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I just got in from picking up my new Sawsmith Radial Arm Saw. I've wanted one of these for years. I saw it on eBay a while back in Katy, TX which isn't far from Fred Sheldon (forum user "fredsheldon"), but several hours from me. I imposed upon Fred and asked if he would mind picking it up for me AND holding it for me until I could come and get it. He was very gracious and agreed to do so.

It was only after talking to Fred that I contacted the seller. To my chagrin, he had a guy scheduled to come look at it a couple days later. But he said he'd contact me if that guy didn't buy it. For the asking price ($75), I really didn't expect to hear back from him, but I did. The other guy passed on it. So Fred, got with the seller and arranged a pickup day and time.

Since then, I've been VERY anxious to go get it! Finally, between tee-ball games and family events, I was able to do so this weekend. Yep, Mother's Day weekend. So I owe my wife big time!

I loaded up the family and we left the house early Saturday morning and made it to Fred's at about 1:30pm. I wish I could have spend more time checking out all the awesome Shopsmith stuff I don't have! It was the first time I'd ever laid eyes on either a 520 or a PowerPro. He has a pretty nice collection of Shopsmith tools. But, even more important than that, Fred is a really great and friendly guy.

I was hoping I could just take the arm off the base and it would fit under our bed cover. But, the base cabinet just wouldn't fit, Fred helped me to disassemble it.

Here it is loaded in the back of the truck.


From there we went and visited an elderly great-uncle that lives in Channelview. He was my late grandmother's brother and I've only seen him once since she died. We visited with them a little bit and then headed back toward home. The kids convinced us to get a motel room, and we had packed with the possibility of that in mind. So the RAS ended up costing me the original $75, plus gas, plus food, plus a hotel stay. I could have made it there and back myself and cut out all the extra stops and hotel room, and done it a lot cheaper, but the kids enjoyed the little mini "vacation" in a hotel room and splashing in the hotel pool. So it was worth it.

Back to the RAS. All I've done so far is unload the parts into my shop.



I think my wife's first reaction upon seeing it was the same as Luke Skywalker's upon first seeing the Millennium Falcon: "What a piece of junk!" But, just as Han told Luke, "She's got it where it counts, kid!"

Long run, I don't know if I'll give it a full "restoration" and repaint it to match my black and gold Mark 5 (seen in the background) or not. For now, I think I'm just going to clean it up a little, assemble it as is, do some maintenance and alignment and play with it a little.

Again, Fred, it was great meeting you and thank you SO much for helping me get this!

Congrats, Heath!

Speaking of movie references:

"He acts, while other men just talk...."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAUdmOh3A84

Heath, you found yourself a real treasure there. The wife, that is!

Turning a wood-working tool run into a mini-vacation for the kids is nothing short of brilliant. I could definitely use more wisdom on harmonizing woodworking with child-rearing!

All I've done so far is assemble the base cabinet. But there is evidence, from the paint fade pattern and the inclusion of drive hubs in the box of blades, that the "Add-A-Tool" bracket was installed at one time (and for a long time). That allowed the Sawsmith to power Shopsmith SPTs like the bandsaw and jointer.

Congrats! I think you are going to enjoy it.

I've got one my Dad bought from Monkey Wards about '59 or '60 and it's all still factory original.....down to the table top. Even have the arbor nuts for both spindles, the 1 1/4 to 5/8 blade adapter, and the allen wrench.

A lot of the Mark V maintenance tips for the variable speed apply. Especially "DON'T MOVE THE SPEED CONTROL WITHOUT THE MOTOR RUNNING", and "LUBE IT"

Be very, very, kind to the belt....don't think you will find a direct replacement. With proper alignment, it can be a very accurate saw.

Holler if I can help with anything.

Bud

I was wondering how the jointer came into play with a RAS. I did not know you could use it that way, be sure to post picture of it complete.

joedw00 wrote:I was wondering how the jointer came into play with a RAS. I did not know you could use it that way, be sure to post picture of it complete.

That was a different deal! Fred picked up a 510? from a guy down the road from him for user joshh. Joshh didn't want the jointer and agreed to let me have it. I was going to pick it up from Fred when he crossed through Louisiana to visit some family, but I just picked it up when I went and go the RAS.

The Sawsmith did have a bracket that would take the Shopsmith SPTs that I mentioned in my previous post. And it could power the jointer. But the jointer didn't come with the Sawsmith.

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And another.

You learn something new every day, and they said I was too old to learn anything.