radial arm saw

When I bought mine the user manual had some tips on ripping and angle cutting.

There are a number of books on radial arm saw use. Try your library.

I never considered the saw safe for ripping.

I have used a radial arm saw for years. Now I use a cast iron table saw. In order to rip safely with a radial arm saw the boards have to be perfectly square and perpendicular with the blade. Crossing cutting 24" wide panel square may pose a challenge. Many user manuals are sold. Sears use to have a good one. Your second source is at Lee Valley. Check with your local library before buying any manuals.

Joe,

I don't want to burst your bubble, but from my own experience, I think you would have found a good tablesaw to be much more useful than a radial arm saw. And, in my opinion, much safer.

I have both saws and hardly ever use my radial arm saw. It's primary use in my shop is as a cut off saw, that is, cutting long pieces of wood into shorter lengths. This is something that can be done quite well with a good Skilsaw.

A tablesaw is much safer for ripping and many other operations. For one reason, much of the blade is always below the table, unlike the radial arm. Both saws have their place in a well-equipped shop, but if I could have only one saw, I'd choose a tablesaw three to one. In my shop, a good bandsaw would be safer and more useful than a radial arm.

If you ever decide to use your radial arm saw for ripping, be sure you are pushing the wood against the saw's rotation. Feed a board the wrong way and it can turn into a deadly projectile............or pull your hands into the blade.

Others may disagree, but this is based on my own experience.

Barry

Although it is about the Dewalt the book by Wally Kunkel How to Master the Radial Arm Saw is excellent and can be bought on line (you will have to do a bit of search to find the exact site where it is sold.) It is informative and although it is for the Dewalt the principles of setup (there is also a good book out there to set up the Craftsman to get a high level or repeatable accuracy) and use are the same. Take the time to make a new table like Wally suggests, you won't regret it in the long run.

Brian

Get the Sears manual - it is on the shelf there - and a plastic cover. Check the web site - might be better for things like that.

I have one - and the manual - shows basic and advanced in some cases. It also sells the right blades for the job. e.g. large gullet for ripping (takes out long stringers ) prevents clogging. I use a multi-cut gen purpose, a ply blade for thin stuff....

Get ye to the Sears web page.

Martin Martin Eastburn @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH, NRA Life NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

====>I bought a chop/cut-off saw and that works very nicely. I use a pair of roller top stands for longer stuff and no problem with it. Somewhat off the topic: Has anyone had experience with a laser cutting line projecter on this type of saw? Worth it??

Leif

Two books you need to read. Mr. Sawdust and Jon Eakes .

Note that the Jon Eakes book is available only as an ebook unless you luck out in a used book store.

Jon Eakes goes into great detail on how to set up the saw, with step by step instructions for setting up several brands including Craftsman. Mr. Sawdust goes through the _use_ of it. You really need to go through both of them.

Very, very versatile tool in the right hands, but you do need to pay attention to it to get the best results.