Why are left-tilt benchsaws better than right-tilt?

Question

Delta and others have started advertising left-tilt table saws. Why is this better?

Answer 1

Over the years doing carpenter work, I've found the left tilt saw better. When making a bevel on a piece of wood or cutting a bevel on raised panel doors, the blade tilting to the left is safer. With a right tilt saw, the fence has to be moved to the opposite side of the blade when making raised panel doors.

When you change the fence, it doesn't feel natural because that's not the way it's normally used.

Answer 2

Most people make the majority of cuts with the fence to the right of the blade, when you tilt the blade to make beveled cuts on a left tilt saw you can leave the fence on the right side while still having the saw safe from most kick-back. But, if you tilt the blade toward the fence it can trap the offcut between the blade and the fence increasing the risk of kickback. \ | = safe; |/ = safe; |\ = unsafe; /| = unsafe

Answer 3

Most people are right-handed, so left-tilt table saws are easier for them to use.

Answer 4

it is a 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other kind of thing, it's like... Skillsaw blade, left or right? with the bench saw it comes down to which side of the blade the material you want to keep is on.. it is best to have the blade cut through the "keeper" and out of the "waste".that's got to do with chipping or burring of edge. no matter what, there are always times you wish you had a bi-swing blade an AC/DC kind of thing, bi-sexual blade swing, ya, that's it NOTE: also blades are usually offset or beds are elongated to one side of the blade, being right handed i prefer the wide side right and the on off switch for my left hand, that's so when I'm removing fingers of right hand, I'll still be able to turn machine off, sort of like the park ranger feeding the bear the hand that doesn't have the gun in it...OH! ya I like my skill saw blade left...

Answer 5

It gets better gas milage.