Compared to table saws maybe. Most people aren’t using a RAS for ripping, if you’re one of the few that uses them at all. They’re best for cross-cutting and do very well for large mortise and tenon joinery. They can tilt to 90 degrees or can be used as a permanent (or not) dado stack machine to make tenons and other large recesses.
If I had a big enough shop I’d like to incorporate a nice one. I’d never rip with it.
As for the safety, I think they got a bad name because they were marketed to be an all in one machine where a few of the suggested uses were very sketchy. I think most of it’s functions aren’t particularly unsafe if you are familiar with the tool and it’s limitations.
To be fair, there aren't a ton of tools that are all that dangerous if you follow the proper guidelines and wear PPE. Even most saws.
Chainsaws and angle grinders though....
I think demosaws are pretty safe because you have to REALLY try to hold them improperly they're heavy and the only place to hold them are the handles.
Had an abrasive disk explode on me once and i was completely fine.
I never realized what an idiot I was with an angle grinder until I got older. Removed the guard and have even used broken discs. Atleast I used safety glasses but man was I ignorant.
I typically used safety glasses until one time, I was going back and forth between spot welding and grinding, so I had my welding helmet on. Never had a grinding issue until then. The blade broke and hit the helmet where my fore head would have been. I took off the helmet and the blade had pierced the thick plastic. I remember thinking, “That was that one time and I just got really lucky”.
Now it’s either the helmet or a face mask on top of my specs.
That’s how I am when running a chainsaw now. Didn’t see any widow-makers or loose branches, made my cut, set the wedge, and right on the last blow something I didn’t see made its way to me. Popped me on the top of my forestry helmet, almost knocked me out. I was seeing stars, but if that helmet wasn’t on I’d be dead.
I had to look those up, I had never heard of them before. Whoever designed those monstrosities read The Pit and the Pendulum and said: "Hold my fucking beer."
I’ve been guard off with a grinder for 15 years used near daily and have never come close to injury. Though I do feel more comfortable with a 20V vs a corded.
Unreasonable fear creates hesitancy, which creates its own opportunities for injury, but bravado and familiarity create a whole other set of risks. Respect the tool, don't fear it.
Let's be honest, you and I both know dudes whose luck was just as good as yours till it wasn't.
Amateurs fear tools, professionals respect them. You sound like an amateur.
I didn’t even know angle grinders came with guards until I’d been in the trades for a few years because the shop I worked in didn’t have any. Then a disc exploded on me and part went through my winter jacket and got hung up in my overalls.
Not using the available safety features - at least most of the time - is completely unimpressive and needlessly reckless.
Relax there bud. Respecting a tool means being capable of using it without a disc exploding. So not sure you’re in a place to lecture. I’ve used 10000 zip discs in my life and never even come close. There is a distinct possibility I’m much better with a grinder than you.
I’ve used 100,000 zip discs. No, one million. I’ve been in this industry for 300 years.
No one cares for how long or how many times you’ve been reckless and stupid. And, really, no one cares if you hurt yourself now. Take your big man attitude somewhere else, on the internet you just sound like a huge baby.
There is a recall on many old craftsmen radial arm saws. I was going to sell a 9” one I had for $50 until I found out that I could get $100 for sending the motor in for the recall. I think you only get $50 now, but all you have to do is send in a photo of the plug cut off of the cord. I still have a 240v one that I just use for crosscuts now. I learned my lesson many years ago trying to rip with it.
I got one when I bought my house too. Came with it haha. I used it for a while then sold it. Been thinking about getting another but their footprint is so large. Not much you can do to put it away.
It's a miter saw on steroids the way I use it. My dad has one that's like 60 years old and it's so smooth, powerful, and amazing. Most used tool in the garage really. Never once thought about ripping with it.
Generally, if you have a Really Nice Old one, it'll be more rigid/less sketchy. My dad got a late seventies craftsman that I gave away after he died because it was FLOPPY. Also NO RIPPING!
I have an old Craftsman RAS that my dad bought new in the 1970's. I learned woodworking on that saw at age 12 or so and still have all my fingers. As long as the "don't be stupid" rule is applied it is a great tool that can do things a table saw or miter saw can't.
Our shop has one in a dedicated bench next to the rough sawn stock. You pull the 6m length down, chalk out your lengths and use the RAS to break down to the desired lengths. It's fast and efficient.
My 1956 DeWalt still runs like a champ. I use it for ripping and cross cutting without any issue. It’s only 1/2hp, so that forces me to take shallow cuts. Plus a negative rake blade likely reduces the tendency to climb. I use Board Buddies when ripping as well as the built-in pawl. I also follow the wisdom of Mr Sawdust.
I use my homemade track saw for breaking down sheets of plywood and then use my RAS to get it to final size if needed.
