Shopsmith Forums

OK, you guys went and got me interested in radial arm saws.

I have a cheap 12" compound miter saw, but it's not accurate enough for anything more than framing work. I finally figured out that it has a stubby little gearbox that drives the blade, and the output shaft has a lot of play.

I'm currently building a cross-cut sled for my SS, but a RAS always ready to roll would be more convenient, especially for long boards. And I read that a radial arm saw is the best tool for cutting dadoes across a workpiece. Which is actually what got me started on the crosscut sled -- I have a project to make a 60-shelf scrapbook-paper organizer for my wife, and that's a whole heap of dadoes. Not to mention that using the sled for dadoes would widen the slot, and thus destroy the zero-clearance aspect for sawing.

So I did a little more research, and the general consensus seems to be that the best RAS's were manufactured by DeWalt and Delta back in the 50's. Some say that those machine can reliably make very smooth and accurate crosscuts.

So a search on Craigslist turned up this listing right here in town. Here's a photo from the CL ad.

[ATTACH]24273[/ATTACH]

It's a DeWalt model MBF, as near as I can tell, from the late 1950's. The asking price is $75, and I just might be able to shoehorn it into my shop. Any words of wisdom for me? If I go check it out, what should I look for in particular?

Now for some real eye candy. While researching the DeWalt RAS's, I found this photo of a gorgeous restored model MBC. I don't think I'll go that far on a restoration! The design aesthetics remind me of Heath's mixer project.

[ATTACH]24274[/ATTACH]

This machine is still listed for sale by the restorer for only $350.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:OK, you guys went and got me interested in radial arm saws.

I have a cheap 12" compound miter saw, but it's not accurate enough for anything more than framing work. I finally figured out that it has a stubby little gearbox that drives the blade, and the output shaft has a lot of play.

I'm currently building a cross-cut sled for my SS, but a RAS always ready to roll would be more convenient, especially for long boards. And I read that a radial arm saw is the best tool for cutting dadoes across a workpiece. Which is actually what got me started on the crosscut sled -- I have a project to make a 60-shelf scrapbook-paper organizer for my wife, and that's a whole heap of dadoes. Not to mention that using the sled for dadoes would widen the slot, and thus destroy the zero-clearance aspect for sawing.

So I did a little more research, and the general consensus seems to be that the best RAS's were manufactured by DeWalt and Delta back in the 50's. Some say that those machine can reliably make very smooth and accurate crosscuts.

So a search on Craigslist turned up this listing right here in town. Here's a photo from the CL ad.

[ATTACH]24273[/ATTACH]

It's a DeWalt model MBF, as near as I can tell, from the late 1950's. The asking price is $75, and I just might be able to shoehorn it into my shop. Any words of wisdom for me? If I go check it out, what should I look for in particular?

Now for some real eye candy. While researching the DeWalt RAS's, I found this photo of a gorgeous restored model MBC. I don't think I'll go that far on a restoration! The design aesthetics remind me of Heath's mixer project.

[ATTACH]24274[/ATTACH]

This machine is still listed for sale by the restorer for only $350.

I've always been told the old DeWalts were good saws - I imagine all the saws made back then were good quality and made to last. The restored version above is beautiful - hard to imagine putting that much work into something and then trying to sell for $350…as we all know, restoring old woodworking tools is not something to be undertaken with the intention of seeing a return anywhere the investment.

As for advice if you do buy this saw, as I noted above, make sure to get the correct type of blade for it - one with a negative hook angle. Here are a couple links with more details and online options for purchase:

http://www.populartools.net/products/chop_saws_and_radial_arm_saws

http://justsawblades.com/popular/radial_arm_blades.html

In the limited time I've spent in the Old Woodworking Machines forums, and talk of RASs elsewhere, I've never seen anything but great praise for those vintage Delta and Dewalt models. I'd say it's well worth the $75, but I'm no expert. Look around the OWWM site and forums. I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information on the machine there.

