When I first started ww(hobby) it seemed everyone had a RAS so I got one. The years went by and I use it less and less. Long story short- I need more room in my shop if I got rid of it would it be a mistake? Opinions please.
If everyone was a lot fatter, we would all be closer together!
Replies
I use mine fmainlky for the purpose of sizing rough lumber. it's much easier and safer than using the TS or a 7.25" skill saw for that purpose...I could use the miter saw, but why use a finish blade to cut rough material? I keep the miter saw for mitering.
I also use the table on the RAS when extra table-top room is needed... limited space is an issue for me too, but I can't see removing the RAS.
When I served my apprenticeship, there was a radial arm saw on every jobsite, and no one had a chop saw.
In this day, if the chop saw can't cut it, the skillsaw gets the call, and that runs up to about seven inches. Four bys get two cuts, six bys and eight bys get four cuts, and finished.
Past that, if it's rough I'm going to use a chainsaw anyway, and the skill and the chainsaw both have permanent places, and are much smaller than any decent radial arm saw.
I sold my radial arm saw ten years ago. At least. I was trained to use one, and with the possible exception of mounting an overhead router, there's nothing a radial can do that other tools (tools that you're going to keep and store, anyway) can't do, and in many cases do better.
I vote jettison, particularly if it's only a ten inch.
Edited 11/3/2009 6:20 am by Jammersix
well..a jobsite and a home shop are two very different things...and are equipt as differently as well.. as for cutting 4/4 sawmilled boards with a chainsaw... why? plus, no skil saw will cut a roughcut board as quick and accurate as a RAS.... just sayin;
Do you use it a lot?
If so, keep it.
If not, dump it.
Easy!
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
Tried sellin it twice on craigslist no takers (and mine was listed cheap with a Forrest blade0
I was married by a judge - I should have asked for a jury.
George Burns
I had one taking up real estate for many years. Every time I decided to sell it along would come a job that needed it. Then for 5 years, it just sat there. Tried to sell it at garage sales, lowering the price each time.
Along came the kijiji and craigs list, and again no luck. UNTIL....
I decided to list the carbide saw blade with the added bonus of a free radial arm saw.
Sold the next day.
less than a hunnerd bucks, but I got some extra space back.
Eric
Never sold anything.. I give it away to anybody that wants it.. You should apply for a job in Marketing! ;>)
I would say like any other tool.. No matter how little you use it... If you get rid of it, the next day you will really need it for something!
thanks to everyone, think i'll move it to shed for now- if i need it i'll still have it on hand.
MarvinThink of it as another useful horizontal surface.I started out with nothing...and I still have most of it left!
I don't quite understand why everyone loves table saws and holds disdain for the radial arm saw. I bought one 40 years ago and although I still use it extensively. Why anyone wants to cross cut on a table saw is beyond me, but each to his own I guess. I suppose everyone now just uses a compound miter saw to do that, but if you have one, why not use it.
Peter
I do have several was to crosscut, however I am running out of room, with this redundant capability the ras is the one that takes up most room. The one job the ras would seem to have is dadoes in shelving- being able to see where the dado is to be cut- face up vs face down on table saw, but then there is the router with a straight edge.If everyone was a lot fatter, we would all be closer together!
Some years ago Sears were offering a rebate for the motors of certain RAS to get round a safety recall /free modification.I don't know if it is ongoing .You don't mention the make of yours.
I know, I think, what I will do with the saw- but while we are on the topic just for fun is the RAS a thing of the past that has out lived its usefulness being replaced by better ways of doing what it does?If everyone was a lot fatter, we would all be closer together!
If it is a light weight diy type it is best destroyed.
Philip , Perhaps a new program " cash for DIY RASs "
It works with autos , hey maybe buy up all the old planes
d
Marvin,
My vote; sell. Unless it's one of the vintage type Phillip mentions. Those things are built!
I sold my RAS last week on craigslist (lucky!). I have lots more room in the shop. I set up a chop-saw, just a regular compound miter saw, where the RAS was. I hadn't used the RAS in a year, and today alone I used the chop-saw three times.
A tool I use is better than a tool I don't use for the same purpose.
Huh?
-jonnieboy
I bought my DeWalt RAS in 1964, my first new power tool. It's still in regular use and I love it. I've got eight foot benches on both sides of the saw, with storage below, so the saw really isn't taking up much space.
I've had one for over 30 years. I don't use mine much but it is really good for making dado cuts and half laps in long boards. I never use it for regular Xcuts anymore.
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