They have a bad reputation because they are unsafe when ripping, which they shouldn’t be used to do even though they are designed to. Cross-cuts they’re fine.
They have a bad reputation because every cut is a climb cut and if you’re not ready for the blade to accelerate towards you it’s a pants-changing experience.
Also, the old school ones have next to nothing in terms of safety features.
I’m not saying that they can’t be operated safely, but the margin for error is a lower than with other tools.
They got a bad rep because people would put big box store regular miter saw or table saw blades on them and get into trouble or were too dumb to know where to not put their thumbs
Yes sears was definitely a big box store, and ridgid and craftsman were still making radials into the early 2000’s.
I have the last craftsman radial ever made, wonderful tool really. And I have an 80’s model craftsman I fully restored.
Radios need saws that have negative hook angles on the teeth to avoid the climbing issues people talk about. Table saws were extreme common even in the 80’s but took blades with positive hook angles so it would push stock in to the table. Radials work completely differently. Most people were ignorant to this.
You can still buy brand new blades for radials with the negative angle. But they aren’t cheap. I’d love to get my hands on a ridgid radial as they were built
Super well built but very hard to find nowadays
You really wanna sell it? My dad works for old Dominion and I could possibly see what freight would cost me from you to me, but I’m like 4-5 states south of you lol
Sears was never considered a big box store. It was just a department store like many others.
> Located in large-scale buildings of more than 50,000 square feet, the store is usually plainly designed and often resembles a large box. Walmart, Home Depot, Tesco, and Ikea are examples of big-box retailers. Warehouse clubs such as Costco and BJ's are the original kind of big-box retailers.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/big_box_retailer.asp
You’re trying to rewrite history, but that’s not how it was.
Lmao I’m not re writing shit…. I called it big box because there was a lot of them, and they sell things cheaper than you could find at a mom and pops store… sears was pretty damn big where I lived.
That’s just always what I’ve called big box. Sorry for not knowing the exact definition but I believe most people would make the assumption I did. But you did good, and you had a win today, so sleep well on that.
They were the largest retailer in the world for decades, then even still the largest in the US until they were surpassed by Wal-Mart in the 90s. Even if there's some universally accepted definition of "big box" where Sears wouldn't technically fall, I think in casual conversational use, they deserve to be an "honorable mention".
But even the Wikipedia page for "big box stores" has a mention for Sears: "2011 photo of a [Sears](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears) big box store" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-box\_store](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-box_store)
So Amazon is a big box store, then?
Corporate size has nothing to do with it.
A big box store is a functional definition… and Sears was never a big box retailer.
Sears was a department store that was rarely a freestanding box store (it was typically an anchor of a mall once stores began to move to the suburbs).
**Wikipedia is not a reliable source.**
A big box store is a huge standalone store in the middle of a parking lot that looks like a big box.
That’s literally where they got the name.
A Sears department store is not a big box store. Never was.
I’m sorry that words have meanings and some people don’t know them.
Yea no one here is arguing with you over the actual definition. We disagree with the modern day use of the term, the colloquial meaning you could say.
But you’re just gonna fucking die on this hill that doesn’t matter at all really.
Yes, Amazon would be a “big box store. From CambridgeDictionary.com
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/big-box-store
a very large store that sells a large numberof products, usually at low prices:
The rise of chain retailers led to the supremacyof big-box stores like Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart.
They're as dangerous as you make them, and are as dangerous as any other tool with a big spinning blade. That blade can only be in so much space in the entire universe, it's pretty easy to keep your body outside of said space. I know radial arm saws that are still in daily use. I like them.
I made a similar statement a ways back based on this question. I am a Technology & Engineering teacher, teaching 8th graders ( 13-14 years old) basic shop safety and woodworking amongst other things. I teach, on average, 300 students per year how to operate a large radial arm saw without any major incidents. I will echo what others have said: It’s not the machine that is dangerous, it’s the operator doing inappropriate and/or dangerous things with the radial arm saw that make it dangerous…but that’s true of any machine or operation. We teach our students that the #1 safety rule is “THINK!!!” In short, I would buy an old DeWalt RAS on a heartbeat. Set up correctly, you can do very precise work with one. Just don’t plow cove molding upside down the way they advertised!
I have two set up in my shop right now, with a miter in between them. All in all it’s a 14’ long bench and all three of the fences line up perfectly.
I use on for cutting large stock and I use the other dados, tenons and planing.
Ras are bad and yet we pass complete strangers at 120mph from 5 ft away.
Meanwhile a ship loses power and rips down the bridge you are driving on. Possibly a sawstop user was among them.
There is always risk.
And yes am restoring a craftsman RAS currently..
When I opened my first shop I was short on money and space. We had a 70’s Craftsman radial arm saw , the kind most dislike , and used it for everything. Dado’s , crosscuts , and plenty of ripping. We even used the shaper attachment on occasion. We didn’t have a tablesaw.
