View Full Version : RAS enlightenment... pull up a chair...
WoodMangler
12-17-2002, 06:05 AM
Heya all...
I repaired the guard on my new/old sears radial arm... sheesh... even the guard is cast iron!
http://a4.cpimg.com/image/12/BE/14989074-cf1c-02000155-.jpg
I've been using the heck outta this thing, and it really made me stop and think.... (always a scary thing...)
I had a sears RAS in 1982... the one I have now was built in 1974...
It's like comparing a Bayliner to a Bertram, or a Yugo to a Lexus... choose your analogy :)
In other words... no comparison at all... the one I have now is built like the proverbial shick brickhouse..., and the one I bought new in 82 was so bad I ended up selling it after only a year and getting the Hitachi SCMS... man, thought I'd died and gone to heaven! Now, after 20 years the Hitachi is now the red-headed step child... just kinda sits there being ignored... I use the Ryobi for cutting angles... because I can actually set the fence at an angle and it ACTUALLY cuts that angle... something the SCMS wont do... and I'm using the radial arm for crosscuts and dados... just the difference in noise is enough for me to choose the RAS over the SCMS... the RAS is a soft purr compared to the scream of wild Hitachi...
It's pretty confusing sometimes... I try to give the best advice I can based on what I KNOW works and then *I* change after so many years!
Honestly... the RAS has made me really happy... and it's a bunch of little things that add up... Like squaring the fence on the RAS is so dang easy! Change fences? No problem! Slide the fence over to get a "new" zero clearance to avoid chip out?... 2 SECONDS! Adding an auxiliary table so ya don't chew up the regulard table?... sheesh... 2 screws, all done. Changing blades? This is about the only area where the RAS and the SCMS are pretty much equal...
... and I haven't even explored all the options I can put on that auxiliary arbor on the right side of the motor...
Wierd... I mean, I've got 4 saws doing stuff that, really, I could do on the BT3100 all by itself!
I think I've lost my mind... or maybe I've gotten real lazy... maybe 5 years of production work has ruined me... I could real easily cut the small segments for the segmented rings on the Unisaw with an Incra miter gauge... but the BT3100 is there... all hooked up... I mean, even the DC starts up when I start the saw...
... and I've done without a RAS for almost 20 years... and NOW it's a valuable tool?... I should have known somewhere in my mind that there were "good" RAS out there... didn't even occur to me to look until I read about Dano and Lou getting the Dewalt situated in it's new home at Lou's place. When my sis-in-laws fiance' said he had a sears RAS first thing I said was "how old is it?"... Sears really got that bad??
I mean, the one *I* had before sucked!
I felt like rambling... I'm gonna decide and maybe a tool or two will be finding new homes... I have the room, but really, this is ridiculous... or is it??
pgeer
12-17-2002, 06:34 AM
I'm glad you like your new (old) RAS, The Sears I had was 1960 ventage and it worked very well. The arm mast (I think it's called) was loose on mine as well, but after some adjusting it worked just fine.
I see you have a dado on you'rs, that is all I ever did on mine, after time I started using the table saw for that and now it's between the TS or router for dados or other operations.
Any who, it's kinda fun to get an old tool and get it working again, isn't it?
Paul
Danford C Jennings
12-17-2002, 09:21 AM
Marc,
I think it was Lou who said that Craftsman did more to ruin the reputation of radial arms than any other source. I think it was in the mid to late 70s when they went "overseas" and that's when their decline started and not just with their radial arms....
Any who, I'm real glad that you got yourself a gem of a saw. Like any tool, when you have a "quality" one it sure makes the process more enjoyable. This is one exception to the "you get what you pay for" rule, wouldn't you agree? ;) Enjoy.
Dano
Lou_williams
12-17-2002, 12:55 PM
Marc,
I was worried when you said that you were going to get an old Sears RAS. But when you posted the first pictures of that old beast I was sure you had a gem.
