Radial Arm Saw Basics

The radial arm saw was first developed back in 1922 by DeWalt and it hit the market as the “DeWalt Wonder Worker.” So why is it so popular?

The radial arm saw is made up of a motor just like a circular saw and it is suspended from a long arm with a yoke. This let the saw rotate at multiple degrees. The motor connects to the overhead arm and all parts can be locked down or left to pivot. This saw gives the operator a great deal of flexibility in the cuts that can be achieved.

DeWalt was the first on the market and it continued making this saw up until 1989 when the rights were sold to the American Saw Company. Sears has been making radial saws since 1958 and Delta entered the marked back in 1948.

One of the reasons this saw remains so popular is because it is so versatile. It can rip, cross cut, and it can do rabbet cuts and miter dado. Add the right attachments and it will work as a router or shaper.

The average size for home is the 10 inch model while industry usually purchases the larger saws. There’s definitely nothing wrong with the performance of a 10 inch.

It will cut 2 inches deep at a 90 degree angle, 2 inches deep at a 45 degree bevel and on cross cuts up to 16 inches. A 16 inch saw will cut up to 29 inches on a cross cut and rip up to 41 inches in the outboard position.

It’s always a good to follow some simple safety guidelines when using the saw.
1. Wear a face shield or safety glasses
2. Always wear hearing protection that is designed for the saws frequency.
3. Keep your work area clean and non obstructive.
4. Use saw blades that are rated for your saw and for the job you are planning to do. Always refer to your manual.
5. Buy accessories that are designed for your saw. Never try to make others fit without the proper adaptor.
6. Make sure the guard is on the saw before using.
7. Always stand on the handle side when you are doing a cross cut and pull the cutting head with the hand that is closest to the handle.
8. Make sure that your hands are nowhere near the blade.
9. After each cut return the cutting head to the back of the saw. The blade should not be able to move forward on it’s own weight.
10. When you are ripping lumber make sure it is fed against the direction of the blade.
11. Do not cut free hand. Always use the back guide.
12. Never leave your table saw running unattended.

A radial arm saw is a great investment. It will allow you to easily complete those projects. Whether you choose Black & Decker, DeWalt, Ryobi, Sears or one of the many other brands you’ll be making a smart investment!