Replies

1. 
   RonTeti | Feb 24, 2002 07:44am | #1

   *
   Have you checked out used ones? Ive seen them all for good prices everything from Defaults to Delta/Rockwell for very good prices.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Feb 24, 2002 07:57am | #2

   *delta / rockwell...12"

1. 
   ken_hill | Feb 24, 2002 08:06am | #3

   *RALPH- I'm not aware of any good ones made these days, seems like Crapsman is the only game in town, I could be wrong.........I remember back in the 'old' days that Dewalt made them, remember using some BIG radial arm saws on jobsites for framing, and I think there's probably quite a few still out there. Of course Dewalt was a different animal back then. Like Ron's suggestion, I'd look for a used or refurbished quality older saw.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Feb 24, 2002 08:38am | #4

   *try this ..http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/delt/de33890.htm?E+coastestor google: delta radial arm saw

1. 
   Phill_Giles | Feb 24, 2002 09:52am | #5

   *Ken, check out: Original Saw Co., Maggi, Marvco, and OMGA - all still making quality radials.

2. 
   piffin_ | Feb 24, 2002 08:03pm | #6

   *"Does anyone know of a quality radial arm saw that is reasonably priced? I will pay more for quality. Please don't try to sell me a Sliding compound miter. Thanks "here's a man who wants a QUALITY amputation accident, methinks;>)

3. 
   Mike_Smith | Feb 24, 2002 08:17pm | #7

   *nobody said they weren't exciting , piffen...rule #1: don't cross armsrule #2 ( orlo would love this 1) : make sure the saw is running full speed before you start the cut...BTW: still have my 10" set up in the garage.. mighty handy for all those little cuts around the house..my 12" Rockwell i sold at a yard sale for $200.... got tired of towing it around on it's trailer...

4. 
   RonTeti | Feb 24, 2002 08:24pm | #8

   *Ralph,Why not a SCMS? They have a 12-121/2" cross cutting capability while the RAS is about 15-16" capability.

5. 
   Phill_Giles | Feb 24, 2002 09:06pm | #9

   *15-16" ? Even my little RAS does 24"!

6. 
   ToolDoc_ | Feb 24, 2002 10:31pm | #10

   *Ralph try Delta, Craftsman, Ridgid, Ryobi, they all make RadialArm Saws...

7. 
   ken_hill | Feb 25, 2002 12:17am | #11

   *Guys- Thanks all for raising my awareness of the veritable plethora of RAS's available. I still wince just looking at 'em, the danger keeps me away.

8. 
   p_m | Feb 25, 2002 04:15am | #12

   *Ron #8 A radial arm saw is the king of saws. It can be set up to rip. A SCMS can't do that. -Peter

9. 
   RonTeti | Feb 25, 2002 04:29am | #13

   *Phill 10" Delta cross cuts 16". You must have a larger model with a larger capacity.

10. 
    Phill_Giles | Feb 25, 2002 06:54am | #14

    *I don't have a Delta; I wonder why they build such puny 10" and 12" RAS ?

11. 
    RonTeti | Feb 25, 2002 08:28am | #15

    *Phill,They build many sizes.

12. 
    nigel_martin | Feb 25, 2002 08:37am | #16

    *I always liked my Craftman RAS and as long as you keep it tuned you will be very happy. Like any tool "Safe until you forget its dangerous" if pushed for space and money it will do almost all the operations split between table saws, miter saws, routers etc. I would be very careful looking at a used RAS as most will need a rebuild and few will have the makers book to work to.

13. 
    Phill_Giles | Feb 25, 2002 09:51am | #17

    *My point exactly when you said a RAS could only cross-cut 15-16" Ron: my father used to sell RAS's that could cut a 4'x 8' sheet of ply.

14. 
    WmPhelps | Feb 25, 2002 04:59pm | #18

    *for the cost of a quality RAS, you could buy a nice panel saw.If youre set on a RAS, look at auctions and find the old dewalts made back in the 40s-60s. Might require some tuning but they are beefy saws.

15. 
    Ron_Teti | Feb 25, 2002 05:56pm | #19

    *Phill I was thinking anything larger and I would use a TS but were all diferent. If we were all the same we'd all be driving dodges huh?

16. 
    Ralph27 | Feb 25, 2002 08:38pm | #20

    *Thanks for all the sugestions. I would like a radial arm saw because I already have a 12" compound Miter saw. and because I have worked with them extensivly in the past. There are things that I would like to do that they do great. This site is great for a quick excellet response. Panel saw might be an option. Don't have one of those yet either. Space is a consieration.

17. 
    Chip_Tam | Feb 25, 2002 11:01pm | #21

    *I've got a 12" Dewalt RAS in my cabinetmaking shop which I mainly use to cross-cut long boards. It's also useful for a limited amount of joinery although most joints are better done on the table saw. I usually leave it at 90 degrees and make jigs for other angles since re-setting the saw with any precision is a pain. As others have noted, I would also be reluctant to use it to rip boards. With the introduction of good quality SCMS, the RAS has gone out of fashion so you can probably pick up a used one at a pretty good price.

