Left vs Right Circular Saw

[mosthumbleone]

Planning on getting a new circular saw (7.25 - corded) but I'm a little confused. It seems that some right handers prefer the saws with the blade to the left of the motor. What is your dominant hand and which sided saw are you using? Any recommendations on saws? I'm leaning towards the Milwaukee and the Porter-Cable.

MH1

"Making little boards out of big boards for less than one generation."

[TDHofstetter]

I mostly saw right-handed, although sometimes I go the other way if it makes for a better, safer, or more convenient cut. I use a right-blade saw for no really particular reason other'n that my saws all came right-blade. It's a lot more common. I don't see it as being a really important thing, although for certain really tough cuts the saw wants to twist away from the cut slightly (right blade twists clockwise, left blade twists counterclockwise). I find that a right-blade saw is a little easier to control when it twists because I have more strength rotating my right hand counterclockwise than the other way.

Of greatest importance is selecting a saw that (1) does the work you want it to do, (2) is heavy enough to do your toughest work and light enough to be usable as long as you foresee yourself working with it, and (3) fits your hand well. It really needs to be comfortable in your grip, with everything in logical places.

My bigger saw is a DeWalt and my smaller one's a Makita. I use the heavy DeWalt for heavier jobs and the Makita for lighter, finer work. I can work with the Makita about twice as long as I can the DeWalt, but I'd never try doing the same work with it - it'd wreck the li'l blue saw.

That's not a plug for either saw or brand. That's just MY preferences, for MY work and MY hands. Choosing saws is an intimately personal task, one that only YOU can do well.

[dcarter636]

I'm right handed but prefer a left hand c-saw, my current saw is a lefty Porter Cable that allows me to see what the blade is doing.

[Ruffnek]

Some right-handers like to be able to see the blade/cutline without leaning over the saw. That's not all that important to me. Also, since I use my left thumb and forefinger as a guide when cutting near an edge, I kinda like the blade on the opposite side of the saw.

Like Tim wrote, go handle some various brands/models and pick out one that is most comfortable to you. I have a cheap Skil saw and the gyrations I have to go through with my hand just to get the thing to turn on is ridiculous. Plus, the shoe doesn't move up and down very easily so plunge cuts are always an adventure.

But, I use it so infrequently that I live with it.

[fredbelknap]

There is times that you might need either one, like cutting on the left or right hand side of an opening. I have both and don't really have a only one to use. I have a Craftsman worm drive left side blade, same as Skill 77 and it is good for cutting in place like on a construction site and using your foot to hold a board up off the ground to cut. I also have a Dewalt that is right sided that I like on saw horses. Either one is easy to get use to.

[triplefreak]

I use a right blade circular saw. I'm also right handed. But, I cheat & use a saw guide when I cut sheet goods, so it doesn't really matter.
I'm so glad I bought that saw guide a few years ago. It has paid for itself many times over already.

[mosthumbleone]

Yeah, I too mostly use it for cutting down sheet goods with a clamping tool guide. I ended up with the Hitachi marked down to $77 at Lowes. Great saw for the price. I would still be using my 25 year old crapsman if the guard had not stopped functioning properly. I'm kinda glad it pooped out thought, I'm liking some of the features on the new saws: adjusting levers instead of the old wing nuts; better cast aluminum foot than the stamped steel plate; handle and balance are really nice on the new saw; and a blade lock for easier blade changes. This saw also has plenty of power and was near or at the top of all the reviews I read. It was only available in the right hand version, but that is what I was used to anyway.

[imahic]

I was under the impression that most circular says are with the blade on the right and the worm drive saws come with the blade on the left. I have an old B&D SawCat that I have had for probably 20 yrs at least. One of the things I like about it is the trigger does not have any thing but the trigger to squeeze. No safety lock to fiddle with.

[TDHofstetter]

The keyword there is "most". There are some exceptions both ways.

My big DeWalt doesn't have the safety lock, but my little Makita does... go figure.

[fredbelknap]

Those safety things are a PIA. We got some on the job, use a small gravel and duct tape to by pass it. In a lot of situations it keeps the operator from having good control of the saw.

[CajunRider]

I got a Ridgid wormdrive saw with the blade on the left that allows me to see the cut line. It is now my favorite saw. I will not go back to the regular circular saw. The worm drive got huge torque and power through every thing I throw at it.

I wish I can afford a 10 1/4 circular saw. I need it.

[garysharp]

If you are right handed I would say buy a saw with the blade on the left. Otherwise you cannot see the cut line and blade alinement. Reverse for a lefty.

[imahic]

One thing I have noticed on the occasion I use my left hand is that the sawdust is exhausted into my face. That might be a consideration also.