Radial Arm Saw

holsgo · Post by **holsgo** » Wed May 02, 2012 8:36 am

I have my RAS mounted as part of my workbench. A 6 foot fence lays across the whole of the workbench. Simply the best and easiest saw to use. No setup, has held accuracy since day one and I cut everything on it, it's my go to dado saw. If you have the space, I recommend them 100%.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed May 02, 2012 2:46 pm

holsgo wrote:I have my RAS mounted as part of my workbench. A 6 foot fence lays across the whole of the workbench. Simply the best and easiest saw to use. No setup, has held accuracy since day one and I cut everything on it, it's my go to dado saw. If you have the space, I recommend them 100%.

A short time ago the RAS was the dreaded maiming tool. Way too easy to pull that spinning blade across yer hand holding the workpiece. Add to that the easily acquired habit of pulling the blade into the work piece 'vigorously'.

Nothing has changed except the introduction of the 'chop' saw. That made sense until the recent introduction of the 'pull' versions. Back to near square one! I say 'near' due to their reduced travel.

Use any with brain engaged and attention to positioning of body parts!

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Thu May 03, 2012 10:39 am

[quote="JPG40504"]A short time ago the RAS was the dreaded maiming tool. Way too easy to pull that spinning blade across yer hand holding the workpiece. Add to that the easily acquired habit of pulling the blade into the work piece 'vigorously'.

Nothing has changed except the introduction of the 'chop' saw. That made sense until the recent introduction of the 'pull' versions. Back to near square one! I say 'near' due to their reduced travel.

Use any with brain engaged and attention to positioning of body parts! ]

I wonder how much was actual maiming and how much of it is "Well it could happen"?

If you have the wrong blade on a radial arm and it starts to climb wood it will scare the begeebees out of you. However most RAS that I have used had the stop switch either as a trigger squeeze or as 'pull on push off' toggle. If the blade started to climb the wood and rushed at you normally you would be forced to let go of the trigger or your hand would be pushed against the on/off switch.

As far as pulling the blade into your hand, I would guess that could happen but I would think it happens less of often than feeding your hand into the table saw. With a RAS you always can see the blade and your hands on the table saw the blade is often total hidden until the moment it is exposed and you realize you hand is in the way.

I would guess there could be more accidents with a chop or powered miter saw. Usually you are doing close tolerance work with those saws and your focused on the cut quality. It would be easier I feel to pull the blade down on your hand while focused on the cut line.

Like I said I have heard all the horror stories about RAS but I wonder how many of them are just than "stories"

One thing back in the day RAS were less costly than a tablesaw and many touted them as multipurpose machines. I wonder if their accident track record were bolsterd by the fact that they were the first power tool many users ever tried to use.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Thu May 03, 2012 1:11 pm

I don't have a RAS, but I really want one. I've been watching CL for a LONG time and I'm just waiting on the right opportunity. I see a ton of Craftsman, but I want an old Delta Rockwell or some other old vintage that would complement my Shopsmith 10ERs.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Thu May 03, 2012 1:42 pm

heathicus wrote:I don't have a RAS, but I really want one. I've been watching CL for a LONG time and I'm just waiting on the right opportunity. I see a ton of Craftsman, but I want an old Delta Rockwell or some other old vintage that would complement my Shopsmith 10ERs.

I want a Sawsmith RAS...

I would be proud to park one next to my 10-ER.

.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Thu May 03, 2012 2:10 pm

robinson46176 wrote:I want a Sawsmith RAS...
I would be proud to park one next to my 10-ER.

.

Yeah, Ditto that! The one RAS I came real close to getting was a Sawsmith. Found it on CL. Made a deal with the guy over the phone. Agreed on a pickup day/time. And he sold it out from under me.

That's the only Sawsmith RAS I've seen available in the several years I've been looking so I've kinda given up on it even though I keep looking.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Thu May 03, 2012 10:26 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Got a pair of those at a Mennonite store.
During your hiatus, my avatar was a more active one that involved constant bashing of my forehead against a computer. It got on some folks's nerve so I changed to a more serene scene!

Hey you didn't get on my nerves but it was fun to tease you. Being Menno I rather enjoy the current fedora. Jim

chucks · Post by **chucks** » Thu May 03, 2012 11:55 pm

heathicus wrote:Yeah, Ditto that! The one RAS I came real close to getting was a Sawsmith. Found it on CL. Made a deal with the guy over the phone. Agreed on a pickup day/time. And he sold it out from under me. That's the only Sawsmith RAS I've seen available in the several years I've been looking so I've kinda given up on it even though I keep looking.

You mean like this high priced one?

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tls/2926333498.html

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Fri May 04, 2012 9:36 am

robinson46176 wrote:I want a Sawsmith RAS...
.

Dad bought this one around 1959-60 from Monkey Wards. I still have all the original set of accessories.....sanding disk, arbor nut wrench, allen wrench, left and right arbor nuts, 1 1/4" arbor, and the PTWFE that came with it. The table is still original. I even have a spare belt that I got from SS in the mid '80s.
[ATTACH]17351[/ATTACH]

burkhome · Post by **burkhome** » Fri May 04, 2012 10:55 am

This is my setup...works ok[ATTACH]17352[/ATTACH]

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Radial Arm Saw

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