Radial Arm Saws

efmaron · Post by **efmaron** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:26 am

I like my craftsman RAS bought it just after I got my SS( 28 yrs ago). I do very little cross cutting with the SS for me it is easier to do on the RAS. All machines are only as safe as the opperator.

dan1999 · Post by **dan1999** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:05 am

Looking at the stats on which machine causes the most injury it is hands down the tablesaw purely because that one is the one most in use. Personally I think the jointer is the most dangerous when facing a board, it does tend to shorten the fingers a bit when used incorrectly. My belief is that the RAS when used correctly is one of the best and most versatile machines that has even been developed. It has the capacity to do a lot more functions than any other machine out there. Why, it is even the precursor to the shopsmith. Food for thought.

Dan

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 2:22 pm

My personal feelings are that any tool, power or hand, must be treated with respect. Used correctly, and as intended, each and every one of them has a safe use. Improper use of even a screwdriver can have deadly results. I happen to like RAS's and have never considered them any more dangerous to use then any other tool.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:00 pm

dan1999 wrote:Looking at the stats on which machine causes the most injury it is hands down the tablesaw purely because that one is the one most in use. Personally I think the jointer is the most dangerous when facing a board, it does tend to shorten the fingers a bit when used incorrectly. My belief is that the RAS when used correctly is one of the best and most versatile machines that has even been developed. It has the capacity to do a lot more functions than any other machine out there. Why, it is even the precursor to the shopsmith. Food for thought.

Dan

Methinks the Model 10E came first!

dicksterp · Post by **dicksterp** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:55 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Methinks the Model 10E came first!

Not even close, JPG. Dewalt RAS's have been around since the late 20's. I even have a sabre saw attachment for one of my Dewalts.

There have been other multifunction machines that were produced back in the 30's. Shopsmith is not the first multifunction machine by far, but it is arguably the most successful.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:34 am

dicksterp wrote:Not even close, JPG. Dewalt RAS's have been around since the late 20's. I even have a sabre saw attachment for one of my Dewalts.

There have been other multifunction machines that were produced back in the 30's. Shopsmith is not the first multifunction machine by far, but it is arguably the most successful.

I was thinking re "SAWSMITH". Of course, ras were 'thought of' much earlier!

mckenziedt · Post by **mckenziedt** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:49 am

My thoughts on Radial Arm Saws and other ramblings.
I bought a Sears RAS over 40 years ago, my first saw; still use it, still like it. My SS and my chop saw have taken over many of the jobs I did on the RAS, but not all. The RAS is versatile, but not as accurate as the others, probably due to the many points of adjustment(table, column, carriage, motor yoke) that seem to get knocked out of adjustment, have some built in slop, and don't get checked as often as they should. But it is great for rougher work as it is fast to set up and use. It will handle full 4X8 sheets as it has a 25" rip width and 25" cross cut if you have to, by reconfiguring the rear fence position on the table. I made a cabinet with wheels, as a base, so it is portable. Dust collection was OK after I put a funnel type shroud behind the motor, with a vacuum port on it, and keep the blade guard as low as possible. I put a second 90o elbow on the sawdust exit on the blade guard so it also directs much of the sawdust into the shroud when ripping. The cabinet has a high back on it and recesses at the back of the table, so a lot of sawdust that misses the funnel, gets caught there and collects.
I feel it is as safe to use as any saw (except a bandsaw or scrollsaw). I have had kick backs in the rip mode, but no injuries of any kind. I don't stand in line with the material in rip mode and I keep a firm grip on the handle and controlled feed rate in crosscut mode. Only one kickback was serious- with a moulding head the first year I had it. A moulding head cuts on top of the material (not through it) so it pinches it between the cutters and the table. Any excess feed rate with marginal hold downs and the material is gone. Moulding and dadoing are jobs that a RAS is not the best at. Even though they can be done in both rip and crosscut mode the results are not as good (accurate and even) as on a good table saw due to slop and give on the arm and column. A 2/1000 defection at the arm's column end can be over 30/1000 when carriage is at the arm's outer end.
My son has a lower end Sears Craftsman table saw. It is a piece of junk, just an upside down skillsaw mounted in a thin metal base with a sheet metal and thin aluminum table. The wimpy non standard mitre bar/slot has so much slop it, it changes directions like a barrel racing horse. More than once he's come over to use the RAS. My 30-40 year old Craftsman tools are still in use. I don't think many 21 century Craftsman tools will still be in use 30-40 years from now. But I digress.
I haven't checked my son out on SS yet. Once I do, maybe I'll "store" one of mine at his place. Don

perryobear · Post by **perryobear** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:42 pm

Hi everyone,

An interesting thread about the RAS. I was pleased several months ago to find a copy of Fun With a Saw, written for the Sawsmith RAS by R.J. DeCristoforo.

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Mr. DeCristoforo, as most of you probably know, is the original author of Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone (PTWFE), often referred to by 10ER and Mark 5 owners as the Shopsmith bible. This is his take on the Sawsmith RAS (built by the same company that was making the Mk 5 at the time). The 200 page book shows a lot of different things you can do with an RAS. If you have an interest in the various RAS operations it is worth a look if you can find a copy.

Of course you must be careful and smart about trying any or all of them; if it can pierce or cut wood, it can pierce or cut you!

Best Regards,

Dennis

BigSky · Post by **BigSky** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:12 pm

There are times, like when cut beams, that you just must use a RAS.

wlhayesmfs · Post by **wlhayesmfs** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:55 pm

GReat book on RAS, been trying to find the SS RAS for years close enough but no luck yet. But I but I find one someday.
But great ideas in the book and well worth the reading time. But as most of you know most of his books are that way.

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