There was a time in America, not so very long ago, when every well-equipped home and professional workshop had a radial arm saw. Before I converted my workshop into the international headquarters of Planet Whizbang I had a radial arm saw exactly like the one shown in the picture above. It's a craftsman 10 inch. Craftsman probably made 1 million of these, if not more.
The saw in the piucture was at a local antique store. You'll note that it was marked down from $75 to $25. I would be surprised if anyone bought it for the $25 price. You can't even give them away for nothing these days! It's a crying shame if you ask me.
My radial arm saw was the second most used stationary tool in the shop, after the table saw. It was a versatile tool. I used it mostly for simple cross cutting, but the large table allowed me to set up stops and jigs to make repeated angle cuts. And I used it often to make dado cuts.
Yes, I realize all of those things can be done on a table saw with a crosscut sled. I’ve made YouTube videos showing my BIG old crosscut sled, which is an indispensable accessory. But there is one cutting operation that the radial arm saw is uniquely equipped for…
That picture shows the entrance to my home. If you are familiar with architectural details you will notice a dentil molding. Dentil is a decorative trim featuring a repeating row of small, tooth-shaped rectangular blocks separated by open spaces. Here is a closer look at the dentil molding…
I made that dentil molding very easily using my radial arm saw. There is no easier way to make it. Here is another dentil molding in my kitchen, also made with my radial arm saw…
The radial arm saw is now a relic of the past. It has been replaced by various iterations of the motorized “chop saw” which, is lighter and takes up less space. The chop saw (which started showing up in the early 1980s) also replaced the backsaw and miter box for interior trim cuts. When I started working in the building trades, we used the backsaw. I don’t miss that!
Someday, I would like to have another wood shop. If it happens, I will waste no time getting another radial arm saw… if they haven’t all been dumped off at the local scrap yard.
Do you (or did you) have a radial arm saw?
I have one that an Uncle gave me. I use it mainly for crosscutting. I did buy a compound cross-cut Miter saw when I was remodeling the house in town, and I use that a lot in the summer when I can wheel it to where I am working. I recently built some boot extensions for the wife's Lovesac Couch where I needed to make about 150 45 degree cuts on 2x4 material. For that, I ended up using some specialized cross cut sleds for the tablesaw.
ReplyDeleteI have two radial arm saws and wouldn’t be without them. One of them is a rare 12 inch Delta with a 5/8 arbor which allows me to use either 10 or 12 inch blades. I love it. Chop saws have a place in terms of being portable, but they are really a toy compared to a radial arm. I can use my delta for twenty minutes of nonstop heavy cutting and the motor is just a little warm.
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