radial arm saw/ is this saw useful

why should it not be useful ? However to comment on a specific saw we would need to know more about it And a few pics would help. If you’re asking about ras saws in general they are very good for many features but ripping although they say you can do this I would not advise it let us klnow more.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Assuming you are talking about a DeWalt? Some people swear by the name, I personally use other brands, but generally speaking radial arm saws do have a purpose. I leaned how to make raised panel doors on one some 20 odd years ago, among other things.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

I have one and love it, its an older model Craftsman and it is a pretty good saw. A lot of them can be fitted with attachments to one of the motor outputs and you can use it as a drill press and to make raised panels among other things. They show up on Ebay a lot if you look out. Like Scotsman said, you can rip with it but its very dangerous unless you know what you are doing.

dont have photo yet,It is a dewalt. I’m just new to this type of saw .I dont want to waste time or wood,so I thought I’d ask how to get the most out of it.

-- eric post, tallahassee FL

I have owned a Craftsman RAS for about 30 years. A RAS will safely handle cross cuts, compound miter cuts, dado cuts, and rip cuts…if you are careful. Every thing else is kind of a pain to do on a RAS. I’ve since added a cabinet saw that I use for ripping and some dado cuts. A sliding miter saw and table saw can replace all the functionality of a RAS. It’s all about money, space, and personal preference.

-- DaveH - Boise, Idaho - “How hard can it be? It's only wood!”

waht is the crosscut capacity on a 12” slide miter without lifting the material. 3/4” thick

-- If you build it, you will have fun!

I had a ras for years. After I sold it, I wished I had it back. There are so many things you can do with a RAS that you can’t do with a tablesaw.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

I have a RAS and I have built it into my work bench (see my shop pics) and love it. It is not the best brand but if you keep it in tune it will do many things. I cross cut using a stop for repeat cuts, and cut rabbits and daddo’s using a stacked set of blades. You can see what you are doing since the work piece is under the blade. I also cut half lap joints the same way and they are very accurate.

-- St. Louis - just a cut away from finishing!

I have one and I suprise myself with how often I use it to make larger crosscuts…

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Comparing a RAS to a cut-off saw is not all that great. Sure cut-off saw’s can do many things that an RAS can do, but there’s many things that an RAS can do that the Cut-off saw can’t. I’ve never seen a cut-off saw cut Dado’s, nor replace ALL the functionality of an RAS.

Good Question – Chipster. ;)

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

RAS all the way. I have an old school Delta that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Too versatile, unless you’re scared of it.
bbqKing

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

No matter I write this it’s gonna sound rude. Since you have enough disposable income to throw down on a saw you don’t have much of a clue about, I recommend you spend a few $$$ more and buy the RAS bible by Mr. Sawdust:

http://www.mrsawdust.com/comments.php

-- david roberts, spinning Tales from Topographic Oceans, no, really.

I have had one for20+ years. If you keep in tune it can be one heck of a tool. I would not part with it for anything.

-- WOOD/DON (...one has the right to ones opinion but not the right to ones own facts...)

I have a DeWalt 925 power shop and I will not get rid of it. When it dies I will revive it. I use my RAS more than any other saw in my shop.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

I’m going to be the odd man out. I had a 10” RAS for a few years and hated it. It was too hard to keep it in alignment and it just seemed to be the quickest way to cut off your fingers if you were not paying attention. It was the only piece of equipment in my shop that made me nervous every time I turned it on. When I installed the sliding table on my table saw, I sold it.

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com