Left handers..?

[stevewestern]

How many of you/us are left handed, and just how do you get on with right handed tools ?

I tried out a T55 yesterday and doubt I'll get one as it is just so right handed, though sadly all the other circular saws I looked at were just as handed, so I may have to.

 

 

[Stephen B]

Left to right left handed, right to left right handed.

Stephen

 

[Wood_Junkie]

My experience (as a right hander) is that the TS55 is the most ambi-neutral saw out there (probably all track saws are, however).

Here's the difference from any other type of circular saw:  Trust the track!  Set it and forget it.  You don't need to see the blade.
Once you setup the track, you just push the saw, with either hand. 

I've wound up using my left hand about 30% of the time I use the TS55, because the orientation of the rail on any rip cut pretty much makes it impossible to use my right hand to push the machine.

Give it a try.  You've got a month to adjust and figure out if it works for you.  You'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

 

[leakyroof]

I am left handed, so I understand living in a right handers world. I just adapt to using either hand for many tasks, as needed.
I actually write with my right hand since no one in grade school thought I was left handed when they were teaching us writing skills.  I have the older ATF55, and I run the saw through cuts with my left hand guiding the saw.

 

[Jaybolishes]

Yep, I'm sinister as well. I use the ts55 all the time and have become very comfortable with it.  As you know, we live in a right handed world and just have to adapt.  I dont think there's any tool I wouldn't use because its not made for lefties.  My old dewalt 18 volt skill saw was lefty, but that's the only saw I can think of that was made that way.  I would not worry about the ts55, it is very comfortable to use.

 

[greg mann]

Being a lefty means learning to adapt, and one of the ways we adapt is by learning to use our off-hand at a higher function level than right-handers can use their off-hand, generally speaking. Put another way, I believe left-handers tend to be slightly more ambidextrous than right-handers. Of course being left handed I also have a completely unfounded belief in the natural superiority of left-handers. Before anyone accuses me of bigotry please know I am just kidding.  [big grin]

There are some tools that annoy me. I love my C12 drill but do inadvertently move the forward/reverse switch at in-opportune times. The TS saws bother me not at all. I use my left hand most of the time. Maybe all of the time, as I don't ever remember thinking about it.

 

[rdesigns]

Another lefty here. I have a TS55, and I use it without any trouble. Some cuts are actually easier to make using your left hand, but with a track saw, you can easily run the saw with your right hand when needed.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I am right handed, but there are times that even I use my TS55 left handed.  For example if I am ripping 3 or 4 inches off a 4 x 8 sheet of ply, I don't feel comfortable reaching over the entire piece, so I will guide the saw left handed along the off cut side.

 

[wondersofwood]

I'm a lefty and got used to using circular saws with my right hand, all my life.  I have ripped plywood sheets using either hand (because of my small shop) and it seems about the same to me.

Even if I weren't so adept at cutting with my right hand, I would buy this saw because it seems fine to operate with my left hand.

 

[Paul G]

Southpaw here and as mentioned already the track does the work so its a non issue IMO unless you plan to cut freehand

As a side note, for a little LH fun on the world replace all the scissors at the office with LH versions and watch every RH person struggle and whine  [big grin]

 

[Vindingo]

Southpaw here and as mentioned already the track does the work so its a non issue IMO unless you plan to cut freehand

As a side note, for a little LH fun on the world replace all the scissors at the office with LH versions and watch every RH person struggle and whine  [big grin]

Left-hander too...  can't use lefty scissors    I distinctly remember not having lefty scissors in any class as a child and being VERY frustrated by not being able to cut construction paper.  My handwriting is also terribly sloppy. 

Track saw is fine though, I use it left handed most of the time. 

 

[skids]

I am right handed but prefer my blade left. Arm gets in the way of visibility, with right hand, right blade. And regardless, you need visibility if you want to use the stop points in the TS to match up to a mark. I imagine it's less of a concern with the TS.

 

[epicxt]

My handwriting is also terribly sloppy.

Sounds like you really are on track to becoming a doc!
Edit: that was supposed to quote the remark Vindingo made about his handwriting...

 

[fshanno]

I wouldn't let it bother me one bit.  Track saws are funny animals.  You end up in all kinds of positions trying to keep an even motion and get the best cut.  Sometimes it's best to handle the hose with your right hand.  You can cut with two hands, left hand on the trigger if necessary, depending on setup.

The track saw is about as close to being amphibious as you can get.  And that's important when it's raining, like today.

 

[wondersofwood]

Left-hander too...  can't use lefty scissors     I distinctly remember not having lefty scissors in any class as a child and being VERY frustrated by not being able to cut construction paper.  My handwriting is also terribly sloppy. 

Same here!

In our day there were hardly any products made for lefties... golf clubs, baseball mitts, etc., were all hard to find.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Lefty here.  The saw is so easy to use, it actually never occurred to me that it was right-handed.  As a matter of fact, I was cutting miters on faceframe cabinets the other day and the position of the saw was such that I was able to "hold" down the saw to the track with my left hand while pushing with my right.  It would have felt more awkward the other way.

Jon

 

[Mac]

Lefty here.  The saw is so easy to use, it actually never occurred to me that it was right-handed.  As a matter of fact, I was cutting miters on faceframe cabinets the other day and the position of the saw was such that I was able to "hold" down the saw to the track with my left hand while pushing with my right.  It would have felt more awkward the other way.

Jon

I'm a lefty too, and this is exactly the case for me. Never even occurred to me that it was designed for right or left handers.

 

[Wooden Lungs]

I am right handed. A few years back I was on site in Dublin and one of the chippys brought in a new saw "Just got my left handed saw from the states" he said. It was a wormdrive saw he had got and I am pretty sure it was a dewalt. Left handed chippys love them. several years later I got two form the states "Ace tool" in New York. I got a Bosch and the Dewalt. I use them all the time and the guy I am doing work for is left handed and always raves about the wormdrive. http://www.acetoolonline.com/Dewalt-DWS535-7-1-4-Worm-Drive-Circular-Saw-p/dew-dws535.htm
As a righty I find them great for site work and they are very hardy and I use Freud diamond knock out blades in them. Before I got my Festool track saw used a made up base and track for my Bosch wormdrive. Far inferior to using a Festool but it made do for a while.

As wormdrives are mainly used in America maybe you could get some advice from them!

Its said that 80% of people are right handed but I heard in schools years ago kids were forced to use their right hand for writing etc even though it didnt come natural to them.
Strangely lefties make better carpenters because they can do trickier cuts I found  [big grin]

 

[Kev]

I'm a lefty. I tend to have little trouble scratching my nose with my right hand, so using tools isn't a big problem. Writing with my right hand is fairly poor, so obviously finer control activities tend to end up being left handed.

I haven't felt displaced by any Festool in terms of right or left handed use. Anyone that designs a tool that ONLY works in the right hand is pretty dim in my view, but there are several out there.

Comments about it being a "right handed world" ... I can't see that, maybe a few items of inconvenience. Most left handers I know are significantly more capable with their off hand than a "righty", so I feel I have an advantage in all honesty.

 

[green fever]

lefty here and it has never stopped me using any power tool  and as for that old saying cack handed I am the complete opposite of so called clumsy , oh and as for the ts55 I have never regretted buying them and I have owned more than my fare share of power saws in all sizes over the years .