My new cordless saw blade spins clockwise. Why?

[PearlyKing]

Beginners question. Just bought a cordless circular saw and surprised to see that the blade spins clockwise, cutting up from underneath the wood. There is obviously a good reason for that, but Google didn't help. Not a problem, just curious.

 

[Racers]

It pulls the wood tight to the base of the saw, instead of lifting the saw out of the cut which would be dangerous.

Pete

 

[Mike Jordan]

You don't say what type of saw it is but I assume you mean what I call Skilsaw. The type you might use with a track system for cutting sheet material?
If you think about it, rotation which made the cut from top to bottom of the material would tend to push the saw upwards and make it climb out of the cut. Highly dangerous, particularly when the blade dulls a little or hits a hard piece. Even jig saws cut on the upstroke, it's the only way to make them safe to use.

 

[Dee J]

Clockwise is a strange term... There's no standardisation as to which side of the saw the blade fits. Saws with blades on the left spin clockwise. Cutting up from underneath is standard and keeps the saw down on the surface rather than riding up and running away.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If you've ever used a jigsaw with a down cutting cutting blade you'd realise how easier to control an up cutting blade is.

 

[PearlyKing]

Sorry, should have mentioned the model. It is a Dewalt DCS391, 165mm blade. Photo attached of saw with blade that came with it.

 

[PearlyKing]

Forgive me lads, I got this completely wrong. I had thought that my 240v Dewalt rotated clockwise, coming down on the piece. Seeing these comments made me pop down to the garage, in my PJs, to look, and they are both the same! I got confused by the new saw having the motor on the "other" side.

 

[Mike Jordan]

OK people, put the first aid manuals back on the shelf!

Having thought about it this might be a method of making belt sander racing look boring!