Thread: rip fence orientation

Originally Posted by doug3030

Then I would disregard the information on the basis that either the full question wasn't asked or the full answer wasn't given.

Ok, so I gave him a call as I agree this would not be an ideal situation. His answer was unchanged, other than to say, "There are many jobs undertaken on machinery for which they are not designed. This is what used to keep me in a job. Off side fences have caused more accidents than enough."
From a personal perspective, in 50 years, I have never used a table saw or sliding table saw with a left hand fence.

Has anyone ever gone to the trouble of reversing the guides on their bandsaw and turning the blade inside out so that they can use the fence on the right hand side of their bandsaw blade?

Bandsaw is a completely different kettle of fish. I'm quite happy either side on a band saw.

Originally Posted by rustynail

I ran this one past a mate who is a retired Work Safety Inspector. His answer, Left handed left side. Right handed right side. Ive seen more accidents than I could count with cross overs.

I have a feeling that is more of a personal opinion than a statement of fact otherwise there would be some legislation somewhere in the world defining a standard. Most fixed table saws have the fence on the right, contractors saws are often reversable and as Doug has pointed out, bandsaws seem to have their fence on the left. George Llewin wasn’t a leftie so there was no LH bias when he designed the Triton range. To be frank having the fence on the left feels more natural.

I struggle to figure out though why there would be any additional risk in using a saw with all the features reversed? I have a Triton at home but use a Sawstop at the Bundy Woodworkers guild and really don’t notice any difference as I operate machinery in a manner suitable for each type. I try and teach the members to feed the timber through with their left hand so their body position is to the right of the blade; that way if there is a kickback that spits the timber back at mach #2 they avoid singing soprano.

So you must feel terrible using a sliding table saw. Wasnt Llewin just a journalist who thought he had a good idea?

Originally Posted by rustynail

So you must feel terrible using a sliding table saw.

Why? In my considerably-less-than-fifty-years-of-experience I’ve always studiously avoided using a sliding table in conjunction with the fence. This thread is about fences…

Originally Posted by rustynail

Wasnt Llewin just a journalist who thought he had a good idea?

No idea of his background; trade or experience. In my view he is an entrepreneur who developed what he thought was a good idea into a woodworking system that sold internationally and has never been matched. It only went to rat-poop after he relinquished control to Hills.

Butchers bandsaws are often back to front to standard woodworkers bandsaws. No idea why, and it doesn't seem to be a universal trait for butchers.

Sorry to hi-jack the thread.

Alan...

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

... [re: Triton] ... In my view he is an entrepreneur who developed what he thought was a good idea into a woodworking system that sold internationally and has never been matched. ...

Not so sure on that, Chief Tiff. The Mafell Erika is essentially a Triton Workstation on steroids:

Mafell Erika 85.jpg

And a bargain at only AU$6,000 retail in Europe.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Not so sure on that, Chief Tiff. The Mafell Erika is essentially a Triton Workstation on steroids:

Patents last for 20 years. After that all the copy-cats pop up.

Not sure I would put the Mafell in the same league as the MK3 and T2000…

• Workcentres are designed to take your existing portable circ saw; the Erika has a built in motor.
• The workcentre can cross cut nearly 600mm wide in overhead mode; the Erika only just under 350mm pulling the motor towards you.
• With the maxi extension you can rip 8x4 sheets.
• You can also fit a router table to it and use a router overhead.
• Workcentres change modes and accessories in seconds few with no tools; the Erika needs a hex wrench, and patience!

I’d say it’s more of a fancy contractors saw than a workcentre; all it can really do is saw. And leading back on track with the original post; it appears to be fully ambidextrously adjustable.

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

Not sure I would put the Mafell in the same league as the MK3 and T2000…

The real benefit of the Triton system was that it put practical tools in the hands of everyday people at an affordable price. Many have beaten the quality but for the price at the time Triton was the undisputed leader an many people's opinions. That certainly doesn't describe the Mafell at 6 Grand.

Triton was even more affordable because you could buy the basic workcentre and add on as your hobby grew, getting what you needed to expand your capabilities as your skills developed.

Even better, the parts were all orange so when the missus thinks she saw a new item in the shed she could never be sure if it came with the last consignment of orange stuff.

Oh, and of course the fence was on the left side of the blade.

I started out using a Mk3 then the 2000 series. When I got a bit more serious about the hobby, I moved to a proper cabinet saw with an accurate fence. Makes so much difference! The fence on mine is on the right hand side. I didn’t have any problem switching. I struggled with the Triton fence where you had to lock it at the front and rear. I find my current setup to be much more accurate and repeatable.

cheers,

ajw

Originally Posted by Hodgo

I use my right hand/arm to feed in the wood then left for the outfeed

I had a mate who did this
As he grabbed the wood with his left hand it closed up on the back of the blade.
He used to sit at the bar exercising his reattached fingers as he had a beer.
You do have a riving knife on your triton?
Are we talking push sticks?

Having never used a triton I should probably keep out of this discussion.

Served an apprenticeship using proper equipment.
When buying my own bought used industrial.
Even in Canada when offered use of a triton scored use of a 40 year old Delta.
H.

Originally Posted by clear out

I had a mate who did this
As he grabbed the wood with his left hand it closed up on the back of the blade.
He used to sit at the bar exercising his reattached fingers as he had a beer.

Squeezing the offcut and the workpiece together is a rookie error that could occur on any tablesaw whether the fence is on the right or left of the blade.

It's a hard way to learn the lesson and I hope he recovered well.