Popular Woodworking 2009-06 № 176, страница 7

— Letters —

PROM OUK KKADBR8

Tapered Blades on Backsaws: What's the Benefit?

at isthc benefit of havingatapcrcd Made on a hacksaw? I've g.nthe bugto nuke a couple tenon viwv In terms of appearance, I likethclook of the 18th-century tapered saws, but can you offer another reason? Docs it offer case of cut maybe by having less metal in the wood at the toe? Your answer will help me decide whether it is worth the extra machining step or not.

I confess, though, that I value good looks and will even add carving to the saw

—Jim Paulson. St. Johnsville. New York

Thai taperfrom toe to heei (wnv people call if a 'earned Hade') seems to me to have some advantages

1. I rhinJb it improves the wall balance of the tool by removing some wigfafromthetoe.

2. f rhmkumaJbesrhesawrufjMalifimorr^rrtttw'. Fwry sawtooth is a bit loner than the one in frond (fit. This seems to imprme the feeding characteristics of (he fwf.

J. TypiedJy.yn wi/J hinuur hisefineon the side of the t\vrk thai faces you first and\otit*Ubcshyef the baseline on the backside. This is a$Md thing hrcauie urn am only wut<h one fate of the board at a time

I don't consider the feature to be an absolute 'must--font" detail, but It does make for a fleer saw.

—Christopher Sehwurc. editor

SawStop Safety Question

I read your review of SawSiop's conux-tor saw in the February 2009 issue («17-»). I always think safety is a good thing, but I

am not ready to believe the SawStop is as safe as everyone thinks. I have seen the ho* dog demons!rai ion in person, and I have seen the video where the inventor of the SawStop test * a on hisown linger - wit how even a nick!

My concern is the speed ai which the hot dog and linger were introduced to the blade - very slow I understand that a large pcaenuge of tabfe saw cuts and amputations are the result of kickhack pulling the wood and a hand into the blade. 1 also understand a board kicked bock on a table saw can trawl at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. I would like to know how well the hot dog

doc* when introduced at a high rate ofspc.il to the blade - and even an the speed someone would be rippinga ripa piece of wood. Sony to be a doubting Thomas, but I would like to nee a OMR real-world demonstration of the effectiveness of the SawStop.

—Tom Collins, via e-mul

J Yt seen a number of demos of the SawStop that moved the hot dog into the Hade at a h$jh »ut< of speed. Wehadafalse tnggnngof the cabinet saw h* hud in our shop, and the blade steps and disappears below the table in an incr«f-tWv short period of time. I believe that in real time it's a few thousandths of a second. That part of the device works as advertised, ami it would turn a potential ampurutuwi intoafiw stiuhesat wwst.

— Robert W. Ixtng. senior edikyr

Circular Saws for Southpaws

It's time to replace my vintage 1943 Milwaukee circular saw. It works line and looks new.

but U weighs a ton. Id like to replace it wuha good tool that does not weigh i> much.

1 was mystified to discover that nearly evir)' sidewinder-style saw in the big box store is offered in two different models: One with the blade on the right side of l he motor, the other with the blade on the left side.

Now. I want to guess thai the difference is to accommodate right- and left-handed people But I am not accustomed to manufacturers accommodating southpaws like me. So. I am wondering why there are two different sides lor the blade placement. And. if it is for right- and left-handed folks, which saw is for which hand?

—Bill wtese. Melbourne. Florida

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