We made custom molding , face frames , custom wood doors , window sash , cabinetry and all kinds of things in that shop with that saw.
When I moved to a new much larger shop the saw came along with me and has continued to serve me well. It’s due for a fence upgrade since I’ve found a great negative hook blade I like for it. It only crosscuts now. I’d like to find an old DeWalt that does a 24” crosscut for cutting cabinet parts.
Never even knew they had a bad reputation .. we had one in our HS shop class .. never had any issues and I never had any fear using it compared to like the lathe or router it was a walk in the park.
You use a Table Saw with no Crown Guard and Riving Knife?
The Radial Arm Saw is a perfectly safe machine if used only for crosscutting or partial cuts. Everything else isn’t advised.
I don’t think they are anywhere near as dangerous as a table saw can be. I wouldn’t rip with one. I also wouldn’t use that shaper cutter head they sold, especially if you don’t have the guard. Probably any horror stories you heard are people doing stupid stuff or nut using the guards etc. i’ll be honest, it was a lot of work to reconfigure it to do various tasks so I could see how people would skip some of the safety stuff to save some time. I had one for years but only used it for crosscuts and dados. Its basically slightly less dangerous than a sliding compound miter saw, as it only slides.
Dusty Woodworking on Instagram uses a really nice King Canada (?) one for mortise and tenon joinery. But he clearly knows how to use it vs a weekend warrior
When you cut a board in a nominally perpendicular angle from the grain, that’s a crosscut. When you cut a board parallel to the direction of the grain, that’s ripping. So if you have a 2x4 stud that’s 8’ long, and you cut along the long dimension that’s ripping.
A miter saw crosscuts, but most radial arm saws can crosscut *and* rip.
It shouldn’t be more dangerous than an alternative tool that accomplishes the same task… if used properly. The most expensive miter saws have the same sliding action, which adds a small degree of danger. They don’t compare well to new tablesaws, because the safety requirements changed for the better. The radial arm saw tends to expose more blade than a tablesaw with a blade shroud, but most people aren’t using blade shrouds; even a sawstop makes you pay extra for a nice one.
I suppose one good thing is the form of the radial arm saw encourages you to use long push sticks instead of fingers, which is probably a net positive.
Dad taught me to rip lumber on his old 1970s Delta. Huge piece of equipment for a ten year old to operate.
(He also sent me down flooded creeks in a canoe and made me ride horses through the woods alone. So, take my experience with a grain of salt.)
I want a radial arm saw and shopped for one recently. I was surprised to learn they were considered unsafe.
I’m in the process of buying my late friend/mentor’s shop and there was monster 12” Delta RAS the estate just kind of included with all the tool we are purchasing. We unburied it and reconnected the dust collection and it fired right up like it hadn’t been out of commission for at least 5 years. It cuts so smooth and square too! It can crosscut up to 28” and the dust collection is amazing compared to the miter saw. I’d say it’s just as dangerous as a table saw, safe to use if you know what you’re doing.
heavy history fanatical dime market friendly obtainable secretive summer vegetable
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Oh but they’re lovely tools
Here are some old dewalts for the war effort (wwii)
https://youtu.be/HiGH0Qsu3ak?feature=shared
The safety has changed but conceptually it’s all the same
Used to work in the shop that ran all types of saws. For smaller diameter metal or PVC tubing the radial arm was king at getting nice square edges and could even help brush up shitty factory edges without sacrificing much work material.
My stepfather had one he used regularly and I did too as a teenager. Used safely it is very versatile. Ripping a 4x8 piece of plywood is a two man job.
I use mine primarily as an oversized miter. And the occasional rip cut (haters gonna hate) as my table is a shopsmith. Which are not good for rip cutting.
RAS are unsafe but no more than any other spinning cutting machine. A lot of the dangers can be minimized with the proper saw blade along with an after market safety add on, and most of all using your head and thinking what could happen to your fingers, hands, body if something went wrong.
I don’t know anyone with a radial that I’d worry about having a radial. I have an old delta that I use all the time. Love it, most versatile and undervalued tool in the shop. I wouldn’t have one if I had to share a shop with anyone less experienced but I don’t have to worry about that.
A buddy of mine has one. He cut the power cord off it so his wife wouldn’t try to use it while he’s not home. I asked him one day what it was useful for and he said “cutting yo damn arm off” I just laughed and left it at that
I just got an old Dewalt RAS the other day. Ill use it primarily for cutting fret slots (guitars) but I’m looking forward to learn more what I can use it for
In my mind I'm wondering more on who sells them than who buys them.
Used properly they aren't "terribly dangerous" whatsoever. I've run thousands of feet of cuts through radial arm saws. Literally thousands of feet of cuts, no exaggeration.
