Don’t want to hijack that other thread about what saw do you use.
I have a wormdrive I’ve been using a long time and want to buy a new sidewinder. I looked at Tool Crib on line and there are sooooooo many choices.
I’ve owned a Mill….and Porta and a wonderful old B&D. I hate using the wormer for over head work and just simple projects. Its too heavy. Kinda like using my 28 oz Estwing to do trim work. Wondering if anyone has used some of the newer sidewinders and what you think. I think a blade on the left makes sense but what about dust in your eyes?
Sorry to bring this up again….I’m kinda narrowing it down though.
Thanks
Be well
Namaste…..and Have a great Thanksgiving
Andy
It’s not who’s right, it’s who’s left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Replies
Andy, I love my little PC Sawboss. Yup, sawdust in the eyes, wear them safety glasses like you should anyway. It does have a vacuum outlet but I've never tried it. Joe (Scrotumface) H
Andy,
If you are right-handed then dust in your eyes shouldn't be an issue. One of the things I love about my wormdrives is that I don't have to stick my face in the line of fire to see the blade/cut line. If you want a sidewinder with the blade on the left more power to you. I don't use a sidewinder much at all. Used to have 4-5 of them but bought a worm 6 years ago and never looked back. I have 2 of them now and am about to order the new Bosch. Sold all but one of the sidewinders soon after I got the first worm.
Mark
I use a worm, but if I were to buy a sidewinder it would be a PC blade left. Why would I want a left handed saw with the blade on the right (sarcasm)? After being turned on to blade left saws a few years ago, I hate using a saw with the blade on the right.
my 2 cents,
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
http://www.lazarobuilders.com
I never could figure out how those guys who use blade right saws could type with their heads up their arses.
Brinkmann for president in '04
Blade right saws are for lefties!John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
http://www.lazarobuilders.com
I ditto John Lazaro's post. I'm mostly a wormgear guy, but the blade left is good and the saw is as good as any other. (I do keep an old Milwaukie SW around though, because it's handy sometimes to be able to cut left or right bevels with the wide side of the base on the workpiece).
Andy,
Have you given any thought to excercising those limp wrists of yours?
I started out with sidewinders (east coast and all) but I would never look back. Get a 6.5 inch skill, or a mag 77. I can see carrying a couple of different hammers, but you really only need one saw.
I have a like four dewalts of varying styles, a porter cable blade left, and a four skil 77s. I have used several types of makitas a milwaukee, black and decker, etc. Only one does it all and outlasts them all.
I you use anything but a skil 77 all you have are opinions. Skil 77 users have facts.
But then I'm kind of opinionated when it comes to circular saws and nail guns.
Tom
Andy,
Have you given any thought to excercising those limp wrists of yours?
Tommy,
After 27 + years of bangin more nails then you have limp brains in yer head I dont think my wrists need all that much exercising....my question is valid and straight forward. Sorry I aint the mucho macho man you are. When I grow up I'd love to find directions by you here on how to be the experianced carp you are. I'm guessin' your strong wrists come from ....uhhhh......(I've been real good lately not sayin what I think)
Be(at) it well
Namaste'
andyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Lighten up Andy.
Sarcasm doesn't translate well in print.
My apologies for knowing what I like without asking a bulletin board. That could loosely be interpreted as experience.
I arrived at my estimation of circular saws by using a buttload of them, destroying a few along the way, paying for repairs on others, and all the while the skill 77 keeps going. Before you worry about carrying a few extra pounds of superior circular saw around, you might want to ask yourself if you are carrying a few pounds or more of extra ####, gut, or just plain old fat between your ears. My guess is that you are.
After you wear out a few you'll probably come to the same conclusion without asking strangers for advice.
Maybe I am mucho macho 'cause I can lift an extra pound or two over my head all day long. You want some lightweight studs to go with that? If you tell me your age, I'll have a better idea of when I should start bitching about holding thirteen pounds over my head.
