I know left tilt saws are safer because when ripping with the blade tilted the workpiece is not trapped between the blade and table but is instead sitting on top of the blade. My question is why do they make right tilt saws. From what I know, which is not much, all early saws were right tilt so there must have been a good reason. Does it allow a better trunnion design or does it simplify the packaging of the mechanical parts. I can pick up a right tilt Jet saw at a good price and I am wondering just what I am giving up in safety and performance. Will a blade guard and anti-kickback device significantly improve the safety of the right tilt?
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In reading further on this site I see that the right vs left question is an old and heavily discussed topic. I apologize to all for the redundancy of my question. I have read the other discussions and see the right vs left is a matter of preference. If any one has anything to add I would appreciate the information.
Actually up until recently all I had was an old Craftsman contractor's saw that was left tilt. I bought it new in the early 60's so I guess it qualifies as being "old". I wasn't aware of the difference until I started shopping for a cabinet saw about a year ago. I just assumed that left tilt was the standard up until then. Now I find that some mfr's have only in the past few years offered the left tilt.
Most devotees of the right tilt say that the rip fence scale maintains its accuracy regardless of the width of blade or when using a dado blade setup. If you put a very narrow blade or a wide dado balde set on a left tilt, your rip fence is gauged from the arbor flange and will thus not read accurately.
As far as I'm concerned, it's what you're used to is what matters.
Dennis in Bellevue WA
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