Radial arm saw obsolescence/repurposing?

[Binkie]

Someone gave me my radial arm saw 12 years ago because he no longer used it, his nicer table saw did everything. I didn't have mitre saw back then, so it was great. Now I have mitre saw, so I seldom use it. I pulled it out to do a big dado cut the other day, and realized how dangerous it is. Ended up using my cheap table saw instead.

I was investigating conversion to router for an aluminum milling job I need to do, but at 3600, it is way too fast, and it is hard to find collets nowadays.

So I was wondering what the consensus is on retiring radial arm saws? I am no fine woodworker, so I think it is just taking space with the other tools I got.

And have any of you repurposed or modified one? I see online people make routers and cnc's with them.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I finally got my old man to get rid of his 1960’s era Craftsman radial arm saw recently, giving him a large chunk of garage floor space back. I used to use that saw to make speaker boxes and such in high school (early 1990’s). I made plenty of things with it over the years, but about 15 years ago I got a cheap Ryobi table saw off Craigslist for $30 and haven’t touched the radial arm saw since. I don’t think my dad had used it in 25 years.

I didn’t look into repurposing the radial arm saw, I found another guy in his 70’s (like my dad) who wanted it and happily delivered it so it wouldn’t be in the way and longer.

 

[signcrafter]

If it's craftsman run the numbers and see if it qualifies for the recall. They will either send a new guard and table for it or have you send the motor in and cut you a check for 50 or 100 bucks, forgot what it was.

 

[930dreamer]

I have a 7.5 hp 3 phase RAS motor, could be used as a rotary phase converter.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I use my 1968 Craftsman for repetitive cuts, routing and polishing. It's trammed in to be able to do miter cuts also.

If it's an eligible Craftsman RAS, you can turn it in for the recall bounty. I won't do that to mine because it's a good piece of equipment.

It's a dangerous piece of equipment, but I've had no problems, giving it respect and knowing where the blade and my fingers are.

BTW: The last picture is the plant stand that I made with it, learning from a Craftsman RAS guide book.

 

[Binkie]

I saw the recall bounty, lol, but I'm in Canada, not sure if I qualify. Will dig a bit more.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I saw the recall bounty, lol, but I'm in Canada, not sure if I qualify. Will dig a bit more.

It seems to me that Emerson makes a reference to Simpson-Sears either on the recall website or the instructions they send to you.

 

[6PTsocket]

Simpson Sears has been out of business for a few months now. At 63 cents a share, dropping like a stone and in danger of being delisted from the stock exchange, US Sears is not far behind. I would be amazed if they make it to the end of the year, and will never see the end of 2019.This should not affect the Emerson recall. This is to protect their liability exposure.

It seems to me that Emerson makes a reference to Simpson-Sears either on the recall website or the instructions they send to you.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Hephaestus29]

I thought about turning one into a surface
grinder of sorts, It would be for roughing harder
materials more or less before being placed on the
mill to save the milling bits.

 

[GRB]

If it is the common Sears 10" RAS or such, they are really a dangerous animal. Way obsolete and should not be used. A good RAS is a completely different tool and has some uses. Delta made a nice one until Delta cratered into a pile. The real Dewalts are worth keeping. Nothing to do with the current Dewalt tools where Stanley Black and Decker bought the name to use on one of their lines. There was such a demand for the original Dewalts that they resurrected the company as the Original Saw Company. You can have one starting at about $6000 for a 14" up to more than double that for one with a 22" blade.

I have an OMGA RN900 that is a great tool. Will crosscut 900mm or about 32". A new one is around $6500,

 

[tarmy]

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...

 

[DWise]

Tarmy, beautiful RAS setup.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I have a dual voltage commercial B&D RAS. Haven’t used it in 25 years since I bought the compound miter and now have the sliding unit. Someone on here had converted a RAS to a router, which I think is a great idea. My daughter rescued the RAS and now it sits in her garage. I think she has eyes on my old King 12” thickness planer as well.

 

[Binkie]

Tarmy,
Awesome setup there.

Yes, all tools have there place, and all are dangerous, however, the RASdefinitely has special danger capabilities!

