earlcram

I use my radial arm primarily to rough cut stock and as a precision cross cutting tool. Not too many miter saws will cross cut a 20 inch wide panel square. I can then dado the same panel from the top where I can see and control the cut. The tools accuracy and speed at cross cutting is the reason I have it.

Not enough combinations to choose from. I use the table saw to cut the shoulders; the bandsaw for the cheeks; and then clean it up and fit it with a shoulder plane. Its quick, extremely accurate, and I don't have to mess around with putting a dado blade on or setting up a jig or fixture.

With modern glues,it's a toss up. Drawers such as the one featured in the last issue are just as strong, even without dovetails. Machined dovetails, dependent on the jig manufacturer, can be junk and they don't look right anyway (unless you are reproducing a 19th or 20th century factory piece), so you might as well use dowels (pegs) or even wrought finish nails for that matter, it more traditional. That being said, it's all in the type of furniture you build. Most of mine is period and requires the use of handcut dovetails, so I'm going to wind up cutting them anyway. It was after all the finest of 18th technology.

I have had a Dewalt 10" benchtop (think it's a model 744) for over 10 years. I bought it because the size of my shop would not handle a full cabinet saw. The work I do is often precise and the accuracy of the rack and pinion fence superb. The saw has done everything that I asked of it, and I use it daily. I use a Ridge Carbide full size blade on it with an 1/8" kerf and unless I am ripping 2-3 inch thick hardwood like cherry or maple, it does not really even bog down. I use the saw mostly for ripping, doing most of my cross cutting on a radial arm. However, for some of the federal style inlay banding that I make, I cut some of the small pieces on that saw using a sled and it does a very precise job. I have had some issues with kickback while ripping that I solved with a removable splitter on a zero clearance insert and the dust collection on the saw is not the greatest. But I am very satisfied with the saw and will run it until it croaks. The only thing that may induce me to buy a new one is if Dewalt comes out with a riving knife for this saw and improves the dust collection.