Four or five years ago I started to do a few more things around the house and light duty remodeling. Keep the table true and the radial arm and saw contact true all across the work surface. It may take a bit but once you have it a quality saw will hold it well. Step 3: Install the Saw Arm. Once I decided to buy the Dewalt miter saw I fell in love with it. Blades are available for a variety of materials and uses.

The motor interfaces with the overhead arm and the operational parts can be locked down or left to rotate. This saw gives the operator a lot of cutting options. This tool is ideal for making more precise, manipulative cuts such as miter cuts and crosscuts. Certain types of radial arm blades can also be used for cutting lighter metals such as aluminum. Unlike a table saw, where the blade protrudes through the cutting table and can have its height adjusted, the radial arm saw has the blade cutting from the top.

Another notable benefit of the radial arm saw is its compact size at least by comparison to table saws. It can be tucked into smaller places and does not require the real estate that the table saw does. Some downsides of the saw are their weight. These are not very portable devices so once installed in a dedicated workspace, they are unlikely to be conducive to moving around. They are also generally regarded as less safe to use than other saws. The maneuverability of the blade increases the risk of accidents.

Both of those reasons make this instrument one better used in a more industrial setting than a personal woodworking shop, although that is also very common. Click Here to read another article I wrote on all the different parts of a radial arm saw.

The radial arm saw was initially developed in by DeWalt. Neither was especially convenient for this job as the handsaw tends to rip the wood it cuts and the table saw is not convenient for pushing a piece of lumber through widthwise.

The radial arm saw was an essential device utilized for cutting long pieces of wood to a certain length until the arrival of the force miter saw during the s.

Radial arm saws are still produced and used, even though sliding miter saws work more precisely to complete the process of crosscutting better than a radial arm saw.

Radial arm saws are used for cutting more extensive sheets or boards to the preferable length. While the radial arm saw is primarily used for cutting long bits of wood, some blades can also handle cutting particular metals like aluminum.

The wood or metal to be cut is set under the bar while the blade slides from left to right and back to cut through the material. Radial arm saws generally have a single inclining blade from above and the saw is pulled and pushed evenly toward or away from the operator while cutting. Most radial saws are manually operated with the operator controlling the cutting strokes.

Radial arm saws are popular with professional laborers who need to do all their cutting on one machine as the blade head can be pivoted up to 90 degrees to permit ripping and cross-cutting. One reason this saw remains so famous is due to its versatility. It can tear, crosscut, groove cuts rabbet cuts , and miter cuts. With the correct adjustments and connections, it will fill in as a shaper as well. The normal size radial arm saw model used in home workshops is 10 inches while industries utilize larger radial saws.

The industry model will cut 2. A radial arm saw is an expert tool. It is capable of cutting wood at the same width with extraordinary accuracy. It could likewise make more complex cuts as compound miters saw accurately, and can sometimes do so faster. The nature of radial arm saws makes them versatile and highly efficient instruments.

This also makes them quite dangerous to use. This increases the safety precautions that must be taken while they are being operated. Never position your hand in the path of the saw while working. It's just not a conventional saw as opposed to a table saw so you need to be aware of how to operate it safely and there are not a lot of instructions out there. Thanks for raising some safety tips on RAS! Besides having the wrong blade on the saw negative kerf angle a must you did not mention the number one reason why RAS's are falling out of favor — you can't keep them square or plumb.

I inherited my grandfather's old RAS, by way of my father. But now that I have this thing I'm not going to need the Bosch! I was having trouble making sense out of the controls until I saw this video, as you have the exact same model. I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. This guarantees an accurate cut every time.

I totally disagree about the cross cut ripping it acts exactly the same as a table saw. You were demonstrating feeding it from the wrong side and didn't even have it locked in place.. This saw has a lot of advantages. It excels in cross cutting compared to the table saw as you can quickly change where you want it. With a table saw it takes time cause you have to readjust your fence. It also excels in doing various angle cuts which a table saw can't do.

If you need to cut aluminum plate for instance on a 45 degree angle or even plywood you would most likely have to do it with a circular saw. Dado blade aside, it also excels in doing depth cuts. You can get by with just a radial arm saw and a circular saw, where as if you go the table saw route, you need a table saw, a circular saw, and a miter saw and they still can't do everything that the radial arm saw with circular saw combo can do. Just have to try and change the blade existing blade has had it — I like the idea of being able to make instant dado cuts to make shelves.