I had always been a TS biggot. I always felt that it was the best tool for almost all cuts. But, my buddy has always had both saws, an old Sears RAS and a TS. His old Sears is one that was like your first one. Not that good a unit, but it made a wonderful cut off tool. That is one of the things that I had a hard time doing with my TS. Yes it can be done, but I get lots of stock that is 12 to 16 ft long and it needs to be cut to length. Cross cutting boards that long that might be 8/4 and 6 inch wide oak takes a bit of effort. On a RAS even a POS RAS it is easy to rough cut the stock.
I had tried to use a miter saw for this task but it was always a problem. The miter saw was nice for cutting hardwood flooring on site but it was not a good shop tool. So I began to think about a dedicated cut off station that would allow me to add other things into a long bench. I was going to look at sliding CMS and maybe an old RAS. Since my buddy has also used his RAS for cross cutting up to 18 inch panels I was leaning in that direction. I spent some time lookng for old RAS in the paper and found a few very large DeWalts. Units on Trailers with 14 inch blades and that was a bit much. And POS SEARS units.
After exchanging posts with Dano on his old DeWalt I was sure that was the direction I wanted to go in. Dano found a gem that I was able to buy and discovered that there is a real difference between A good RAS and most of what you buy today. My expectation of use has gone far more than rough cross cutting. I have a good systematic cross cut blade on that tool and can make very clean accurate cuts very repeatable. The bench I built allows me to work on very long heavy stock with ease. I have yet to install my Dado on it because I have not needed to cut one yet, but that is where that blade will go.
The TS now is setup for Rips 90% of the time. The rest of the TS use is for plywood.
Dano,
I have had a chance to rip some 8/4 oak with that DML Golden Eagle Rip blade. You were right once again. That is one sweet blade, The best rip blade I have ever used.
Danford C Jennings
12-17-2002, 07:30 PM
Lou,
I knew you wouldn't be disappointed....their 80T ATBs are even better, heheheh. (I'll turn ya into a dedicated DML user if you're not too careful).
Dano
TDHofstetter
12-18-2002, 12:11 AM
Welcome to the little gang of pleased RAS owners, Marc!
...now TURN that dust chute to one side so ya don't fill your pocket, willya? :)
-- Tim --
E Lignus Unum
WoodMangler
12-18-2002, 03:51 AM
I just open my mouth real wide when I cut...
...keeps the shop clean :)
Sonny Edmonds
12-18-2002, 07:08 AM
Noooooo, that's not what it's for.
It's to keep you from in front of it. LMAO!
Besides... you don't want your fingers in your mouth. :o
Glad to hear it all worked out so well for Ya Marc. :7
:D
Sonny Edmonds
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
[link:home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/ | Sonny's Shop Pages]
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God! Or you can bite my A$$ and just leave!
Lou_williams
12-18-2002, 06:24 PM
Speaking of RAS's, I just got back from CB Tools. It is the comercial Toy (tool) store here in San Jose. This is a store where you can see things like 20 inch sanders, Overarm CNC Pin "Routers, The Powermatic 8 inch Jointer was calling me, but... what I was amazed to see was 4 RAS's sitting there for sale. All of these units were built very well , all but two were brand new. Two were recondionted. The lowest price was for a reconditoned 12 inch for 1800. The high price was a new 14 inch for 3600.
People still build and sell RAS's, but the home market saws are a joke.
Sonny Edmonds
12-18-2002, 07:34 PM
DANG!
That ought to make Marc feel good. His is probably worth $1800 after he's reconditioned it himself, at least out here it would be!
It's a real saw with all the cast iron in it.
I'd still be gettin a hose on the frontal sawdust flinger hole though.
What if a chunk of knot come out of there? Sha-wing! OW! :o
:D
Sonny Edmonds
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
[link:home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/ | Sonny's Shop Pages]
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God! Or you can bite my A$$ and just leave!
I'm afraid that is very true. I now own 5 Golden Eagle DML blades and will not ever buy another brand.
