There’s been tons of threads about Wormdrives and Sidewinders and how a right handed person using a wormdrive can see better and all that. With that said if people choose to use wormdrives for that reason and for whatever reason they want what good is a wormdrive for Left Handed people and why don’t they make a wormdrive with the blade on the right side?
This is a picture from one of the magazines I just saw of a left hander using his left hand cutting with a wormdrive.
Happy New Year!
Joe Carola
Edited 1/1/2005 8:57 am ET by Framer
Replies
I'm semi/quasi ambidextrous, and I've always used them both left and right handed. I've always promoted the saw to others based on this fact.
'I've no desire to hang around with a bunch of upper-class delinquents, do twenty minutes' work and then spend the rest of the day loafing about in Paris drinking gallons of champagne and having dozens of highly experienced French peasant girls galloping up and down my - hang on...' "Black Adder" (Rowan Atkinson)
"I'm semi/quasi ambidextrous, and I've always used them both left and right handed. I've always promoted the saw to others based on this fact."My point of the thread is just make the wormdrive with the saw on the right side for a Lefty. This is going to the people who believe that using a wormdrive you can see better when using your right hand so now make a saw with the blade on the right so that you can use your left hand. Don't understand how hard it can be for Skill or any other company to make the saw with the blade on both sides. Sidewinders are doing it why can't the wormdrivers do it.Joe Carola
I think the worm drive and the sidewinder blade position were originally technology-driven. Right-handed people have always been the majority. Technological advances made it practical to reorient the motor-blade configuration in the sidewinder to capture more of the right-handed market. I believe that there is less incentive for the industry to develop a right-bladed worm drive. Having said that, I would not be surprised if Bosch had one in a nearly-completed design phase right now. I think the design process possible with AutoCAD is quite flexible and the underlying scientific knowledge of how to make a right-bladed worm drive is adequate to make it possible. My guess is that retooling is lagging due to the expense involved and marketing is probably lagging due to the potentially smaller pool of left-handers out there. Even right-handers swear by sidewinders in the regions where they are popular. I was of the same opinion until I had actually used a worm drive for a while. Once one gets used to the weight, it is not just the blade position that keeps me using the worm drive. The length of the saw and the orientation of my body in relation to the cut are both factors which, when combined with the weight, make for a very accurate, straight cut, in a reasonably safe manner.Les Barrett Quality Construction
This is from the cover of 2004 Feb issue of JLC and the first picture I posted was from a page of a 1990 issue of Finehomebuilding.http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/41d6be64001211e827177f00000105c1/Catalog/Archive2004FebruaryJoe Carola
Joe,
I thought that you could get a Skil with a blade on the right. I checked out Bosch's website and they don't do it, but I thought years ago, you could get a "left handed" skil. I guess not.
I'll tell you what though, check out the new Ridgid saw. I saw it at Home Depot and it looked pretty cool. The orange kind of matches my fleece :-)
"A wormdrive is a MAN'S saw."Here's Joey using a real man's saw.Joe Carola
greencu invented wormdrives
go blame him.
I'm tellin him you said that....he'll, he'll..uh, invent...uh, a , anti-rez beam..yeah, that's it..an anti rez beam. Watch out!
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I'll just do it>
Wormdrives are just a better made saw. This lefty you pictured just knows his saws and puts up with the blade on the wrong side just like most righties do with their sidewinders. Of course a lot of people use sidewinders because they are so much lighter.
I made my first power saw cut with a sidewinder. Switched to a worm when I was 15. That first cut was scary with the worm though. That's all the electrical contracter used though. I was hired part time informally to clean up, and do grunt work, but did a whole lot more then.
"This lefty you pictured just knows his saws and puts up with the blade on the wrong side just like most righties do with their sidewinders."I disagree with what you said about sidewinders because I use sidewinders and for me they work great and I also have wormdrives and use them for certain things but what you said above about the lefty is my point he has no choice to use the saw that way because the blade only comes on the left side. So either lefties learn how to use their right hand or just make a wormdrive with the blade on the right for Lefthanders.Joe Carola
Joe,
A wormdrive is a MAN'S saw.
hehehehehehehehe
happy new year to all.
