Circular Saw

[Nate]

Ok, maybe someone on here knows the answer.



Why do most direct drive circular saws have the blade on the right hand side of the motor as your holding it?



If you ask me, that is a left hand saw.



BUT if you actually buy a "left hand saw", the blade is on the left hand side of the motor.



I don't understand why a right handed person would want the blade on the side they can't see??

 

[GOlsen]

I think it's a safety feature. Makes you less likely to cut off your other hand with the saw. :{ :{

 

[p-Bar]

It's for right handed people

 

[CDyksman]

Seems to me if the blade is on the other side, your eyes are better protected, as you are not right above the blade. Course, I know everyone wears eye protection when using shop tools.

 

[KSears]

the blade is on the right side of a right handed saw , this way it discharges sawdust away from you instead of at you , second , you don't cut watching the blade ,you should watch the guide on the front of the saw, mos t major saw manufactures make saws both ways , left side blades and right side

 

[Grizzly]

I use circular saws almost daily and right side blade feel right to me. I am right handed. Delta also makes a left handed Unisaw where the blade tilts to the left. My Unisaw tilts right.

 

[Nate]

Yeah I realize you don't need to watch the blade to cut, but it's easier to see the guide and your line and you can stand off to the side.



I usually just end up running it with my left hand. :-laf

 

[REDDODGE]

Being a Carpenter for years I will tell ya nobody watches the guide on the table. watch the blade. In a perfect world the the saws wouldnt be dropped,but with a dozen saws in the truck i dont think one has a straight table. Cutting stairs with the guide on these saws = failed inspection. Also using your left hand with a sidewinder will fill your pouches with sawdust.

 

[JimB1]

Two saftey issues. 1) keeps the kickback line outside of your body. 2) sawline nearly impossible to bring accross your leg when cutting.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Bottomline is you want a worm gear drive anyway. Plus, a left-sided direct drive for those few weird cuts and places. When I was a pup I worked as a carpenter for a decade, before I got an ejewkayshun, 98% of construction sites rely on worm gears as the work horse saw.



Hmmm, do think this will start #@$%!

 

[Nate]

For the cutting I do, worm gear is WAY overkill.



The saw I have is a Black and Decker "Trade" 7. 25" blade.

 

[rbattelle]

WAY overkill.

No such thing when it comes to tools.

I got a worm drive, and glad I did because the power has really come in handy. I recently cut up over 20' of 2x4x0. 125 A36 structural steel with it. Great tool.

Ryan