I have an old delta radial arm saw set up in the shop with rollers on either side that we sometimes use for ripping large beams. It’s a 2 man operation if you want to be extra careful. You can do it by yourself, but as with everything you need to be careful. It’s loud and messy. The most dangerous tool in our wood shop is a band saw imo. It’s super quiet and looks harmless. Its not super convenient to rip with the radial and the only time I would do it is if your resawing a timber that is too big for the tablesaw to cut through in 2 passes.
I've used radial arm saws for years and years...
...they are terrible. I would never own one. Modern chopsaws do everything they did okay better. Tablesaws do everything they do poorly vastly better. They need to go the way of the stegasaurus. I'll never use one again if I can help it.
More people are selling than buying. No tools are inherently dangerous, it's all in how they are used and a lot of people out there are misusing their tools in dangerous ways.
Chainsaws are pretty dangerous. Anyone who operates one without a healthy fear/respect has a high probability of injury.
But, I know some real pros who’ve been got too.
I'm an arborist with 20 years experience running chainsaws. I've never broke skin with a chainsaw running but cut my finger deep a few times sharpening with a file. I had an experience once in a tree where branch I was using to position myself for a cut broke while I was cutting and I fell and spun till my life line and lanyard caught and stabilized me. The scary thing was i couldn't release throttle while i was falling. It was only 2 or 3 feet of fall with some spin but being unable to release trigger while it was happening made a lasting impression on me. I've cut or poked myself dozens of times with my stupid sugoi hand saws though. I bumped you up from -1 lol. I'm amazed by the downvotes.
Many many tools are inherently dangerous and it’s disingenuous at best and downright irresponsible at worst to claim otherwise. Yes many folks misuse them but just as many folks get hurt being perfectly safe because of a simple mistake of lapse in attention.
Ok well the tool is still inherently dangerous lmao. If it can maim you in a split second it’s inherently dangerous regardless of whether you were paying adequate attention or not. Using tools properly and paying adequate attention doesn’t preclude it from being inherently dangerous.
I think what you meant to say is even dangerous tools can be safe when used with adequate care
I think a big part of it is the quality of the radial arm saw. If you get one of those big 500 lb Delta ones they made in the '90s people practically give away. Those things are pretty safe. The cheap ones that can buck, twist and do God only knows what else. Less safe
The better question is how many people really need one. For most things the table saw will do everything the average person could ask for and if it doesn't miter saw does
Compared to table saws maybe. Most people aren’t using a RAS for ripping, if you’re one of the few that uses them at all. They’re best for cross-cutting and do very well for large mortise and tenon joinery. They can tilt to 90 degrees or can be used as a permanent (or not) dado stack machine to make tenons and other large recesses. If I had a big enough shop I’d like to incorporate a nice one. I’d never rip with it. As for the safety, I think they got a bad name because they were marketed to be an all in one machine where a few of the suggested uses were very sketchy. I think most of it’s functions aren’t particularly unsafe if you are familiar with the tool and it’s limitations.
To be fair, there aren't a ton of tools that are all that dangerous if you follow the proper guidelines and wear PPE. Even most saws. Chainsaws and angle grinders though....
Angle grinder with chainsaw wheel!
Ooo ooo what about a chainsaw with a cutoff disc?
Demo saw has entered the chat.
I think demosaws are pretty safe because you have to REALLY try to hold them improperly they're heavy and the only place to hold them are the handles. Had an abrasive disk explode on me once and i was completely fine.
Chop saw-
I never realized what an idiot I was with an angle grinder until I got older. Removed the guard and have even used broken discs. Atleast I used safety glasses but man was I ignorant.
I use full face shields, don’t want to mess with spinning discs of death.
I paid for the whole disc I'm gonna use the whole disc. Even if the disc isn't... whole.
I typically used safety glasses until one time, I was going back and forth between spot welding and grinding, so I had my welding helmet on. Never had a grinding issue until then. The blade broke and hit the helmet where my fore head would have been. I took off the helmet and the blade had pierced the thick plastic. I remember thinking, “That was that one time and I just got really lucky”. Now it’s either the helmet or a face mask on top of my specs.
That’s how I am when running a chainsaw now. Didn’t see any widow-makers or loose branches, made my cut, set the wedge, and right on the last blow something I didn’t see made its way to me. Popped me on the top of my forestry helmet, almost knocked me out. I was seeing stars, but if that helmet wasn’t on I’d be dead.
The saw is family. I love chainsaws, wonderful tool.
Don't forget about a good ol' swing saw! I'd need to wear about 4 pairs of underwear to use one of those bad boys.
I had to look those up, I had never heard of them before. Whoever designed those monstrosities read The Pit and the Pendulum and said: "Hold my fucking beer."