Wormdrives are just a better made saw. This lefty you pictured just knows his saws and puts up with the blade on the wrong side just like most righties do with their sidewinders. Of course a lot of people use sidewinders because they are so much lighter.
OK. Here we go again. Happy new year Doug.
A. WHY the makers of the left bladed saws shown left handed people in the pictures? Liability?
B. WHY (some of them/most of them) they only make left bladed saws for US (All new cordless for now) and only right bladed saws for the rest of the world markets? we're all lefties here?
C. We can leave the C out now. If you can answer A and B then we can continue. Ok. C.(framer) WHY don't they make right bladed warm drives? We're all right handed?
YCF Dino
Dino
It's the new year, your free to carry on!
Doug
It's the new year, your free to carry on!
Doug. I was waiting for the green light.
I already post few questions before. A-B-C.
There is not reason to continue with D-I-N-O.
YCF Dino
lefties are in their right minds and righties are out in left field...
be a lefty...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Joe,
This picture is actually a reversed shot of a righty trying hard to make a sidewinder work for him!
Happy New Year,
Wally
the worm drive was invented fer left-handers....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Edited 1/1/2005 1:01 pm ET by IMERC
"the worm drive was invented fer left-handers...."I can tell by the pictures........Joe Carola
YUP...
that's who invented it...........
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I've been reading these discussions on left-blade, right-blade, worm vs. sidewinders for months now and had to put in my two cents worth. I've been framing forever now, ( my back and legs tell me so). I've used a worm drive for the biggest part of that time. I was born so left-handed I forgot I had another side. I'd be willing to bet that there isn't a lefty out there that hasn't become ambidextrous to some extent, though. In a world where everything is made for righthanded people, a lefty has to learn to use his right hand to some extent to compensate. I learned to play drums as a teenager and never knew that there was a lefthanded setup and a righthanded setup. I started playing a buddies set,(righthanded)and set my kit up like his when I got one. So I developed mt right side unknowingly. But back to the subject. I can cut with a saw right or left handed and I'll bet most carpenters who use the tool regularly can, too. I prefer a wormdrive because that is what I've used regularly. If I used a sidewinder, I'd cut with whatever hand was handy. Some time ago, someone mentioned the old Rockwell 315 sidewinders. I put together a bunch of roofs with one. I liked the wide bed. But my favorite saw is the Bosch wormdrive. Must be the pretty blue color.
I taught myself how to use both hands when I was a kid because I thought back then you have two hands and you should know how to use both of them and I still think that way now but I've still never cut rafters with my left hand or found the need too. I've used my left hand to cut before but I don't do it often. I commend you and anyone else that is a left hander that can cut with both hands.I still say if sidewinders can make saws with the blades on both sides then wormdrives can.They must have felt a need to do so.Joe Carola
Joe
"why dont they make a right blade worm drive"
Because no one cares about us left handers!!!
In reply to Imercs statement about the worm invented for the lefty, I dont know if I buy that, I have a mag at home, from the 30's, I'll scan a pic when I get back from X-mas vacation, it shows a right blade worm drive. Not sure what the make is, have to wait. Obviously not available anymore.
To who ever said "real men use a worm drive", I'd have to say, real men dont need a worm, we can cut anything we need with the sidewinder. :)
Doug
It doesn't make sence to me how they can make sidewinders with the blades on both sides but not wormdrives. Imerc had to be joking.Joe Carola
nope
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
learn how to use both...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
"learn how to use both"I'll start tomorrow........Joe Carola
lok into the history of the worm...
it was invented by a lefty for lefties...
lefty...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Nope...
"Because the original worm-drive saw was protected by the invention patent, manufacturers started playing around with what is called an in-line motor. This is where the motor is driven to a spur type gear and then to a driving gear that drives the saw blade. In other words, the motor sits at a right angle to the blade. The initial saw that was developed for testing had the motor mounted on the right-hand side. Manufacturers were hoping to keep the blade on the left-hand side (like the worm drive) so the user could actually see the blade and the line of cut, allowing for very intricate cuts by vision.