On 90 percent of your cuts the weight of a skill 77 is an advantage in circular saw, unless you need a place to set your coffee (like on sawhorses for example).Tom
Tommy, save it for the guy that steals your last twenty off the bar and buys you and his friends a round of drinks with your money. This is a freindly pub... The only time we get upset is when someone spills the Tillamore.
Have one on me and set back down for a nice enjoyable evening.
I didn't think Tommy was out of line at all. He was just defending the honor of all us 77 users. The rest of you can go pound sand anyway...or maybe go discuss yer favorite crochet techniques at the Threads board.
Brinkmann for president in '04
Tommy
Lighten up? Kiss my azz...hows that for lighening up. As far as writing to strangers for advice...I dont think so! These are my friends and have been for years. Probbaly know more about them then my next door neighbors and I have high respect for them all (most of them anyway). Theyre all hardworking craftspeople so when you come to that realization then maybe you can open yer mouth hot shot.
In case you didnt "completely" read my post I said I have a wormdrive I've been using for years but would like a lighter saw for different working conditions. I can picture you now with your 38 0z hammer doing trim work cause youre such a macho super dude. You probably cut your steak with a chain saw.
How old am I? 51! As far as fat between my ears and belly...well check me out in the website below from the last house I owned and built/renovated....I may be ugly but I aint stupid or a slouch. 27 years in my own biz and never had any complaints. Did I say kiss my azz?
Be well...lol
Namaste
andyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy, checked out the picture of your home nice job !!!! . But i have to know,did you cut all that with a worm. we got to be macho ;man . LOL
TAKE CARE
FRAMER
Hey,
Make it bare and I'll be there Andy.
I stand by my posts regarding the right tool for the job. Go ahead and buy a piece or shiit PC blade left then. At least you're an occasional skill 77 user. Maybe you're not all bad.
Didn't check out your web site. Might be hard for you to believe, but I'm really not that interested in what your doing up there in lawng island. I spent a week up there in training once, I don't get it. Kind of a cesspool.
Be well bro.Tom
Didn't check out your web site. Might be hard for you to believe, but I'm really not that interested in what your doing up there in lawng island. I spent a week up there in training once, I don't get it. Kind of a cesspool
Thomas,
All it takes is one click to check out my website brother but you know, as I know, once you do your words are only worth eating by you. You sure spend a lot of time responding to my posts but won't click up my site? Ha!
As far as Long Island being a cesspool....what a jerk you are.....and you spent a week training? For what? Being a the lame that you present yourself to be here at BT?....What kinda training camp is that called? Camp Halfabrain?
Anyway.I have no more time for arguing with someone over what kind of saw I prefere and that I'm to weak to hold a wormer over my head. What a lame discussion. Hey.....youre alter ego isnt Larry the lurker by any chance is it? Hmmmm.Wheres Piffy when ya need him. LOL
Later Thomas the mucho macho man
a
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 12/1/2002 10:27:48 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
Andy,
I did check out your sit a day or so ago. Impressive. Be curious to know how much monthly overhead is involved in keepingup the site.
Mark
Professor
Thanks. It only costs $7.77 a month and $15 a year for my domain name.
I built the site myself so that was free.
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy,
How long did it take you to build it? How much maintainence is involved? Do you just have the one page? Lastly do you get much work from it?
Mark
Pro
It took my about five hours on and off with a $75 program I bought (FRONTPAGE). Pretty easy to learn. Zero maintenance involved and I can go in and change whatever I want to update real easily. As far as work I get from it....well, I use it to show my portfolio and talk about my biz. When I put an ad in the paper I dont have to spend $500..I write the minimum and give my website......Thats what I think its good for and its so cheap and easy, why not?
As far as the one page goes..I have all the "links" that you can click on the left of the page to take you into the other pages.
Also with Front page you can have a separate page for your subs to get and give material lists and costs and to communicate with you in detail.
Be well
Namaste
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 12/2/2002 8:07:01 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
Andy,
Thanks a bunch for the reply. I'm considering a site for my architectural woodwork and reproduction furniture. That's why I'm curious. Might have some other questions for you after I research it a little farther. Good luck on your house,sounds like it will keep you busy for a while.