18. 
    Ralph27 | Feb 26, 2002 05:00am | #22

    *Thanks again for the advice. Fashion is not my strong suit, I prefer things that work over things that look good. Just look in my closet. Besides, a fine tool is a fine tool, it doesn't matter if it is a fine flint knife or a high tech 12" 24V variable speed dado widget. I appreciate fine tools.

19. 
    Tim_Mooney | Feb 28, 2002 04:34am | #23

    *ok, lets continue . Trying to think of reasons you want to use one. You can see a dado with them. Im thinking drawers here.They are nice for making trusses on the job. Help me out here.

20. 
    Tim_Mooney | Feb 28, 2002 04:40am | #24

    *oh yea , I used to build poultry houses and they would run all day cutting the lengths of boards between posts. We couldnt string enough power. The guys were cheap so one man did all the cutting days ahead, so these cheap nail drivers didnt have to think.scms wouldnt have held together for that gig.cutting parts the same all day long in the shop ....yea!!!!!!

21. 
    Mike_Smith | Feb 28, 2002 07:10am | #25

    *.. i used to set up as cut man in the '70's for all our jobs... 12" Rockwell wired for 220.. mounted on a trailer with 8' wings on each side.. big carbide blade... didn't matter if it was sharp or not.... nothing stopped that mother...but... almost nobody sets up that way anymore...like you said tim.. a nice set of stacked dadoes sure made site-built birch cabinets a breeze with a well adjusted RAS...

22. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Mar 01, 2002 05:59am | #26

    *I've got a 9, 10 and 12" Craftsman. I've also got a 12" Dewalt compound miter, Delta 10" slider, and a 12" Makita dually. Can't beat the RAS for repeatable crosscut accuracy. Rip on a tablesaw, duh...check the classifieds, or like somebody said Original, I think they got the old DeWalt(best there ever was)toolings. Don't be scared, be careful...

23. 
    Robert_Haugen | Mar 04, 2002 05:51am | #27

    *Wolfe Machinery rebuilds older radial arm saws.Contact at http://www.wolfemachinery.com

24. 
    Steve_Schefer | Mar 04, 2002 06:54pm | #28

    *Yesterday, I came home to find a 10" Craftsman sitting in my driveway. Seems people like to give these things to me when they either hurt themselves or scare themselves. Not sure what the message is here. Anyway, I also have a 10" Montgomery Wards that I'll give you if you pick it up. I've already hauled it around enough. Send me an email if you want it and feel like taking a trip to Northern California in your truck.S

25. 
    Ralph27 | Mar 08, 2002 08:21am | #29

    *Steve ScheferIf I could drive to California, I would take both or either of them. I don't have the time or a vehicle that would make the trip from Ohio. I do, however, have an uncle in Scaramento. How far are you from there? He comes back to Ohio 2-3 times a year and loves to drive. He might be willing to pick it up. Thanks

26. 
    Steve_Schefer | Mar 08, 2002 05:41pm | #30

    *Ralph27 - Sorry, I thougth I had posted here saying that the MW RAS was gone. I'm keeping the Crafstman for now.

27. 
    Ralph27 | Mar 08, 2002 11:28pm | #31

    *No problem, Thanks anyway

28. 
    AlanSenoj | Mar 21, 2002 05:32am | #33

    Ralph,

    One more point here.  My first major tool was a Craftsman 10" ras.  Got a fair bit of use for repetitive cuts. I was building stairs at the time, so cutting 2 X 10's into treads was a natural.

    There is the unfortunate and hardly ever workable attraction of the "UNIVERSAL TOOL"  with a RAS.  Specially the Craftsman with its many add-ons and booklets.

    I quickly developed more sophisticated interests. (I can feel hackles rising, I'm ducking, but let me say that what I was mostly building was straight run stairs for tract housing.) The Craftsman saw would do most of the jobs I asked of it, but only with constant tuning. You couldn't ask it to repeat cuts the way you can with a good chop saw or a table saw.

    I don't think you can hang a heavy motor on the end of a rotating stalk and get really good results. OTOH an old friend of mine has an old Delta (I think) with a split arm. Dave can cut slivers off end-grain that you can almost see through.  I believe Delta may still make these.

    Alan Jones

29. 
    AlanSenoj | Mar 21, 2002 05:02am | #32

    Language, Phill, language.  The operative word here is crosscut, not rip capacity!

    Alan Jones

30. 
    PhillGiles | Mar 22, 2002 06:49am | #34

    I don't understand your point Alan, that is cross-cut (I don't rip with a RAS)..

    Phill Giles

    The Unionville Woodwright

    Unionville, Ontario