Unfortunately, the motors at that time were as big as a coffee can, as I was told by Edward Sterba, and were very heavy. So when the saw approached the end of a cut, the weight of the saw dropping down and to the right would either split or crack the wood. This style of construction in these saws made them impossible to handle, so the motor was mounted on the left-hand side. Now during a cut, the weight of the motor sits on the piece of the material that is being cut. This became known as the sidewinder, or top-handle circular saw."
Unless you know something else?
history or discovery channel special on the history of tools and the left bladed saws were done in detail...
A left handed (ferget what name they gave) guy wanted a saw he could easily use...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Not saying it wasnt, but I have a mag add that shows a right blade worm from the 30's.
When was the worm invented and by who?
can't remeber the whole special...
remeber the why though..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
The history of the worm -- and sidewinder:
Skil in 1924 wanted to make a machine for cutting, of all things, sugar cane. They had basically a motor with handles, a worm, and a bare blade with no plate, no guard. Motors back then couldn't produce torque at low RPM's so they had to be geared down to practical levels for a saw blade. Then they got the idea of using the cane cutter for carpentry. They added the plate and a fixed top guard, and moved the handles so the plane of the blade would be vertical rather than horizontal.
The idea didn't take off at first. The early saws cost the equivalent of $10,000 in today's money, and temp power on the job site was a rare luxury in those days. The depression was no damn help at all. Then came WWII. To get a lot of temporary building done quickly, the government bought the saws. I remember seeing a film clip of WWII construction, maybe two dozen guys on a job, and about half of them carrying worm saws. After the war, they had proved their worth, and became standard equipment for the building boom of the 1950's.
When motor technology improved enough, it became possible to eliminate the expensive mechanical worm gear box and drive the blade directly, thus creating the sidewinder.
-- J.S.
oh oh...
the producers of that tool special never said a word about that...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
To who ever said "real men use a worm drive", I'd have to say, real men dont need a worm, we can cut anything we need with the sidewinder. :)
In the words of Dave Chappelle, "I said it!!" These debates crack me up, although I know Joe didn't intend to start a debate. The bottom line answer is different strokes for different folks. I just like stirring the pot a little.
Tim,Your right I didn't intend to start a debate but that will happen no matter what the thread is. The point I'm trying to make regardless which saw anyone uses is that why can't they make a wormdrive with the blade on the right obviously they thought it was worth it and easy enough to make the sidewinder with the blade on both sides and they're selling. I can't believe that there aren't to many lefties out there in this business that wouldn't mind using a wormdrive with the blade on the right and using their left hand. Joe Carola
I use at least 4 different kinds...
what has happened to the pot now????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
"I use at least 4 different kinds...what has happened to the pot now????"I'm a little slow today so what's your point Imerc???????Joe Carola
Edited 1/2/2005 2:20 pm ET by Framer
side, worm, recip and hand... at least...
stirring up the pot some mre...
did we get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
side, worm, recip and hand... at least...
stirring up the pot some mre...
did we get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning...
I'm not a mind reader so I'm glad you cleared up what kind of saws you use and I didn't get up on the wrong side of the bed this mornig.........did you?
Edited 1/2/2005 3:35 pm ET by Framer
Joe,
I think that IMERC likes to be vague. That is my impression at least.
What kind of blades do you buy for your Bigfoot? I just put a Freud blade on and I love it. I bought it at amazon. It wasn't much more than the bigfoot brand blade and I think it's better.
Gotta go to the gym with my brother now and remind him that he is a wimp hehehehe
I pick from or refer to a previous posting...
and since I only have one hand to type with I keep the words to a minimum...
sit on one hand and type with the other..
let me know how well ya do..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Edited 1/3/2005 2:09 pm ET by IMERC
. . . . . . . . . .fair enough. . . . . . . . . . .
okay...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
nope....
if it' gonna be that kind of day I try to find a reason not to get up...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Joe
I didnt know that this was a chance to brag about all the different saws that I know how to use, hell I can use a hack saw, coping, keyhole, damn, I know there is more, just cant think of em all right now!
And I had a good nights sleeep!!!
Doug