Question on Circular Saws - Blade on Left/Right
 

I went shopping last night with a friend who is going to buy a circular saw as well as other tools. While at Home Depot, we noticed that some circular saws have the blade on the left side and some on the right (no indication from manufacturers as to why).

We were speculating that these are for right handed people or left handed people. I am guessing that I would want the blade on the right so that if I were cutting a sheet of plywood, I would keep the saw over the main piece of wood and trim off the right.

Anyone know the answer to this puzzle?

The short answer is Skilsaw model 77 worm drive.

They are just as you speculate. For right handed and left handed people. Right handed saws have the blade on the right to keep the blade further away from you while using it for safety reasons. Left handed saws, blade on the left. Problem is with this setup is that you can't see what you're cutting while using the saw.

With that said, many professional right handed carpenters prefer to use left handed saws so they can more accurately see what they are cutting. Same goes for lefties preferring to use right handed saws.

That's what most people think, but it isn't 1005 true.

The saw with the blade on left is most then likely a work drive saw used in framing and heavy use. The motor sits behind the blade and its a heavy sucker (so the weight of the saw does the work instead of the operator having push), like the Skil 77 Craig mentioned. The other, blade on the right is what's known as a side winder. Its a direct drive saw. Its spins the blade (RPM)faster(cleaner cuts) then a worm drive saw , aka Skill saw. A skill saw will cut a piece of lumber even with a dull blade whereas a Sidewinder will struggle. Lots of East cost framers favor the sidewinder instead of us West cost folks, traditionally speaking. I can't use the sidewinder with a damn and I am right handed. We own a bunch of Skil mod. 77s and use the cleanest one even for finish work sometimes.

Edit: Sorry, my freaking three left thumbs typing. It should be worm drive not work

Skill used to make a right hand blade worm drive for lefties.

Right-Handed Versus Left-Handed Circular Saws - My Home

I use a right handed saw with my left hand because ... I'm left handed and it's always been that way.

A Skil 77 is a wonderful piece of 'merica
It'll saw concrete with a dull blade mounted backward
Love mine and love that the blade is on the correct side
It is however a big, heavy, cantankerous device

Couldn't find a lefty worm drive when I was looking a few years ago.

I bought a Milwaukee without the safety. Works great for a lefty!

Correct. You'd think that by now (direct drive) saw manufacturers in general would have taken note of the fact that most users are right handed, and using a right handed saw is downright awkward for them!

If he's not going into the framing business, he should buy the ryobi 18v kit with lithium batteries, circular saw, drill, and sawzall. That will likely do all he needs.

I'm left handed and never paid any attention to the side the blade is on and use the saws I own with either hand. I think you might be over thinking this one.
As to why the blade is on one side or the other I'd have to say for left or right hand use but again I have used a lot of saws with either hand and it didn't make me any difference. If you look at the fence there are normally two lines, one indicates the outside edge of the blade and the other the inside edge. Just align the line with the side your cutting with and you can use it with either hand.

i am right handed and bought a right handed saw, even though at the time I was thinking differently.
I bought the wrong one, should have bought the lefty ,.
I look at the blade and the line more than I look at the notch in the front of the saw so I am leaned over the saw more. I figure if I have a lefty I can easily look at either one.

I hate using skill saws BTW. just seem to cover you with saw dust.
I usually just get the table saw out.

I'm a lefty too...I just adapt like I always have for tools designed for rightys. I too lean over the saw from behind and view the blade going down the line...

I do have screwdrivers designed for right/left however....one for tightening, the other for loosening...occasionally I use the wrong one ;)

Right hand hammers are the worst! I always seem to miss the nail when I'm swinging one left handed. :D

Might not be the hammer...left handed nails suck...wussy-nails I call 'em...afraid of being hit :)

These threads just kill me. I have a 30 year old Craftsman that's on it's last legs so need another saw which I will use 2-3 times per year with a variety of cuts from wonderboard to plywood to 4x4s.

Based on this thread, researching a little last night, found the Skil saw worm, the Skil sidewinder and now Li ion saws, HD has some nice Dewalts which I swear by in corded angle grinders and reciprocating saws.

Don't want to spend $200 for a saw that I'll use 2-3 times a year so want to keep it at $150 max and $100 is better. I normally buy the best tools possible but for some reason I'm hesitant to go all out on a circular saw, no idea why.

All that said, recommendations?

Good heavens, I am like the last poster.......my Sears saw was bought in 1971 or so, been so long I have fuzzy memories about it! It gets used every several years and then for a bunch and then cleaned and put away. If I were to buy one today I would get a Harbor Freight model on sale even if I were using it every day. Their stuff last pretty darn well and the biggest decision is: corded or cordless! I did buy an electric lawn mower, weed eater, hedge trimmer and chain saw last year and I ended getting them from Lowes as the have 80 volt batteries (same one and several extras) and got a contractor's discount since I told the guy at contractor's desk how to fix his ailing home PC. I'd still go with HF if they had higher volt ratings.

If you're considering a battery powered saw I'd advise against Dewalt. I use a 20v Max Li-ion Dewalt and it seems a bit gutless compared to my much older 18 volt Nicd Milwaukee. I don't use the Milwaukee much anymore because the battery is pretty much shot but I miss using it each time I get the Dewalt out.
Search CL for a Milwaukee with a chord. If you want a pic of the one I have abused for the last 20 or so years and it still keeps cutting, I'll post one.

Nothing wrong with the $100 makita saw at home depot. I have one 10+ years old, works fine. But having said that, I like the 18v Ryobi stuff. To cut a 4x4 with that, you are going to go around it with the circular saw, then finish it off with the sawzall.