 

[guy48065]

If it is the common Sears 10" RAS or such, they are really a dangerous animal. Way obsolete and should not be used.

I'm curious to know what's obsolete about an old 10" RAS? The motor? The carriage? Maybe the on/off switch? It's not like ANY were ever built with hotdog sensing technology. And the big commercial models had even less guards than the homeowner versions.

Somehow big box stores & lumber yards keep "wasting" large amounts of floorspace for them.

 

[Binkie]

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...

 

[John in OH]

Gee, I dunno, but I use my old 10" CM radial saw as often as the table saw. Can't beat it for cross-cuts on boards, etc. It's like any tool ... it has its place and its limits, but I sure have no plans to trash it.

 

[PugetDude]

A RAS is hard to beat for dadoes and cross cuts. Also was a real convenience to have one with infeed/outfeed tables, plugged in and ready to use right next to the lumber pile when I was framing a cabin. Threw a blue tarp over it every night, it sat outside for several months before we were dried in. (Weekends-only project)
I've owned several over the years but have always given them away when I moved. They do take up a LOT of valuable shop space.
Wish I had room for one...

 

[dkmc]

I was investigating conversion to router for an aluminum milling job I need to do, but at 3600, it is way too fast, and it is hard to find collets nowadays.

Aluminum is milled at 20,000+ RPM every day all day long.
3600 is not 'way too fast' but may be 'way too dangerous' on a RAS

 

[GRB]

I'm curious to know what's obsolete about an old 10" RAS? The motor? The carriage? Maybe the on/off switch? It's not like ANY were ever built with hotdog sensing technology. And the big commercial models had even less guards than the homeowner versions.

Somehow big box stores & lumber yards keep "wasting" large amounts of floorspace for them.

It's hard to pin down the exact reasons but when you use each one, you will understand the difference.
Emerson, who made the common Sears unit, made the arm from cheap cast iron and they weren't machined well. A fairly small carriage with a small number of small bearings, meant the it didn't take long to get slop in the motor unit. Since you are climb cutting, the torque twists the carriage and then it grabs and wants to run toward you.
Original Saw and OMGA have hardened tracks, lots of bearing spread wide so the carriage is very solid. Think of the difference between a job site table saw and a good cabinet saw.
Add in uneducated owners that try to use the same blade as they use on their table saw with a positive hook angle and people loose body parts too often.
There are some really nice, well made saws like some of the Rockwell units that eventually became Delta. It's just that 90% of the RAS you see are Sears units that are likely to be a problem.

I completely agree about the all tools are dangerous and a skilled operator is the best safety mechanism. Most lumber yards now have serious blade guards. In the furniture manufacturing business we tried to keep the uneducated on the jump saw where you cant even see the blade or the cut line.

 

[M_George]

It's hard to pin down the exact reasons but when you use each one, you will understand the difference.
Emerson, who made the common Sears unit, made the arm from cheap cast iron and they weren't machined well. A fairly small carriage with a small number of small bearings, meant the it didn't take long to get slop in the motor unit. Since you are climb cutting, the torque twists the carriage and then it grabs and wants to run toward you.
Original Saw and OMGA have hardened tracks, lots of bearing spread wide so the carriage is very solid. Think of the difference between a job site table saw and a good cabinet saw.
Add in uneducated owners that try to use the same blade as they use on their table saw with a positive hook angle and people loose body parts too often.
There are some really nice, well made saws like some of the Rockwell units that eventually became Delta. It's just that 90% of the RAS you see are Sears units that are likely to be a problem.

I completely agree about the all tools are dangerous and a skilled operator is the best safety mechanism. Most lumber yards now have serious blade guards. In the furniture manufacturing business we tried to keep the uneducated on the jump saw where you cant even see the blade or the cut line.

Didn't know there was a blade difference for the RAS. What type of blade would recommend?

 

[ARFLY]

I use my old Craftsman RAS all the time, but only for cross cuts not ripping or fades.
View media item 84993

 

[Rewind97]

If it's craftsman run the numbers and see if it qualifies for the recall. They will either send a new guard and table for it or have you send the motor in and cut you a check for 50 or 100 bucks, forgot what it was.

