In the SEP issue of FHB they print some “Breaktime” discussions, in particular one asking about the possible advantages of a left handed circular saw because you can see the blade when you are cutting. In the article no one pointed out that (for some reason that no one has been able to explain to me) all wormdrive saws have the blade on the other side and any one of them would do the job. That’s what I did.
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So, can we look forward to a letter to the editor from you over this ?
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Well, I'm not sure I understand what you did, but I have a Porter-Cable wormdrive trim saw that sports a blade on the right side.
Hi nav. Are you new here (if so, welcome aboard!), or just a new name with the new registration? BTW, please explain 'what you did'.
I did not realize my "That's what I did." remark was so cryptic. I wanted a more substantial saw than the "sidewinders" I had been buying and having the blade on the left seemed like a good idea. The Skilsaw worm drive I bought did the job. Sure is heavy though.
If you use it a lot, you get used to it, and don't even think about it. I would like to try one of those handles someone here recommended, 'tho, for the awkward cuts.
Well, come January if you need any help there in HI...
Wormdrives are heavy duty saws that will cut through most anything. Sidewinders are great multipurpose saws. My choice? Have a wormy plus a left-blade and right-blade saw(I know Porter cable makes each, think Makita does as well). I didn't know the value until I had them on hand, being able to cut so the weight of the saw was over the meat of the board any which way spoiled me. Can't argue one over another, each does great for different reasons. It should be easy to justify the extra saw expense; don't think so? You will four days after having them all on hand.
They are not left handed saws. They are blade left or blade right. Supposedly a left blade saw is better for a right handed person sighting the cut line but that really depends on if you are keeping the short piece or the long piece. Most if not all battery saws are also blade left, why I don't know. I am left handed and prefer a blade left saw.
Not everyone wants a wormdrive.
I have a Makita worm, & it's a heavy thing to lug around.
Also have a PC sawboss with left blade. Much easier on my skinny old arm.
Joe H
you'll never be forgotten nav!
New poster starting out by jumping into TWO big arguments with both feet at the same time.
Right vs left blade
and
worm vs sidewinder
Better duck now
no matter what you did
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
This forum is so busy it's a wonder you get any work done.
True. I'm a new poster. Doing some heavy home repair work in the Honolulu, HI hills. Lots of questions.
The saw blade question came up when I bought a Skilsaw worm drive and noticed that all the regular saws in the shop had the blade on the right and all the brands of worm drive had the blade on the left. When I asked about it the sales person said that one was for right handed people and the other for left handed people. He was offended when I questioned that. Since then I've wondered.
I guess there is no profound answer. Some are one way, some the other and people just use what they like. FHB even had a note about how there are even regional preferences. One way in the east, another in the west.
So, I think I know enough about this for now. Thanks to everyone.
Since you're doing repair and remodeling, you should have one of each. In tight quarters with obstructions, sometimes I start in the middle and make most of a cut with one, but need the other for the remaining end. That, and the PC articulated recip for the places no circular saw can reach.
-- J.S.
Thanks for the reply.
Help me with a dumb question. I'm new to the forum and I can not figure out how to open up the WHOLE thread going al the way back to item #1. Now I only get the couple most recent listings.
Use the rightmost scroll bar to go all the way to the bottom, then click on the red "all messages" in the gray area at the bottom.
-- J.S.
right blade ( sidewinder ) for the right coast
left blade ( worm ) for the left coast
:)
Post that in the tavern and you'll get the spoarks flying. :)
Somedays the wind listens to the dog, and then the cat gets jealous.
cla, cla, claIf a man speaks in the forest, is he wrong?
Nav,
There's a million and one discussions on this wormdrive with the blade being on the left side and it being easier to see and use. With that being the case for all the wormdrive users, it's only good for Right handed people. So anyone who is left handed the wormdrive is useless.
I've asked this question before that if one of the main reasons for the use of the wormdrive is to see the blade when you cut, so why don't they make the wormdrive with the blade on the right side for lefties to use. You'll get answers that left handed guys will learn how to use their right hand and then they'll tell you that they have the sidewinder with the blade on the left but still if the wormdrive is so good they should make it for Left Handed Carpenters otherwise it's no good for them. I doubt that there's no left handed people out there in this business.
They still don't make one with the blade on the right side.
Sorry Joe, but the PC 4 1/2" trim saw is a wormy w/blade on the right. And. since it only weighs about a pound, folks who avoid wormdrives for the weight might like it. :-)
It won't cut a 45 bevel on a 2X but it will cross cut it. (slowly).
I'm not that big, but my crew and I tried that arm-extended holding of our wormies today; we're all medium framed and wiry and it was a piece of cake.
Actually, we use both sidewinders and wormdrives....but the worm drives are the framing saw of choice (for us).
Personally, this subject gets a little tiresome IMO. Whatever works is fine with me as long as the blade is sharp and the user is competent.
Actually, a well jointed, set and sharpened 4 pt. cross-cut hand saw in capable hands can give a circular saw a pretty good run (for awhile, anyway).
And I've seen some production framers doing gang cuts of full units with a chainsaw.