OWWM Forums: http://owwm.org/index.php
Vintage Machinery: http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgInde ... Arm%20Saws

I used to have one of the green DeWalt RAS. One of the things to watch for is cracked stops for the saw arm that stops the rotation at specific angles. Also make sure that it locks firmly in position when the arm is not in one of the predetermined angles. They sometimes developed play in the clamping system. The clamp that holds the motor carrier to the radial arm should also hold the motor firmly at the odd angles. I think that there is a stop for 90 and maybe 45 but I don't know for sure. The bearings on the motor carriage should show no play when the carriage lock loose. The motor should roll easily along the arm. The bearings are adjustable to take up some slack. (IIRC). I believe that they used an 8" or 8& 1/4 inch blade
Looks like there is a lot of life left in that one.
Bill V

heathicus wrote:In the limited time I've spent in the Old Woodworking Machines forums, and talk of RASs elsewhere, I've never seen anything but great praise for those vintage Delta and Dewalt models. I'd say it's well worth the $75, but I'm no expert. Look around the OWWM site and forums. I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information on the machine there.

OWWM Forums: http://owwm.org/index.php
Vintage Machinery: http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgInde ... Arm%20Saws

Thanks, Heath. I've already downloaded some Dewalt MBF manuals and catalogs from vintagemachinery.org. Very informative -- especially the catalog. I had never realized that a RAS is almost as much of a multi-tool as a Shopsmith. The MBF is touted as also having shaping, routing, sanding, jointing, and even horizontal boring capabilities. Even saber-sawing, with an attachment. The cove-cutting capability actually looks pretty useful -- it does it like a tablesaw, but because of the gimballed powerhead it doesn't require a special jig.

I had never been to the OWWM machines site. I quickly found a fresh thread with some great info on RAS's in general, and also some on DeWalt MBF's in particular. Looks like I'm barking up the right tree for what I need.

wa2crk wrote:I used to have one of the green DeWalt RAS. One of the things to watch for is cracked stops for the saw arm that stops the rotation at specific angles. Also make sure that it locks firmly in position when the arm is not in one of the predetermined angles. They sometimes developed play in the clamping system. The clamp that holds the motor carrier to the radial arm should also hold the motor firmly at the odd angles. I think that there is a stop for 90 and maybe 45 but I don't know for sure. The bearings on the motor carriage should show no play when the carriage lock loose. The motor should roll easily along the arm. The bearings are adjustable to take up some slack. (IIRC). I believe that they used an 8" or 8& 1/4 inch blade
Looks like there is a lot of life left in that one.
Bill V

Bill, I'm going to print your post out for a "cheat sheet", and take it with me when I look at the machine. Greatly appreciated!

Judging from the closeup sawblade photo, the teeth appear to have quite a lot of positive rake. That, plus the comment in the ad mentioning that a new blade or sharpening would be needed, has me wondering if the current owner experienced one of the hazards discussed earlier in this thread.

What are you waiting for??????;)

While you are 'researching' someone else may snatch it up!:eek:


Let's see, x miles to Columbus x $3.50 /gal / 20 mpg =

[quote="JPG40504"]What are you waiting for??????]

Hands off, Red!

The owner had it stored a "fer piece" out of town, but is bringing it by my plant later today

I have been trying to remember the name of the show I used to watch clear back in the late 1950's or so that was basically a sales presentation for DeWalt radial arm saws???
That show was an early force in pushing my woodworking interest. Like Norms show, everything always went right for them...
I remember thinking that if a person had one of those they would automatically be a great woodworker.
Owning something like that was pretty much of an unreachable dream back then. Even a low priced used table saw was out of reach then.
It can be difficult to relate today's prices with those of the past. I started in a local factory in the fall of 1962. I started at $1.36 an hour. A friend there started 5 years earlier at .75 cents an hour. During my first or second year a friend in R&D there bought a clean, decent 10 year old Plymouth for $20. I had spent big bucks on my 10 year old Plymouth. It was $75...
Last week while doing some genealogy work I stumbled across a city/county directory listing for my father and his first wife. The year was 1936 and it listed their monthly house rent as $4 per month.


.

And gas was $.12 per gallon in the 50's. I paid $100 for each of the 3 10 ER's I have purchased. What did they cost new? I use my 10ER's more than my 520. I would be very happy with a $75 SS RAS and a couple of $100 10ER's. If I was short on funds, that would be the way I would have gone if I had to do it all over again.