I saw the recall bounty, lol, but I'm in Canada, not sure if I qualify. Will dig a bit more.

Here's the web site for the recall. And it has a number for anyone outside of the North American states.

http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/

 

[redm18]

Didn't know there was a blade difference for the RAS. What type of blade would recommend?

Look for a blade with a negative hook angle.

 

[guy48065]

Look for a blade with a negative hook angle.

+1. The negative angle is much less aggressive than a regular blade and almost completely eliminates any tendency to overfeed. This mean NO white knuckles trying to hold back the carriage. The correct, sharp blade + good alignment makes the RAS a pleasure to use and unbeatable at crosscuts on long boards & plowing dadoes and half-laps.

 

[gnpenning]

As mentioned you need to use the correct blade.

I consider my angle grinders the most dangerous tools I own. Even if you do everything right a wheel can come apart and get you.

Take the money from Sears and buy a good ras if you have need for one or use a better make for a over arm router, etc.

 

[nh_yota]

My dad used a Craftsman RAS for years (likely with the wrong blade) and he never lost an arm. His Craftsman table saw made me more nervous than the RAS but we ditched the RAS 20 years ago and have used miter saws ever since. If I had the extra shop space I would probably own a decent RAS just for old time's sake but there's really nothing it can do that other tools can't do.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Look for a blade with a negative hook angle.

Never even knew this blade existed. Thanks

 

[M_George]

I have a vintage Dewalt 7730 RAS that has the ability to angel the blade to any angle from vertical to horizontal. Pretty scary looking with the blade in the horizontal position. Aside from a raised panel, what would this functional be useful for?

 

[Binkie]

Most likely for shaping type tools, not he normal blades. Saw a guy on utube cutting down rough lumber, kind of like a mill-seemed to work good. Or if the blade shaft is up, often there is an accessory shaft that is now pointing down for drilling or router work.

 

[M_George]

Most likely for shaping type tools, not he normal blades. Saw a guy on utube cutting down rough lumber, kind of like a mill-seemed to work good. Or if the blade shaft is up, often there is an accessory shaft that is now pointing down for drilling or router work.

Ah, the saw was given to me along with a box of accessories. I went out and checked and found a Craftsman rotary planer for use in horizontal positions. Will have to try it out and do some more research on what other accessories are available for it. Starting to get renewed interest in it.

 

[Binkie]

Be safe and have fun. It's amazing what they can do, but I don't like how it wants to pull your work out of your hands.

Called Emerson about the recall. Mine. Isn't officially on the list. I have to email photos to identify it.

If I can get a few bucks from it, it's gone. I don't have enough interest to keep it around taking up space. One day I'll get a better table saw.

 

[tarmy]

This...on the blade issue. Purpose built for the type of saw.







Note the negative sign on the degree...

 

[ToolHoarder]

1978 8th grade shop class. Teacher was hard @$$ about everything, especially safety (Which he should have been with us all acting stupid while going through puperty). We had a Rockwell Delta RAS. During a safety lesson at the beginning of the semester he said we could only use the RAS if we let the blade completely stop between cuts. He the proceeded to turn on the saw, let wind up to full speed, then shut it down. That saw coasted for 20 minutes until blade came to a complete stop.

No one ever used it that semester.

 

[guy48065]

...but I don't like how it wants to pull your work out of your hands...

Use the fence. Easy fix.

 

[Binkie]

Use the fence. Easy fix.

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.

 

[Binkie]

So the saw qualifies for the bounty. It's probably going to go. With the crappy exchange rate, I should do pretty good!

 

[redmondjp]

My dad used to rip 4x8 sheets on our Dewalt Radial Arm Saw when I was a kid. He had an 8 foot wide table on it that would support the sheet. More than once it sucked the piece in, jammed, and blew the basement circuit breaker, plunging everything into total darkness!

I was probably 13 or 14 before I used that saw by myself and I only used it for crosscuts.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I like my Cman RAS. I've had it for 20 plus years and plan on having it for a long time. Ten fingers and ten toes, 2 eyes and one nose.


It seems people either like or hate radial arm saws.

 

[ZRX61]

Loved mine, great for removing large amounts of wood with a dado blade