Radial arm dangers

never cut crossarm ,
always ” strong arm ” the cairrage ,
if it jumps out at you ,
you are moved back first .
make a table that comes out enough that the saw
fully extended is all in the table area .
some that come with them ,
are to narrow and have the bottomfront curve of the blade
exposed .
also make table long enough to suppurt board after the cut ,
so it does’nt lift up by blade .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

I think the main reason there so dangerous is because the whole blade is above the table and you have to push around the motor and blade when ripping. I think if you use one properly and don’t try to do things it’s not made to do there no problem. When crosscutting they may want to take off so you kind of have to feel your way through the wood as your pulling it through.

What Patron said, BUT ALSO, DON’T TAKE THE GAURD OFF. I’ve been using RAS all of my adult life and I’ve never had an accident. Always fearfully respect the saw, as well as any power tool. Now, a swing saw??? That’s a different story!

-- http://www.webshots.com/user/jahness

Are they dangerous?? Sure they are…so is a hammer. But I have used one for years and I think they get a bad rap. Mine is one of the work horses of my shop…used daily. I think as long as everything is in proper working order…and a person uses ”common sense” when using one…they are a very useful addition to the shop….If mine went down tomorrow…I would buy another the next day, thats how useful and needed it is in my shop.

-- Don S.E. OK

I have used radial arm saws for more years than I care to remember. In my production shop, I have yet to see an accident with one. Yes, there are dangers. Aren’t there always. (I’ve been stabbed by a Yankee screwdriver!) The worst thing I see is the tendancy to grab and pull toward you, usually bogging down the saw., jerking the wood up, or both. (Get a grip) Yea you can get hurt, be careful! David also gave good advice.
That said, some manufacturers sold their saws as a do all machine. I would not use the saw for ripping, routing, etc. I think that’s where the danger tends to be.
Though many don’t use radial arm saws, I would certainly miss mine.

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

Unless you already have a talbe saw, I’d get it first.

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

I recently was given an old Dewalt RAS. It was in decent shape, but needed some refurbishing. One way to minimize the tendency to grab the wood is to use a negative hook blade such as this.
This is a crosscut blade, but that is all that I plan to use the RAS for. I know that it can do lots more, but I use it to crosscut rough lumber before I mill it.
It did take a few cuts to get the feel of how to feed the blade into the wood.

-- Chuck - Central Massachusetts

What everyone else said, but also be aware of the quality of the particular model you are looking for. I own two RASs. One crappy one, a low end Craftsman, and a 5 hp 14” Delta Rockwell made in the 1950s. There is a HUGE difference in quality. Of course in my case the big one isn’t operational yet, but I have used similar machines.

It’s also about the setup. The cheaper models just don’t stay tuned as well as the better ones. If a good quality RAS is tuned well, even ripping isn’t any more dangerous than ripping on a table saw.

Hutch

-- I hope the volume of shavings one creates is directly related to the probablility of one's success, cuz if so I've got it made!!

What was said about having tables at both ends of your saw is also true…if you look at my shop picks you will see catch tables on both ends. I know a few guys who have RAS’s in their shops with no tables….trying to cut a 10ft plus board on a RAS with nothing to hold up the ends is a big no-no and a good way to eat some wood. (The tables also make for great storage)

-- Don S.E. OK

I like Corvairs, think they got a bad rap by a self absorbed political wannabe, but that’s for another thread. I have had some scary moments ripping with my RAS and don’t use it for that anymore. Keep a strong grip when crosscutting and u will get much use out of this great tool.

Make sure if u get a craftsman that you get the recall upgrade. Do a search on ras recall to find the site. The original guard would not protect u from kickback as well. Good luck $50 seems cheap make sure it’s in good/safe condition.

-- JC - Central PA - www.affyx.com

How do you rip on one? Turn it sideways and push the board down the table? Looks like the only way to me. sounds a bit scary:-((

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

TopamaxSurvivor, that’s exactly how. The head swivels and locks sideways but I tried it once just to see how well it works and I didn’t like it at all.

