Thread: Battery Powered Saws

I have the 18v hitatchi and wondered the same thing myself. Awkward to say the least.

They're left handed because the designers are idiots.

I have seen a few properly designed RH saws: a discontinued Metabo, and 36v saws from Hilti & DeWalt. The rest are all cack-handed.

No idea why. It is different to what you're probably used to but I havent plugged my corded circular saw in since I got an 18V Milwaukee ! Size wise it may be longer than my 7 1/4 and is about the same weight. And taking a cordless saw to a 4 metre long beam is easier than the beam to a mitre saw too. It rips 19mm thick stuff well, but struggles if any thicker.

On the verge of making a jig to crosscut solid timber and am thinking a T shape where the 'fence' which registers on the long edge of the timber to be cut extends 30mm (blade to edge of saw base distance) past the 'guide' so lining up the end of the fence with non-waste side of the cut. Saw base runs directly on timber. Hold the jig in left hand, use saw with right.
The traditional guide where the saw base runs on the guide would be awkward.

Plan view drawing -cordless circ saw guide.JPG

Is it to do with the blades? Technical difference or just marketing?

On your standard right handed corded circular saw the blade turns anti-clockwise as you face it.
On a cordless left handed circular saw the blade turns clockwise as you face it.

Assuming you are going to put them on the right way round is it marketing to make you buy more blades or is it technical to pevent you putting the lower rated 'cordless' blade on your corded saw that's presumably going to spin much faster?

Battery saws dont have a gear box, corded do, but both types spin clockwise when viewed from the blade side

This is not a hard and fast rule though, have a look at Makita's cordless saws, there are exceptions that are the same as the corded saws

Originally Posted by rwbuild

Battery saws dont have a gear box, corded do, but both types spin clockwise when viewed from the blade side

This is not a hard and fast rule though, have a look at Makita's cordless saws, there are exceptions that are the same as the corded saws

5902B_zoom.jpgBSS610Z_zoom.jpg
They look opposite to me

Have another look


Saw Circular Cordless Makita 10.8v

Makita BCS550Z 5-3/8-inch Metal Cutting Circular Saw Cordless

They would be right handed battery powered saws running anti-clockwise.

So the original point that all battery powered saws are LH is not correct and my guess as to the reason automatically is invalid.

So the original point that all battery powered saws are LH is not correct

I did not mean to infer that all battery powered saws were LH. I just have not seen any that were not.
I just wanted a reasonable reason for that configuration. I guess that being a direct drive would be one.

As far as I know, reversing the direction of a DC motor is easy.

new makita 71/4 dual 18v battery saw is back to the normal side.

Frane_Makita-XSHO1Z-Dual-Battery-Circ-Saw_21.jpg

I've found the battery saws I've owned & used pretty compromised.

I hate their cack-handedness, their extra weight and poor ergonomics & lack of balance. You'd think that something as potentially dangerous as a saw would/could/should be more ergonomically designed.

Their major crime, however is their gutlessness. 18v tools have an approx output of 300w, & 36v tools twice that. Using this analogy, it appears that a battery saw should have about 72v DC input to be really useful! This would make it too big & heavy of course.

The 18v tools I've owned, Bosch & Metabo, were woeful. So are the Makitas, Milwaukees & Hitachis I've used. Hilti make a good 36v tool, but it's hard to get & BS expensive. I currently use a 36v Bosch, but it's only 6 1/2", and marginal at best for power: good for sheet material & pine, and crap in hardwood. I love the rafter hook, however. Should be standard fitment on all saws.

Originally Posted by Ratbag

They're left handed because the designers are idiots.

I have seen a few properly designed RH saws: a discontinued Metabo, and 36v saws from Hilti & DeWalt. The rest are all cack-handed.

Good Morning Gentlemen

Could it be a left-handed designer or production engineer getting even with the world???



Fair Winds

Graeme

I reckon it's a plot by that mysterious criminal organisation "Cack Handers United" to send the rest of us round the twist.

Actually Makita make their 18v Li Ion saw in both right blade and left blade - 610 & 611 model numbers.

The 'wrong way round' saws are to accommodate those people who want to see the blade actually hitting the cut line - the rest of us just use some sort of guide, wether it be a strip of wood or some store bought contraption.

By coincidence it also suits those of us who are terminally left handed - I'm ambi-clumsy myself