Can I give up my radial arm saw?
I know that many people have dumped radial arm saws or today would never consider one. I still use mine to do cross cuts and dados and non-through cuts across a board. I never use the radial arm saw on an angle or for ripping. As long as I keep it at 90 degrees, it is quite accurate. I don’t know how I would perform some of the things I do with it on a miter saw or a tablesaw. A miter saw does not have near the crosscut width and a crosscut dado on a tablesaw is both blind and hard to do on a long board. A miter saw cannot do an accurate, non through cut..
It is nice to take a long board over to the radial arm saw, line it up and just have to move the carriage over the board to make any specialized cut I want. Incidently, the radial arm saw is SO much quieter than a miter saw. That alone attracts me to use it in place of a miter saw.
Is there something I am missing here in new tools available? The reason I ask is that the radial arm saw is LARGE. I have a miter saw (a cheap one). If a good miter saw existed that could replace both the cheap miter saw that cuts incidental narrow crosscuts and miter cuts for molding work I do on the miter saw as well as wide crosscuts and dado cuts I now do on the radial arm saw, I could free up some room.
Replies
I also keep my radial arm saw around for the same reasons you do. And I can't quite afford the Festool Kapex
I also keep mine for the same reason. But, I don't use it unless I'm really, really awake.
If I had the space for one I would have one as well, nothing works as well for cross-cutting thick lumber.
Troy
Everyone has their own methods and preferences. I learned on my Dad's Sears radial arm but moved on decades ago.
I prefer a non-sliding Dewalt 12" chop saw for cross cutting up through 6 x 6s. For wider cuts I use the sliding sled on the table saw. I believe both options to be safer and more accurate than a RAS. IMHO of course.
I've never had a SCMS. I've used them. Just never felt compelled to buy one.
Bret
"I've never had a SCMS. I've
"I've never had a SCMS. I've used them. Just never felt compelled to buy one."
The rails on the SCMSs I've seen have always seemed to wimpy to me. All of them seem to have some amount of flex, unlike the heavy rails on better radial arm saws. But, they share the safety concerns of having all that blade exposed.
What would you Gain?
I use and like my radial arm saw. I use it much the same way as you note and question how you would cut through 12, 14 or 18" deep shelfs or cabinet sides without one. I've never quite understood why people consider them so unsafe. I mean moving an 8'-0 long board through a table saw to cut it into repeated smaller lengths seems a lot more dangerous than having the board lie flat on a table and pulling a saw through it.
Of course you could do without, but from what you said I have to wonder what you think you would be gaining.
Peter
I also have wondered why some people consider the RA so unsafe. I consider it one of the more safe of the saws and infinitely more safe than the table saw. That said if I were very limited on space, it would probably be one of the first tools to go. I have the Craftsman and whenever I start a new project, I first tune up the RA. The settings just don't stay. I think a lot of people that do dados without the RA do so with a router and that might be all right but the RA is quite a bit faster on the cross cuts than the table saw.
Agree to disagree
Tink3,
I disagree about the safety of the RA. IMO the stiff-arm technique needed for cross cutting is a skill in itself and if not done right it can easily take off on you. I find the table saw much faster and less cumbersome than the RA for cutting cabinet parts. Of course you need the proper out-feed set up and sliding sled for the TS to be efficient.
But as I said earlier, we all have our own methods. What's important is what works for you.
Bret
From my opening line, I assumed there would be disagreement. And it seems the majority would disagree with me. One thing I just don't do is pull the saw cross armed just like I don't practise looking down the barrel of a gun with a bullet in it. I don't rip with it or try these fancy do dads that fasten to the side opposite the blade. You mention the RA can take off with you - so it either stalls or shoves your arm faster than normal. Is that a safety issue? Perhaps if I mingled with other wood workers I could be shown the hazards. As of now I'm still in ignorant bliss though I have had this saw for almost fifty years without an accident. Only recently on the second set of bearings.
Eric,
I'm not sure if you've seen this on the Fine Homebuilding site. The videos really help show their talking points.
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/miter-saw-features-roundup-video-reviews.aspx
I gave up my RAS about six months ago. I feel very fortunate that I was able to sell it for what I thought was a good price. I didn't use it much; It was difficult to keep adjusted; It took more shop real estate than could be justified. Haven't missed it a bit. In fact, I enjoy the extra space.
But. When I'm picking up things at the big box hardware store I keep passing that one Bosch SCMS. It's been there forever, I think it's the only one they have, and I just keep waiting for them put it on sale. How they can keep unsold stock like that around I'll never know. Oh wait, I know. They simply stop stocking all the dust collection fittings and hoses.
--jonnieboy
Long Time Gone
I sold my radial arm saw at least ten years ago. Maybe fifteen.
Just Checked
I just checked with The Boss, and She said she's never seen my radial arm saw, that I didn't have it when we got together.
Since we've been roaring around for more than sixteen years, I sold my radial arm saw more than 16 years ago.
But I'm not old.
Jammer,
"She said she's
Jammer,
"She said she's never seen my radial arm saw, that I didn't have it when we got together."
Huh. That's just about the same thing my wife said about the last gun I snuck in the cabinet...
Ray
A Montgomery Wards RAS was my first big power tool in '71, and I used it for 20 years (couldn't sell it for any price, finally gave it away) I used it for ripping (super dangerous) crosscutting, routing, drilling, & sanding. Since it was the only thing I knew, I tolerated it. I agree that it's handy for crosscutting and dadoes, but dust collection. noise, and the space it took up made it intolerable after I bought a nice cabinet saw.
Of course, that's just my opinion...I could be wrong.
No RAS....
I don't have a RAS or SCMS.... no space to dedicate for one of them. I use a couple of saw horses, and a Disston or Wenzloff and a bit of sweat to crosscut what I can not do on my table saw...
JeffS
Junk It!
Been building cabinets & furniture for 35 years. I got rid of my Craftsman radial arm about 5 years ago & have never missed it once. With the rear fence in the normal position to cross cut 3/4" lumber, you have the same capacity as a sliding compound miter saw. Between the table saw, router table & sliding compound saw, I can make any cut or joint I used the radial arm for.
All radial arm saws are not the same.
There is a big difference between a consumer grade RAS and a real professional tool. The RAS concept takes more "quality" to implement well that a table saw, which is much simpler--consequently I would guess it would take about two or three times the cost to achieve similar quality.. Think of the Craftsman RAS as about the same quality standard as a Ryobi job site saw. Works for carpentry, but really a challenge to do fine work. But, when you get to the really quality saws--at around #4,000 you will get much higher quality--settings that stay aligned. Much greater precision than any SCMS -- and with a dado blade capacity as well. The other alternative is to restore an older DeWalt.
As I said earlier in this thread, To each his own, what ever works for you.
My Dad taught me to use his Sears Craftsman RAS in his garage when I was a kid. He built a lot of neat stuff with it. He still has it, still uses it and still complains about it. He's 88.
That being said, I can't think of anything I would use a RAS for that I couldn't do better and more safely on my table saw along with a sliding sled. I will admit though that I did have a RAS set up in my production shop where it was used exclusively for cutting face frame pieces to length making 90 degree cuts.
My RAS is long gone now and I've never missed it.
Bret
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