I'm in the market for a circular saw and am right-handed.
I was about to purchase one with a blade on the right b/c I've seen lots of pictures of right-handers (b/c their right hand is on the trigger) and their left hand on the second handle (the one near the front of the saw).
I thought that it's a safety thing to have the blade away from you…until I saw this video from this Old House (forward to ~1:00). Here he uses a speed square WITH a circular saw. He is right-handed and holding the saw in his right hand and holding the speed square as a guide in his left hand!
Is it safer and or appropriate to buy a right blade circular saw for right-handers…like this one pictured? The blade is to the right of your hand. In order to see the blade you would have to look over and to the right of your hand…which seemsm awkward to me.
Best Answer
A right-handed person will always, naturally have the right hand on the trigger thus making the right handed blade easier to see from the right side.
For maximum safety, the left hand should also be on the tool. When it is, the left arm, riding high and forward, will partially obscure the blade and the cutting line from the left side view.
Also, when the right hand is on the trigger (and left forward of that) one might want the motor closer to one's body (than having the blade there).