Radial arm saw obsolescence/repurposing?

[derosa]

The blade climbs, so in certain cutting situations, the carriage wants to run away towards you, or it will try to pull the workpiece(and you) towards the blade. Not so bad with a normal blade, but more aggressive cutting and shaping tools are extremely dangerous. As I noticed performing 7/8" dado cut...

The back fence? Fence doesn't keep the saw from climbing the workpiece and running toward you, and you have no rear fence when ripping, so that saw will **** the board from your hands. If it doesn't stall, it will take you right with it if you don't let go.

This all is not very obvious with a general purpose blade, or a light cut, it is aggressive cuts and big cutters that present these issues. If it is only ever used like a mitre saw, you may never see these problems.

These are the type of answers that make me wonder why people don't just come up with a better way of using it? The first time I used it I made the mistake of doing what everyone said was the right way of using it, I pulled the blade towards me and sure enough it climbed the wood, blew the circuit and scared the **** out of me. At which point I realized repeating that motion with that saw would have to mean I was as dumb as a post. So now I push the saw into all my pieces which hasn't resulted in any kickback, climbs or jambs of any form ever and I don't bother finding a negative hook blade either. The table comes out far enough that the blade isn't hanging into open space, the back fence is set far enough that I get full cut and it means I can only cut a board 18" wide and not 20, a difference I can live with so far. With the groove from the repeat saw cuts setting up a basic cross cut is easy, more accurate and faster then the tablesaw, miter saw might be faster if you have it set up with a table but then it takes up as much floor space and isn't as versatile unless you want to drag it out for every simple cut. Only thing I won't do on it is rip, but unless its ply I don't do that with the tablesaw either, its why I have a bandsaw that has a 18" *********** and that has never kickbacked or jambed on a rip which makes me feel a lot safer. Table saw still gets use but between the band and RAS not as much as most shops.

I just built a baby crib, finished 2 weeks ago, for a friend full mortise and tenon on everything. 72 spindles were a breeze with a RAS and a stop, rails and stiles the same. just put in a 3/4" dado setup and tenons were a breeze.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Here are my questions for those who have gotten rid of their RAS:
Any regrets? If so, why?

 

[Binkie]

The operation I was doing that made me realize all this was a long dado rip. Yes, it's an incredible feat that it can do it with such quality and efficiency, but I could sense the danger of it. I could not do what I needed to do with a cross cut.

I have a decent mitre and a basic mitre (I think my skillssaw talent is better than my table saw straightness), and I'm no woodworker, so it's going.

 

[Showkey]

Here are my questions for those who have gotten rid of their RAS:
Any regrets? If so, why?

Have not gotten rid of the RAS yet...........but it’s not used .......since a sliding miter box does all the work.

Mine RAS is a recalled Sears ( Emerson ) and I have just not pulled the trigger.

 

[rharman]

Every tool has it’s place...

Oh...most all tools with a spinning blade is equally dangerous...at least that is how I treat them...

That is very nice. Makes me miss my RAS even more...

 

[Jay H 237]

The blade climbs, so in certain cutting situations, the carriage wants to run away towards you, or it will try to pull the workpiece(and you) towards the blade. Not so bad with a normal blade, but more aggressive cutting and shaping tools are extremely dangerous. As I noticed performing 7/8" dado cut...

I still have my 10" DeWalt and like it for certain things, no way will I get rid of it.

What I did see once that I want to do is an old window weight hanging behind it with a cable going through a pulley out to the carriage helping to control it from pulling.

 

[Majordisorder]

Here are my questions for those who have gotten rid of their RAS:
Any regrets? If so, why?

i've never been a hobby woodworker so my opinion might be different but when chop saws and decent portable table saws came out, I never used a radial arm saw again. I personally owned a 14" Dewalt mounted on a trailer that saw framing duty, and a 9" DeWalt that saw trim work. In later years I received at least 3 more for free. One was the "turret arm" type. I tried to resell them to make a little but won't even take one for free now, maybe if it was delivered.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I just picked up a welding table that takes the same footprint as my RAS. I don't have room for both. The wood cuts I make with the RAS can be done with my 10" table saw. The 10" rag wheel can also be used on that as well.

I may have to make the hard decision to let mine go for the bounty.

 

[crguy]

Got rid of my dangerous, space hogging radial arm saw when the12" Dewalt mitre saws came out. Never looked back. The Dewalt is far more accurate, safer, easier to use, etc., etc.

 

[dutchgray]

The back fence? Fence doesn't keep the saw from climbing the workpiece and running toward you, and you have no rear fence when ripping, so that saw will **** the board from your hands. If it doesn't stall, it will take you right with it if you don't let go.

This all is not very obvious with a general purpose blade, or a light cut, it is aggressive cuts and big cutters that present these issues. If it is only ever used like a mitre saw, you may never see these problems.

If it ***** the board in when ripping you were feeding from the wrong side, you should have to push against the blade when ripping, you do want extraction and a face shield as it likes to throw the sawdust in your face. You would get the same result if you fed a table saw from the rear, which you wouldn't do as its obviously stupid so why people do it with a RAS I don't know. Cross cutting is fine, with a neg rake blade, a well set up and maintained saw, thought and concentration they are very good tools.

 

[PugetDude]

If it ***** the board in when ripping you were feeding from the wrong side, you should have to push against the blade when ripping, you do want extraction and a face shield as it likes to throw the sawdust in your face. You would get the same result if you fed a table saw from the rear, which you wouldn't do as its obviously stupid so why people do it with a RAS I don't know. Cross cutting is fine, with a neg rake blade, a well set up and maintained saw, thought and concentration they are very good tools.

+1 on this.
Unfortunately, you can't insure against stupidity, which is why these are no longer produced.

