What are the advantages/disadvantages of left tilt vs right tilt TS? Does it really make any difference? Only thing that makes sense to me is that the cut off piece is under the angle cut and if other way around, if you happen to nudge the wood into the blade with it angled toward you it could bind.
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Opa
second star to the right and straight on til morning -
The circumstance you cite is the main thing. For safety, the fence on a right-tilt saw should be moved to the left of the blade for a beveled rip cut. Some find having the fence on that side awkward. A related issue is that there's usually less table area and fence rail to the left of the blade.
The second circumstance involves making beveled cuts on sheet goods. If you have to leave the fence on the right of the blade (because of the limited table and fence area, mentioned above) and bevel both edges, the pointy edge of the side that is cut first will try to slide under the fence when you bevel the opposite edge. Also, there's an increased risk of chip-out on the side that would normally be presumed "good," since in this scenario that side will be against the table and the rotation of the blade will be working against you.
I personally don't consider the tilt direction to be that important, all things considered. Some people insist on left-tilt saws, and the manufacturers are moving in that direction. My new(ish) cabinet saw is a left-tilt but, as I've stated before, I'd have bought it even if it was right-tilt.Larry -
It's really a matter of preference. I've owned both and prefer left tilt...the main reason I prefer LT is because I can tighten the arbor nut with my right hand, and the thread orientation is normal.
If a great deal came along on a right tilt saw that's an upgrade, I'd probably switch....
Happiness is sort of like wetting your pants....everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth.
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The biggest reason I prefer left tilt is it puts the rip fence to the right side of the blade when making bevel cuts which is where it's positioned for 99.9% of my regular rip cuts. When I had my BT it made me very nervous switching feed hands and body position while making bevel rips. And to add to that, I keep my fence toed out to the right just a touch at the rear, this made the fence want to pinch the blade on bevel cuts. PatWoodworking is therapy.....some of us need more therapy than others. <ZERO>Comment
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I have owned both as well and prefer the left tilt. To me it's just somehow less frightening. I don't fancy having a wooden projectile shot across the shop. If you don't anticipate doing beveled rips often, then no biggie either way. I don't often make them myself, but when I do, I feel better with the left tilt saw that I now own.
One note about switching the rip fence to the left side of the blade. Some people tail out the back of the rip fence from the blade by a few thousandths to avoid kick-back. This will mean that if you did this, it'd be tailed IN a couple of thousandths on the other side of the blade when making beveled rips, which is bad juju.Keith Z. Leonard
Go Steelers!Comment
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Bad juju, huh Keith.. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha... sounds as if you been "hangin' " with Madame Alexandria down in New O..leans to me. Regardless, that's about as good as I've heard it put.
The guys have got it covered, Opa. I don't really care one way or other as I do ripping on a TS with about 99% of cuts in a 90* degree blade position. But.. for the very few cuts I would make with a tilted blade.. I prefer the left tilt also as it just feels natural.
As mentioned the arbor nut is on the wrong side for a rightie.. but you could walk around and deal with it from the rear of saw. And as mentioned.. about all the manufacturers are going left tilt as that seems to be the majorities choice. I doubt you will see a new right tilt in another 5 years.. maybe less.Comment
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