My son is left handed. Should I get him a circular saw with the blade on the left side? He has never used a circular saw much but now has a house, a family, and needs one. I am right handed so it’s difficult for me to make a judgement.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Replies
It really depends. I'm a lefty and I always used my dad's worm drive saw because it fit me better, but the thing weighs a ton. I used the right ones (cheap B&D), just got a ton of dust on my clothes. I recently bought a nice new PC (blade left) with a good base and I love it. Don't want to go back to the right one. Hope this helps.
Edited 12/13/2004 9:09 pm ET by bones
Bones -
You say "with a good base". Do the PC circular saws have optional bases?? All I've seen are the cast magnesium ones.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
By good base, I mean the porter cable has a very sturdy Magnesium base. It is strong but light. I have the 743 which I don't think they make any more. It is the same as the 347 except for the blade left. The new model has a blade brake and an easy change blade option. The base is 1.5" from the blade side to the blade and from the opposite edge it is 5" away. makes it easy to clamp the straight edge and know where the cut will be. It has a good dust chute and I use a hose accessory that fits the PC routers and hook it to my shop vac and when I cut MDF, it gets about 90% of the dust. I Got mine at Coastal tool for $119.00. I think big boxes carried it for $129.00. I bought mine with a Forrest WWII for cutting plywood sheets down into smaller sizes. It comes with a nice case, but then most of them do now-a-days. Good luck, your a good dad.
http://media.ptg-online.com/media/pc/Owners%20Manuals/20021115200000_En%20900004%20-%2006-07-02.pdf
Planewood,
I'm left handed too...but have always used right handed circular saw. Personally, I don't think it matters. However, if it were me I'd buy a left handed one simply because it's more considerate and thoughtful...(damn, I'm sounding like my wife now)
It really depends on your son. Take him to a tool store and have him try both, see what feels more comfortable to him.
Both my sons are lefties, though I'm a righty. Each of my boys has things they can do better right-handed than left-handed. Only experimentation will tell.
Chad -
I'd like to do that but he lives 2000 miles away and I want to have this dropped shipped for Christmas.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
Would it be awful to call and ask him? It'd remove the surprise aspect, but it's easier than him either using a saw that might be dangerous for him or trying to swap it off for the other.
I hate when I have touse my righty saw lefty. Way too easy to stick a hand in that blade.
Mike, a lefty is truly better suited for a lefty. If there was a decent right worm drive I would own it but instead because I'm a righty I have to suffer through all that saw dust in my face. Unfortunately the pusher style saw is the best when ripping a sheet of ply and general construction type work. My buddy is a lefty and he hates my righty for the the same reasons I hate the lefty.
The Porter Cable 423 MAG is probably the nicest lefty out there right now. It also includes a hard plastic case and has the new quick release blade. List is $266.00, I sell them for $159.00 so you should be able to find one for around that price. I am currently out of stock and I doubt if I'll get any in before Christmas. If you think you might want to get him that saw and have trouble finding it for and equal or less amount then let me know and I can hot order it for you on a direct ship and it should get there by Christmas.
Sincerely;
The Tool Guy
I am left handed & always prefered the saws with the blade on the right side. It is easier to see the line I am cutting to. I always thought those saws were designed by a left handed person. About 3 years ago I bought a saw with the blade on the left because I needed a saw that beveled the other direction. The only time I use it is to cut bevels. I have been a carpenter for thirty years & it is to late to change now.
