Replies

1. 
   sharptools | Dec 13, 2002 07:24pm | #1

   Those are pretty big saws for a hobbyist.  I'm not very familiar with the Maggi, but from what I can see on their website, they look a lot like the DeWalt PowerShop models from the 1970s.  The Original Saws are basically copies of the early and very heavy DeWalts, which are wonderful saws if you need that kind of power.

   However, you may want to rethink what you're going to use the saw for.  My father purchased a used 12" Dewalt PowerShop radial arm because he wanted to be able to cut barn beams in one pass.  However, since he couldn't find room for it in his garage, it ended up in mine.  The saw works great, but I don't often have need of that much capacity.  I did use it recently with an 8" stacked dado set to cut some grooves in plywood for a cabinet case, and it worked very well, although the setup was a little tricky.  Still, it beats trying to wrestle a large piece of plywood over a stationary dado blade in a table saw.

   About a year after he bought the first saw, my dad came across a vintage 16" DeWalt saw with a 3-hp single phase motor (somehow he managed to find space in the garage for this one).  Apparently, he was worried that some of the barn beams he wants to cut would be too large for the 12".  This saw was made in Lancaster. PA and is similar to the saws that Original is now making.  Anyway, it is a great saw, but as of today, he has still not even turned it on.

   Shortly after my dad bought the second DeWalt, I came across a Delta 900 9" radial arm saw at an auction for $65.00.  I had lived for years without a radial arm saw, and within the space of 15 months, I now had access to three!  The little Delta is the turret-arm style, which I find to be very versatile.  It only has a 3/4 hp motor, but has no problems cutting, even with the 8" stacked dado.  I use this saw for crosscutting and some ripping, as well as for dados and rabbets.  I use this little saw much more often than any of the others.

   Moral of the story: either the Original or the Maggi would be good saws, but you could probably get away with something a little smaller and save some big bucks to boot...

   
   

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   Edited 12/13/2002 11:26:35 AM ET by SHARPTOOLS

1. 
   nubian | Dec 13, 2002 10:57pm | #3

   The issue for me is accuracy and ease of adjustment for cross cuts. I already have a excellent table saw.  My prior radial arm saw experience is with a Ryobi back when I hadn't learned the lesson "buy the best you can afford". After suffering with the Ryobi (for far too long) I want a good replacement . I wouldn't wish the Ryobi on my worst enemy.

   Since I'm building a 600 square foot shop I'm not worried about the size of either machine. Everything I've read about both machine suggest that they are dead on accurate with a minimum of adjustment and setup time.

   It is the the accuracy and ease of setup that I'm looking for feedback on.

   My intent has been to search the used machinery market for either machine. If I can get both accuracy and ease of adjustment in a less expensive machine I'd love to hear about that as well. I don't have a passion for spending money. I just want to enjoy doing woodworking, not tweaking machinery.

2. 
   icthes | Dec 13, 2002 08:01pm | #2

   Hi Panasch,

   I bought a used Dewalt Powershop (2 HP, 9") for $100 - found it in the classifieds!  With some searching and patience, these kinds of deals are great for woodworkers.  Spent some time cleaning it up, built a new table for it, and now it looks like new! 

   I would disagree with the portion of the previous post re: cutting dadoes with a radial arm saw as this maneuver carried out in cross-cut fashion is limited to the length of travel for the saw, and carried out in ripping fashion (with the saw extended, rotated 90 degrees and locked) is considered by most to be unsafe on the radial arm saw - particularly for sheet goods, a good table saw is the tool of choice.  

   This would be my suggestion - save a LOT of money by buying a used Dewalt or Delta only after you have a good table saw.

   Icthes

3. 
   nubian | Dec 13, 2002 10:59pm | #4

   The issue for me is accuracy and ease of adjustment for cross cuts. I already have a excellent table saw.  My prior radial arm saw experience is with a Ryobi back when I hadn't learned the lesson "buy the best you can afford". After suffering with the Ryobi (for far too long) I want a good replacement . I wouldn't wish the Ryobi on my worst enemy.

   Since I'm building a 600 square foot shop I'm not worried about the size of either machine. Everything I've read about both machine suggest that they are dead on accurate with a minimum of adjustment and setup time.

   It is the the accuracy and ease of setup that I'm looking for feedback on.

   My intent has been to search the used machinery market for either machine. If I can get both accuracy and ease of adjustment in a less expensive machine I'd love to hear about that as well. I don't have a passion for spending money. I just want to enjoy doing woodworking, not tweaking machinery.

4. 
   joncu | Dec 14, 2002 01:30am | #5

   I decided I wanted a small DeWalt radial arm saw.  I put an ad in the paper.  One man called me with one he would sell for $125, and I bought it.  Another man called and said he had one that didn't run.  I could have it if I would come get it.  I did.  It needed a new capacitor in its motor.  Now they both run and are great saws.  They can be fully adjusted and their cast iron parts don't flex very much.  An old radial arm saw can be a very good deal.  Good luck.