Right-hand table saw fence v. Left-hand bandsaw fence

[Kev Godwin]

I have been curious as to why we use table saws primarily with the fence to the right side of the blade but most bandsaws are set up with the fence to left of the blade. I know I feel more comfortable using the table saw fence since I'm right handed.

Can someone with an industrial engineering background or tool history background shed some light on this for me? I have often wondered why bandsaws are set up as they are. Thx Creekers!
Kev G

[Simon Dupay]

not always, the 2 Northfield's at school are on the right- otherwise I think it has to do with table having more room on the left.

[David DeCristoforo]

Here's my guess. Since the bandsaw's table is mostly between the blade and the post with very little width on the "outboard" side of the blade, that's the "logical" place to locate the fence. Actually, you have brought up something that I have accepted without question for a really long time. At this point, it would seem "backwards" to have it any other way. I sometimes mount the TS fence on the left side of the blade and it always feels backwards. And I cannot imagine resawing with the BS fence on the right. Maybe it's just what you get used to?

[Jim Becker]

Interestingly and related to this, it seems that meat cutting band saws are reverse of the wood and metal cutting saws...

[Frank Drew]

I've never seen a wood cutting band saw with the column on the right instead of the customary left position; has anyone?

[Tom Veatch]

I've never seen a wood cutting band saw with the column on the right instead of the customary left position; has anyone?

If you install the blade turned inside out, the teeth would be such that facing the cutting edge, the column would be on the right. 'Course the blade guides would be in the wrong position and I don't know whether they could be turned around or not. Also, at least on mine, the motor and dust collector outlet would be in the way and the switch would be in an an almost inaccessible position.

Guess the short answer to your question, at least for me, is "No, never have."

[Jeff Bratt]

If you look on OWWM (http://www.owwm.com/photoindex/detail.aspx?ID=5742), there a (very) few left-handed bandsaws. They are constructed with the wheels, guides, motor, etc. in opposite positions from the more common right-hand saws. I think that the norrmal setup for a bandsaw allows a right-handed operator to more easily apply pressure to keep the workpiece against the fence. Of course, this could also just be what I'm used to...

[Bob Fraser]

It has never occured to me as unusual 'cos I almost always have the TS fence to the left of the blade, that is how I learned, and still set it that way after decades.

(I can hear the "oh my gawd watch for kickback" chorus now but it is okay)

[Mike Cutler]

(I can hear the "oh my gawd watch for kickback" chorus now but it is okay)

Why? As long as the fence, miter slot and blade are aligned properly, the wood has no clue which side is the fence side.
I have two tablesaws back to back. the General has the fence to the right, and a JessEm Mast-R-Slide to the left. The Jet has the fence to the left of the blade. It's never been an issue. I just change hands when necessary.

Kev
. I think the answer is because the first makers of bandsaws did it that way, and after awhile it would have been too hard to get folks to change if the fence was moved to the right. Just a guess though.

[Bob Fraser]

That has always been my point too Mike, but everytime I mention the "left fence"
people bring up kick back.
I dunno....

[Tom Veatch]

Like Mike said, in and of itself, fence-right or fence-left would have no bearing whatsoever on kickback. Now if you've set up your saw as some recommend with the fence kicked in (or is it out, I can never remember) slightly at the trailing edge, then moving the fence to the other side might have an impact.

My father was a carpenter most all of his working life and was left handed. He ran his saw with the fence to the left and that's how I learned. It was uncomfortable for me to use a right hand fence for quite a while. I set my saw up without any intentional kick-in or kick-out and put the fence on whatever side of the blade is most convenient for the particular cut.

[Rod Sheridan]

When I worked in industry, all the bandsaws had the fence to the left of the blade, and the power feeder to the right. (The feeder came up up out of the tabletop when you removed a cast iron insert).

The feeders were used for ripping obviously, either in conventional plane or re-sawing. Pushing a 12 X 12 through a bandsaw all day is beyond the limits of all except for King Kong.

Now, I know the original question was why is the fence on the left, and I believe it has to do with a large percentage of the population being right handed.

If you are right handed, and want to cut circles or curves, you want to use your right hand to control the cut, using your left hand for suppport/pushing. This means the piece that will be moving the most, will be on your right. Hence the column will be on your left so that it doesn't interfere with the swing of the work piece.

I have a left handed friend who hates bandsaws for just the above reason, it's backwards to him.

Once you've placed the column on the left, the fence goes on the left so that you can stand in the open area of the machine when ripping.

(Now whether the above's true I don't know, however it does make some sense).

Regards, Rod.

[Peter Quadarella]

Also, if the fence were on the opposite side of the column, you would only be able to cut a piece of wood that was as big as the space between the blade and the column. That would be no good!

Also, if the column was on the other side, you would need to make different blades to fit those machines.

[Lee Schierer]

My BS fence will go either side of the blade. When cutting bevels, I normally put the fence to the right of the blade as that part of the table is down and gravity helps hold the work to the fence. MOst oter operation the fence is left of the blade because that is where the throat of the saw is.