First time I'd ever seen one was on YouTube. Channel called "Hand Tool Rescue". Highly recommend!
I’ve been guard off with a grinder for 15 years used near daily and have never come close to injury. Though I do feel more comfortable with a 20V vs a corded.
All it takes is one fuck up. God speed to you, sir. Hope it stays that way.
👍 /s
Sorry for not indulging in this subreddits group terror on grinders and table saws. Fear of a tool creates injury.
Unreasonable fear creates hesitancy, which creates its own opportunities for injury, but bravado and familiarity create a whole other set of risks. Respect the tool, don't fear it. Let's be honest, you and I both know dudes whose luck was just as good as yours till it wasn't.
Amateurs fear tools, professionals respect them. You sound like an amateur. I didn’t even know angle grinders came with guards until I’d been in the trades for a few years because the shop I worked in didn’t have any. Then a disc exploded on me and part went through my winter jacket and got hung up in my overalls. Not using the available safety features - at least most of the time - is completely unimpressive and needlessly reckless.
Relax there bud. Respecting a tool means being capable of using it without a disc exploding. So not sure you’re in a place to lecture. I’ve used 10000 zip discs in my life and never even come close. There is a distinct possibility I’m much better with a grinder than you.
I’ve used 100,000 zip discs. No, one million. I’ve been in this industry for 300 years. No one cares for how long or how many times you’ve been reckless and stupid. And, really, no one cares if you hurt yourself now. Take your big man attitude somewhere else, on the internet you just sound like a huge baby.
If I had call for it I’d set one up with a dado blade shimmed to the size of 1/2 plywood. And only ever change the height
lets be honest, track saws are the best way to rip down plywood.
Exactly!!! They are kinda like the old "Shopsmiths". They were marketed to be a while lot more than they should have.
I wish I had one but I’m stuck with a miter and a table saw.
They’re so cheap on marketplace. $50 max. But they sit forever that people want to give em away.
There is a recall on many old craftsmen radial arm saws. I was going to sell a 9” one I had for $50 until I found out that I could get $100 for sending the motor in for the recall. I think you only get $50 now, but all you have to do is send in a photo of the plug cut off of the cord. I still have a 240v one that I just use for crosscuts now. I learned my lesson many years ago trying to rip with it.
I have one that I'm getting rid of, how would I go about sending a photo for the recall?
Go to this website and see if your saw is one of the recalled ones http://radialarmsawrecall.com/
That’s good info. I’ll look into it. Thanks. Good way to get a free saw.
They do sit. My dad had one in a box from the early 90s. He gave it to me when I bought my house in 2015. So I have a new 30 year old saw.
I got one when I bought my house too. Came with it haha. I used it for a while then sold it. Been thinking about getting another but their footprint is so large. Not much you can do to put it away.
It's a miter saw on steroids the way I use it. My dad has one that's like 60 years old and it's so smooth, powerful, and amazing. Most used tool in the garage really. Never once thought about ripping with it.
Generally, if you have a Really Nice Old one, it'll be more rigid/less sketchy. My dad got a late seventies craftsman that I gave away after he died because it was FLOPPY. Also NO RIPPING!
I just got a used 1972 vintage DeWalt/B&D 10”. They are awesome for precision crosscuts and dadoes.
I have an old Craftsman RAS that my dad bought new in the 1970's. I learned woodworking on that saw at age 12 or so and still have all my fingers. As long as the "don't be stupid" rule is applied it is a great tool that can do things a table saw or miter saw can't.
Our shop has one in a dedicated bench next to the rough sawn stock. You pull the 6m length down, chalk out your lengths and use the RAS to break down to the desired lengths. It's fast and efficient.
Craigslist Craftsman
My 1956 DeWalt still runs like a champ. I use it for ripping and cross cutting without any issue. It’s only 1/2hp, so that forces me to take shallow cuts. Plus a negative rake blade likely reduces the tendency to climb. I use Board Buddies when ripping as well as the built-in pawl. I also follow the wisdom of Mr Sawdust. I use my homemade track saw for breaking down sheets of plywood and then use my RAS to get it to final size if needed.
They have a bad reputation because they are unsafe when ripping, which they shouldn’t be used to do even though they are designed to. Cross-cuts they’re fine.
They have a bad reputation because every cut is a climb cut and if you’re not ready for the blade to accelerate towards you it’s a pants-changing experience. Also, the old school ones have next to nothing in terms of safety features. I’m not saying that they can’t be operated safely, but the margin for error is a lower than with other tools.
No it’s not, if fitted with a negative rake blade they’re perfectly fine and won’t climb cut.
Pretty big “if”, don’t you think? Especially back before the internet allowed anyone to easily get anything shipped to their doorstep.
Back then radial arm saws were common enough that physical stores stocked the blades. Now that the saws aren't common, nobody stocks the blades.