-- http://www.webshots.com/user/jahness

Bob,
Got to agree with John on this….yes the RAS can be used for ripping, routing, as a shaper etc etc etc. But I only use mine for cross cutting and for cutting dado’s. Many people say cutting dado’s on a RAS is dangerous….but as long as a person takes their time, and does not try and dado it all at one time…it is great. IMO it is MUCH easier AND safer to several dado slots in a 8ft long board than trying to do it on a table saw.

As far as ripping…not me !!! I have a friend who is a GREAT cabinet maker, and only uses a RAS for all of his cutting…does not even own a table saw. And I must admit…he can slap a sheet of 4×8 on his saw and rip it as fast if not faster than I can on my cabinet saw. I help him once and awhile in his shop and have done it a few times…man what a strange feeling…just could not get comfortable doing it. But he feels the same way using my table saw, guess it all depends on what your used to and grew up using.

-- Don S.E. OK

I was hired by a cabinet shop to replace a guy who had cut his fingers off on the RAS. Thought it was talk until I saw that they couldn’t clean the blood off of the table. The guard was in place, it can’t tell the difference between wood and flesh. I think people just get too relaxed around some machines, like the RAS.

-- a little bit of stupid goes a long way

It’s all too easy to get complacent doing things we do every day, including working circuits hot ;-))

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

I swear by these saws, Cutting long stock and making tenons on table rails and dado,s for bookcase shelves are a piece of cake on one of these. Trick is not to try and cut too much in one pass on thick stock especially on Dado,s. Otherwise they are safe enough and a great tool for fast repeditive cuts. For ripping however use a table saw, it,s just easier.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

i think the biggest reason many folks say their dangerous is their are some operations that you can do on a RAS that are very dangerous but like most owners of RAS mine is used for mostly cross cuts and cutting dado’s as kiwi said and never for ripping like the manual will tell you it can do. many manufacturers tried for years to sell these as the only tool you needed in your shop. and that was were the danger is.

-- I buy tools so i can make more money,so ican buy more tools so I can work more, to make more money, so I can buy more tool, so I can work more

Any tool can be unsafe if used improperly. Thanks for the advice.

-- ShawnH "A little knowledge is a tool for disaster." Chinese porverb

Here's the link for the recall – they send you a new guard assembly including riving knife and and complete new set of MDF table inserts – it’s a big heavy box, it’s free and it arrives in about 4 days…

http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/

-- JC - Central PA - www.affyx.com

I agree with what has been said. I think the main issue is watching your fingers…it is very easy to have your fingers on the board in the way of the blade when you pull the saw across the stock. Another danger is reaching under the arm to pull a piece of wood out after you have cut it with the blade running. As for ripping on a RAS, I have done this but like others have said its scary and I quickly found I didnt want to use it for that.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

I used to love radial arm saws, before there were sliding compound miter saws. They are great for cross cutting, datos etc. The Danger in my opinion is that they try to make it the universal tool, with drill, sanding and routing attachments. As far as I’m concerned all those secondary functions, including ripping, are jobs better, and safer done with the proper machine for it. The arms are never stable enough for my liking and the little movements that crop up tend to ruin ripping and routing in a dangerous way. I think Radial arms saws should be used as sliding compound miter saws, and that’s it. And if that’s the reason to have one, miter saws are cheaper.

-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.

Thye used to be set up on every job until the sliding miters came out. I don’t think I’ve seen one in years.

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

I’ll second the above….use a sliding mitre….I’ve seen several folks take a hit because of the old radial arm saws being a bit squirrelly. We used to use them on the job sites as Topamax said…thats why alot of guys got hurt….not paying attention and being in a hurry to get the work done…or to get in for a cut before the other framers needed it. I think its because the center of gravity is out of whack due to the weight distribution being so high off the table…and you could swing it way off balance if you weren’t paying attention.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

I have one use it all the time great saw

-- Jim, Kentucky

My RAS and TS are my two most used machines. RAS I have dedicated for crosscutting and TS for ripping. I like the large table on my RAS for work support and I don’t cut small pieces on it. I’ll use my miter saw on those as the teeth on the miter saw pull into the fence.

Like others have said, don’t rip on it, and keep your strong arm on and pull slowly with your free hand well away from the blade. If its a thick board raise the blade and make a couple of passes just like you would do with a router.

Freud makes a negative hook blade that is supposed to be good for RAS saws and I’m going to get one for mine on my next Woodcraft run.

