Brice Burrell
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- Mar 13, 2007
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- 7,385
John Viola said:
Yeah, I have a good idea once in a while.
I'm working on my "Tips" section for my site, not sure when it will be, when it is I'll post a link.
Festool and Lefties
- Thread starter John Viola
- Start date
Yeah, I have a good idea once in a while.
I'm working on my "Tips" section for my site, not sure when it will be, when it is I'll post a link.Dave Ronyak
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- Joined
- Jan 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,234
When I worked for Goodyear they obtained a HD pair of scissers for me. Although the grip area was properly configured for the left hand, they did not reverse the way the blades were joined, and as a result the natural gripping action of the left hand forced the blade edges away from each other! Talk about stupid design!
I learned to become decently ambidextrous way back -- they did not make a baseball catcher's mitt for left-handed throwers. I use my TS 55 with whichever hand is more comfortable depending on my body position relative to the planned movement of the saw. My only objection to most powertools is the location of the power and lock-on switches. If I use the tools with my left hand, I often find I have inadvertently locked on the power, but that has never been a problem or caused any accident or ruined any workpiece. Festool elmininated this lefty-righty issue in the design of their latest Rotex sanders.
Dave R.
I learned to become decently ambidextrous way back -- they did not make a baseball catcher's mitt for left-handed throwers. I use my TS 55 with whichever hand is more comfortable depending on my body position relative to the planned movement of the saw. My only objection to most powertools is the location of the power and lock-on switches. If I use the tools with my left hand, I often find I have inadvertently locked on the power, but that has never been a problem or caused any accident or ruined any workpiece. Festool elmininated this lefty-righty issue in the design of their latest Rotex sanders.
Dave R.
When I was learning the building trades, I got stuck with a lot of nailing off sheathing on floors, walls and roofs. That was in the days before plywood and the sub-floors, etc were 1" yellow pine in widths of, usually 6". Two nail in each joist/stud or rafter. That was a lot of nails. By end of day, my hand would cramp up so I could not let go of the hammer without swinging my hand as i tried to loosen my grip. I soon learned how to change hands. At first, i would sometimes take a bit of thumb off my left hand as i tried to hit nail with hammer held in right hand and nail in left fingers. After a fashion, i learned. A lot of times, I would be trying to drive a nail into a corner while helping the framers. It was much easier to switch hands than to swing the hammer back-handed.
At that time, I was working with three brothers. The oldest was somewhat of a grouch and I stayed away from him as much as possible. the next brother was always kidding me about not doing anything right (meaning I was left-handed.) I always got along great with him and learned a lot about carpentry, masonry, painting(i hated), plumbing and especially stonework. The third brother, the youngest, would really go balistic when he saw me hamering with my right hand. he would tell me i was naturally lefty and should never try right handed. I ran into other differences with him as time went on.
I still switch at a lot of things as the situation warrants.
Tinker
At that time, I was working with three brothers. The oldest was somewhat of a grouch and I stayed away from him as much as possible. the next brother was always kidding me about not doing anything right (meaning I was left-handed.) I always got along great with him and learned a lot about carpentry, masonry, painting(i hated), plumbing and especially stonework. The third brother, the youngest, would really go balistic when he saw me hamering with my right hand. he would tell me i was naturally lefty and should never try right handed. I ran into other differences with him as time went on.
I still switch at a lot of things as the situation warrants.
Tinker
Toolpig
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- Jan 25, 2007
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- 399
I'm left-handed, too. I use the TS55 with my left hand no problem. I also own several sanders (ROTEX150, DX93, RS/DS400's). Also no problems.
The only Festool that I never purchased because I'm left-handed is the jigsaw. I found that the switch, located on the side of the barrel-grip jigsaw, dug into my left hand. I purchased the Bosch, instead. Funny thing, I find myself using the jigsaw with my right hand much of the time anyway. Oh well.
You've got to get over the fact that you're left-handed. I denied myself the pleasures of a worm-drive circ saw for years because I'm left-handed. I now own a Bosch worm-drive and use it with my right hand just as much as I do my left. It took a little practice, but now it's second nature. You'd be surprised how quickly you get used to using your right hand for things you never did before.
TP
The only Festool that I never purchased because I'm left-handed is the jigsaw. I found that the switch, located on the side of the barrel-grip jigsaw, dug into my left hand. I purchased the Bosch, instead. Funny thing, I find myself using the jigsaw with my right hand much of the time anyway. Oh well.
You've got to get over the fact that you're left-handed. I denied myself the pleasures of a worm-drive circ saw for years because I'm left-handed. I now own a Bosch worm-drive and use it with my right hand just as much as I do my left. It took a little practice, but now it's second nature. You'd be surprised how quickly you get used to using your right hand for things you never did before.
TP
John Viola said:
