Difference between chop saw and rotary saw?

[Vinko]

I'm not an experienced woodworker. I can throw something together in a pinch, but was wondering: I know the benefits of a chop saw (10" or 12") but what about the older Craftsman Radial Saws I see around? And what models were the best in the old days?

Like this:

v. this:

I've got an old Crafty table saw, made in the USA with the cast-iron base. It's a workhorse. Could use a better fence (and I wish I'd gotten the old direct drive from the seventies as opposed to belt drive) but will the radial saw just allow one to do more than simple cuts with 4 x 4's or 2 x 4's? Is the thinking behind the radial that it replaces the table saw? Or just does more than a simple chop saw?

Anyone have good recommendations for either of the saws? (For example, I know the old Emerson-Electric made table saws for Crafty were great -- and that's why I got one). But don't know much about the background of the radial and chops of yore.

 

[camarotoolman]

Go to woodworking talk forum, those guys fight this one out all the time. Radial saws talk up alot of space, are not portable, dangerous, and aren't very accurate. old Dewalt radial are good. If you are not going to use it much, I would buy a used chop saw (miter box). Pawn shops are full of them.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

will the radial saw just allow one to do more than simple cuts with 4 x 4's or 2 x 4's? Is the thinking behind the radial that it replaces the table saw? Or just does more than a simple chop saw?

I don't know about "replace" the table saw, but it does do a lot of things that a chop saw can't. Cut a lot bigger peices and rabbet and such. I have both a table saw and chop saw (sliding miter saw) and would still like to have a radial arm saw.

 

[brianh]

If you have the space a radial is ok. A compound miter saw will see more use in my shop The craftsman ones are underpowered and flexy but can be picked up cheap.

My main tool is the table saw.

 

[rvr6000]

I had a radial arm saw just like the one in the picture. I'll admit I did like cutting dattos with it over a table saw but other than that I was happy when I got rid of it. Too many people think you can pull the blade into the material from its parked position....obviously this often results in the blade getting jammed up on the material. What you're supposed to do is push the blade into the material but I never liked this because there was always a 10" blade spinning really fast and moving in the direction of my thumb. Can't say that I ever had any close calls with that saw but it still never gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.

Now I just have the table saw and sliding power miter saw that are more than adequate for my needs.

 

[DZL JIM]

We used to have one just like in the pic.
I think they are like the old Shopsmiths.
They do - ok - for an all-in-one tool, but you're better off with seperate machines, in this case a table saw and compound miter saw.

 

[smitty357]

The radial arm saw in your photo is a decent one. I have had that same saw for 15 years. Bought it off an elderly gentleman who had grown frightened of it. All I did was change it over to 220V so it spools up faster. And added a longer table to better support the work (rip a solid core door in 1/2 and let that be your saw table).

If you are going to do some basic woodworking you need a table saw for ripping, a radial arm saw for crosscuts, dadoes and rabbets, and a decent chop saw for cutting trim. With those three tools you can accomplish much. Toss in a router and some sanders and you are ready to rock & roll.

 

[bigdav160]

The chop saw pictured above is for cutting metal. LOL

For wood working, I have all three. Table saw, 12" sliding miter and a Delta radial arm.

The radial arm saw I have set up as a dedicated dado machine.

 

[green.bubbly]

Too many people think you can pull the blade into the material from its parked position....obviously this often results in the blade getting jammed up on the material. What you're supposed to do is push the blade into the material

I agree. I always pull as it seems more natural. But you have to be careful as the blade will bit into the wood when you pull. You really have to control it.

Other than that, I love my Rigid for cutting dados and wide boards. If properly adjusted (which can be time consuming) it is fairly accurate. I use it to rip boards and I prefer a radial arm saw over a table saw for this function. It is easier to line up the blade as it is on top of the piece of wood.

If you are cutting mitered corners, a chop saw is a better choice. Changing the angle on a radial arm saw requires you to lower the raise the arm each time you want to change the angle of the cut.



It is not a perfect jack of all trades tools but is useful for many projects.

 

[pattenp]

I had a radial arm saw just like the one in the picture. I'll admit I did like cutting dattos with it over a table saw but other than that I was happy when I got rid of it. Too many people think you can pull the blade into the material from its parked position....obviously this often results in the blade getting jammed up on the material. What you're supposed to do is push the blade into the material but I never liked this because there was always a 10" blade spinning really fast and moving in the direction of my thumb. Can't say that I ever had any close calls with that saw but it still never gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.

Now I just have the table saw and sliding power miter saw that are more than adequate for my needs.

I took wood working shop in high school and also wood working classes in tech center and was taught to never use a radial arm saw in the push direction. You pull through the material from the back position to the outward position. By pushing you have the chance of the material kicking upward due to the reverse blade rotation.

 

[willymakeit]

As far as pull or push on cut , get the correct blade and pitch on teeth. I have a big Dewalt , but use it for crosscut and dado's only. Tried ripping with one 35 yrs ago and it threw a peice out at me that I never found. Like any tool it is up to the user to determine safely what they are comfortable with. There is good advice in all of the replies.

 

[smitty357]

pattenp is correct. You always pull a radial arm saw blade into the wood. Always - no exceptions.

The speed you allow it to cut depends upon the type of wood.

 

[rvr6000]

pattenp is correct. You always pull a radial arm saw blade into the wood. Always - no exceptions.

The speed you allow it to cut depends upon the type of wood.

