JU

Joe User

03/05/2005 1:44 PM

why a left handed circular saw?

Why does Porter-Cable sell a left-handed circular saw and, downright
shocking to a lefty, why do I see them actually on the shelf in the
local borg?

-j


This topic has 16 replies

tr

"tinder&kindling"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 12:31 PM

I have had one for five years.
I can't remember who told me about it, but I thought I would give it a
try.

Absolutely Love it.

Cant stand to pickup my old rightbladed Skil saw anymore.

Find someone who has one and try a few cuts.

Bob

It

"IBM5081"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 3:00 PM

Many of the worm-drive circular saws have the blade to the left of the
motor.
Visibility to the line of cut is typically the reason. The saw is still
held in the right hand using the left hand on the knob.
Having both RH and LH saws means that the weight of the motor (and the
bulk of the shoe) can be oriented over the larger piece of lumber or
plywood. when cutting near an edge.
Safety glasses are even more important when the blade is closer to the
user's face than the saw motor. The body of the saw no longer blocks
the chips that fly out the side of the blade guard.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 1:49 PM


"B a r r y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> My lefty friend hates the right handed saws for the above reason.
>
> Thanks!
>
> I've never seen a manual for the left blade saws, I've only used them.
>
> The PC version does not throw up a lot of dust in my face, and the chute
> output can be directed in the direction of the user's choosing. The saw
> is extremely popular with righties in my area.


Well it is often found that we do not actually use some tools in the way
that they were intended to be used. I don't use a TS guard. LOL

Gg

"George"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 5:24 PM


"Joe User" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Why does Porter-Cable sell a left-handed circular saw and, downright
> shocking to a lefty, why do I see them actually on the shelf in the
> local borg?
>
>

Left hand as in lock switch for lefties? Difference, you know. My saw has
the blade left, but the lock right.

I make left and right-handed spoons. Lefties buy two or more, while the
righties pick up one, maybe two.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 1:54 PM


"Joe User" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> George wrote:
>
>> Left hand as in lock switch for lefties? Difference, you know. My saw
>> has
>> the blade left, but the lock right.
>
> I didn't look at the lock. No more than I use a circular saw (haven't
> owned one for a few years) I doubt I would miss the lock if the saw didn't
> have one. I don't really like the idea of locking the power switch on for
> some hand tools, especially those with blades. Drills, OK, belt sander,
> you betcha, but 3+ inches of wicked spinning steel and carbide teeth? I'd
> rather it quit when I let go.

I think he was talking about the lock that prevents the switch from
accidentally being turned on or engaged. Some call it a safety. The safety
is almost impossible to release on some models if the saw is used with the
wrong hand.



Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 4:59 AM


"B a r r y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> A blade on the left saw isn't necessarily a left handed tool.

Actually it is. Read the owners manual for a left blade saw and notice that
the saw is to be held with the left hand.

> The blade on the left allows right handed users to see the blade.

And any excess saw dust that may fly up in your face. There is a reason
that the blade is hard to see when used correctly.



> Lefties have enjoyed this for years.

My lefty friend hates the right handed saws for the above reason.



Ba

B a r r y

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 11:10 AM

Leon wrote:

>>Lefties have enjoyed this for years.
>
>
> My lefty friend hates the right handed saws for the above reason.

Thanks!

I've never seen a manual for the left blade saws, I've only used them.

The PC version does not throw up a lot of dust in my face, and the chute
output can be directed in the direction of the user's choosing. The saw
is extremely popular with righties in my area.

Barry

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 11:28 PM


".HMFIC@1369" <My [email protected]> wrote in message
news:nUPde.11499$yd1.8237@trndny01...
>I looked at one and scratched my head. Quickly decided it's better our
> (lefties way in a right world) way. I could look all the way over to the
> otherside, but damn I've been doing it the "wrong" way for way to many
> years!
>

But the chips will fly to the other side. I've been contemplating one, but
just don't use a circular saw to justify the cost.

Ba

B a r r y

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 2:08 PM

Leon wrote:

>
>
> Well it is often found that we do not actually use some tools in the way
> that they were intended to be used. I don't use a TS guard. LOL
>

I hear ya' there!

Barry

Ba

B a r r y

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 6:49 PM

Joe User wrote:
> Why does Porter-Cable sell a left-handed circular saw and, downright
> shocking to a lefty, why do I see them actually on the shelf in the
> local borg?
>
> -j


A blade on the left saw isn't necessarily a left handed tool.

The blade on the left allows right handed users to see the blade.
Lefties have enjoyed this for years.

It's all about preference.

Barry

JU

Joe User

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 8:23 AM

Lawrence Wasserman wrote:

> Not meaning to be a smartass but the simple answer to both questions
> is supply and demand.

That's a microsoft answer - correct, and totally useless...

JU

Joe User

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

04/05/2005 8:33 AM

George wrote:

> Left hand as in lock switch for lefties? Difference, you know. My saw has
> the blade left, but the lock right.

I didn't look at the lock. No more than I use a circular saw (haven't
owned one for a few years) I doubt I would miss the lock if the saw
didn't have one. I don't really like the idea of locking the power
switch on for some hand tools, especially those with blades. Drills,
OK, belt sander, you betcha, but 3+ inches of wicked spinning steel and
carbide teeth? I'd rather it quit when I let go.

Besides, the lock is sort of like the mag release on a 1911: I'm not
sure I could operate it if it were where it's supposed to be. (:

> I make left and right-handed spoons. Lefties buy two or more, while the
> righties pick up one, maybe two.

Spoon? As in eating utensil? Every one I've ever used is symetric.

How 'bout that, 0.31 seconds with google turns up all kinds of sources
for something I didn't even know existed....

-j

DD

"David D"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 3:17 PM

One of the advantages of being "sinister" in a dexter world is that I had to
become functionally ambidextrous whereas most of my "righty" friends are
solely (okay, some barely) functional with one hand.

HM

".HMFIC@1369"

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 7:01 PM

I looked at one and scratched my head. Quickly decided it's better our
(lefties way in a right world) way. I could look all the way over to the
otherside, but damn I've been doing it the "wrong" way for way to many
years!


"Joe User" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Why does Porter-Cable sell a left-handed circular saw and, downright
> shocking to a lefty, why do I see them actually on the shelf in the
> local borg?
>
> -j

l

in reply to ".HMFIC@1369" on 03/05/2005 7:01 PM

04/05/2005 9:19 AM


tinder&kindling wrote:
> I have had one for five years.
> I can't remember who told me about it, but I thought I would give it
a
> try.
>
> Absolutely Love it.
>
> Cant stand to pickup my old rightbladed Skil saw anymore.
>
> Find someone who has one and try a few cuts.
>
> Bob

lL

[email protected] (Lawrence Wasserman)

in reply to Joe User on 03/05/2005 1:44 PM

03/05/2005 7:38 PM

In article <[email protected]>, Joe User <[email protected]> wrote:
>Why does Porter-Cable sell a left-handed circular saw and, downright
>shocking to a lefty, why do I see them actually on the shelf in the
>local borg?
>
>-j

Not meaning to be a smartass but the simple answer to both questions
is supply and demand.


--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]


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