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Sam Price
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:40 am 
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An old woodworking friend of mine has an old DeWalt radial arm saw he wants to offer to add to my workshop- I don't have much knowledge about wood powertools due to being a wood carver and rookie guitar builder, so I hope you don't mins me asking this question;

Can you resaw with a radial arm saw, and would it be a good tool to have in my arsenal?

Thanks.
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John Mayes
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:05 am 
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No a radial arm saw is not the proper, or practical tool to do any sort of re-
sawing. Think of it more as a sliding arm mitre/chop saw.

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John Mayes
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:07 am 
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forgot to add it may be a good tool for your arsenal. My step father has an
old craftsman radial arm saw and it's been very handy with general jobs,
although I've never used it for lutherie.

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Bob Long
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:10 am 
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A radial arm does makes a dandy fret-slotting saw!

long

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Billy T
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:39 am 
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   If you have the room Sam, take it! It's very handy!
Consider it more like a table saw, only better.

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Kent Chasson
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:21 am 
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In my opinion, a radial arm saw is one of the least practical tools around.  It's best use is to crosscut rough boards to rough length.  Unless it's a really nice saw with little play in the arm, it isn't even very good at fine cross cutting to finish length.


Some people like the versatility of being able to crosscut, rip, and even rout (yes, some saws have the ability to rotate the motor and use it like an overarm router).  But it is impractical (possibly unsafe) for ripping and too slow for good routing.  If I had unlimited space and could find a good dedicated use for it (perhaps fret slotting, as mentioned), I'd consider it but only if it was a good saw.


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Dean
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:39 am 
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Makes a GREAT platform for a safety planer. Turn the head 90 degrees and you can do a complete top or back !

Dean


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crazymanmichael
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:31 am 
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i tend to generally agree with the above comments.

a ra saws accuracy is dependent upon its initial quality and how well it can be set up give the wear on the machine and the skill of the mechanic. for this reason i have doubts about its utility for a fret sawing operation.

ripping on one is dangerous at best and is not a recommended activity. and it makes a poor router because of its slow rotational speed as mentioned above.

the only one i ever bought was purchased at auction solely because a performax 22-44 drum sanding attachment was mounted on it. i wanted the drum. i gave the saw away to a friend who thought he could use it and even included a new blade to get it out of the shop.

but then you know what the say about gift horses...



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RobE
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:00 am 
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I dont mean to hijack this thread, but I too have a question regarding old tools, and I didn't want to clog up the forums with another tool thread.

I have the opportunity to purchase an older 12" craftman bandsaw or another old 14" craftman bandsaw. Is this even worth purchasing, or should I just stick it out and buy a new one?

And back to the thread, I think that radial arm saws are used more in basic construction/framing, not in lutherie. But if you have room, I would take it. You can never have to many tools.

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crazymanmichael
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:40 am 
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what do "old" and "older" mean.

basically, it is fairly safe to say the good quality stationary tools, i.e., table saws, joiners, bandsaws, lathes, etc., have very long useful lives. my table saw is a delta built in 1953, my walker turner 16" band saw is older still, and my 10" delta band saw was built in 1944, same vintage as me. all do their jobs very well.

craftsman tools of an age were generally us built by reputable makers, and often were identical to the makers own brand tools.

if the price is right given their condition they can be very good buys. this still begs the question of whether you have the experience or have done the research to enable you to assess the condition and value of the saws.


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Rod True
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:01 pm 
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Through all my scowering (is that a word?) on the net and looking extensivly over many guitar builders web sites, I've only ever come across one person using a radial arm saw for some part of guitar making.

Charlie Hoffman, making linings where he gangs up 4 blades to rip the kerfs for his linings.


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Todd Rose
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:32 pm 
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While some people still find uses for radial arms saws, they have essentially been replaced by sliding compound miter saws. I use my Makita sliding compound miter saw all the time, for lutherie and everything else, and can't imagine life without it. It's an extremely versatile, useful, accurate tool.

I realize this isn't directly addressing your question of whether to take this radial arm saw, but I thought it might be relevant nonetheless.

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KenH
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:34 pm 
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I never thought of using a RAS for kerfed ribbon linings....hummmm that gives me some ideas :)

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Bruce Dickey
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:58 pm 
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scour scouring, yep, it's a word.

Radial Arm saws. Great for crosscutting.

1. Get a Bandsaw
2. Get a Tablesaw
3. Get a good tabletop sander or floor model
4. Get a drum sander or wide belt if you can afford that.
5. You can never have too many routers.
6. PC Random orbital sanders or PC Speed Bloc sander, wow.
7. Build a Gobar deck, cheap.... but oh so handy.
8. Radial Arm saw, I'd take one if somone were giving it away, probably would not buy one.
9. Oh, I forgot clamps. You can never have too many clamps. Klemmsia, C type, bar clamps for neck glueups, closepins for linings, binder clips from Staples.

For Kerfed Linings, Triangular of course. I've used them successfully on Reverse Kerf too.

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WaddyThomson
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:46 am 
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I have had a Craftsman RA saw for about 35 years, and have done almost everything on it you can do on a table saw.  It is a problem to keep aligned and set up properly, but performs well and accurately with the proper set up, and consistent use of squares and jigs to assist with that process.  The one thing it will do, is create a smaller foot print than a table saw - the reason I bought it to begin with.  It will do all of it's processes bumped up against the wall, where a table saw requires space on all sides.  However, for doing long, accurate rips, etc, there is no substitute for a table saw.  If you decide to take it, make sure you read up on proper setup processes. Otherwise, I agree with Todd.  If I had the room, I'd go with a table saw.  I have one, a portable one, and have to clear out the carport to use it.  It mostly stays folded up tucked under a wing of a bench.


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Rick Turner
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:02 am 
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Is that blood I see on the finger and on the un-cut side of the kerfing in the picture?
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Rod True
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:15 am 
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[QUOTE=Rick Turner] Is that blood I see on the finger and on the un-cut side of the kerfing in the picture?[/QUOTE]

I have no idea Rick, you'd have to ask Charlie, it's his finger.

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TonyFrancis
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:15 pm 
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That pic had me laughing...good thing we cant remember what PAIN feels like. Fancy kerfer' though!
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psl53
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:18 am 
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Good one Rick, he's using a radial arm saw, so it well could be. I have logged many hour on a radial arm saw in my shop and construction days in the early seventies. You have to be very careful as the rotation of the blade draws it towards your work and any fingers sitting in it's path. My Dad ran a cabinet shop and lost two fingers to this piece of equipment, so that also got me to pause before using and assess what I was attempting to do. Did I mention you have to be real careful using a radial arm saw.


I do like that kerfing jig, and if that's blood it's not from the radial arm saw, if so there be a lot more of it.


Peter
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Chris Oliver
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:23 am 
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Sam,
The RAS is wonderful for all day repeating cross cuts. I also use mine for dado'ing. In fact as mentioned above, with the right collet attachment, you can use them as over arm routers. I have three RAS's. A smaller delta super 9 from the 50's and a couple of the 14" Original Saws from DeWalt. All are great when set up properly. If you have the room, they are worth having. The big ones are great for cutting the uneven ends of rough cut lumber.
chris


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