Why I like having a RAS in the shop

[FTWingRiders]

I grew on a farm and my Dads shop had one that saw a lot of work, and yes, I watched him lose a knuckle in his thumb to it. It must be respected like any machine.. and all tho it isn't not used regularly, I wanted to incorporate one into my shop.


Today my son and I turned 70 fresh sawn 2x6 rough pine...


into a stack of 5 footers with ease!


Love the smell of fresh milled lumber.. Yes, I could have used the dewalt 12", but I only had my good 40 tooth blade and figured making 4 cuts per board it wouldn't be happy for long. Sometimes you just need to rip some wood!

 

[xjfish]

I watched him lose a knuckle in his thumb to it.

 

[RickP]

Nice job on that stack of pine! And it must have been fun to do that with your son.

I like how you built the long bench top to have both saws in it. I have a RAS that I use occasionally and I agree that they are nice to have as long as you respect them.

 

[derosa]

Love mine, toss a stop in and you can just feed and cut with help with the right measurement every time

 

[McFarmer]

Plus, no one borrows it.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Yup.. he spent his whole life around heavy machinery, and it still got him.. he wrapped it in a paper towel, finished cutting 2 more boards then calmly ask my mom to drive him for a few stitches.lol.. toughest guy I ever knew.

Nice job on that stack of pine! And it must have been fun to do that with your son.

I like how you built the long bench top to have both saws in it. I have a RAS that I use occasionally and I agree that they are nice to have as long as you respect them.

It was, my son graduated from tech school for cabinetry four years ago and is finishing college and said he missed the woodworking..
thanks.. I love that long bench, it so easy to take stock of any length and cut it up.

 

[guy48065]

About 20 years ago I splurged and put a Forrest Woodworker I and stabilizer disc on my RAS, then aligned the saw per the manual. I was amazed at the difference in safety and cut quality.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I use my RAS for cross cutting perfect 90's. With a stop, each board can be cut to an identical length. When doing this, I find it is as safe, or safer, than any other type of saw. My RAS is built into my work bench and takes up almost no shop room.

 

[John in OH]

I've had a 10" Cman RAS since the early 1970s. Bought it new when Sears Cman power tools were pretty decent for the home user. Still use it today and still love it for any cross-cut work on long lumber. It works in conjuction with a 10" Rockwell-Delta table saw and between the two makes working with wood a pleasure.

But, like any power tool, you have to keep your wits about you. I've had some close calls on both the radial and the table saws .... each time being a result of my own in-attention to what I was doing and not thinking through what might happen.

 

[HanShotFirst]

If you have room for one, they're freaking awesome!

 

[abachman]

I have one and use it often for crosscuts and some ripping. I never liked table saws, and believe I can do most things with the RAS.

 

[guy48065]

Crosspost deleted.