Festool and Lefties

[John Viola]

One week ago I owned no Festool products.  I woke up today owning a CT Midi, TS 55, ETS 150, and ETS 125.  That didn't take long!!

anyway I'm very left-handed and I noticed that these are definitely right-handed tools (at least the saw and planer are) and it got me thinking.  Any other lefties?  Has anyone had any problems getting used to anything?  I'm used to circular saws but in recent years moved to a left-blade version for safety.  The TS 55 strikes me as much safer than the average sidewinder, but I was thinking more about the planer.  That doesn't even look like it can be used left-handed, as the cutterhead is wide open on the right.

It's not on my wish list, so it's no big deal, but I was just curious. 

Thanks!

 

[Daviddubya]

I'm left handed and have several Festool tools.  The only one that bugs me is the sander - an ETS150, actually an older model of same.  The way the switch is located I have to turn the sander on in an awkward position and lock it on.  Then I can use the sander with no problem, and releasing the switch to turn it off is easy.

 

[John Viola]

I noticed that with the 150 as well-I sort of default to locking the switch on. because of the position.  Not a huge deal, but it takes some getting used to.

 

[Bob Childress]

I have learned to switch on and lock the ETS-150 in one motion. Seems to work fine for me. The other tools work well for this lefty and the Domino seems to have been designed for us, as the dust port is on the right side of the handle.  ;D ;D  A little learning curve for the TS-55 but I'm used to it now.

 

[greg mann]

Pretty much the same story for me. Like all lefties I can adapt to right handed tools fairly well, the exception being scissors the handles of which were designed by some arrogant right-handed fascist.  I do experience a little glee when I watch a right-hander try to do something that can only be done with the left hand.

 

[John Viola]

Pretty much the same story for me. Like all lefties I can adapt to right handed tools fairly well, the exception being scissors the handles of which were designed by some arrogant right-handed fascist.  I do experience a little glee when I watch a right-hander try to do something that can only be done with the left hand.

Lordy lordy, scissors are the bane of my existence.  I make it a point to buy only lefty scissors (when I can find them) so my righty wife knows the suffering we experience when using righty scissors. 

But I guess that is getting a little OT.  ;D

 

[greg mann]

Pretty much the same story for me. Like all lefties I can adapt to right handed tools fairly well, the exception being scissors the handles of which were designed by some arrogant right-handed fascist.  I do experience a little glee when I watch a right-hander try to do something that can only be done with the left hand.

Lordy lordy, scissors are the bane of my existence.  I make it a point to buy only lefty scissors (when I can find them) so my righty wife knows the suffering we experience when using righty scissors. 

But I guess that is getting a little OT.   ;D

Only because Festool doesn't make scissors.  ;D

 

[John Viola]

We should request it in the "feedback" discussion...

 

[John Stevens]

anyway I'm very left-handed and I noticed that these are definitely right-handed tools (at least the saw and planer are) and it got me thinking.  Any other lefties?

I'm a lefty...well, left handed, anyway. 

I agree with what you say about the Festool tools seeming to be more suited for right-handers, but I don't consider it to be an inconvenience.  I work for a right-handed guy who lost his left hand in a car accident--he says that losing his right hand would have been a hardship, but losing his left was an inconvenience.

Regards,

John

 

[Eli]

I'm lefty, I don't have a problem with any of the tools. I've used scissors right handed since kinder.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1218.0

 

[Lou Miller]

When it comes to the saw, I can't see how any of you think its better for someone that is right handed. I'm fortunate enough to be 100% ambidextrous so I get to claim true impartiality on this issue. Even though I can use both hands equally as well, I use my TS55 almost exclusively with my left hand. Maybe its just me, but the TS55 works way better for lefties than for righties. Just my opinion, but left bladed saws are better for right handers, and right bladed saws are better for left handers. When Skil invented the circular saw, they got it right. The ensuing copycats messed it all up

 

[Eli]

I never really thought about it Lou, but I think you're right about opposites for saws. I love using the TS55 almost as much as I love watching people trying to read a tape measure upside down.

 

[Qwas]

Like others, I have gotten use to the TS-55 and it was never much of a problem. But the PS-300 jigsaw with the barrel grip (not the PSB-300 D handle) gets harder and harder everyday to turn off or on. I truly love the jigsaw and would never contemplate getting rid of it, but that on/off switch location was never thought through for us lefties.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  I too am fairly ambidextrous, it doesn't matter what hand I use. In the pics here note one left and one right handed.

 

[Paul Franklin]

Brice

What brand are those sawhorses you are using?

Cheers

Paul

 

[Tinker]

In our house, the wierd one was our son.  He is right handed.  poor guy misses out on soooo much.  The BossLady and aor daughter, as I, are all lefties.

A few years ago, i found a real good lefty scissors and gave them to my lady.  She has used righty scissors and shears left handed for so many years, she could not figure out how to use them  she just could not get them to cut.  We had to spend quite a bit of time learning together.

When i was breaking in to the building trades, the two trades i experienced the most trouble with were electrician and sheetmetal.  It was a horror to try to cut BX cable.  You had to practically turn yourself upside down.  i learned to avoid working with the electricians early on.

With sheetmetal (I learned to do my own chimney flashings), I was always cutting the back of my hand as the cutoff piece was always coiling up across the back of my hand.  Today, they have lefty cutting tools and I have a difficult time cutting straight as, like my wife, i apply cuting pressure the wrong way unless i practice.

When i was growing up on my aunt & uncle's farm, one of my cussins was right handed. He and I were especially close to each other.  The dinner table (also breakfast and lunch of course) was large, but the familly was larger.  There were not enough chairs to go around.  dick & I sat at the same chair together.  The only problem we had with that arrangement was when time to cut meat.  we solved that one quite easilly.  when I had to cut my meat, I held the meat with my fork, while Dick sliced with his knife.  visa-versa when cutting his meat.  He held with his fork while i sliced away.  We still retell that story at dinner tables when we have familly get-to-gethers.
Tinker
 

 

[Eli]

It bugs the crap out of me when I go out to a restaurant and fail to get the seat that gives me an open left hand side. It's too early to tell if I'll be fighting the boys for the lefty seat. Right now we don't sit for very long at dinner anyway  ;D

 

[John Viola]

It bugs the crap out of me when I go out to a restaurant and fail to get the seat that gives me an open left hand side. It's too early to tell if I'll be fighting the boys for the lefty seat. Right now we don't sit for very long at dinner anyway  ;D

Ha ha...wy wife looks out for me at things like that.  She always tries to make sure I have a proper corner!

 

[John Viola]

  I too am fairly ambidextrous, it doesn't matter what hand I use. In the pics here note one left and one right handed.

Brice, like you (and all the other numerous lefties on this board), I've adapted pretty well to using my right hand when necessary, but I notice a definite reduction in control or confidence in my right hand's abilities.  I suppose If I was doing this every day as you are, it wouldn't be an issue. 

BTW I stole one of your tips from Marino's newsletter-the one about using velcro strips to connect the vac hose and the power cord.  What a great idea.  Now everything is ready to go immediately. Thanks!

 

[Brice Burrell]

Brice

What brand are those sawhorses you are using?

Cheers

Paul

  Stanley, Fat Max horses, they have adjustable height aluminum legs and the rest is plastic. They aren't bad, very easy to transport, sturdy enough for most light-duty work.