Holy ****! That's scary!

[galute]

I've been thinking about a radial arm saw lately. Ran across this one on craigslist and scared myself when I opened the thread.

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/tls/4274727451.html

 

[KenC]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Wow! Never have seen an early Skill RAS. The ad says the guard is included. If I was the seller it would be on for the pics! But, I'll bet it doesn't fit that big blade that's on it.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Yeah - look at the blades on the wall behind the saw - much smaller than the blade mounted in the pic.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Mike Miller]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Yikes!!

 

[glazier]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

I own one like that, it has all the guards and a 24' table 12' on each side. Mine is 3 phase 5 hp, I use it to cut aluminum extrusion with a 18" Nordic Blade. This saw is a beast, a company called Topps has a modern design of it. This particular saw requires about 3' of space behind it to allow the radial rods to pass out the back. Beware operating such a saw though, 5 hp is not going to stall out, it's going to cut through, or come flying on top of whatever it hits. I like mine a lot, and would not think of selling it. These are very dependable, and will last a lifetime if taken care of. The one in the photo is about used up, mine looks new.

 

[readhead]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Back in the '70's there was one of those on every job. In California most were Comet brand. There was no precutting back then and the frammers would move one of these saws on the job. Most of the ones I saw were on trailers with adjustable outriggers and ran on 220.

 

[Zeke]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Back in the '70's there was one of those on every job. In California most were Comet brand. There was no precutting back then and the frammers would move one of these saws on the job. Most of the ones I saw were on trailers with adjustable outriggers and ran on 220.

Well, there have always been 92 1/4 studs here as far back as I go and that would be the '70's However, gang cutting cripples and individual headers was easy with a saw like that. I don't know why you don't see them anymore.

I've recently joined the church of the smallest blade that will do the job is the blade to use. I'm replacing my 10" in the table saw with an 8 1/4. I'll use the 10 if I need a close to a 4" depth of cut which isn't often and has become somewhat uncomfortable for me these days. I've been on a TS most of my life at least once a week and for a considerable amount of time. I've had a few accidents but only got hit once and no cuts.

That monster in the OP looks like an accident waiting.

 

[readhead]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Yes we had studs but that was about it. These saws got used a lot for cutting floor joists and rafters. We cut headers and cripples and preassembled window and door openings, corners and wall t's. This is back when a frammer could cut a roof with hips and valleys. I know, a lot still can but now we have a lot of truss installers.

 

[Zeke]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Yes we had studs but that was about it. These saws got used a lot for cutting floor joists and rafters. We cut headers and cripples and preassembled window and door openings, corners and wall t's. This is back when a frammer could cut a roof with hips and valleys. I know, a lot still can but now we have a lot of truss installers.

I heard that. But they still have to cut stairs, so at least the lead guy can layout the jack rafters. Frankly, I'd rather cut my floor joists laying on the rim joist and swing them into place. And I'd rather cut my ceiling joists on horses and hand them up. But you guys and we normally don't use built up headers so we have to cut through 3 1/2" of lumber straight. No better way than the RAS.

 

[readhead]

It's funny how things are different from place to place. In Cal we used solid headers, doug fir for everything but plates and enough hardware to sink a ship. In Colorado we frame with hem fir, build all our headers and have just started seeing holddowns in the last few years. I used to carry a box of A35's in my truck all the time and here nobody knows what they are.

 

[pepi]

That's a left handed saw if you think about it.

 

[whyNick?]

That is truly a Radical Harm Saw.

I used to work in an independent lumberyard that had one like that in a shed next to the loading area. It would spin for about 5 minutes after you shut the motor off. They kept a large spool of sisal twine on a dowel next to the saw. One day the yard foreman was helping a customer load his lumber and couldn't find a knife to cut the twine. Someone had just used the saw and the blade was still spinning at warp 9 and he must have reasoned that if the saw would cut lumber surely it would cut twine...

Once we found a box cutter it took us about half an hour to cut all that twine out of the blade guard .

 

[John Mc]

I have a friend who did that with a saw. A few thousand dollars worth of surgeries, and he now has 80% use of the thumb on his right hand after 5 years......

Guards on machinery are not there to make your life easier, they are there to protect you from yourself.

 

[carterbeauford]

I worked in a wood shop that had one of those, 16" blade, thing must have been 3/8" thick. terrifying to use. I stood as far from it and moved it as smoothly and carefully as possible.

