Three Choices in Radial Arm Saws

Posted on July 10, 2020 by lamrod

Radial arm saws are somewhat like a circular saw on an extended arm that can rotate in multiple degrees. A carriage assembly the length of the arm holds the motor assembly in a yoke to allow the user to pull the arm to make the cut. The arm can also be locked into a set position for cross cuts and rip cuts. They can also make accurate miter cuts, dado, and rabbet cuts. By adding attachments the radial arm saw can be used as a shaper and a router. Most commonly the 10-inch models are used non-commercially and the larger models are in the industrial fields.

Before radial arm saws were invented by Dewalt, ripping and cross cutting were done with table saws or circular saws. Since pushing a large piece of wood through a table saw for a cross cut is awkward, radial arm saws make it easier because the wood stays still while the saw moves to make the cross cut. Similarly, since the blade can be locked parallel 90-degrees to the fence, ripping long pieces is also easier, faster, and somewhat safer.

Three companies have had the leading name brands of radial arm saws for several decades.

Dewalt
The inventor of the radial arm saw, Dewalt first invented this woodworking tool in 1922. The DeWalt Products Company was formed in 1924 specifically to manufacture the DeWalt radial arm saw. Although DeWalt expanded greatly in the 1940’s and 1950’s, in 1989 Dewalt sold its radial arm saw line to the American Saw Company. If you have a Dewalt radial arm saw and need parts or service, you can contact Wolfe Machinery or Original Saw Company since they both refurbish Dewalt radial arm saws and sell replacement parts for them.

Craftsman
Craftsman is a brand name made exclusively for Sears. Wood working tools were added to their line of power tools in 1926. Several companies actual have made the tools for the brand name. You can tell which company made the tool based on the prefix of the model number on the older tools. Craftsman offers a 10-inch radial arm saw with a laser to help line the blade up with the cutting line. The motor is 3 horsepower. The Craftsman saw also has Control Cut, an special mechanism that is powered by a separate motor with a steel cable connected to the cutting head. This mechanism lets the operator control the saw’s feed rate and helps you to make accurate repetitive cuts at a consistent speed. The cutting head moves ahead at a the operators pre-determined rate and automatically goes back when the saw’s handle is released. Control Cut gets rid of surge cuts and improves precise, quality cuts. It as an automatic brake to increase safety, and it sports an accessory storage for adding accessories as you can buy them. It will cost $650.

Delta
Delta has offered a wide range of sizes in their radial arm saws for whichever type of work you may need to do since 1948. The smaller version is a 10-inch blade with a 1.5 horsepower motor. Their 12-inch model has a 2 horsepower motor. The upper mid-range sizes of 14-inch and 14-inch radial arm saws can have either a 3 or 5 horsepower motor. Their largest models of 18-inch blades can have the power of a 5 or 7.5 horsepower for the heaviest workload capacity.

Several features are crucial in radial arm saws. First, easy access to the controls is a must and they should be grouped in a logical progression. The power button should be within easy reach and big enough that you do not fumble around when turning the machine off. To prevent accidentally bumping it off, the power button should lock and have a removable key. The stops for the miter and bevels should be adjustable so that they will make precise 45- and 90-degree bevel and miter cuts. For convenience, the scales should be fairly large so that they are easy to read. In addition, the saw table should be at a comfortable height and big enough to handle the stock you will want to work with. Adjusting the fence should be easy. The motor should be large enough to handle heavy-duty work if you will be working with it regularly for a great deal of work. A 1 1/2-horsepower motor with a double spindle and 10-inch blade is usually a good choice.

The safety guard is also important. It should be clear so that you can see through it easily. As the work piece touches the guard, it should move easily out of the way, but should drop down immediately once the piece is through. The saw should also be equipped with anti-kickback fingers that are adjustable and work easily.

Radial arm normally include a carbide-tipped, 40-tooth, combination blade that is good general use blade. If you intend to do very much ripping, you will want to buy a ripping blade that has fewer teeth that are larger than a regular blade’s teeth. Blades with more and finer teeth may be needed for work that requires fine edges, such as building cabinets. If you need to make dadoes, tenons, grooves, lap joints and other wide cuts you will need a dado blade or dado set. Dado sets are made of two outside blades with chipper blades in the middle.

For your woodworking needs, a radial arm saw can make cross cuts and rip cuts much easier. Radial arm saws can also do many more types of cuts that no other one saw can accomplish as easily. Make sure you take all safety precautions and that the radial arm saw that you buy has the features that you consider most important.