Sawsmith in Cleveland

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:41 am

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/3924218322.html

Was listed for $75, but the price has dropped to $40!

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:58 am

For $40 someone will likely jump on it but in the era of portable sliding compound miter saws, hasn't the the radial arm saw all but joined the slide rule? I realize there's a pretty substantial price difference in this case, but I see them regularly at yard sales and our local CL for $100-$200, and they usually look pretty weathered...hard to believe they move for anywhere near that price.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:53 am

While the SCMS certainly has replaced a lot of the functions of the RAS, and done so in a more compact and safer machine, it can't do everything a RAS does, and ESPECIALLY a Sawsmith RAS.

You can't dado on a SCMS. The RAS has become my favorite way to cut dados.

The RAS has a greater crosscut capacity, and the Sawsmith has more crosscut capacity than other saws of its class. 20.5" as opposed to the 14" to 16" of other radial arm saws.

You can't mount a sanding disk, a drum sander, a drill chuck, a molder, shaper, router, etc. to a SCMS like you can the Sawsmith. (Of course, most of us here don't need that considering our Shopsmiths, but just knowing the capability is there if needed is pretty nice).

There is some overlap on basic functions, but the SCMS is no total replacement for a RAS. And the Sawsmith is the best RAS ever made.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:16 am

heathicus wrote:While the SCMS certainly has replaced a lot of the functions of the RAS, and done so in a more compact and safer machine, it can't do everything a RAS does, and ESPECIALLY a Sawsmith RAS.

You can't dado on a SCMS. The RAS has become my favorite way to cut dados.

The RAS has a greater crosscut capacity, and the Sawsmith has more crosscut capacity than other saws of its class. 20.5" as opposed to the 14" to 16" of other radial arm saws.

You can't mount a sanding disk, a drum sander, a drill chuck, a molder, shaper, router, etc. to a SCMS like you can the Sawsmith. (Of course, most of us here don't need that considering our Shopsmiths, but just knowing the capability is there if needed is pretty nice).

There is some overlap on basic functions, but the SCMS is no total replacement for a RAS. And the Sawsmith is the best RAS ever made.

Why do you say safer? What is so dangerous with a radial arm saw. I hear all the time about how dangerous they are but no one say why they say that. To me my radial arm is far safer than my table saw. On the radial arm I can see where the blade is.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:17 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:Why do you say safer? What is so dangerous with a radial arm saw. I hear all the time about how dangerous they are but no one say why they say that. To me my radial arm is far safer than my table saw. On the radial arm I can see where the blade is.

You can also see the blade cutting yer fingers off, but still it happened often to some folks(an IBM Project Manager I worked for at one time did so[That one's for you ED])

All that table area to lean on while pulling the carriage.

IMHO it got a bad rap rather than the fools using them stupidly getting due scrutiny.

P.S. Another manager(same workplace) got a finger amputated while 'demonstrating:rolleyes:' that an area of a machine was dangerous by pointing into that area while it was running!:eek:

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:22 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:Why do you say safer?

Maybe I'm just parroting what I've heard and read so often in other sources! I know it scares me sometimes how much of the blade on the RAS is exposed. But I'm certainly no authority, so take my comments with a grain of salt! I still LOVE my Sawsmith RAS and am very happy to have one. This one I linked to on CL could make someone else very happy.

JPG40504 wrote:P.S. Another manager(same workplace) got a finger amputated while 'demonstrating:rolleyes:' that an area of a machine was dangerous by pointing into that area while it was running!:eek:

I bet that was a very effective demonstration!!

frank81 · Post by **frank81** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:48 pm

I've got to disagree on the RAS doing a whole lot more than an SCMS. You know a rabbet can be cut on an SCSM just not with a dado blade and requiring a little cleanup. I have pictures to prove it for those playing devil's advocate.

I don't see where the SawSmith blade rotates over, so neither can rip.

So all that is left is cross-cut capacity which how often are you cutting something that large and relying entirely on the saw for a precison cut with no cleanup?

An SCSM can cut angles safely. For the win.

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:06 pm

I wasn't trying to bash on RAS and specifically not on the SawSmith version...I guess it was more that I regularly see folks around here trying to sell old weathered Wards RAS's for $100-$200 and I can't imagine anyone would jump on those for anything more than $0-$50. For most folks the downside is space, as they require a dedicated amount of wall space, vs. a CSMS that can be on a mobile stand and move where you want it, as well as take to job sites etc. I hadn't really thought about the dado aspect but you're dead-on right there that it's a significant advantage for the RAS - my Dad used to make dental blocks as a fascia detail for all the houses he built and he'd do so with a dado on his old RAS. Reach is also an advantage, although the larger sliding miter saws have more than enough reach for my needs. The CSMS' do have an advantage of the blade cutting through the wood toward the fence, vs a RAS that cuts straight out toward you - seems like this would have an advantage toward reducing tearout.

As far as safety goes, we all know that safety starts in the user's head and eyes, so ultimately I wouldn't avoid an older saw because it lacks the newer safety features but rather be aware of the specifics of the tool I'm using and operate accordingly. That being said, the blade guards and other newer safety features on most CSMS' seem to me to definitely be superior to those of a 20-40 year old RAS.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:13 pm

Yes, you can RIP on the Sawsmith (or just about any RAS). The blade will rotate parallel with the fence for ripping.

I recently got a copy of the book Fun With A Saw by RJ DeCristoforo. It's the "Bible" for the Sawsmith in much the same way Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone is the "Bible" for the Shopsmith. It's amazing what could be done with a RAS (and the Sawsmith in particular)... if it were the only power tool you had. There are a lot of things it can do that I'd rather do on another machine, but believe me, a SCMS can't do half of what a good RAS can do.

opus139lsb · Post by **opus139lsb** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:49 pm

heathicus wrote:http://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/3924218322.html

Was listed for $75, but the price has dropped to $40!

Thank you for listing the saw smith from the Cleveland Craigslist , normally I check CL for shop smith units daily but missed this one. Sent the seller an E mail on 7/15 and called first thing this AM ( 7/16 ), bought the unit for $40.00.

On a scale of 0 to 10, would rate this a 7. It's a Yuma brownie needs the following items 1. repaint ( only because I'm OCB ), 2. new plywood floating table the slides are perfect, 3. check variable speed control appears a little stiff when changing speeds with motor running, 4. lever that allows for the swing of the arm left to right not working. Motor is original and very quiet no bearing noise's, the crank assembly for raising the saw vertically is smooth as silk and the tilt system on the saw is very positive.

And the best part was a short drive of about 13 miles from the shop.

Since i have plenty space it will become a fixed unit not having to move around as needed.

thanks Jerry G.