I disagree....You don't lower the blade on a sliding miter saw then pull it towards you. You pull the saw all the way out, lower the turning blade, line up the mark and push. Remove the up and down action and you have a radial arm saw.

"Always and No Exceptions" are generally incorrect answers to any statement.....unless of course you're preventing someone from sticking a metal fork into an outlet.

pattenp - I can understand your point too but I've had a radial arm saw jump forward on me while cutting countless times but never did it lift the material off the table while I was pushing the blade.

Regardless, I don't really care for the design of the saw and didn't feel bad giving it away.

 

[Zeke]

I disagree....You don't lower the blade on a sliding miter saw then pull it towards you. You pull the saw all the way out, lower the turning blade, line up the mark and push. Remove the up and down action and you have a radial arm saw.

"Always and No Exceptions" are generally incorrect answers to any statement.....unless of course you're preventing someone from sticking a metal fork into an outlet.

pattenp - I can understand your point too but I've had a radial arm saw jump forward on me while cutting countless times but never did it lift the material off the table while I was pushing the blade.

Regardless, I don't really care for the design of the saw and didn't feel bad giving it away.

If you can cite that from an instruction book, I'll believe you. Otherwise I will do what most people do. BTW, I'm a carpenter with 30+ years experience. I had one of the first chop saws sold, a Rockwell. That goes back to the late 70's.

Radial arm saws were great for miters and compound miters before chop saws and sliding chop saws came out. I'd say they are obsolete nowadays, but still useful.

You can do any miters on a table saw except for long pieces. By long, I mean anything over around 4'. For those it's safer and more accurate to use a long fence/bench and either of the other saws mentioned.

 

[Falcon67]

I looked at both when I bought my miter saw. I went with the miter because it was more useful, being portable. I can set it up anywhere and cut. I have used the **** out of that saw. If it broke today and Sears was open, I'd be in the car driving to buy another. I also have a smaller table saw and it has well paid it's way. I could not have done all the remodeling and construction I have done with a radial arm.

 

[pattenp]

Here's instructions from manual.

 

[ductune]

Vinko, There is a recall on the saw pictured in your post. The picture you posted shows the old stye guard. They will send you a new blade guard and table along with new hardware for free or if you prefer, a check for $100.
Call the number in the following link and give them your model number and serial number so they can check to see if a previous owner collected the $100. I took the new table and guard option. Check it out.

http://radialarmsawrecall.com/

 

[DCarr]

I owned and gave away the same Radial Arm Saw ... twice. It was given to me a friend who bought it new to build a project, I instantly gave it to my Dad because I didnt have any room for it ... Fast Forward 10 yrs ... My Dad gave it back to me since he hadnt used it at all, I kept it for about 2 years, never used it and gave it to a friend who then gave it to another friend who gave it to his BIL who uses it quite a bit.

I would like to get another one ... but just dont know why other than for those once in a while times it would come in handy. I have an older ( 1993 ) Craftsmen CI Table Saw and a Dewalt Compound Miter Saw and both work excellant.

I think I will be buyng a higher end table saw next.

 

[smitty357]

A radial arm saw is designed to be pulled across the wood. The rotation of the blade helps to hold the wood down against the table and back against the fence. But you still must securely hold the wood against the fence with your free hand. If the saw is set up properly the blade won't get jammed in the wood - unless you pull it through the wood too quickly. With anything that cuts one must be aware of speeds and feeds.

And used in this manner, the blade stays well back on the table as blade only has to break through the outer edge of the piece being cut.

To pull the arm of a radial arm saw all the way out and push it into the wood allows the spinning blade to try to "lift" the wood off the table - not to mention the fact that you are starting a 10" diameter blade in a position where it can grab you if you are not careful - very unsafe.

A miter saw is a completely different animal - of course it operates differently. It is wrong to compare it to a radial arm saw.

 

[c_mccann]

As mentioned, if you cut dados, a radial arm saw can't be beat. I miss mine for that reason, but the accuracy of a compound slide is way better. No woodshop is a shop without a 10" table saw. I'd like to have both Radial Arm and a miter saw, but space..

 

[Zeke]

Vinko, There is a recall on the saw pictured in your post. The picture you posted shows the old stye guard. They will send you a new blade guard and table along with new hardware for free or if you prefer, a check for $100.
Call the number in the following link and give them your model number and serial number so they can check to see if a previous owner collected the $100. I took the new table and guard option. Check it out.

http://radialarmsawrecall.com/

That's good to know. Thanks.

 

[Vinko]

The chop saw pictured above is for cutting metal. LOL

No this is for cutting metal And I do it every day.

I just threw that original photo up because it was easy to load from google. And you get the point.

 

[Vinko]

Thanks to all who posted here. Good reading

A miter saw is a completely different animal - of course it operates differently. It is wrong to compare it to a radial arm saw.

No offense, but comparison implies taking two (seemingly often unlike) objects and subjecting them to scrutiny and seeing what they have in common. Whether it's right or wrong, I learned you can do a few of the same things on both tools. And the ensuing discussion gave me some info on what the radial saw can do (and what its limitations are). So I'd say it was far from "wrong" to attempt a comparison. The result was a good reading. Thanks.

 

[camarotoolman]

There are few things a redail is good for but the average
dIy guy they are a waste of money. A good power saw is first, I would put my money there. Then a table saw, next a jointer to straighten your lumber. I was a wood shop teacher and woodworker.