Shopsmith Forums

I am building new cabinets and work benches in my shop and I am almost done with the first phase-a sixteen foot run of cabinets with my chop saw built in.What I need help with is I want to build a eight foot section with my radial arm saw built in but do not have a clue how to do this,unlike the chop saw that has its own table built in the radial arm saw has none.I have been racking my brain and just cant come up with any ideas.
Any one got any ideas?
All help will be greatly appritiated:)

The New Yankee Workshop video series has plans as does Plans Now. Just a question, give you have a Shopsmith and a Chop Saw what do you do with the radial arm saw?

Thank you paulmcohen I will check those out:) As far as needing a radial arm saw I do not need it but it was my Grandfathers and it was the first saw I ever used so I will keep it forever:) Ah I miss those days of ripping with that saw and almost eating kickbacks and counting my fingers

warningintruder

Here is an idea that me and my buddy tried years ago. Our radial arms had a table but we took it off. We then build a bench with a simple shelf below that held the chassis of the radial arm saw allowing the vertical arm of the RAS to protrude up through the top.(radial arm must be set in place before the bench top is installed) We mounted the radial arm chassis on threaded studs (bolted into the shelf) and using nuts and washers (much like the new aux table adjustment on the SS) made it so the radial arm could be adjusted up and down on the studs to make it perfectly parallel to the bench top.

A major problem with any Radial arm saw is keeping the overhead radial arm parallel to the table. Most radial arm saws are built with rather flimsy support for the table and adjustment methods that can easily slip and etc.

With the bench/shelf arrangement we built, none of the adjustments experience any stress. You can throw a 200 lb stack of wood on the table and the adjustment to the arm will never change.

The biggest thing is to adjust the Radial arm is now really easy. In the original design you had to lossen table support bolt and slide the supports up or down trying to make the table parallel to the radial arm. Aslo most RAs had a set screws in the center of the table to adjust the table and take any bow (sag) out.

With our design we start with a perfect flat table/bench top and then using precise adjusting nuts dial the adjustment right in. Quick simple and very rugged. Once set up the radial arms have maintained perfect adjustment for years.
Ed

Hi warningintruder,

warningintruder wrote:I am building new cabinets and work benches in my shop and I am almost done with the first phase-a sixteen foot run of cabinets with my chop saw built in.What I need help with is I want to build a eight foot section with my radial arm saw built in but do not have a clue how to do this,unlike the chop saw that has its own table built in the radial arm saw has none.I have been racking my brain and just cant come up with any ideas.
Any one got any ideas?
All help will be greatly appritiated:)

You should really check post #30 of this thread: https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=1008&page=3
easterngray has a great photo attachment that you may get an idea from.

Don't know what you are building - a bench or cabinets - or both, that have to be 8 ft. My suggestion is to build it in smaller pieces that can be attached. If we are speaking of the bench - only the top has to be 8 ft. If we are speaking about cabinets - this is a no brainer.

Thank you all for your replies I now have some great ideas on how to build this.It will be set in my second sixteen foot run of cabinets I finished the first this last weekend with my chop saw built in,and again thank you all, you have been a great help as always:)

I am a bit envious. Thirty two running feet of cabinets! That sounds fantastic. Sure hope to see some pictures. I don't have open wall/floor space for cabinets but I would still like to see what adequate storage accually looks like.

Well my friend when we purchased this house it had a two car garage with no doors so I built a sliding twelve foot door and put in a man door so the wife says now I have to get out of the car and open the door to park my car:mad: I said no problem park your car outside:rolleyes: Well that went over just great till I told her I was making it into my shop and that I would spend many hours not in her hair mainly on Nascar days so started The Shop and she was very happy since she has the List of projects she wants built so I built some book cases-TV stand and a few other things till the greatest day in The Shop was when I rolled out my ShopSmith and decided to use this Quality tool.I have never had more fun than fixing up the shop and using my ShopSmith and yes it has a lot to do with the very nice people here,I always have a place to come for help and advice.When I am done I will post some pictures.

Thanks A1gutterman. I'm trying to design a combo miter saw and RAS cabinet to fit along a 16' wall. The idea is have them share the support table.

When the original post came out, I didn't notice the Easterngray photo had a chop saw built in at the far end just like I'm thinking; although his may be on wheels.

It's a great design -- now let's see if I can execute.