I have a 30 year old sears and they sent me a new gard and handel all free. just had to call them with the serail no. came in 4 days the guard is clear plastic. came in 4 days
Chuck

-- Chuck, wiswood2 www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

used them in high school shop( we didn’t have table saws,) scared me silly then and still do. any thing that you can dos with a ras you can do better and safer on a table saw.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

any thing that you can dos with a ras you can do better and safer on a table saw.

Um , can’t cross cut a 16’ long 1×16 piece of popular on one. I have used a Radial Arm saw for well over 35 years now, no issues, still can count to 10 on my hands, well I start to stutter around 8, I tend to forget 9:). Buy one if have the money and room to keep it. Great addition to any shop.

It’s like any tool ,even a bandsaw is a ferocious tool when not properly used.And also like the guys say keep it to crosscutting and I dont even use mine for mitres. I just do crosscutting as I have also a few big delta miter saws with twelve inch blades ,and my ras is a dewalt with a 12 inch blade and a 24 inch crosscut .Properly set up for crosscutting etc it’s great but as said care is the by word so take care buddy.Alistair

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

Doers SawStop make a RAS? I can wait ‘til then….

-- If Stradivarius was alive today, he'd be using Gorilla Glue.

I believe all tools can hurt ya bad. I have a RAS.. and love it. but before I use any tool. I do my homework. also, If I can, I have someone with experience, show me, all I kneed to know about it. I am more afraid of my skill saw then my RAS, or Table saw. you would laugh at me. I guess because my husband cut his thump off. I am always waiting for that puppy to kick back on me. just use safety, and make sure you know where your hands are at all times. and respect the power. never get in a hurry. always use a sharp blade, and no kids, or other distractions. always double check things. never take any tool for granite.
Evie

-- If you don't learn from the past, your doomed to repeat it.

I came across an old Black and decker off of craigs list the guy I got it from said he had only used it a handfull of times and it has just sat in his garage covered up for years and years and he was tired of looking at it and figured might as well let someone get some use out of it. Came with the metal leg stand, for $25. The stand was worth that. Best money I have ever spent I have used it in the first 10 days working on my kitchen and used it about 30 times at a dollar a pop I figured I already got my money’s worth. I haven’t used the miter or the compound yet but can’t wait. My wife bought me a compond miter chop saw from sears 10 years ago and altho I’ve used it alot, but I wanted the arm saw for biger boards. You couldn’t buy this saw from me thats how much I love it,, well everything is for sale if the price is right, L.O.L. even me Ha. Ha. But you would have a hard time getting it from my clutches, just use common sense and like any tool use caution and practice safety and you will love yours to.

The sliding compound is probably a lot better set up but he said craigs list??? Which like myself cash is a BIG issue when getting tools not all of us can afford cadies some have to settle for a rusted up chevy. I have used my ras for everything including ripping and cutting small boards and altho not recommended for that,,I have always felt slow, slow slow then WATCH what your doing and use caution and if at all possible use common sence, I myself have on occasion to throw that last one out the window but not advisable, I have had worst luck with hand saws than a T.S. or R.A.S. The big saws look scary so more caution and the slower you go hand saws you have a habit to try and go faster feeding the saw into the wood faster than it can cut resulting in kick backs and accidents, just be carefull and never go into automatic zone when working with any tool. Enjoy and have fun

I’ve used one early in my woodworking carier. It requires you to think safely. Use a negative hook blade as ChuckV states They make the saw safer.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Ya ain’t gettin’ my 1978 model RAS. Even though there is no retrofitting available, this bad boy still has a place in my shop.
Got my first TS 3 yrs. ago. Love it too.
The old addage:
Use the right tool for the job.
Bill

If you are careful, you can do pretty much the exact same cuts on a radial that you can on a table saw. The radial can be a very versatile tool. If all you’re planning on doing is cross cuts, the dangers are quite small (unless you’re not paying attention and have your hand in the wrong place). It’s when you go to do other types of cuts where things can get more dangerous. It is possible to do dados, rips, and miters with a Radial Arm Saw, those cuts are where you’ll really have to watch what you are doing. My 2 cents, if you’re going to be doing just cross cuts, look into a good compound miter saw with a sliding head.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken