The TRUTH about radial arm saws

I need to set the record straight about what I think of radial arm saws.
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[@StumpyNubs]

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[@karlchristoffer1275]

I got a box of Fisch Forstner Bits last year, they are my precious drillingtools anytime for drilling holes!

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

Stumpy that jack of all trades line Is great but partner theres more to it Jack of all trades but master of none is still better than a master of one

[@icantcook9998]

If I need a second opinion I like this channel because I feel that it is unbiased common sense logic end informative

[@MsRmaclaren]

I've been a Carpenter, Maker, furniture restorer, custom furniture maker my entire life (I'm 68). I've owned dozens of saws. My radial arm saw is my goto for wide cross cutting and breaking down of materials (and that is all I use it for) and I use it daily. When I'm tired and or distracted I do not work in my shop. One instant of inattention would result in catastrophe. Respect your tools. Respect yourself and THINK before using any tool whether a hammer or an impact driver. Edit: I have experienced climb over and it scared the hell out of me.

[@TracksWithDax]

James, I gotta say, your ability to get thru these videos with almost 0 mistakes and no cuts is impressive

[@JamesPotts]

He makes numerous cuts in a lot of videos. 😁

[@JamesVanderVeen]

If your editing software can cut your video, it can cut you. Better to be careful!

[@240WoodShop]

I stumbled upon this channel about 2 years ago and I've never missed a video since. I appreciate the straight-forward facts and no BS in between. Keep up the great work!

[@malcolmperkins5941]

I started using a radial arm saw in my basement a little over 50 years ago, learning one step at a time. Over the years, the saw enabled me to do many projects - some more 'risky' than others. Today the radial arm saw sits on a shelf, but it's still a very serviceable tool. Today, I love my Dewalt table saw, miter saw and a small shop full of other tools that, like you, I consider safer and more suited to the weekend projects I do, still just an amateur wood worker. Love your videos. Keep up the great work. Thanks! PS I still have the original 1969 manual that came with my radial arm saw and the illustrations are like the ones you showed in your video. I can't believe I actually did some of those myself and still have eight fingers and two thumbs.

[@proofofsteak3974]

So, moral of the story: learn to use the tool, don’t be one

[@luketein7965]

Well said sir

[@dancearoundtheworld5360]

*"You freakin screws"*

[@eggsngritstn]

Words to live by.

[@mikezimmermann89]

Well said! I think a shop sign with your “saying” will have to my first project when I take up sign making.

[@dejavu666wampas9]

Awesome comment

[@jump4j]

my uncle made every piece of furniture in his home with a radial arm saw mahogany was his wood of choice. it's now my prize possession sadly it's collecting dust at the moment but I hope to give it a prominent spot in a future shop some day. for me it's a versatile machine and I give it the respect it deserves. every power tool could send you to the hospital. learn to use it don't abuse it .

[@christopherhachet8204]

This is extremely sane and rational.

[@LeanSheep]

I agree! Now what is it doing on KZbin 😆

[@christophercollins868]

Yep. Which isn't allowed on the internet so this video should be banned 😂

[@christopherhachet8204]

@@christophercollins868 The more I listen to other woodworking channels on youtube, the more I like Stumpy.

[@dww77]

I agree...but I prefer the original...that one was hilarious...I loved the sense of humor AND understood the message

[@danmcgiveron6738]

Careful now! 2023 those words will get you canceled.

[@willmorrison1022]

The one place where I have found that the radial arm saw is the best tool for the job is in cutting kerfing. As an occasional guitar builder, the kerfed linings on the inside of the instrument are a fiddly bit that needs to has as thin a backing piece as possible for bending around the curves in the instrument. I've tried the band saw, and while it's functional, the kerf itself can be too thin for decent bending. The table saw can work, but it's difficult to get a consistent thickness of the backing piece. The radial arm saw is the beast for this job, you set the height from the table and can really dial in a very thin backing. The kerf is wide enough to bend around the instrument cleanly, and when doing the cut, you can use featherboards to really keep your fingers away from the blade. It seems to me the best tool for THIS job. I don't use it for much of anything else, it's more of a horizontal surface for storage until I need to do more kerfing. Then I'm glad I have it.

[@SwearingenTurnings]

Well said. I'm a huge fan of the mid-century RAS and use mine often, but each tool has its strengths and weaknesses. I don't try to use mine for everything.

[@pauloconnell7668]

As a longtime woodworker and retired OSHA officer, I couldn't agree with you more. What you have said is better than anything I have heard in my more than 80 years of experience. Keep up the good work!!

