should I sell my radial arm saw?

[wayne ateser]

who would buy it. Its a dinasour

[Eric Wong]

I think I'd have one if I had the space. But as it is, I don't even have a miter saw (actually I have one, but it sits in storage for all but the roughest tasks). Besides, with dedicated crosscut sleds and hold-downs, I can crosscut and cross-dado (is that redundant?) very accurately.

[David G Baker]

who would buy it. Its a dinasour

Wayne,
If it is in good working condition there are probably a bunch of folks that would gladly take it off your hands. If you really want to get rid of it put it on the SMC Classifieds at a good price and watch it get snapped up.
David B

[Ronald Thompson]

There is no reason to keep the saw to crosscut long boards on a radial arm saw. You can do that with a straight edge and a portable power saw. Wide boards(up to 30 ") I cut on the table saw with a crosscut sled.
Saying that I have owned a Craftsman radial arm saw since 1978 and even upgraded it with the saw recall fence and guard. If I've used it twice in the last 5(probably 10) years I would be surprised. Most crosscutting(12" or less) is done with sliding chop saws.
Being a packrat on a Collier brother's scale, I will keep the saw. Once it comes in the house, it stays. But your mental health might be better.
Ron

[Don Brillhart]

I bought my RAS in 1965, long before I got my table saw and would never part with it. Shop around the web and you'll probably find a Performax drum sander which attaches to the RAS and you will have a drum sander set up for less than $200.
Don Brillhart

[Bill White]

So nice to hear a like-minded woodworker speaking to the values of the old RAS. Bought mine in '78. Ain't gettin' it away from this old dude.
Bill

[Alfred Clem]

My RAS was one of the first power tools I bought when at last I had space in my garage after retirement. It's a Sear "electronic" model, and I must have bought it about 1987. It whistles and whirs and cuts like a gem, and it can handle the wobble dado blade perfectly. But I sure wouldn't ask it to handle ripping. Too dangerous. Maybe I am too chicken to gain the experience necessary. Maybe too old and wise. But would I junk it? No, sir.

[Brad Trent]

The RAS in my dad's shop was the first stationary tool I ever used. It was also the first stationary tool he had in his shop. Between hand tools and that old RAS, I sure learned a lot and made awful lot of mistakes and, every now and then, some pretty nice items.

I don't have one in my shop, making do with the SCMS, but I do look around the shop and wonder if I couldn't make some room every time I see one for $100 on CL. I guess it's more of a nostalgic thing for me.

[Don Brillhart]

Brad; Try to find an old Sears with all steel parts. They are really strong and the motor is a real workhorse. I paid $105.00 in 1965 for a one year old saw, loaded with accessories and never regretted it.
Don

[Brad Trent]

Brad; Try to find an old Sears with all steel parts. They are really strong and the motor is a real workhorse. I paid $105.00 in 1965 for a one year old saw, loaded with accessories and never regretted it.
Don

That's the sort of saw I do watch for. My dad's saw was a Craftsman around that vintage and is still working today.

My main hang ups are that I do have the 12" SCMS that does a good chunk of what the RAS can do and it lives on a MSUV that sits between two benches that act as a table for it. When I need to move it somewhere, it just folds down and goes.

I don't really need the RAS to do things I can't already do as well with other tools. I just kind of miss the times I had when using the RAS in my Dad's shop. We don't get much time to work on projects together these days since we are about 4hrs apart.

[everett lowell]

I have my dad's '82 craftsman, I use it ALL the time! I've thougt about selling mine too for more floor space but I know I would miss it every time I have to crosscut a long board or have to make a cut when my dado stack is in my tablesaw! Plus the fact that it was my fathers-its a keeper!

[Tim Devery]

Sell it if you can, I just gave mine away.
To dangerous to use when a sliding compound saw will do the same thing

[Kelly C. Hanna]

I'll never sell mine. Comes on very handy when I want to crosscut without a bunch of setup. I have a 12" CMS and a 10" RAS on two adjoining walls...works very nicely.

[Scott Vigder]

I tossed my old RAS and replaced it with a Sliding Compund Miter Saw.

I tend to buy my rough cut lumber in 12'-15' lengths and frequently need to cut them down to size.

In addition to the ease of use offered by the CSMS, I feel much safer sliding the blade away from me to make the cut.

[craig lapiana]

i use mine often with it permanently setup for dados. dust collection is a nightmare but it is so nice being able to goto that station and not have to fiddle with anything. everything else gets tossed at my miter or table saw.