Top_Pack_rat

I have had radial arm saws for nearly 30 years. The biggest weekness, in my experience, is that the alignment MUST be checked regularly -- table saws have a big advantage there. Of course, the old Montgomery Wards and Sears saws have not been the kind of tanks that never have to be touched.

Jigs have always been a big thing for me -- I spend more time making tools than using them.

I never had much trouble ripping with any blade I used. About 20 years ago, I bought a hold-down that has spring loaded wheels that pull the wood against the fence. I made a separate fence for ripping with it. It needed a thicker base to work against anyway. A key for ripping with any saw is top be aware of how the wood is feeding. Keep it slow enough that the motor does not bog down -- but not too much faster.

I think I loved about the old MW is that it had a 10K (?) 1/4" collet for router bits at the shaft end opposite the blade. I replaced that with the Craftsman which is not HS. I finally bought the jig that holds a router but I have nbot gotten around to tryimg it.

Good luck!

Dave

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bobj3

Just my 2 cents

I have had one for a long time and use it all the time,,

It can be just a bit trickey to remove 1/16" off a board that's only 2" sq. and I just about ways cut my stock a 1/8" longer than it should be cut and the RAS can do that job very well,,,I also like it to rip with,, most come with a hold down device on the blade guard and a anti kick back device built right in...most can't get the hang of running the boards backways so to say..but if it's done right it's safer than the table saw..

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Bob J.

harrysin

I have had radial arm saws for over 30 years, my present 10" DeWalt, the same as Bj's, for over 20 years, and would find woodworking without it very difficult. There are of course things that I have learned by experience, ripping is as has been mentioned, VERY messy because they UP-CUT in rip mode, sending sawdust everywhere. Once the arm is moved for mitres etc, it is necessary to re-check the accuracy once it's put back at right angles to the fence, in spite of the click stop. For this reason I never move the arm, I use jigs when an angle cut is required. For dados I simply make multiple cuts, if of course dados were going to be a regular operation, I would use a dado set, or as we say here a trenching set. My current blade is a Bosch 80 tooth which gives a great finish but is the noisiest blade I have ever come across. I suppose it's as they say,"what you've never had you never miss", but believe me guys, once you have one, you'd rather part with you're wife than the RAS!

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Harry

pmspirito

I wouldn't be without my '70's vintage Craftsman RAS (see post #9). Here are some photos. But I feed the blade into the work pushing forward like a skill saw and not pulling back. The fence has been moved several inches closer to the column. The blue line indicating the standard position. Now I am able to cross cut from the standard 11 3/4 inches up to around 15 inches and rip up to a little over 22 inches. The shop vac connected to the blade guard sucks up 95% of the dust.

The blue truck in the background is a completely restored 1935 Ford. http://www.peterspirito.com/pickup.htm

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Dr.Zook

Peter, I sure hope you move that nice looking truck out of the way when you use the RAS.

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Dave
the "Doctor"

In woodworking there is no scrap, only firewood.

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harrysin

If wrong I'm man enough to apologise but I really do feel that up-cutting across the grain on a RAS is a very dangerous thing to do, sure, you may have gotten away with it for years, but that's how serious accidents happen, it appears to have been a safe method, then bang, an "accident" only it wouldn't be an accident, it would surely have been caused. Can we please have some expert opinions on this matter. Possibly even from RAS makers as well.

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Harry

bobj3

I will agree with Harry on this one..

"very dangerous thing to do"

It's true the blade is pushing the stock back to the stop board but it's also trying to lift the stock up at the same time unlike the safe way by pushing the stock back to the stop board but it's also push the stock down to the table top....

Also it looks like it's time to replace the top of your table top,once the top has all the material removed from under the blade it's unsafe ,small parts can drop into the cup so to speak and can jam into the blade ..if you see cut off parts take off like little rockeys it's time to make a new top...this is a real tip off. just a old time users 2 cents..
I replace my top about 4 times over the years the top I have is not the norm, it has snap in Alum.bars to cut stock from 0 deg.to 90deg.without moving the head stock...great for making frames,etc. left and right side thing quick and easy without moving the main head

Here's just one little tip,,make a stop block for the column this will stop the blade from going to deep,,,,,I use a block that's in place with a big hose clamp on the column,,if you want to see a snapshot of the block ,just ask and I will post one.

Just one more note about the RAS,,, it's great tool to cut 4' X 8' plywood stock
I have a flip up table top (1 1/2" x 40" x 7' ) right next to the RAS that can hold the plywood for ripping...and I use ( 2 each) roller stands that's on the out feed end of the RAS to pickup/hold the ripped stock...

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PodCast videos
RWS on YouTube

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Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail
Machine Cut ▼
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

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Bob J.

karateed

I personally don't have a RAS but my dad does. He bought it around mid-1960's. It was a major purchase for him at that time. He has done everything you can imagine on the saw....everything from using it to build rooms in an unfinished house to trim and cupboards on his boat.

I think he kinda loves that old thing. When I saw your table top, it reminded me of his saw. He also changes the top when it gets 'groovy'.

Ed......:-)

Maurice

[quote=karateed]I personally don't have a RAS but my dad does. He bought it around mid-1960's. It was a major purchase for him at that time. He has done everything you can imagine on the saw....everything from using it to build rooms in an unfinished house to trim and cupboards on his boat.

I think he kinda loves that old thing. When I saw your table top, it reminded me of his saw. He also changes the top when it gets 'groovy'.

I guess I'm kinda like your Dad Karateed, I bought mine in 1955 second hand. It was used as a demo unit at a hardware store. Cost me $250.00. Best buy I ever made. It has done everything your Dad's did plus a 40 ft wingspan motor glider, furniture, bookcases etc.
I have it connected to my dust system via the backboard and when I do a rip cut, I connect the elbow on the blade guard to my shop vac and that grabs al the dust.
I kinda love it too, it has served me well and still going strong.

Mo.

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karateed

Hi Maurice,

Yes, he's done all that except the glider....don't think that one will ever happen. He's never used it inside....wherever he's (and sometimes me) have lived he's used it outside, even in -20 deg F up north (even furthur than Squamish).

My grandfather used to build houses and my dad used to help him. It's a shame I'm just getting the 'bug' these last couple of years....I remember my grandfather building dad a garage (grandpa was retired and loved doing it). When he was done, every single corner was absolutely square....he was a master at it.

Anyway, glad to see that others love that tool. It has fond memories for me even though it was dad using it.

Ed......:-)