Ripping with a RAS

[TDHofstetter]

I walk the fence - I don't think they're horrible, but on the other hand I'd rather use a table saw for most (precise) cuts. A radial arm saw (you haven't heard the story yet about the "radio alarm saw") can do a few things that simply cannot be done on a table saw, and can do certain things more comfortably. Ripping is neither of those things - a table saw is a much better tool for ripping in terms of precision & safety & quality of cut. They're similar, when the radial arm saw is set up for ripping, in that the blade and the fence are parallel to each other. The table saw, though, tries to pull the stock down through the table... while the RAS tries to lift it in the air - AWAY from the table. Nature of the beast.

The blade on the TS, too, is fixed in position while the RAS is built to swing... and the blade is attached to the motor is attached to the yoke is attached to the arm is attached to the column. Any flex (there will always be some) in any of those members or attachments results in the blade swinging radially around the base of the column... which means it drifts nearer the fence. That pinches the stock and risks a kickback.

No mistakin', I've ripped my share of lumber on the RAS - narrow and broad and thin and thick and long and short and big and small. Crosscut my truckloads, too. I'd rather rip any day on a table saw, and unless the stock is really long & ungainly I'd rather crosscut on a table saw. That's one place where a RAS really shines - lopping the end off a 16' 2x12. Takes an aux table or other support out to the side to hold the other end of the stock up in the air, but I just don't feel like performing that operation on any table saw.

I've still got a RAS in my shop, with a very good blade on it... but I only seldom use it these days. It mostly serves right now as a horizontal stuff-catching surface.

[Ruffnek]

May 9, 2010 8:20:48 GMT -6 RiverWalker said:

wow... I'm surprised.

I thought radial arm saws were better for most things than table saws.

I mean I get that for SHORT ripping it wouldn't be good, but somewhere along the line I picked up the idea that they were less prone to ripping kickbacks.

is this one of those things where there are rival camps, with one side thinking that the <whatever the object of discussion is> are the best thing since bread, and the other side thinks they are horrible?

The radial arm saw was made to be a multi-function tool, which it is. It can rip, crosscut, angle cut, dado, mold, sand, drill...sort of a pre-Shopsmith all-in-one tool.

But, when that many functions are available in a tool, especially a consumer-type, affordable tool, then accuracy suffers as does functionality.

The table saw was essentially built for one operaton... ripping... and it excels at that task. The RAS has never been as safe, accurate and reliable as a TS for ripping stock.

The most frequent discussions I see around the RAS aren't whether it is a better option than the TS but if it needs to be in the shop period. I got rid of mine about a year ago and haven't missed it a bit. All I used it for anyway was wide crosscuts and a circular saw does that beautifully, thank you.

[Mark]

Well RW, I'm on the other side of the fence. I still own a RAS, and respect it's volatility very much. I also curse it's inaccuracy for anything except a 90 degree cross-cut. Have had my share of kick-backs too. I still have it, primarily because I don't have room for a table saw AND something to make angled cuts with (insert whatever chop saw fits here). I've augmented the RAS with a ripping sled to make narrow rips safely, and a miter table, so that I can cut mitres without swinging the arm of the saw. But like Tim and Cody said, so many pivots, plus the carriage that rolls on a trolley along the arm, make for a very accuracy challenged machine.

My dream shop, would have a TS and a Sliding Compound Mitre Saw to provide the whole range of accuracy, capability, and safety.

Oh, and for the rest of ya, I still have all ten, which RAS are notorious for disposing of.

Mark

[deepsplinter]

I'm on Mark's side of the fence.

I've had a Craftsman RAS for over 30 years (it just won't die). That's all I had for about 20. I didn't do as much WWing then as I do now, but I've ripped, crosscut, dadoed, sanded, drilled, etc, etc....with no bloodshed. The only time it's used these days, is for rough crosscutting. If my TS petered out on me, I'd wouldn't hesitate to fine tune the RAS and use it ('til I got the TS fixed ).

IMO, they're just like all of the other tools in the shop...USE WITH CARE!!

[TDHofstetter]

May 10, 2010 5:46:05 GMT -6 deepsplinter said:

If my TS petered out on me, I'd wouldn't hesitate to fine tune the RAS and use it ('til I got the TS fixed ).

VERY GOOD POINT. A RAS does make an EXCELLENT backup machine - it'll stand in for about half the equipment in any shop, in a pinch. I've used mine for ripping, crosscutting, rabbets & dados & grooves, I've mounted a shaper head & made a lot of raised panels, I've mounted a drill chuck & bored a lot of horizontal holes, dang thing can even be coaxed to accept a small rotary planer head (done that, still got it somewhere) and a biscuit cutter (ain't). It can be used as a small drum sander. I've used mine for making coves (SCARY!!!) and cutting circles (not so scary).