 

[IrishGuy]

So, when did you start having these visions/dreams to open a tool museum!! That thing looks like it should have a large belt wheel attached to it running to a steam engine drive system.

I had a more modern radial given to me by someone -- I got rid of it for the same reason he did - it was to heavy to set up and use unless you had room to leave it in one spot.

Good luck with that.

 

[7echo]

That is scary for sure. I saw a swing arm saw once with a 16" blade and no guard. The worst one I think I have seen is a 5 hp motor mounted on a pedestal. A 10" blade. Center of shaft was approx 3' AFF. All home made, no guards. The guys there would be cutting lengths of trim, mostly for picture frames and stretchers. Someone would take the drops that where too long for scrap but too short to use and swipe the material across the blade to shorten it. Wish I had a pic of that rig.

 

[ctb]

Used to run a 14" Rockwell in a lumber yard during the winter ripping 2x4's into 2x2's. All sizes especially 16'. When you had a kickback it would shoot the 2x2 out like an arrow. Everyone knew to approach the saw from the front, and never the side when it was in operation. It was a damn good machine though and in all the years it was used it never cut anybody. The thing commanded respect.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think it would be great to cut larger 2x material and 4x stock, not to mention the occassional arm or leg.

Like Glaizer said, it's coming through whatever you're cutting. I can see someone not holding on tightly to the handle, it grabbing the material and self proppelling out the arm, cracking somebody in the noggin.


My first thoughts was somebody stole a blade off an old PTO buzz saw.

 

[rslaback]

Re: Holy ****! That's scarey!

Well, there have always been 92 1/4 studs here as far back as I go and that would be the '70's However, gang cutting cripples and individual headers was easy with a saw like that. I don't know why you don't see them anymore.

Not attempting to bust your balls but are they really 92 1/4 there? In Wisconsin they are 92 5/8.

 

[BMW Rider]

That thing looks like a prop from a horror movie

 

[rlitman]

Used to run a 14" Rockwell in a lumber yard

There's no way that's a 14" blade though. More like 24"

And my first concern is that 3600RPM is way overspeed for that size blade.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That thing looks like a prop from a horror movie

Let's see we could call the movie . . . . "Saw" ?

 

[jd_1138]

You could build a box to go around the blade and carriage bolt it to the table -- leaving a 4 inch or so slot at the bottom. Scary monster looking thing.

 

[ctb]

There's no way that's a 14" blade though. More like 24"

And my first concern is that 3600RPM is way overspeed for that size blade.

I never said the one in the picture was 14"

 

[BD1]

Saw is being sold by a one arm man . They call him '' fingers ''

 

[rubberrodder]

That thing looks like a prop from a horror movie

What he said x2!

 

[Burgerkong]

Used one plenty of times in the high school woodshop, we'd only use it to rough cut stock to length then move onto the jointer/tablesaw/planer.

 

[PRH44]

I own a RAS and use it often. I would never use that thing with that over sized blade on it. If one would pull the carriage with to much force it would grab the lumber walk out so fast, right into your face. Not worth it. WOW

 

[STANIMAL]

What could go wrong ?

 

[PRH44]

Surely not this

 

[1jjpop]

I once read A want ad ''table saw for sale with gloves[ 1 glove missing 3 fingers] ?????????????

 

[tshetter]

Surely not this

^ Adam Thull was building a checkout counter for a local bookstore when he noticed a wood panel falling off the edge of his table. As he lunged to catch it, his right forearm got caught on the blade of his Ryobi table saw – and the machine quickly cut completely through one of his forearm bones and a nerve.

Source

 

[Norcal]

That saw as pictured, is a do it yourself amputation kit.

 

[devoncoolman]

Dude that thing is old as the hills and will cut your arm off. Run away. I wouldn't use or keep that if somebody gave it to me let alone buy it.

 

[John in OH]

That thing looks like a prop from a horror movie

Ha!! My exact thought!!

 

[MN4x4]

Here's mine. Not my exact saw because it's not accessible right now, but the same make/model. Yes, it does have the blade guard on it.



To quote Col. Potter of M*A*S*H fame, "there aren't enough Oh's in SMOOOOOOTH" to describe how she runs!

 

[Cadillac fan]

In the back of the woodwork room at school our teacher has something like this except it is in this giant case and you pull the handle and blade out to cut the wood. That thing scares me so much, especially when I was right next to him when he cut his arm open.

I definitely wouldn't want to be using one of those.