Standing to the right of the fence for Ripping

[Gator95]

Does anyone else do this? I'm talking about when you rip with the fence to the right of the blade, and standing to the right of the fence in front of the saw, using the right hand to apply downward and inward pressure against fence to the wood (generally right thumb is hooked over the fence securely) and the left hand to feed, transitioning to a push shoe as the cut nears completion?

If I'm ripping a 5" wide board to 3" I pretty much always stand to the right of the fence and use a featherboard, combined with inward pressure towards the fence with my right hand to keep the wood against the fence.

I feel like I get three advantages from this:

1) Better line of sight to ensure wood is kept securely against the fence- my #1 priority.
2) Further from line-of-fire for kickback
3) When completing a cut with push shoe or stick, no part of my body crosses the rotational plane of blade to ensure control of the piece between the fence and the blade.

I think these advantages are more pronounced for sheet goods, if they can be managed from the right of the fence. And if they can't I generally think a circ. saw is a better tool for breaking down to approx. size and then cleaning up on table saw.

Not a ridgid rule of course, sometimes I'd have more control from the conventional position but about 70-80% of the time I feel more comfortable standing right of the fence.

Anyone else or am I just strange?
Is there a safety issue I'm not thinking about that makes all the instructional books (The Table Saw Book, etc...) show the standard to be standing to the left?

[dbhost]

If I am reading your post right, I stand to the outside of the fence so that the fence is between me and the blade for some of the reasons listed.

#1. Out of the line of fire of kickback.
#2. Seems easier to control the stock in relation to the fence.
#3. When using push stick no part of my body crosses the cut line of the blade.

This of course will vary with the size of the stock. Say for example I am cross cutting a full sheet of plywood, and am cutting an 18" section. In that case, it is easier, and safer for me to control the stock from the outside... (Sliding along well waxed sawhorses..

[RodKirby]

I ALWAYS rip with the fence to the right of the blade - even when I had my BT3000.

And, obviously, all of me to the right of the blade

Now, on the darkside, with a left tilt blade; bevel rip cuts are also made with the fence to the right.

Not "strange" - I would have thought totally "normal"

Edit: Just realized - I stand to the right of the blade (out of line of fire), not to the right of the fence.

[LCHIEN]

i personally stand to the left of the blade. That way I can see and confirm that the workpiece being ripped is firmly against the rip fence. To see that from the right side means I have to lean over the rip fence a bit and then my head would be in the "line of fire". Also easier to apply pressure towards the fence and away from me.

I guess my right hand running the push shoe is at risk, but using a proper push shoe I am planning not to get a kickback anyway.

I much prefer a push shoe to a push stick as with the shoe I can hold the piece down flat to the table and keep it from rising up.

[Popeye]

I always stand to the left of the fence and for the most part to the left of the blade. I use my left hand to hold the work to the fence and my right to feed the work.To me it gives me the best line of sight and the most control of the work. To me control of the work is probably the best way to prevent kickback and keep all my digits. Is this the correct way???or even the best way??? Dunno, it's just the way I was taught and feel most comfortable and safe. Pat

[steve-norrell]

I usually stand to the left of the blade except when cutting a wide piece of sheet goods. Always use a push stick, push shoe or gripper as appropriate to the size of the piece between the blade and the fence.

The only time I have my hand and fingers between the fence and the blade is with sheet goods and then only when I can keep the hand at least six inches from the blade. When ripping long pieces, I use my right hand to help feed the piece, but change to a stick, shoe or gripper when nearing the blade.

Regards, Steve

[LarryG]

I'm a lefty, so I sometimes stand to the right of the fence, if that is the best place to stand for the particular cut I am making. Offhand I could not tell you what type of cut(s) that would be.

In a larger sense, however, I agree 10,000% with what Popeye wrote. I stand where I have the most control of the workpiece. Generally I do try to stand out of the so-called "line of fire" but if I have to stand partly or even fully behind the blade in order to have the most control when making a cut, that's where I stand. Sacrificing control and leaning over awkwardly to grip the workpiece, just because there is supposedly only one "correct" place to stand -- sorry, but I just don't buy it.

