Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Radial arm saw question

04 January 2013

Re: [DIY] Radial arm saw question

I bought my first radial arm saw in '64 and for years it was the only saw other than a skill saw I owned, however it always gave me the willies when I had to rip something thin or narrow, as smoney became available and I eventually added a table saw. I build my RA into the center of my 20 foot work bench about 20 years ago and it has served me well. My next radial tool however is to find a used saw with a good frame and marginal or burned out motor and mount a 1/2 inch router in its place. I have a shaper but an over the top radial router would often be a real nice addition to the shop. The plan is to move the deep freeze, lathe, and mill as well as some other items into the new addition and turn two or three walls into work bench. That will be next summers project. So if someone out there has an older defunct radial arm they want to donate to my cause, I'll gladly pay for shipping and handling.

radman wrote:

use the saw with care and proper use (as with all power tools) and you will rely on it more and more. if i had room, i wouldn't be without one. check out "rocklers web site for saw use 101".
they are as versatile as a table saw for many purposes. beats a cutoff/miter saw anyday in the shop where it can be setup permanently.
and don't buy a cheap blade, you definitely get what you pay for.
i much prefer a ra saw for dado's on small pieces, you can see exactly what you're getting. but i'm probably old fashion and had a granddad that was a strict but good teacher.

dw

--- In DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hnidy wrote:
>
> I did not know about the different blade. I just put on a new Harbor
> Freight. I am sure that it is not sharpened correctly.
>
> Google Jers Tablet
> Woodhaven, MI
> On Jan 3, 2013 10:00 AM, "Ray Kornele" wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > You pull the blade forward. Yes, that is opposite to skill saw, miter saw,
> > table saw, etc. BEWARE! The blade will try to pull itself into the wood.
> > Therefore, RA blades are sharpened with negative rake. Nonetheless, you
> > have to hold the saw back to keep it from jamming. A skill that must be
> > learned. I prefer a miter saw. You push the saw back to cut.
> > KrazyKyngeKorny (Krazy, not stupid)
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 3, 2013 at 4:58 AM, Jerry Gmail wrote:
> >
> >> **
> >>
> >>
> >> I have inherited a radial arm saw.
> >>
> >> Before I do something stupid, I have a question:
> >>
> >> When you cut at 90 degrees to the fence, do you pull the saw toward you?
> >> The way this thing is set up, when I pull the saw toward me, the blade
> >> rotation is opposite anything else I have ever used.
> >>
> >> All of the rotation arrows line up but this still seems very wrong.
> >>
> >> Google Jer
> >> Woodhaven, Mi
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>