Replies

1. 
   ToolDoc | Aug 08, 2003 04:19pm | #1

   Ridgid also makes a Radial arm saw, also orignal saw co. markets the Dewalt type Radial arm saw.. Your best bet is to look for a older model Dewalt or Delta Radial arm saw that is in good shape & snatch it up..check e bay there on there..

             ToolDoc

1. 
   photogo5 | Aug 08, 2003 05:15pm | #2

   Thanks. Yes, I have seen the Rigid brand at Home Depot. I'm not sold on it though. I really do like the Delta, but like I said, it seems they have very little compatition. I wish Jet or DeWalt still made one.  I guess price is my hang up. I do like quality first with my tools. Never have regreted paying for a quality tool. How do you think the craftsman stacks up? I have seen many out there with few complaints. I really do not like most craftsman tools though. Thanks again.

1. 
   ToolDoc | Aug 08, 2003 07:16pm | #3

   The Ridgid that you saw at HD is made by Ridgid/Emerson electric the same people who made Radial arm saws for sears/Craftsman for a bizillion years before Sears screwed em & they parted ways..<G>  sorry I don't have the Oringinal saw co address but maybe someone will jump in with it there making the Dewalts..  if I was you I would keep my eyes peeled for a good used Radial arm saw either a Dewalt or Delta even a older Craftsman in good shape would be the ticket.. althou the new Ridgids are ok there the same as the older Craftsmans IMHO..

   Good Luck..   ToolDoc

   Edit~ Forgot to mention the New Craftsman.. not sure whos making em for Sears might be Ryobi ~ IMHO there not as good as when Emerson Electric was mfg em..

   Edited 8/8/2003 12:18:22 PM ET by TOOLDOC

1. 
   SCFrankland | Aug 08, 2003 07:36pm | #5

   The link is below.

   http://www.originalsaw.com/Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

1. 
   ToolDoc | Aug 09, 2003 06:48am | #9

   Scott: Thanks for the link I have it bookmarked now, there a Great saw..

   ToolDoc

2. 
   photogo5 | Aug 09, 2003 04:41pm | #11

   Good morning and thanks to all who responded to my post. I agree with all that was said. I remember being at a farm auction a few years ago and as I drove up the road someone had just loaded a 14" DeWalt radial arm in his truck. I was thinking " if I was only a few minutes earlier!" I know I will not be happy with the cheap machines out there, so I will have to save for the right one.  Thanks and good day.

1. 
   Tac4 | Aug 09, 2003 09:23pm | #12

   Those Original Saws are great. There was one (a 12" model?) in the shop where I went to college right next to an old Dewalt. They were both top of the line saws. Minimal vibration, ample power and excellent repeatability. The spring loaded return on the Original was a little awkward at times, though a lot of the guys liked the added safety.  But honey, I can make money if I had just one more tool. Really.

2. 
   TKanzler | Aug 08, 2003 08:02pm | #7

   I don't disagree with anything TOOLDOC said, but I'd add that in my opinion, good RAS's start with the 12" Delta (and larger), and anything made by Original Saw Company (I believe they bought the drawings and rights to manufacturer from DeWalt).  And on that note, just about any old DeWalt with a 12" blade or larger is worthy (maybe some of the smaller ones, too).

   Many people dismiss RAS's as finicky, difficult to keep in tune, having poor repeatability once changed (like for miter cuts, then back to square), but it's a matter of design and execution, and not an inevitable result of the type of tool.  The 10" saws pumped out by the thousands by Emerson are really marketed to HO's, and are not industrial grade machines.  Once you've used a vintage DeWalt, vintage or current Delta (12" and up), or Orig. Saw Comp. machines, you'll see what I mean.  But then, they cost a lot of money.  That, unfortunately, is inevitable for a high quality machine with so many degrees of freedom, a long cantilevered track system, and all supported from a single post with a very long load path between the blade teeth and the fixed reference point (the steel base under the table).