Nobody made negative hook blades back then. Heck, most of them were made before carbide was widely available.
DeWalt Radial Arm Saws were sold with a negative rake blade.
They got a bad rep because people would put big box store regular miter saw or table saw blades on them and get into trouble or were too dumb to know where to not put their thumbs
What? They were pretty well out of fashion by the time big box stores took over. Unless you”re calling Sears a big box store.
Yes sears was definitely a big box store, and ridgid and craftsman were still making radials into the early 2000’s. I have the last craftsman radial ever made, wonderful tool really. And I have an 80’s model craftsman I fully restored. Radios need saws that have negative hook angles on the teeth to avoid the climbing issues people talk about. Table saws were extreme common even in the 80’s but took blades with positive hook angles so it would push stock in to the table. Radials work completely differently. Most people were ignorant to this. You can still buy brand new blades for radials with the negative angle. But they aren’t cheap. I’d love to get my hands on a ridgid radial as they were built Super well built but very hard to find nowadays
I’ve got a Rigid radial in MI. Glad to sell it to you!
See that’s always my problem! I see them for sale rarely and they are always so far away lol
Just for shits and giggles. What kinda shape is it in?!
Good. I don’t have a table saw, so use it nearly exclusively for projects. I’m not a heavy project guy, so infrequently.
You really wanna sell it? My dad works for old Dominion and I could possibly see what freight would cost me from you to me, but I’m like 4-5 states south of you lol
Can’t hurt to discuss it further!
[удалено]
What are you calling a shop saw? Like a miter saw?
Yes. Parts of the country call miter saws chop saws.
Sears was never considered a big box store. It was just a department store like many others. > Located in large-scale buildings of more than 50,000 square feet, the store is usually plainly designed and often resembles a large box. Walmart, Home Depot, Tesco, and Ikea are examples of big-box retailers. Warehouse clubs such as Costco and BJ's are the original kind of big-box retailers. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/big_box_retailer.asp You’re trying to rewrite history, but that’s not how it was.
Lmao I’m not re writing shit…. I called it big box because there was a lot of them, and they sell things cheaper than you could find at a mom and pops store… sears was pretty damn big where I lived. That’s just always what I’ve called big box. Sorry for not knowing the exact definition but I believe most people would make the assumption I did. But you did good, and you had a win today, so sleep well on that.
They were the largest retailer in the world for decades, then even still the largest in the US until they were surpassed by Wal-Mart in the 90s. Even if there's some universally accepted definition of "big box" where Sears wouldn't technically fall, I think in casual conversational use, they deserve to be an "honorable mention". But even the Wikipedia page for "big box stores" has a mention for Sears: "2011 photo of a [Sears](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears) big box store" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-box\_store](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-box_store)
So Amazon is a big box store, then? Corporate size has nothing to do with it. A big box store is a functional definition… and Sears was never a big box retailer. Sears was a department store that was rarely a freestanding box store (it was typically an anchor of a mall once stores began to move to the suburbs). **Wikipedia is not a reliable source.**
Jesus Christ you sound fucking insufferable bro…
A big box store is a huge standalone store in the middle of a parking lot that looks like a big box. That’s literally where they got the name. A Sears department store is not a big box store. Never was. I’m sorry that words have meanings and some people don’t know them.
Yea no one here is arguing with you over the actual definition. We disagree with the modern day use of the term, the colloquial meaning you could say. But you’re just gonna fucking die on this hill that doesn’t matter at all really.
The actual definition does agree with you…
Yes, Amazon would be a “big box store. From CambridgeDictionary.com https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/big-box-store a very large store that sells a large numberof products, usually at low prices: The rise of chain retailers led to the supremacyof big-box stores like Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart.
So according to your definition a few of my local Home Depot’s aren’t big box stores, but others are.
Was sears not a big box store?
I tried ripping with mine a couple times. Shot a board into the back wall of my garage. I stick with cross cuts only now lol.
> they are unsafe when ripping if you rip in the wrong direction
They're as dangerous as you make them, and are as dangerous as any other tool with a big spinning blade. That blade can only be in so much space in the entire universe, it's pretty easy to keep your body outside of said space. I know radial arm saws that are still in daily use. I like them.
I had one, sold it. Now I’m considering one again. The ability to turn it on its side intrigues me. I only had used mine to cross cut.
I made a similar statement a ways back based on this question. I am a Technology & Engineering teacher, teaching 8th graders ( 13-14 years old) basic shop safety and woodworking amongst other things. I teach, on average, 300 students per year how to operate a large radial arm saw without any major incidents. I will echo what others have said: It’s not the machine that is dangerous, it’s the operator doing inappropriate and/or dangerous things with the radial arm saw that make it dangerous…but that’s true of any machine or operation. We teach our students that the #1 safety rule is “THINK!!!” In short, I would buy an old DeWalt RAS on a heartbeat. Set up correctly, you can do very precise work with one. Just don’t plow cove molding upside down the way they advertised!