Mark
If you need help on a webpage and cant find all you need here or do it yourself and you live near a college of some sort you can get cheap help if you post a sign in their computer department saying you need help designing a web page, at least my experience anyway. A lot of the students that study computers can design and build a web page pretty good and quick, and since they are in college they work cheaper then professionals, besides wouldnt you rather any money you spend go to a college kid drinking beer then a guy in a suit charging a ton an hour ?
Good Luck with your web site
Cag,
Thanks, I'll look into that.
Mark
Framer
Nope didnt cut that whole house with a wormer .just the rafters and plywood. Studs were cut on my chopper when I cut in production as my I did with the headers. I always had my sidewinder to cut whatever till one of my men left it out on the fron the lawn and my dumpster company dropped a 30 yd'er on it.ugh. PC sidewiner.I kinda didnt really like it though anyway and it was real old.
By the way.I sold that house a month ago and now onto another project. A house that was built about 300 years after whomever discovered America...they say it was Columbus but I hear it was some dude named Amicus Vespuci
Namaste
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 12/2/2002 8:25:46 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
wasn't Americus a cartographer? I think he got his name on some little country south of Canada after som of his maps, not necessarily his discoveries.
i thought his name was amerigo vespucci??
bear
So whose leg was Christopher pulling. What a name droper.
Be
Namaste
aYou don’t complete your inner work before you do your outer work. Nor do you say, "Well, the hell with the inner work: I’ll go do the outer work because it’s so important and pressing." That’s not conscious either. The conscious thing is the simultaneous doing of both. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy i got a trusty old 77 i use most all the time but just got a hitachi and im really impressed with it.plenty of power and good feel ,lightweight. How well it stands up remains to be seen.I like it for sheetingand trim ,siding .It wont replace my worm but a nice addition.some carps i know got dewalts and booth have had nothing but trouble.In the shop more then one the job.
goodshoppin
happy t- day
framer
Framer
Thanks man...going to look into that....have a great Birdday
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy; I know this is off the subject(at HAND, good reply) but weren't you the guy with the old Dewalt cell phone that was indestructable, had all kind of gadgets with it, etc.? Let me know. Oh, yeah. I have two of those DeWalt framer saws and mine, two years old, have given me nothing but good service. NO downtime, no gripes. Lighter than a 77, too.
Two years is nothing. That's when you change the oil the first time in a 77. Just getting started breaking it in.
Brinkmann for president in '04
Andy, I have the PC blade left, and the saw boss with the blade on the left they are both great saws, saw boss is about ... well damn cant remember at least 6-7 years old I think it was one of the ordinals when they still had metal shoes, the 7 1/4 is about 3 years now and never had a problem with either of them. They seem pretty tough, the sawboss took a dive down about 15 feet and only the shoe was bent, PC replaced it for 30 bucks and that was 4 years ago still going strong. If I had to suggest one, I would go with the 7 1/4 blade left
As for dust in your eyes like it was stated above there is a dust port and both saws came with a little metal elbow to stick in it, you can direct the dust away from you no matter what position you might be in
Edited 11/28/2002 2:55:53 AM ET by CAG
Andy,
This dedicated "Wormer" keeps a Makita sidewinder in his truck. Been through the mill for 10+ years, and still is the most accurate skillsaw, I've seen. But that could be because the wormdrives do the real abusive stuff. That Makita's nice overhead though. Have a good holiday!
Brudoggie
Thanks Brud
I'll look into it and you have a nice holiday as well
aIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I'll buy that ! I've got the Skill Mag 77. It's got the 25' cord on it and an aftermarket joist hanger. Yeah, it blows dust in your face and its heavy but that base plate is dead on flat and its got the juice to keep on going when a lot of sidewinders won't. Still, I wouldn't be without my old Skill righty sidewinder. When the wormer doesn't fit the job the sidewinder usually does.