[Tom Veatch]

...Also, if the column was on the other side, you would need to make different blades to fit those machines.

Nah, just turn the blade inside out.

I've seen reports/questions/complaints from folks that have gotten new blades that when mounted either have the teeth on the wrong side (like for a left column saw) or pointed up instead of down. All you have to do is turn the blade inside out. Doable, but easier with a narrower, shorter blade.

[Nissim Avrahami]

Some 13 years ago, I bought one of those $100 bench saw. Yeap my first table saw...

At that time, I didn't know nothing about TS's...no books no internet...

The table was very small and I added a 24" x 48" plywood to get a larger table.
I don't know way but, naturally I put the larger side on the left of the blade and I worked like that for 10 years.

Not even one "impending kick-back" and I felt very safe - may hands were never never over the blade, I stood on the left side, beyond the rip fence and even if something would happen, first, I'm out of the line of fire and second, as I know, the instinct is to pull my hands toward me and that way, they'll never get over the blade in case of emergency.

I think that the fence (and the larger part of the table) are designed to be on the right side of the blade is because of the sliding table that is usually on the left.

niki
96754

[Charles Krieger]

Along the same vein as the bandsaw tablesaw fence position is the blade left or blade right position on a circular saw. My original circular saw was blade right. I am right handed and it always seemed to me that the blade should be on the left so when I bought my new saw I bought a blade left PC mag. I like being able to see the cut line.

I have a left handed friend who refuses to use my blade left saw. His is blade right and he thinks that is the way it should be. For a while I had both the blade left and the blade right saw and depending upon what I was doing I would choose the saw that seemed right, but unfortunately my 1965 vintage Cman gave up the ghost and repair parts were no longer available. I have not replaced it with another blade right saw.

[John Gornall]

I was well trained in a woodworking shop many years ago by a boss that was very serious about safety. All tablesaws in the shop had the fence to the left of the blade. All operators were right handed.

For a right handed person I belive that fence left is the safest way.

Your body is left of the work piece and the blade. In fact in most cuts your body is left of the fence. Your right hand pushing the workpiece is to the left of the blade. You are well out of line of the blade. Your left hand can steady the workpiece along the fence. No part of you is in line with the blade as you push forward.

I've watched right handers cutting with a right fence awkwardly pushing with their left hand and usually standing right behind the piece between the blade and fence which is the main kickback piece.

I was surprised to find fences right when I left the shop and wanted my own saw.

With an open mind try a simulated cut with a left fence if you are right handed. If you're a lefty leave the fence on the right.

On bandsaws I belive most bandsaws in Europe have the post on your right - opposite on North America. The Inca saws which used to be sold in the US by Garrett Wade were this way.

[Curt Harms]

..... And I cannot imagine resawing with the BS fence on the right. Maybe it's just what you get used to?

Try it, you might like it:D. The fence that comes with the 10-325 Rikon is no gem of design or precision manufacturing but it is pretty flexible. As long as the stock will fit to the left of the blade, I find guiding with my left hand and pushing with my right hand more natural, like ripping on a table saw.

[David DeCristoforo]

The fence on my Griggio BS will go to either side also. It just feels awkward having the fence on the right. (I actually have tried it... I didn't like it.) And I am pretty much ambidextrous so it should not really be a problem. But a lifetime of habit.... tough to overcome, especially if there is no real gain....

[Doug Shepard]

My BS fence will go either side of the blade. When cutting bevels, I normally put the fence to the right of the blade as that part of the table is down and gravity helps hold the work to the fence. MOst oter operation the fence is left of the blade because that is where the throat of the saw is.

Exactamundo.

[Bart Leetch]

I have always wondered why on a band-saw many of the the fences are not made so they can be changed like Curt's Rikon especially for beveled rips or beveled cross cuts. You could then tilt the table & the fence would help hold the material in place on the table as well as guide it.

As to table-saw fences I grew up with a gold anniversary addition Craftsman table-saw which was a left tilt. When I was ready for a saw in 1997 I purchased a top of the line Craftsman table-saw there was no comparison as far as the quality of the arbor & the sheet metal case flexed when I adjusted the tilt. The fence was great & it is on the Gold saw today.

Ok onto my replacement saw which is a 1940 right tilt Unisaw which is a right tilt & I use the fence on both sides of the blade so that I can tilt the blade away from the Biesmeyer style Shopfox fence.

It was a real short learning curve & I use grippers with the saw or another of 2 push shoe style pushers to hold down & push material through the saw. I do hope to have a bigger shop some day & will put Dad's Craftsman saw in with the Unisaw.

[Randy Klein]

Try it, you might like it:D. The fence that comes with the 10-325 Rikon is no gem of design or precision manufacturing but it is pretty flexible. As long as the stock will fit to the left of the blade, I find guiding with my left hand and pushing with my right hand more natural, like ripping on a table saw.

Curt, I have that same BS, but it looks like you have twice the fence rail I do. Is that a modification or is that the way yours came?

Edit: Nevermind, I just found your post (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=87611&highlight=rikon+fence)about it.