Watch the guys on TV, and closely examine pictures in books and magazines. You will frequently see the operator standing at least partially behind the blade. The reason is because these experienced woodworkers are instinctly moving to the place where they have the best control.

[Gator95]

Thanks for the thoughts. If I'm not clear on what I'm describing, here's a visual about 4:30 into the demo from the Ryobi CD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noc4STETpm8

EXCEPT I'd not do this without a featherboard applying pressure from the left side of the board against the fence.

[Ed62]

I almost always stand to the left of the blade, with the fence on the right of the blade. If I were to stand to the right of the fence, I would have to put my head in the line of fire, in order to see what was happening. I feed the stock with my right hand, using a push block when appropriate. If I did experience a kickback, my right arm would likely take a hit, but my head would be safe. It seems the safest way for me.

Ed

[dkerfoot]

I'm a right-sider - or sometimes a fence-straddler (depending on the width of the board).

For starters it just feels more comfortable for me. I also like that it puts me out of the line of fire in case of kick-back, which from the videos I have seen always seems to angle away from the fence. I don't plan on having kick-back either, but all other things being equal, I'd prefer to be out of the path if it did happen.

I don't see how my head is more in the angle of fire, as it is to the right of the blade. I feel I can keep the workpiece firmly against the fence with my head just slightly to the left of the fence. I probably use a feather board about 50% of the time, depending on the cut and the workpiece.

But, if standing to the right were not a comfortable and safe-feeling position for me, I would not do it. I am certainly not putting myself into an awkward position in the hopes of dodging kickback...

[cabinetman]

I don't consciously stand or position my body or head contemplating kickback. With the fence to the right of the blade I always use my right hand to hold down and push stock through the blade. For me using my left hand to push stock would be uncomfortable.

There has to be a comfort level while doing this as inordinate positioning may present a control hazard. Hopefully, experience may tell by either feel or sounds if disaster is on its way.
.

[leehljp]

i personally stand to the left of the blade. That way I can see and confirm that the workpiece being ripped is firmly against the rip fence. To see that from the right side means I have to lean over the rip fence a bit and then my head would be in the "line of fire". Also easier to apply pressure towards the fence and away from me.

I guess my right hand running the push shoe is at risk, but using a proper push shoe I am planning not to get a kickback anyway.

I much prefer a push shoe to a push stick as with the shoe I can hold the piece down flat to the table and keep it from rising up.

Exactly as Loring said and for the same reasons - for me.

[Gator95]

To be clear- my reasoning for standing to the right of blade and fence has more to do with not having to reach over the top of the blade with the push shoe at the final stage of the cut, which I'd have to do if I stood to the left of the blade and was cutting a piece where the wide side was between blade and fence, than with kickback. My comfort with doing things this way may have a lot to do with my saw (Ridgid 3660) where the blade is set pretty far back on the table and it feels pretty awkward to complete a cut with the push shoe to the right of the blade if I'm standing to the left.

Not trying to say that this way is any better, or advocate standing in a particular place. Mostly trying to ensure that there isn't some huge disadvantage to doing it this way that I haven't thought of, since most instructional books show something different.

[Ed62]

I don't see how my head is more in the angle of fire, as it is to the right of the blade. I feel I can keep the workpiece firmly against the fence with my head just slightly to the left of the fence.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that if your head is to the right of the blade, and to the left of the fence, it is in the path of a kickback. If your head is anywhere between the fence and the blade, it just sounds dangerous to me. I'm not trying to be difficult, but I am trying to understand how it could be different. If I'm missing something, someone please steer me straight. If I'm right, maybe someone else can avoid getting hurt. Either way, I'd like other opinions on this. Thanks.

Ed

[jabe]

I stand on the left for the same reasons as LCHIEN. Make sure your fence is adjusted correctly, use a riving knife w/antikick back pawls. Standing right or left is up to the individual as long as you're comfortable.