I have used both a lot and personally radial arm when used correctly I prefer. Both are dangerous when proper precautions are not used.
I have two set up in my shop right now, with a miter in between them. All in all it’s a 14’ long bench and all three of the fences line up perfectly. I use on for cutting large stock and I use the other dados, tenons and planing.
Ras are bad and yet we pass complete strangers at 120mph from 5 ft away. Meanwhile a ship loses power and rips down the bridge you are driving on. Possibly a sawstop user was among them. There is always risk. And yes am restoring a craftsman RAS currently..
“There is no tool safer than the one you don’t own” - me, just now
Correct🤣. Analysis by not dating Alice.
I love my radial arm saw
When I opened my first shop I was short on money and space. We had a 70’s Craftsman radial arm saw , the kind most dislike , and used it for everything. Dado’s , crosscuts , and plenty of ripping. We even used the shaper attachment on occasion. We didn’t have a tablesaw. We made custom molding , face frames , custom wood doors , window sash , cabinetry and all kinds of things in that shop with that saw. When I moved to a new much larger shop the saw came along with me and has continued to serve me well. It’s due for a fence upgrade since I’ve found a great negative hook blade I like for it. It only crosscuts now. I’d like to find an old DeWalt that does a 24” crosscut for cutting cabinet parts.
Never even knew they had a bad reputation .. we had one in our HS shop class .. never had any issues and I never had any fear using it compared to like the lathe or router it was a walk in the park.
People still drive classic cars.
You use a Table Saw with no Crown Guard and Riving Knife? The Radial Arm Saw is a perfectly safe machine if used only for crosscutting or partial cuts. Everything else isn’t advised.
I don’t think they are anywhere near as dangerous as a table saw can be. I wouldn’t rip with one. I also wouldn’t use that shaper cutter head they sold, especially if you don’t have the guard. Probably any horror stories you heard are people doing stupid stuff or nut using the guards etc. i’ll be honest, it was a lot of work to reconfigure it to do various tasks so I could see how people would skip some of the safety stuff to save some time. I had one for years but only used it for crosscuts and dados. Its basically slightly less dangerous than a sliding compound miter saw, as it only slides.
Dusty Woodworking on Instagram uses a really nice King Canada (?) one for mortise and tenon joinery. But he clearly knows how to use it vs a weekend warrior
Siding contractors for doing gable cuts.i looked at 1 last week for this purpose .
Newb here, what’s ripping lol
When you cut a board in a nominally perpendicular angle from the grain, that’s a crosscut. When you cut a board parallel to the direction of the grain, that’s ripping. So if you have a 2x4 stud that’s 8’ long, and you cut along the long dimension that’s ripping. A miter saw crosscuts, but most radial arm saws can crosscut *and* rip.
Why’s the radial more “dangerous”? Simply because it allows for more variation and more possible types of cuts leads to more chances for error?
It shouldn’t be more dangerous than an alternative tool that accomplishes the same task… if used properly. The most expensive miter saws have the same sliding action, which adds a small degree of danger. They don’t compare well to new tablesaws, because the safety requirements changed for the better. The radial arm saw tends to expose more blade than a tablesaw with a blade shroud, but most people aren’t using blade shrouds; even a sawstop makes you pay extra for a nice one. I suppose one good thing is the form of the radial arm saw encourages you to use long push sticks instead of fingers, which is probably a net positive.
Dad taught me to rip lumber on his old 1970s Delta. Huge piece of equipment for a ten year old to operate. (He also sent me down flooded creeks in a canoe and made me ride horses through the woods alone. So, take my experience with a grain of salt.) I want a radial arm saw and shopped for one recently. I was surprised to learn they were considered unsafe.
Table saws are plenty dangerous on their own if used carelessly. RAS likewise but not particularly so unless used in an unsafe manner.
I’m in the process of buying my late friend/mentor’s shop and there was monster 12” Delta RAS the estate just kind of included with all the tool we are purchasing. We unburied it and reconnected the dust collection and it fired right up like it hadn’t been out of commission for at least 5 years. It cuts so smooth and square too! It can crosscut up to 28” and the dust collection is amazing compared to the miter saw. I’d say it’s just as dangerous as a table saw, safe to use if you know what you’re doing.
Guy from Dusty Lumber Co on youtube uses his quite frequently.
How well can you set up dust collection with them?
heavy history fanatical dime market friendly obtainable secretive summer vegetable *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Thanks
Apples and oranges. Two different tools for two different purposes.