I have to admit, when I bought the wormer I was gonna turn my sidewinder into my demo saw but when it got me out of a jam recently, I thought twice and put it back in the "Gold" toolbox right next to my wormer.
If you're wondering about the "Gold" toolbox, well, its the one that nobody is allowed to touch but me.
Andy,
On our jobsite we all converted to the DeWalt. It is light, has the rafter hook, bevels to 50°, has a 15 amp motor and is light. Did I mention it's light? It takes some getting used to because the handle is up high compared to the Skils, but we all love it. We also have one of the new Bosch wormdrives. That saw is a great saw. It's light like the DeWalt, has a 15 amp motor and a rafter hook and also bevels to 50°. We save that saw for when we have to trim porches. The DeWalt we've had the longest is about 2 1/2 years old. It hasn't had any problems. Here is a link to an article from tools of the trade. I hope this helps.
http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/articles/showarticle.asp?articleID=1623&position=2&type=article&partID=1
Tim
Thanks bro. I have that worm drive saw. I'm looking for a sidewinder now if you have any info on one
Thanks again
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Okay, I've only been framing for 2 years, so I don't have the experience you all do, but because of this I get stuck up on the roof cutting rafter tails (young guys bounce? I don't know the reason...) and the left side blade is the best for safety (I can use my left hand to hold on to the truss and lean out to reach the cut), and visibility of the blade and cut line is 100%. I use a PC lefty that I shamefully dropped from 2 stories up onto semi frozen ground just last Tuesday. Happily she survived and I went on cutting tails with it, no bent table or busted handle either. (broke on the inside of the blade housing though between the blade and motor, weird but still works)
Our crew has a Skil 77, right side PC (or did until Buddha burnt it up ripping 200' of sub facia), that left side PC, and some for Dewalt thing with a funky depth knob that requires a beating to set. I don't like that last one. When it came time for me to get a saw I bought a Makita lefty because it's 15 amps, has adjustable stops at 45 and 50 degrees, and uses levers to cam the miter and depth settings (easier to use when wearing gloves). Two beefs, day one on the job Mikey bumps it off the cut table onto concrete and the funny little Aft? handle breaks clean off. No biggie really, the saw is plenty light enough you certainly don't need two hands to control it. But the sawdust diverter deposits right into my toolbag because those funny engineer guys must have never actually used it to make a cut. Oh, it'll fill your shoes up with sawdust too. If I'd do it again I'd give some more thought to the PC, it feels lighter (a little better balanced?) than the Makita, and that sawdust thing... the PC doesn't put it in your eyes or your hip pocket. But the Mak can bevel to 50 and rips happily...
You can take a look at the Mak at amazon.com under Makita saws.
Those wormdrives are unbeatable for ripping, cutting glue lams, demolition, and boat anchors, but above the belt... I'll leave that to the guys with forearms.
I'm out.
While it is a little difficult to type with my head up my arse, I just bought a Makita right hand sidewinder. 5007NHK This is a seriously sweet saw.
As far as not being able to see the blade, I can see it fine, thank you, without s*** blowing in my face. Other righties have line of sight issues, base issues, power issues, etc. The PC righty is a waste of money. I did like the height adjustment on the Bosch, as it is on the outside of the saw, but that was about all I liked about it. The Milwaukee adjustable handle saw is cool, but I found I put the handle in the same place it would have been without the adjustment feature, and wasn't overly impressed with the saw otherwise.
As far as left saws, you all buy what you want, but I prefer the base of the saw on the work not the cut off, and the dust blowing away from me. Also with a worm and a righty you can left and right stop-miter. Maybe it is because it is what I am used to, maybe it is because I do mostly finish, but it is my choice. I started off framing, and worms made sense. The above saw makes sense for me now, and it isn't against the law to have more than one saw. Actually, it should be against the law to have only one.
Must be a touch typist.
In all honesty, I agree that you should have a worm drive AND a sidewinder on the job - just in case you hire a female helper.