   Nobody would condemn all table saws as a poor tool type based on bench saws alone, when high quality cabinet saws abound.  But then a well executed machine costs many times more than the inexpensive bench top saw.Be seeing you...

1. 
   ToolDoc | Aug 09, 2003 06:55am | #10

   TOM: You hit the nail on the Head with your statements the Old Dewalts & Deltas are oldies but goodies.. I grew up using my GrandFathers Dewalt as a matter of fact I still have it it can't be beat also have a Delta that I rescued from a dumpster, yes a local construction co was throwing it away because it need a tune up for a few bucks & some elbow grease I have a vintage Delta 12" RAS that I wouldn't part with forjust about any amount of bucks..I might add that the kind folks at Delta were very helpfull with providing not only parts but a complete manual & valuable help with gettin this Old warrior back in service..

     ToolDoc

2. 
   IMERC | Aug 08, 2003 07:35pm | #4

   The classified have carried older Craftsman for 100 to 125$. 10" and basic.

3. 
   MarkRoderick | Aug 08, 2003 07:48pm | #6

   To try to answer your question, people just don't use radial arm saws anymore (I do). They use a table saw for ripping and a sliding compound miter saw for crosscutting. The radial arm saw has just gone out of style.

4. 
   fdampier5 | Aug 09, 2003 06:09am | #8

   they have been replaced by sliding compound mitre saws, and based on the RAS that I owned,  thank God!  

     I cannot tell you how happy I am with my Dewalt SCMS

     I can set it for a 54.4 degree cut and a 31.7 degree mitre at the same time and when finished have it measure out exactly at those angles.. I can do that thru a 4x4 timber that is 18 feet long.. something that no table saw could ever do..  If I should error and need to cut a a 64th off the resulting shaving will be so thin as to leave a one sided sliver.. but it will repeat continusly..

5. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 11, 2003 05:03pm | #13

   I noticed that an Original 16" just went on ebay for $750 or so.  Wow!  Wish I ahd the room for one.

   Alan

1. 
   Manchild | Aug 14, 2003 07:06am | #15

   One thing you should look for is how long the cut is when at 90 deg.. It's the same for sliding saws now. A 10" blade is cheaper and can be more stable than a 12".

   Yet the 10" can crosscut wider boards if the slider allows it.

   The last thing you'd want with a 16" saw is to have to crosscut sheet goods in two passes. The same for crosscutting a dato.

6. 
   ETG | Aug 13, 2003 05:30pm | #14

   Be very careful when you buy older model radial arm saws.  Black & Decker bought DeWalt in the 60's and very quickly dropped the cast arms for the cheaper roll formed sheet steel arms on the smaller machines (10 and 12 inch).  Delta stayed with the cast arm for quite a while after that.  Craftsman has had roll formed arms long before DeWalt switched.  The cast arm is a much more duarable machine that absorbs shock much greater than the roll formed one.  Delta's current 10 inch machine is roll formed but their 12 inch and above are all cast.  Buy only a cast arm if you can afford it - and the old DeWalts prior to B&D buying them.   Also, check with Sears before buying old/discontinued models - they do not support many models with parts and you would be stuck with no support.

   B&D slowly ran DeWalt into the ground until the entire line was dropped in the late 70's.  The Dewalt today has absolutely no relationship to the Dewalt saw manufacturing operation; B&D is using the DeWalt name as a vehicle to downgrade their former B&D Industrial Tools into mid-level machines.  But be wary - the prices for today's DeWalts are higher than the quality, durability and construction merits - in other words, if you bought a DeWalt in the past 10 years, you've paid more than you should for the level machine you received.

7. 
   Telemike | Aug 14, 2003 07:58am | #16

   When you look at RSs, try to push the blade sideways, first one way, then the other.  That's why there are few RSs on the market.  Maybe the big expensive ones don't move 1/8" in either direction, but they don't cost under $1000 either!

   I wouldn't rip again on an RS for all the chip manufacturers in China!  Cross cut isn't so bad, just rough.  Now, I cross cut with a sliding table or sled on the TS or use the sliding compound mitre saw!