And cutting identical length pieces for projects. I have found through the years, the 3 RAS's I've owned were as safe as the operator, versatile as my imagination and, as accurate as the person setting up the cut.

And yeah, thanks for taking the time to do the video. I bought my Craftsman radial arm saw in and I still use it today. It is one of the most convenient power tools in my shop for cross cutting as apposed to setting up a sled on the table saw each time there is a cross cut. I can cut up to 16" and with some practice you can even reverse the piece and cut a further 5 or 6 inches accurately.

I never rip with it any more although I did many rip cuts in the early years. Always scared me which I guess is a good thing. If it is dead accurate if you occasionally pay attention to the setup, but no more so than a table saw. You have nothing to fear with the saw if you respect it and are careful and aware at all times. I have a radial arm saw made by craftsman my dad got new back in the sixty's I disagree with the statement that only Dewalt are the better tool.

I bought it specifically to do kerfing. I needed to build two structural beams glulams that were about 16ft long at about a 16ft radius. Amazed by structural city inspector! I have a DeWalt , fucking love that thing. Only problem is, it's stuck so I can't do ripping, oh well.

That's what table saws are for, eh? The radial arm saw I believe is making a comeback. These things can run all day everyday if needed and handle sizes you could not even attempt with a miter saw. I have two of them, one new one old. One is going to be my dado saw and mounted 6' down the bench from the miter saw. Have the same saw. Like your video, but got a really good laugh at the ripping comments.

Most of what your saw can do in a wood shop is wasted with such a thought. I have ripped hundreds of pieces and never had an accident and it was one of the big reasons to have this tool in my shop. Too funny, rofl. The quality of that saw is outstanding,with some tlc you can make an old girl like that dead on accurate.

Machines like this were made in a time when quality was 1 , not like today where accountants and CEO's want to build mass produced plastic junk. I use mine with a dado stack to cut perfect half-lap joints. I line the two pieces parallel to one another and make the cuts on both pieces at the same time. Since both dado paths are identical, it make for a great fitting joint in the field of the wood…as opposed to making end half-laps.

As long as the depth is dialed in of course. I had a Craftsman saw like this. Just could never get it square to make good cuts. That is why I went to a chop saw. What year model is your saw. I have been trying to find out what year it is.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Radial Arm Saw: Worth Owning? May 10, Categories: woodworking tricks. Tags: camera phone , free , sharing , upload , video , video phone , woodworking tricks. Hand Cut Tenons Pt 1. Heavy machinery transport engineering monster machine. Don Steward 10 May, , Thanks for the video. Uhlan 10 May, , One item you didn't mention is the ability to see your marks and your cut. Glen Kelley 10 May, , I use my radial saw all the time.

Rob's Garage Woodworking 10 May, , Like all tools, it's only as safe as the operator. Mike Davis 10 May, , If properly educated,this saw is safe. GJ Saltwaterfisher 10 May, , What model craftsman is that? Joe Bucci 10 May, , In late , I was looking for an owners manual for my used Craftsman RAS, And discovered there was a recall on them, I went to the recall web site and entered my model and I was shipped at no cost, a safety upgrade kit for my yard sale find..

Nathaniel Steele 10 May, , My Grandpa was missing two fingers on his left hand courtesy of a radial arm saw. Crane Zilla 10 May, , Go not ever do this, but, I will show you how to do it? Slope Oak Productions 10 May, , Appreciate the vid and thanks for sharing but I have to disagree on your comments re: "not accurate" and "not good for ripping". Lowell M 10 May, , I rip with my radial arm all the time in both directions.

Your voice reminds me of Joe Pesci. Matthew Cartwright 10 May, , Good Vid — thanks. Ive never had a moments trouble with my saw. JR Armstrong 10 May, , Great video. Thanks for taking the time. Critical Truth 10 May, , I totally disagree about the cross cut ripping it acts exactly the same as a table saw.

Julian Hughes 10 May, , I have found through the years, the 3 RAS's I've owned were as safe as the operator, versatile as my imagination and, as accurate as the person setting up the cut. Gerald Walker 10 May, , I bought my Craftsman radial arm saw in and I still use it today. Ryudox la 10 May, , I have a radial arm saw made by craftsman my dad got new back in the sixty's I disagree with the statement that only Dewalt are the better tool.

Rick Rabies 10 May, , so basicaly an overhead compound sliding miter saw? Doug Everett 10 May, , Have the same saw. Marc Eaton 10 May, , I had a Craftsman saw like this. Wilson Revelle 10 May, , What year model is your saw.

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