right.

My circular saw is a right sided sidewinder. However, I'd love to find
a right sided wormdrive. The only one I've seen is the Porter-Cable
trimmer. It's too small.

"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
oups.com...

Leon wrote:


It does make more since if you also believe that standing in line with
the
blade of a TS makes more since than to the side of the blade. While left
and right hand saws are understood to many as a convenience it is really
a
personal safety feature.

Not to be a grammar bitch, but "sense" is the word you are looking for.
"Since" is usually used as a measure of time, like.

How about you work on a plug in that lets the spell checker read my mind.

It's been years since I've seen anyone cut their finger off with a
blade left circular saw.

Or perhaps a left handed circle saw.

"Teamcasa" wrote in message
...

If you live East of the Rockies, sidewinders or prevalent. West, worm
drives rule the roost.


And the only reason that those on the east side of the Rockies use the
predominately left bladed sidewinder is because they want to have al least
on foot on the shore side of the cliff when they cut too deep and whack off
the west side of California. :~)

"Leon" wrote in message
. ..

"Teamcasa" wrote in message
...

If you live East of the Rockies, sidewinders or prevalent. West, worm
drives rule the roost.


And the only reason that those on the east side of the Rockies use the
predominately left bladed sidewinder is because they want to have al least
on foot on the shore side of the cliff when they cut too deep and whack
off the west side of California. :~)

Umm Make that the west side of th Rockies

Dave Hinz writes:
On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:54:08 +0000 (UTC), Roy Smith wrote:
In article ENGVe.22254$Qv6.16958@trndny04,
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

I have the right tilt. I'm sticking with it because it is so hard to find
blades for the left tilt.

You can use your right-tilt blades on a left-tilt saw. You just have
to feed the material in from the back of the saw.

You people aren't seriously still buying polarized blades, in this
century, are you?

So what if anything is the difference between a "right-tilt" and a
"left-tilt"? I would have thought that you just flipped the blade
around... what am I missing?

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 17:20:44 GMT, blueman wrote:

In advance of purchasing a new circular saw, I have been googling to
understand the pros/cons of blade left vs. right saws.

What I find interesting in this discussion is that virtually no one
takes into account the kind of work environment the saw will be used
in, which explains why the right blade sidewinder is so prevalent.

On a framing job, many cuts on 2x materials are made either on a set
of horses, or on the deck of the house over the edge or stair opening.
The work sits on the support and the waste hangs over the edge. For a
right handed user, the most logical work position has the left hand
(and often a knee) holding down the work, while the right hand (and
right bladed saw) cuts to the line and the cutoff falls away. The
weight of the saw is supported by the work.

Now, while it seems logical that a right handed operator would be
better off with a left handed blade, that's only true if the work AND
the waste are supported, as the weight of the saw is primarily on the
cut off.

I have both left and right blade saws, and for work on framing in a
framing environment, a right blade saw is definitely more convenient
(I'm right handed). However, if I'm in a situation where I can support
the waste as well as the work, the left blade saw is easier.

I would think, given the foregoing, that a left hander would be better
off with a left blade saw.

Unlike the left tilt/right tilt question with a table saw, it's more
than just "what you're used to" with circular saws, as was shown
above.


--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

"LRod" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 17:20:44 GMT, blueman wrote:

I would think, given the foregoing, that a left hander would be better
off with a left blade saw.

Unlike the left tilt/right tilt question with a table saw, it's more
than just "what you're used to" with circular saws, as was shown
above.


I think you hit the nail on the head... But given that, those that live on
the far left of the country prefer the left blade saw. :~)

7 1/4" Left Blade PC
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/w...ort/423mag.htm

-Brian

"Never Enough Money" wrote in message
ups.com...

If you live East of the Rockies, sidewinders or prevalent. West, worm
drives rule the roost.

Hmm. I thought the opposite.

I'm kinda sorta ambidextrous. I write with my left hand and throw a
baseball with my right. I hold a circular saw with my left and operate
a mouse with my right.

My circular saw is a right sided sidewinder. However, I'd love to find
a right sided wormdrive. The only one I've seen is the Porter-Cable
trimmer. It's too small.

So what if anything is the difference between a "right-tilt" and a
"left-tilt"? I would have thought that you just flipped the blade
around... what am I missing?

Surely you'd then be "cutting" with the back of the teeth?

"blueman" wrote in message

So what if anything is the difference between a "right-tilt" and a
"left-tilt"? I would have thought that you just flipped the blade
around... what am I missing?

A very dry sense of humor

Cherokee-Ltd wrote:
7 1/4" Left Blade PC
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/w...ort/423mag.htm

-Brian

Not quite on two counts. Your link above shows a left bladed
sidewinder. I want a worm-drive, not a sidewinder.

Also, I want a right bladed sidewinder worm-drive becasue I'm left
handed.

My explanation below was probably a bad one. Sorry.



My circular saw is a right sided sidewinder. However, I'd love to find
a right sided wormdrive. The only one I've seen is the Porter-Cable
trimmer. It's too small.