Len
Sonny Edmonds
12-18-2002, 07:49 PM
My old RAS from the '70's had a turnable hood on that snout.
Sort of a send it here or send it there affair.
I don't remember mine being anywhere near as well made though.
:D
Sonny Edmonds
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
[link:home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/ | Sonny's Shop Pages]
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God! Or you can bite my A$$ and just leave!
Camp Director
12-19-2002, 03:58 PM
Marc-just in case you missed my post on the (dare I say it) Ryobi Forum, I will repeat it here:
Go to the Emerson guard recall page www.radialarmsawrecall.com
armed with your serial#, fill out the form and a new guard and TABLE will be shipped via UPS at no charge. Now when the package arrives, open it, toss the guard and surely a guy like you can find use for a piece of 1" x 16"x 40" and a piece 1" x 11" x 40" MDF. Hell I would do it just for the thrill of having UPS deliver a no cost no shipping charge box to my door. :D
BTW- Do not under any circumstances install the guard because:
It is designed to provide additional safety when RIPPING only (who the hell rips on a RAS anyway?)
You lose 5" of crosscutting capability due to the guard design which does not clear the fence untill you are 5" into your cross cut of the stock which equates to----zero added protection with the new guard when cross cutting.
WoodMangler
12-19-2002, 10:10 PM
Been there... done that :) They said my saw doesn't have a "retrofit" available and my only option was to bring it in and get $100
Oh well :)
A few days ago someone was talking about getting rid of his cross cutting equipment and going strictly to a Ryobi BT 3000 for cross cutting. Why don't you look that up. You might find it enlightening!!!!!
Camp Director
12-20-2002, 03:03 AM
Burt, I am in the market for some "cross cutting equipment" and perhaps the person you are talking about would be willing to sell it to me. Could you please provide a link to the thread from a couple of days ago that you mention?, (or were you just fishin?.)
Camp Director
12-20-2002, 03:14 AM
Bummer--Oh well the thought was there.
WoodMangler
12-20-2002, 06:29 AM
Hey Burt? Get over it ok...
I do use the BT3100 for crosscutting instead of the SCMS. I then received a free RAS, and it's great. I still use the BT3100 for crosscutting instead of the SCMS. Did you hear that time?... Listen, I'll say it again.
I use the Ryobi BT3100 for crosscutting. It's my shop, and that's what I do.
Keep trying to throw this back in my face for some unknown freekin reason and me and you are gonna have a problem.
Got it?
Your cheap little shots are getting on my last nerve.
I use what I use... you don't like it? I don't give a chit...
Get over it Burt....
WoodMangler
12-20-2002, 06:31 AM
No Ken, that's just Burt taking his little pot-shot at me because I use the BT3100 for crosscutting.
That's Burt's idea of contributing to the forum.
Camp Director
12-20-2002, 01:08 PM
Kinda figured that, ergo the retorical post of mine. Guess Burt does'nt know about your "sanding center" yet- oops!. :D
Marc,
Let's see if we can't preserve that last nerve. You might need it.
Seriously, I can't imagine using a table saw exclusively for cross cutting. My shop has a unisaw w/an excaliber sliding table, a milwaukee sliding compound and a Old dewalt radial. Also there is a couple of miter saws in the back just in case I need them.
Enjoy the radial and cut safely. They can be as dangerous as they are nice to use.
Burt
P.S. I often recommend the BT 3000 to the homeowner/woodworking hobbiest want to be.
WoodMangler
12-21-2002, 07:30 PM
Burt
See, here's the deal Burt...
I don't knock what you have in your shop... I have even been kind enough not mention that we have to read your complete shop inventory every time you post... I'm glad you have a bazillion saws power feeders, and on and on... ok?... Good for you.
"Seriously, I can't imagine using a table saw exclusively for cross cutting"
For the umteenth time, I posted that it was an alternative to consider. That's it, period. You can't imagine it? Doesn't surprise me a bit.
You don't want to consider it? Fine... but knock of the little cheap shots that are only posted in an attempt to belittle me...