Anyone use a radial arm saw ?

[lakeroadster]

I recently acquired one for free (10" Craftsman), missing the table. Any tips on making one for it, or should I just throw a piece of MDF on with a 1x for a rear fence?....

You can buy a base at Sears that works great. I used one and modified it by adding casters and some handles so i can move it around my shop. Works really well.

My DeWalt Radial Arm Saw was made in 1952. My maternal grandfather Henry sold it to my Dad in the early 1960's, and Dad built our first house and 50 years of other stuff with this saw. When dad passed away in 2012 I inherited it.

Other than cleaning and lubing it up good, and installing a new power cord, it's as good as the day it was built.

They are a great tool. They are not any more unsafe than the person using them.

 

[uart]

I am not sure how you were planning on doing this with a miter saw, but it just sounds like a bad idea.

No I wasn't planning on doing any rip cuts with the miter saw. I was just wondering why everyone was saying rip cuts were more dangerous than crosscut on a radial arm saw. Just trying to figure out what is inherently more dangerous about cutting along the grain.

Is the blade more likely to grab or something if you're cutting along the grain?

Or is it just that there is generally a lot less to hang on to when you turn the timber sideways to do a rip cut?

 

[lakeroadster]

....I was just wondering why everyone was saying rip cuts were more dangerous than crosscut on a radial arm saw.

Let Mr. Don't show you:

He rip cuts without any kickback prevention, such as a riving knife which he mentions he doesn't have... that's just foolish... that's why I refer to him as Mr. Don't.

 

[timbitca]

Can't justify having one in my small 16x24 garage. But I would have one if I had the room for it, I keep seeing them cheap on Kijiji and the older models really tempt me. Attached two pictures for examples.

 

[uart]

Let Mr. Don't show you:

Thanks lakeroadster, that explains it perfectly. I didn't realize that the head could be rotated sideways like that. I was thinking it had something to do with cutting along the grain instead of across, now I see it's really about feeding the wood from the side instead of having it securely against the fence.

 

[TooMuchHair]

There is still a strong following for the old Dewalt saws.
http://people.delphiforums.com/snotzalot/sawdust/

 

[DekeT]

No I wasn't planning on doing any rip cuts with the miter saw. I was just wondering why everyone was saying rip cuts were more dangerous than crosscut on a radial arm saw. Just trying to figure out what is inherently more dangerous about cutting along the grain.

Is the blade more likely to grab or something if you're cutting along the grain?

Or is it just that there is generally a lot less to hang on to when you turn the timber sideways to do a rip cut?

The chance for kickback during ripping is a concern for both table and radial saws. Using a different blade for ripping and crosscut on the radial is the best bet, but that is never going to happen. Follow lakeroadster's advice for safe use when ripping.

 

[zkling]

I'm a fan, just don't have the space/need right now. Had a nice 14" delta for a number of years when I was really into reclaiming lumber. Unfortunatly it had to go when downsizing.

A properly tuned, quaily RAS is extremely handy, especially if you are dealing with heavy, wide hardwood stock. Now a days a sliding compound miter saw and a saw station/bench have basically replicated and replaced the RAS. When I get more space I will add one again.

 

[DTE]

Well they sound like a good tool to keep around, in the past I did very little wood working but I see some in the future. So I will go ahead and work it in to my new shop. Here's what we have, it runs smooth and all the adjustments work easy and my son bought it at an auction when he was 16 for $35.00. It has a new guard to go on it also.

 

[guy48065]

I *really* wanted to retire my RAS when I last overhauled my shop but I use it too much for plowing dadoes and half-laps. Can't do that on my chopsaw.
I occasionally rip on it if I have too much **** covering my Unisaw. Also can't do that on a chopsaw.

A properly aligned RAS with a good negative-hook blade gives me clean scratch-free crosscuts. The tool definitely doesn't deserve the bad rap it's gotten.

 

[jeff_gates]

I started using a RAS when I was 14 and at 19 we sold the saw. When I bought my first house I got a new RAS and have had it for about 20 years, and it still works great. But as we build our new shop I have been thinking of getting a nice chop saw and selling the RAS.

--Jeff

 

[Thumper68]

When I built the shop I happened to find a older CM RAS for sale on the side of the road, $100 for a 12" 220V, I love it for dados and cross cuts on larger panels. It worked great for all the angled dados on my loft stairs much easier than setting a guide for the router 20+ times.

 

[ez-duzit]

My old C'man RAS plays a very important function in my shop. It does virtually all of my crosscutting.

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

Just wondering how many people still use a radial arm saw, I see that they have all but been outlawed. Any pointers ? I bought a Craftsman at a auction and about all I would use it for would be cross cutting some boards.

I have an old DeWalt MBF that I purchased from this older gentleman. He had babied it and it had several accessories that came with it. Did not need to replace bearings or anything like that. Got a negative hook Freud blade on it. Have not used it in a while though (purchased simply to have one), but I don't regret the purchase.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I have a 1968 C-Man 10" RAS. It gets used for repeat cross cuts, compound miter cuts, dado cuts, and polishing/buffing when I'm not cutting wood. Having it on a roller stand with stops and T-stands (for long boards) makes it easy to use & store. After tightening the carriage bearings and tramming the head in, it's accurate for my needs.