Brinkmann for president in '04
Jim
I know....west is best..and thats where John Wayne comes from. Us East coasters like shootin' from the hip when fired upon...lol...otherwise we use the cannons above our head in serious fire....Be well bro
Namaste
Andy PS....I cooked my bird upside down in my Brinkman for 14 hours.....must be the girl in me....lol..mannnnnn was that good!
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 11/30/2002 12:48:09 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
I use a blade left PC and the little metal elbow does a good job of throwing the dust about 5 feet in any direction you want. Tracks really well too.
As for the DeWalt, I have a buddy who has returned two of them because the guard has stuck open after it finished cutting. The first one cut off the end of two or three toes when he set it down and it ran. The second missed him, but he is no longer the dedicated DeWalt man he was.
Joe, I have to agree with macho man Tom here about the PC leftie...I bought one to augment my beloved old, heavy DW and I'm not impressed at all...it always wants to bind and kick back, seems like it bogs down too easily, and the d*** cord is always in the way: I cut it back to little over a foot long not a week after I bought it, and then I cut one of my boss's X-cords with it. I've resorted to wearing the cord over my shoulder now to keep it out of the way. I'm planning on selling it and buying either a Makita or the new DW 369. As for the DW's, that's all my crew uses and we've only had problems (other than wear and tear) on one, which is pretty new, BTW: just like your friend's, ours keeps getting the blade guard wedged back for some reason. Whenever I use it, I always make sure I visually check the guard before setting it down.
QT
Lets see how long your pic stands....Brians gotta sensor that one. Bets are on again. I'm gusssin' its gone by Tuesday morning. Nice post though bro.
BE well
Namaste
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
andy- have you considered the 4 1/4 PC wormdrive trim saw? It's small, but it's a workhorse...
I have one of the 4 1/2 pc trimsaws. The blades break me up and are hard to find, but I like the saw. It won't cut 2x though, only about 1 3/8.
Ya, I guess if he can't handle Betty Boop that one is a goner, oh well. Brian must come in and do a search for jpg's, busy busy...
Andy, you may want to read what I said about that Makita, it really is a nice saw. It is a bit pricey, but they have several other models, the one you have seen everywhere can be had for about $40 less, and it is virtually the same saw.
I think the first thing you need to get your head around is if you want a left or right though, they make both now. If you are used to a left and are thinking about a right, borrow one to use for a while, $150 mistakes bite. I personally feel that a worm and a side-right are a pair that beat three of a kind.
Someone said that you are rich, so you will probably buy one of everything. :-)
QT
I'm rich??? LAMAO....ROFLOOO. Spose its all relative. As far as that goes my wife and I together dont make 1K a year. Its all in our house as it always has been. thats the money we have "HOUSE"! My last home sold for a lot but after I paid everything off and bought this oldie, guess what I have left? Not much but we'll do it again as we always have. Blood sweat and tears. Lots of all three. So some may be jealous to have said that, that I invest in myself and my craft and have a wonderful wife that also loves houses and my work and attitude. We're a great team. You should only look in my clothes closet..lol....ripped jeans and flannel and denim shirts and lottsa workboots with either tar paint or caul or all of the above on em'...lol. Never owned a suit in my entire life but I'm guessing those that said I'm rich own several...My money as I said always has and always will go into my house and construction.
I definatly think I'm leaning towards the Makita.....hey if I had money to burn I'd buy the Big Foot saw...thanks QT..lol
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Always liked lowes better then home depot :)
Maybe I'll have to re-think shopping at Lowes........................(-:
If only women measured charm by the amount of methane produced.......
I need a helper like that!!! I always get the big ugly burly ones..LOL........
Andy,
I have a 6.5" Skill wormdrive for my primary saw that is 10 yrs old and still kickin' and a Dewalt battery saw for over- head and occasional use when I don't want to drag the cord around. The battery doesn't last very long but it is fine for trim or thin plywood. I recently used a Milwaukee battery saw that was very nice, bigger blade 6.5" I think, but ate battery charge at an alarming rate.
Mike Chrest