I'm not a lefty, but...

[Scott B.]

The TS sure makes me one every time, it seems...

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[Stephen B]

Me too.

Just as well I am ambidextrous, although I generally favour my right hand, except for anything that involves a stick like as in golf and cricket.

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Is this a result of rail design, that routing is generally left to right, or what? The TS could have been designed to go right to left, or have I missed something here?

 

[avrs22]

Finally a tool that was designed for us lefties.

 

[grbmds]

I'm left-handed and I find the design inconvenient. If I'm using it on the MFT, I usually stand to the left of it and use my right hand on the main handle and the my left on the front, but that doesn't feel right (as you indicate),

 

[tjbnwi]

I am left handed, the TS saws are fine with me.

Tom

 

[chrisrosenb]

The blades on the TS saws are on the same side as most all electric hand held power saws.
I have always thought they were designed by a lefty.

 

[peter halle]

As Festool products are being developed and revised they are being designed to be hand neutral.

Peter

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I am left handed and have had to teach myself my whole life to do things differently.    Its a right handed world, only 10 percent of the worlds population is left handed.  I grew up thinking why do scissors hurt my hand so bad,  until one day I came across left handed scissors.  I find my ts75 track saw very comfortable to use.  I think that the way circular saws are set up work better for left handed people.  My boss is right handed and perfers a left handed saw. 

I bought a tool belt from Occidental Leather two years ago because they offer a left handed tool belt.  Its awesome and everything is in the left spot...haha. 

 

[GhostFist]

I really don't get why people refer to these as left handed saws. We read left to right, your saw is not placed on the off cut. It's a right handed design. I think this comes from people using worm drive saws or something.

 

[tiralie]

I think it helps to be ambidextrous, except when I am giving directions...
Tim

 

[WoodWhisperer]

I'm a lefty and the TS saws are pretty good for leftys. Although when I'm using a framing circular saw I usually measure from right to left. With the TS saw I measure left to right. It's a hard life being left handed!!

 

[Gary in Texas]

I'm a lefty too, most times.  Definitely fit into the ambidextrous category, or the whatever category.

The TS saws are a natural fit for me.  I write as a lefty.  I have to throw a football or baseball with my left, but a frisbee with the right.  I have to bat right handed, golf right handed.  If I tried to do either as a lefty, might as well be shackled hands to feet!

 

[benwheeler]

I really don't get why people refer to these as left handed saws. We read left to right, your saw is not placed on the off cut. It's a right handed design. I think this comes from people using worm drive saws or something.

To me, it can really only be right-handed if cutting something that's not very wide, so it can be reached across. I do sometimes use it right-handed from the waste side of the track, but I think it's more natural to use it left-handed.

The blades on the TS saws are on the same side as most all electric hand held power saws.
I have always thought they were designed by a lefty.

That's only if you're cutting sheet goods. I think that's a good design, encouraging the user (well, rightys at least) to stay on the side of the saw that isn't spraying them with dust and chips.

 

[Sparktrician]

Many years ago, when all saws I used were Porter-Cable or the Skil wormy, I bought only those saws that had the blade on the left side.  It helped me by making things consistent.  I had to be certain that off-cuts were always to the left.  Seems that I always went home covered in sawdust at the end of the day, too, due to the exhaust port being toward me.  Now that I have the TS 55, and a couple of CTs, I go home a bunch of cleaner.  It's very easy for me to use the TS with either hand, depending on circumstance.  The biggest change is that the off-cuts are now to the right. 

 

[Bohdan]

I am right handed and when used on the MFT it sits perfectly normal for right hand use. On the rail it cuts so easily that when I have used it to break up large sheets I didn't even notice that I was using my left hand.

 

[Tinker]

I am lefty.  All my life (39) I have used circular saws right handed.  I never felt comfortable using a saw with the blade spinning on the side closet to me.  When doing masonry and cutting lumber for scaffolding and forms, I often cut in situations that could toss the saw back in the direction from which it had come.  Had I been using a saw with blade on the right and I was operating saw with left hand, it could be a disaster.  It has happened with other lefty's using the right handed saw.  I had a friend who did considerable damage to his leg by such a scenario. 

I am very uncomfortable to use my TS 55, or any other track saw with my left hand and standing to right of the blade.  I know the blade would retract into its shell before contacting me; but after many years of telling myself to never be on same side of saw as spinning blade, it is a tough habit to ignore.
Tinker

 

[Scott B.]

I didn't start this thread as a criticism, just an observation. I don't find it to be awkward or challenging, it is very easy. Guys who work in my shop tend to orient the same way.

I agree with those who have said that it is possible to cut right handed when you can reach over the work to do so. Obviously, the saw and track can be on the drop side. Left handed just always seems easiest for me to guide the saw and tend the hose and cord. I was curious how others were doing it as well.

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[wrightwoodwork]

Right hand on the saw and left hand putting pressure on the rails 

 

[Davej]

I'm a lefty so it's easy, left hand on saw , right hand free to pick my nose/ scratch my backside etc  [smile]
Dave

 

[tiralie]

I didn't start this thread as a criticism, just an observation. 

I didn't think you were criticizing, I have always thought this saw was designed to be used left handed most of the time. As in painting with a brush, it is often extremely useful to be able to brush left handed if you are right handed and vice versa if you are a lefty.
Tim