 

[thool]

Here are my questions for those who have gotten rid of their RAS:
Any regrets? If so, why?

Had one from the early 80s and even after the retrofit, it still frightened me. I used it for cutting laminate flooring planks, and it did a very good job (paid a lot for the correct blade), but after that, it just sat around taking up a lot of space. I don't miss it.

 

[skruft]

I have one that is not subject to recall and have always used it basically for cross cuts, which duplicates sliding miter saws. Over the years there have been many attachments for radial saws to do other things, but not as well as dedicated tools. Together with the infeed and outfeed I made, it takes a lot of space and I would get rid of it if I needed the space.

 

[njric71]

Growing up dad had an old gold colored Craftsman "radio alarm saw" as I used to call it. It had originally belonged to my Grandfather probably some time in the 50's Grandpa had stepped up to a Craftsman table saw. Being left handed I think I make casual observers about as nervous as I am when I have to use a table saw. Dad and I both have all of our fingers, though dad has been nipped real bad a time or two. Grandpa had a piece of one of his fingers missing courtesy of the table saw. That old radial arm saw was so sloppy by the time dad sold it that I couldn't even believe anyone would even buy it. He replaced it sometime in the late 80's with another newer Craftsman RAS that he had converted to run on 220V. Man did that thing spin up fast and never bog down.

I still haven't seen inside the new shop he recently built. Mom & dad retired an moved several states away. One of dad's first projects was building a big old workshop to play in. I hear tell that he's bought some sort of fancy table saw and a 12" sliding compound bevel saw. I hope he didn't get rid of the RAS cause I'd still prefer one of those even for ripping vs a table saw. I guess it's all in what you get used to or grow up learning how to use. And the being left handed thing is a challenge sometimes.

 

[elguappo]

Interesting that I came here to post a question on 'am I nuts to want a RAS?'

When I think about how much space my current 12" non sliding miter saw takes up, I wonder about how much more a RAS really takes up.
The mobile station on the first page is inspirational for what can be done.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Interesting that I came here to post a question on 'am I nuts to want a RAS?'

When I think about how much space my current 12" non sliding miter saw takes up, I wonder about how much more a RAS really takes up.
The mobile station on the first page is inspirational for what can be done.

Assuming that you're referring to my RAS, it has a footprint of 24" x 36".
There's a vintage Craftsman book on all of the ways to use a RAS. I went through it and did the featured projects. It was fun.
A RAS can be an asset in the shop as long as the owner respects it and properly maintains it.

 

[elguappo]

Yes, I can see upgrades like flip up wings, and something in the bottom.
Thanks

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All:

My RAS motor has been shipped out for the bounty. Originally paid $30 for it. Happy with the profit. The floor space will now be used for a welding table.
All of the wood cuts I need can be accomplished on the table saw. I even tried my 10" rag wheel on the table saw and it performed fine.
I kind of feel bad about getting rid of the RAS, but I think I'll enjoy the opportunity to weld more.

Here's a picture of the table. Just need to get a piece of steel plate for the top.

 

[Jason280]

Hmmm, may need to check and see if mine is part of the recall...

 

[mmb617]

I never knew my radial arm saw was more dangerous than any of my other saws. I'm pretty sure any of them will cut flesh quite easily. And all of them require the proper amount of respect regarding safe operation.

I have an old Craftsman RAS that I bought somewhere around 1980. It was and is the saw I use the most even though I do have a chop saw, table saw and a bunch of different types of portable power saws.

I have been using this saw for 35+ years without incident, but then I like to think I'm not an idiot.

I have it set up with table extensions on both sides and it's usually easier to use it than to pull out the chop saw and set up some roller stands. In my eyes the chop saw is mainly for jobs that require it's portability, jobs that are being done in the shop are normally easier on the old radial arm.

 

[Erampu]

I had a Craftsman that I got from my father. I sent in the motor, etc., and got the rebate. Now I use the table base for my chop saw and storage underneath.

 

[PFSard]

I never knew my radial arm saw was more dangerous than any of my other saws.

Could be a fallacy? There are probably other sites with other compiled statistics. I never really thought about it, as I've rarely used a radial arm saw.

SHOP ACCIDENT STATISTICS AND WOODWORKING SAFETY
https://www.wwgoa.com/article/shop-accident-statistics-woodworking-safety/

 

[86turbodsl]

It's been my experience that people that say radial arm saws are more dangerous than all other saws just aren't using them right. I still have 2. They are excellent at what they do and i'll keep them. Plus then i don't need to figure out ways to make a table saw do what they are good at.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

If radial arm saws are so dangerous (fact), Why aren't all of the other brands beside C-Man being recalled?

 

[rustyjames]

I see a 4" grinder as being just as dangerous as a RAS. When I had wood shop in Jr. High school that was one of the most used machines.

 

[sawduststeve]

I never knew my radial arm saw was more dangerous than any of my other saws. I'm pretty sure any of them will cut flesh quite easily. And all of them require the proper amount of respect regarding safe operation.

I have an old Craftsman RAS that I bought somewhere around 1980. It was and is the saw I use the most even though I do have a chop saw, table saw and a bunch of different types of portable power saws.

I have been using this saw for 35+ years without incident, but then I like to think I'm not an idiot.

I have it set up with table extensions on both sides and it's usually easier to use it than to pull out the chop saw and set up some roller stands. In my eyes the chop saw is mainly for jobs that require it's portability, jobs that are being done in the shop are normally easier on the old radial arm.

What He Said ^^^^ exactly.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

They can be a very versatile saw, and safe if used properly. My dad gave me his old one a few years ago, but I really had no need for it since I already had a nice table saw and only use a miter saw once or twice a year. I ended up trading it for an oxy-acetylene setup with full tanks, which was worth way more than the saw.