Radial Arm Saw

[Bradley Potts]

Two of the keys to success and happiness w/ the RAS is to #1 install a proper, perfectly flat 1.5" thick top on it, and #2 is to use a 1/4" or greater thickness sheet of ply or mdf as a sacrificial top that is often shifted about and/or replaced in order to keep a fresh zero clearance kerf directly under the workpiece. Instantly, this sacrificial surface will make the table in front of the fence higher and therefore the column height does not have to be changed when swinging miter cuts, it also ensures tear-out free cuts.

[John Schweikert]

I'm intrigued with this description of the table being higher than the fence. Makes no sense to me. Table higher, then no fence exists. Searched google images trying to get a better idea of what is being described. My dad still has his RAS that I used a lot when I was growing up. But I don't own one. Anyone have a photo showing a table top like this. We just had a back piece, then the fence, then the front table with a sacrificial top.

[HANK METZ]

I'm intrigued with this description of the table being higher than the fence. Makes no sense to me. Table higher, then no fence exists. Searched google images trying to get a better idea of what is being described. My dad still has his RAS that I used a lot when I was growing up. But I don't own one. Anyone have a photo showing a table top like this. We just had a back piece, then the fence, then the front table with a sacrificial top.

Cabinet_Wheels_Mounted.JPG

My back boards are about 1-1/8" thick, the main top is about 1-1/2". This allows swinging the arm whilst the head is in the parked position behind the fence.

[John Schweikert]

Got it. That makes sense.

My back boards are about 1-1/8" thick, the main top is about 1-1/2". This allows swinging the arm whilst the head is in the parked position behind the fence.

[John TenEyck]

If you need portability, buy a SCMS. If you don't, get an old Dewalt or similar RAS. The radial arm saw will likely be a LOT cheaper and, as mentioned, is a lot more versatile.

John

[Bill Geibe]

I like my RAS. Recently I made a 10" ladder out of a couple of pressure treated 2x4's for uprights and 5/4 stock for rungs/steps. I cut nine 1" dado's on each upright at a 15 degree angle. A piece of cake with a dado head on the RAS. I couldn't use the table saw as the stock was too long and sliders don't work with dado heads (to the best of my knowledge). I suppose a router with a jig would have done the job but I think the RAS was a lot faster.

Bill

[Bradley Potts]

Thanks Hank! -- Bradley

[David Winer]

I like my RAS. Recently I made a 10" ladder out of a couple of pressure treated 2x4's for uprights and 5/4 stock for rungs/steps. I cut nine 1" dado's on each upright at a 15 degree angle. A piece of cake with a dado head on the RAS. I couldn't use the table saw as the stock was too long and sliders don't work with dado heads (to the best of my knowledge). I suppose a router with a jig would have done the job but I think the RAS was a lot faster.

Bill

Interesting. I did the same thing this week, but my ladder had only to reach a 5 foot platform for a zipline. I set the RAS to make 30 degree cuts with the dado head. It took a number of trial passes to get the dado shimmed to the precise width for the 5/4 stock.

[HANK METZ]

In making my Bahamas shutters, I had over a thousand slots to cut that would be at a really obtuse angle, plus given the typical length of the stiles, would be a beast to cut. Tablesawing was out, and although a router could be used, it offered no real advantage over the radial saw and in fact would be slower due to the handling cycle. A few hours and scrap finally produced a jig that easily clamped on and off the radial with repeatable accuracy:
Slot Jig Still (Small).JPG

With an index slat on the outside of the stiles, each set took only minutes to slot:
Slotting.jpg

The full video shows the methods in greater detail, but this is just to illustrate that the radail saw still solves problems that other means struggle with.

[Jack Schmidt]

My Sears RAS still has a sacrificial top layer they used to sell raising it up as well as providing rules for rip cuts and an inch/decimal conversion table. The RAS also is one of those that has digital readouts for all of the angles as well as height and rip values, which makes it a nice feature. It's like adding Wixey readouts for all the functions. I've built a lot of cabinets with this saw over the years.

[Gus Dundon]

RAS is like band saw but there are some functions of it that bandsaw can't do. I have band saw but I'm wishing to have RAS - I can use for ripping, cutting mitered and beveled angles, dadoes, rabbets and cutting grooves.

[Stephen Cherry]

Radial arm saws, like this thread from three years ago, are the saw that won't fade away.

Good saws are out there for not a lot of money.

Also, thanks Hank for all the nice videos.