I think it all stems from what you begin with. The saw you learn with is what you get used to, and if you have to use the other at some point it is awkward at first, but eventually you get used to that. I am sort of ambidextrous, write with my right hand, throw with my left. I had a worm drive for my first saw, built a house with it, and I liked being able to see the blade when cutting with my right hand (which is my preferred saw hand). I eventually tired of the weight, and got a Porter Cable, because it was the only saw available as a lefty. I can't say enough about that saw. My first one got dropped off a 2 1/2 story roof onto concrete, and I was able to finish cutting out ridge vent with it to complete the job before I wrote it off. I replaced it with another one, and eventually got the same saw in a right bladed version for versatility in making difficult cuts. For me, I like to see the blade, so cutting with my right hand I prefer a left blade saw, and cutting with my left hand, I prefer a right bladed saw. I would strongly recommend the porter cable, and would consider the right blade version if he is a lefty. If you buy from a convenient place, he can test for feel, and you can exchange it if he prefers the other side. Hope this helps. regards, daniel
Tough call............ ultimately I think it comes down to what you're comfortable with. 30+ years of being a righty using blade on right makes a left blade saw feel a little uncomfortable to me but on the other hand there are plenty of righties using left blade worm gears and sidewinders who wouldn't have it any other way. Pros and cons to each. For me a blade left saw offers somewhat better visability of the line along with more dust in my face and on end cuts, the saw tending to fall away with the cut off piece. For me the somewhat better visiblity doesn't negate the other two. Does your son work to the left side?; that is measure from right to left and the cut off portion is to the left of him? If so then I think left blade would be my choice. A right blade saw may offer better cut line visibility but being that he hasn't used a circular saw much, he may find the tendency of the saw to fall off disconcerting. You might do a search on Breaktime; the topic has come up several times. You probrably won't get a definite answer but will get a variety of viewpoints.
You've received a good sampling of opinion on this issue; and as someone has suggested this debate goes on all the time at Breaktime.
For my part, I am a right-hander who prefers left bladed circ saws. The big plus is the cut line is more visible, and the down side is (when cutting dimensioned stock), the saw is over the cutoff, and must therefore be balanced with your hand as you complete the cut. I learned quickly to make this adjustment.
For cutting sheet goods, it really doesn't matter -- especially if you use a guide or shooting board.
Everybody has a favorite brand. I like the Skill 77 worm drive for its power and balance, but it's heavy. I just bought a PC Saw Boss (#345), which I like a lot. It is small (6 1/2" blade), lightweight -- and has enough guts to easily cut jack rafters (compound angle) with ease. Both have the blade on the left side of the saw.
For cutting sheet goods with a guide, I still use an ancient Rockwell 7 1/4" (right blade), equipped with a Forrest, and it still glides through, producing splinter free cuts.
So, for your son (left-handed and an inexperience circ saw user), I would suggest getting him a saw with blade right -- mainly because it will be easier for him to see the cut line. In this category, the the saws most favored by the Breaktimers seem to be Milwaukee, Makita, and Porter Cable.
He's is fortunate - he is left handed. He can use either saw with equal ease.
Now if he were right handed......
_________________________________
Michael in San Jose
"In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell
Gees, Maybe I should get him both!
Just kidding! Thanks people. I'm getting him several tools as a Christmas present suprise. I never expected all these opinions on this subject!
I did find that the tools I'm getting him can be ordered at Amazon with NO shipping charges. Getting him a Circular saw, router, ROS, and finish sander (all Porter Cable).
Although this son (#1) helped me a lot on woodworking projects in the past, he has never shown any interest in wood working for himself till now. Funny, but having a house and 3 daughters seems to have pushed him in that direction!
My other son (#2), however, bleeds sawdust when cut!
And a subscription to FWW will go to #1. #2 already has it.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
"Getting him a Circular saw, router, ROS, and finish sander (all Porter Cable)."
Please adopt me!!
"I never expected all these opinions on this subject!"
You've been on this forum HOW long?! lol
BTW, who's Katy, and doesn't she mind your bragging that way?
I live in the town of Katy Texas. Named after the Katy Railroad.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
As the Mexican comic on SNL says, "I'm yost keeding!" Couldn't resist...
Does Roger Clemons still live in Katy?
Edited 12/15/2004 6:14 pm ET by Chad
Don't know about Clemens, but that tall Chinese guy does. I followed the Astro's a little this year. Hardly ever watch sports. Come to think of it, I think Roger lives out in the Woodlands. Thats about 50 miles ENE from here. Also has a big ranch somewhere in Texas, I think.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
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