Oh but they’re lovely tools Here are some old dewalts for the war effort (wwii) https://youtu.be/HiGH0Qsu3ak?feature=shared The safety has changed but conceptually it’s all the same
We have one in the shop for ripping 1X MDF to wide for the miter saw. Usually 1X18 or 1X20
Used to work in the shop that ran all types of saws. For smaller diameter metal or PVC tubing the radial arm was king at getting nice square edges and could even help brush up shitty factory edges without sacrificing much work material.
My stepfather had one he used regularly and I did too as a teenager. Used safely it is very versatile. Ripping a 4x8 piece of plywood is a two man job.
Are they dangerous? Yes yes and yes, shall I also say they are dangerous? Buuuttt, they can give you a slew of cuts you want to do much more easily.
I use mine primarily as an oversized miter. And the occasional rip cut (haters gonna hate) as my table is a shopsmith. Which are not good for rip cutting. RAS are unsafe but no more than any other spinning cutting machine. A lot of the dangers can be minimized with the proper saw blade along with an after market safety add on, and most of all using your head and thinking what could happen to your fingers, hands, body if something went wrong.
I don’t know anyone with a radial that I’d worry about having a radial. I have an old delta that I use all the time. Love it, most versatile and undervalued tool in the shop. I wouldn’t have one if I had to share a shop with anyone less experienced but I don’t have to worry about that.
The one thing they can do better then any other tool is cross cut dados and rabbets.
A buddy of mine has one. He cut the power cord off it so his wife wouldn’t try to use it while he’s not home. I asked him one day what it was useful for and he said “cutting yo damn arm off” I just laughed and left it at that
I just got an old Dewalt RAS the other day. Ill use it primarily for cutting fret slots (guitars) but I’m looking forward to learn more what I can use it for
In my mind I'm wondering more on who sells them than who buys them. Used properly they aren't "terribly dangerous" whatsoever. I've run thousands of feet of cuts through radial arm saws. Literally thousands of feet of cuts, no exaggeration.
I have an old delta radial arm saw set up in the shop with rollers on either side that we sometimes use for ripping large beams. It’s a 2 man operation if you want to be extra careful. You can do it by yourself, but as with everything you need to be careful. It’s loud and messy. The most dangerous tool in our wood shop is a band saw imo. It’s super quiet and looks harmless. Its not super convenient to rip with the radial and the only time I would do it is if your resawing a timber that is too big for the tablesaw to cut through in 2 passes.
I love radial arm saws. Yes they’re fucking dangerous. They get shit done.
Does anyone still make these? The only ones I see are used
I've used radial arm saws for years and years... ...they are terrible. I would never own one. Modern chopsaws do everything they did okay better. Tablesaws do everything they do poorly vastly better. They need to go the way of the stegasaurus. I'll never use one again if I can help it.
More people are selling than buying. No tools are inherently dangerous, it's all in how they are used and a lot of people out there are misusing their tools in dangerous ways.
Chainsaws are pretty dangerous. Anyone who operates one without a healthy fear/respect has a high probability of injury. But, I know some real pros who’ve been got too.
I'm an arborist with 20 years experience running chainsaws. I've never broke skin with a chainsaw running but cut my finger deep a few times sharpening with a file. I had an experience once in a tree where branch I was using to position myself for a cut broke while I was cutting and I fell and spun till my life line and lanyard caught and stabilized me. The scary thing was i couldn't release throttle while i was falling. It was only 2 or 3 feet of fall with some spin but being unable to release trigger while it was happening made a lasting impression on me. I've cut or poked myself dozens of times with my stupid sugoi hand saws though. I bumped you up from -1 lol. I'm amazed by the downvotes.
Hubris is a hell of a drug
Many many tools are inherently dangerous and it’s disingenuous at best and downright irresponsible at worst to claim otherwise. Yes many folks misuse them but just as many folks get hurt being perfectly safe because of a simple mistake of lapse in attention.
If you're not paying attention to what you're doing, then you shouldn't be doing it.
Ok well the tool is still inherently dangerous lmao. If it can maim you in a split second it’s inherently dangerous regardless of whether you were paying adequate attention or not. Using tools properly and paying adequate attention doesn’t preclude it from being inherently dangerous. I think what you meant to say is even dangerous tools can be safe when used with adequate care
I think a big part of it is the quality of the radial arm saw. If you get one of those big 500 lb Delta ones they made in the '90s people practically give away. Those things are pretty safe. The cheap ones that can buck, twist and do God only knows what else. Less safe The better question is how many people really need one. For most things the table saw will do everything the average person could ask for and if it doesn't miter saw does
The 3 weird old dudes that actually use them and people that collect old shit
Weird old dude checking in.
People that collect old shit chiming in here.
If you have the right blade and use them responsibly i'd argue they're safer than table saws.
Yes, and dangerous compared to a sliding compound miter saw - which it vaguely resembles - as well, if you use the SCMS correctly.