cheaperthantherapy

awesome!!!

I am astounded that anyone would have anything negative to say about a RAS! It was the first power tool in my shop and I would not be without one. It is amazing that such a large number of woodworking snobs think the RAS is not a good tool. Simply put, there are a variety of cuts one can make with a RAS that simply can not be made with any other saw. I think the only people who have a problem with the RAS are the ones who have never used one or never learned how to use one.
Rip cuts? What is the big problem with rip cuts? If you set up the saw correctly and use the correct blade you can make rip cuts all day long.
Saw jumping at you? This problem requires no more caution then guarding against kick back on a table saw. Furthermore Craftsman solved that problem with its powered head design years ago.
Another feature I like is the ability to put a Jacobs chuck on the other side of the motor which turns the saw into a great spindle sander.
No one has any problem with chop saws. Think of a RAS as a chop saw on steroids! An RAS does everything a chop saw does and then some.