Attempting to quiet a screaming RAS

[@JayBates]

It's the blades. I had a set of three DeWalt contractor blades that all did the exact same thing on my PorterCable table saw. Different blade, no whine.

[@ttfweb1]

A couple of ideas... I think you are getting some really high frequency vibration in the shroud / air flow combination. I would start by clamping a heavy weight (a couple of pounds to the shroud), even a big C-clamp might work. This will give your shroud a very different vibration profile. If you still get the noise, I would assume you have a zone where air is going turbulent and creating noise. I would then try blowing compressed air into the shroud (stay safe!) to see if you can disrupt the flow. Another way to change the air would be to hook up a vacuum to the dust collector port. FYI: I hooked up a dust collector to my table saw, blocked almost all the air flow, and I get a load whistle sound when the blade is on. I'm assuming turbulence at the throat plate. I don't mind, as it sucks the dust down from the blade. I also get this with my jointer that I did the same thing to. Another idea - if it will fit, would be to run a strip weather stripping tape around the inside of shroud. The soft structure should cause some dampening of the energy. Good luck.

[@JefferyHarrold]

What I would take a guess at is it isn't the wind making a noise but rather the shroud is amplifying an otherwise impossible to hear noise that is drowned out by the spinning blade and motor when the shroud is off. You need to put some sort of thin layer of foam inside the shroud to break up the sound waves and when I say thin I mean 1-1.5mm (about 1/16th of an inch) should do it. Or as a test before you commit to something more permanent try peeling/cutting some cardboard in half and use the edge that has the most ribbed bits left on.

[@BigDaddyOworkshop]

those earplugs stuck about 1/2" into the shroud for the reason you suggest and it didn't help.

[@nicholassmerk]

Check for end play and up and down play in the bearings. Nothing in that shroud should whistle. The shroud will affect which way the shaft moves/vibrates. I have a video showing the bearings in a Craftsman RAS. I definitely heard a rumble. rumble, rumble when you turned it on. I believe mine made a similar noise before I changed the bearings.

[@BigDaddyOworkshop]

Nicholas Smerk The bearings are new. the rumble you heard was the motor stepping up in speed.

[@nicholassmerk]

Even new bearings can be bad, especially if installed incorrectly. I really don't think it has anything to do with the shroud, other than that it exerts pressure on the blade. I really don't think it should rumble at all, unless that's just the magnetic brake.

[@jimrumsey8077]

I don't think you will be able to get rid of the noise I would say it is the blade spinning inside the shroud just make sure the blade you have is a negative tooth angle

[@harryshort5458]

Try a set of blade stiffeners ,I have a craftsman and it helped a great deal in reducing the whine which I understand to be caused by the teeth of the blade slicing the air and the stiffeners help in keeping them aligned thus cutting the noise

[@BigDaddyOworkshop]

Harry Short one of the 3 blades I have been trying is some old thin kerf with a thicker body "built in stiffener" and it still whistles. I stopped using that because I could only cut 1 1/2" material without binding on that stiffener.

[@edwaggonersr.7446]

I would recommend the Freud LU83 series of blades for RASs. Are you sure the noise isn't caused by bad bearings?

[@rm42749]

Change the blade!

[@rm42749]

Take the ear plugs out and put them in your ears. LOL

[@BigDaddyOworkshop]

bob Last I have a set of re-usable ear plugs hanging from the side of the RAS just because of the whistle.

[@seafax]

swap the blade out?

[@BigDaddyOworkshop]

seafax I had tried 3 different blades and they all whistled. BUT since you posted, I figured I'd take the Forest out of my tablesaw and try that. no whistle. The other 3 blades are all 60 Tooth and the Forest is 40 tooth. not sure if that is the reason? Also, the 3 I have been trying are all 0 or negative rake tooth as those are what you are supposed to use on a RAS. hmm....

[@seafax]

Michael Olson It seems to be a harmonic of the tooth count doesn't it. If so, installing a blade with an odd number of teeth such as 57 should fix it if you can find one.

[@mcneile3]

Does it make a noise without the ABS elbow attached? I saw a similar video where on a DC there was a noise and the fella heated the plastic to change the air flow. Check it out here: tinyurl.com/kkslj3v

[@mcneile3]

mcneile3 The noise starts at about the 3 min mark.

[@BigDaddyOworkshop]

mcneile3 Yep, It makes the noise without the elbow.