Radial Arm Saws

[jyl]

I recently became aware of these things. I guess at one time they were common, then they died out, so much that I’ve never seen one in real life.

What do you think about radial arm saws? Did you use one back in the day? Why did they go away?

Would a modern-day, redesigned radial arm saw have potential? I’m wondering if modern guards and electronics could address the issues that killed the RAS?

[herr_oberst]

I can't imagine anything a radial arm saw could do isn't possible with a modern sliding compound chop saw.

But I've never used one, so maybe the accuracy is worth the danger?

[Dantilla]

Loaned mine to a friend who left it outside in the weather too long. Corroded mess.

Neighbor's dad passed away, she wanted help identifying tools and their worth.
Among all the stuff in the shop was a radial arm saw sitting in its original crate, waiting to be set up.
I bought it from her.
I'm about to build better shop space, where I'll have a radial arm saw once again.
Supposedly more dangerous than other saws, but I love the versatility. A bit of common sense goes a long way.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I can't imagine anything a radial arm saw could do isn't possible with a modern sliding compound chop saw.

Turn the cutting head sideways and it will rip long stuff like a table saw.
Can't do that with a chop saw.

[dlockhart]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Turn the cutting head sideways and it will rip long stuff like a table saw.
Can't do that with a chop saw.

Some also had the ability to run router bits. Versatile, but dangerous saws.

.

[brp914]

I have a sliding power miter saw. Problem with it is it gets balky from saw debris on the slider rods. I also got tired of switching between metal and wood cutting blades. Also, although it has a 10A motor, with only a 7" blade cutting anything more than small metal trim was too much for it. I got a 14" chop saw for heavier duty metal cutting.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by dlockhart

Some also had the ability to run router bits. Versatile, but dangerous saws.

.

Dad had one of those. Geared so one shaft would run at router bit speeds.
Seems I was always on the end catching the boards coming off the table, along with the saw dust that it made. Noisy as all get out too. I think it was a Monkey Wards saw. He also had a DeWalt radial arm. This was all way back in the early to mid-60's.

[astrochex]

My dad had one and he built a lot of shelves and stuff with it. I was one of the helpers who would hold larger pieces of wood when they were cut. The saw was stored in a corner of the garage so you could barely fit a car in.

[A930Rocket]

My dad bought a Sears RAS around 68 and built cabinets and shelves in our family room. He never used it again, but they still had it the house we sold a couple of years ago.

I never used it, as it no safety guards and sounded like a 747 engine starting up. Made me nervous. I could see it cutting off fingers quickly.

[oldE]

Buddy of mine had one. Because of all of the axis of movement, you needed a very high quality machine to guarantee repeatable work. My Buddy was a perfectionist. He put up with the faults in order to have the versatility.
The one advantage I could see was being able to see the blade and exactly what it was doing on partial depth cuts. However with my table saw I ensure exact depth with a piece of scrap.

[gregpark]

I still have one but seldom use it. It will definitely cut a wider board than my sliding miter saw but I have easier methods of whacking a 24" board than hefting that heavy board up on the saw table

[rumlyne]

I had the generic Craftsman 10" radial arm saw for years. It had the router
bit collet on one end. If you tried to use either the router bit or the saw to
rip with there was too much flex in the arm to do good work with either
A much heavier one might be better. I agree the new compound chop saws
do the job better and safer.

[NY65912]

I had a 80's Sears RAS. It constantly needed adjustment however when dialed in it could cross cut 24" wide, a modern miter saw can't do that. Today's track saws do so much more.

[herr_oberst]

Before we get started I'd like to take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools PROPERLY will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this. There is no other more important safety rule than to wear THESE... �� safety glasses and also HEARING protection when necessary.

[look 171]

Why do you think you want one of those, John? I am heading out to the shop with my kids. We will finish gluing up the VG Doug Fir door to the rest of our house upstairs. I wanted them thick wide with ball bearing hinges unlike store bought doors. I will take a pic of the old saw we still have in the shop that is just there to collect dust or act as a shelf for us to put crap on. I am sure modern days saw are great, but still its a radial arm saw. Great for industrial use on cross cutting and that's about it.

[LWJ]

I used one in shop class circa 1983. I have an old classic table saw now. A somewhat modern miter saw. I had a bandsaw. Never had any need for a radial arm saw.

They are buggy whips. And somewhat terrifying. My opinion is to not even look at them.

[stevej37]

My G'pa's trade was a carpenter. I remember him getting a radial saw to go along with his older table saw. He said he could do a lot more with the radial.
This was in the early 60's.

[zakthor]

I’ve never seen a good one. Only used old busted loose crooked ones I guess. Frightening. Instead I’ve a sliding mitre saw and my grandpas 150# table saw.

What I *want* is a big track saw like they have at the lumber yard. I guess it’s a giant accurate radial arm saw? I don’t want to give up space for it but wow can they cut fast and square. I pay for cuts when I buy big stuff. For what I do it’s much cheaper than the tool.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by zakthor

I’ve never seen a good one. Only used old busted loose crooked ones I guess. Frightening. Instead I’ve a sliding mitre saw and my grandpas 150# table saw.

What I *want* is a big track saw like they have at the lumber yard. I guess it’s a giant accurate radial arm saw? I don’t want to give up space for it but wow can they cut fast and square. I pay for cuts when I buy big stuff. For what I do it’s much cheaper than the tool.

I think you are talking about a Panel saw where it stands up agasint up the wall. If room is an issue and not used often, may I suggest a track saw. We are on our second Fest-tool. It gets uses little in the shop but on the job, the guys beat it up pretty good. They dropped the first saw off the second story, so there's that. If you are cheap like me, make a shooting board with a couple pieces of plywood and a hand held circular saw. Its very accurate. Used them for years then track saw came out and everyone seems to buy them and yap about the inaccuracy of shooting boards.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by stevej37

My G'pa's trade was a carpenter.

I wonder if your grandma was a teacher, too?
(sorry to everyone for the tangent; couldn't resist a Prine intermission!)