[@roger4370]

I bought my Craftsman radial arm saw in the 70's. I agree with everything you said in both videos.

[@beebob1279]

Great explanation. My father was a wood shop teacher. I inherited all of his machines. The thing I do with the radial arm saw is cross cut long rough cut lumber to length. I guess a circular saw could do the same thing, but this makes it so much easier. The spooky thing about the radial is how it wants to push to me when I make a cut. I saw dad use it to rip a board before he had his own table saw. I wasn't allowed on that side of the shop while he did the cut. Shortly after he bought a table saw from a buddy in town. So, I've got a radial arm saw for cross cut (that's all it's used for), a table saw for ripping and dado's, a jointer, planer, band saw, and a router table that needs to be upgraded to a better set up. The only thing he never did was put in a air filtration system or dust collection system. That might be my summer project. I'll check your channel to see if you have one in your shop And talk about hand tools. Oh my, so many. He had tools at his shop at home and his shop in the mountains. I'm not sure what to do with all the extra stuff.

[@gort5583]

To quote Marcus Aurelius, “If someone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, I shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone: the harm is to persist in one's own self-deception and ignorance.”

[@John-d7p]

A Stoic in the Classic sense, Marcus.

[@charlesgerlach7059]

I am a newbie and rebuilt a woodshop on the property, this is a radial arm saw, l cleaned it up made a new table and fence squared it up.. new blade. I enjoyed that video and knew it was a light hearted look at it, I use the machine only for cross cutting long boards. have a mitre saw and table saw but am more comfortable just cross cutting on the radial arm saw. there was a dado blade on it i took off at first great videos. oh l am shopping for a sliding compound mitre saw. to replace the RAS and the 14in old Mitre saw.

[@mhudzinski1]

I was trained on a radial arm saw and learned to use a table saw from reading books. I own both and as you say they are perfect for what they are meant to do. and a healthy respect for their limitations is very important. Thank you as always for your reasoned approach to woodworking.

[@jefffixesit60]

I'm right there with you on the grief you get when sharing sanity or assessing risk/reward with passionate people. I like your calm approach to addressing these complaints, as you approach all your projects. Thanks for the tips, you've made me much more safety conscious, and my work is better to boot. Thanks for doing these things for the community

[@edwardlee1150]

I very much appreciate your sane and generous way of dealing with subjects, especially controversial ones. As a retired shop foreman, I kept our radial arm saw under cover until there was a decided advantage in using it versus our other saws. It was a useful saw, but with more than a dozen shop workers, I was not comfortable with casual access to the tool. I have seen it climb stock, and it’ll make you think about what could’ve happened.

[@johnfix1]

I really enjoyed this episode. I worked for Black & Decker in 1968 and sold the Dewalt saw. I used to demonstrate it at trade shows and fell in love with it. I built my house using it in 1974. I loaned it out in 2010 and it's a long story but never got it back. All your comments are spot on.

[@danieljohnson3328]

Don't worry about all the negative comments Stumpy! That's all some people do is search KZbin so they can put negative comments. You have a great channel and always very informative.

[@beebob1279]

I'll give a negative comment where a negative comment is due. But when a video is a good video (and Stumpy's are good) I like to contribute my experiences or give a positive comment.

[@stanleylosh1899]

Even a negative comment is a comment and counts as one.

[@emm_arr]

I heard you in the frst video, but on safety, I'd say your videos are about the best I've seen. I treat my new table saw with respect - and have watched your kickback video zeveral times.

[@tummytub1161]

Hi everyone, got some safety tips for the radial arm saw. (1) Fingersaving tip, always use both hands to operate the machine, do not hold the workpiece down with your hands, but use some kind of (quick) clamping system if you have to hold the piece down. (2) Don't pull the saw all the way through your workpiece, but just cut it barely, so the teeth on the back of the saw blade never pass the end of your workpiece. This prevents jumping and makes a more accurate and clean cut. (3) Make sure the saw blade is never exposed past your fence or has a lower blade guard that covers the entire blade. If you haven't got this attach a piece of (ply-)wood on top of the fence that is covering the gap between the fence and the upper blade guard with a bit of clearance smaller or at least half the thickness of you little finger. This is to prevent accidentally touching the spinning blade while measuring or being close to the blade with your hands. (4) When cutting pieces with the blade hanging above the table ( for example when cutting tennons) make a pushing cut, this is sometimes a bit cumbersome but prevents climbing. ! BEWARE ! Don't make the cut to fast, just let the machine do it's job. (5) Don't chop but cut, let the saw work it's way through the material, the cut will be cleaner and will prevent climbing. (6) If something goes wrong, get out of the way and when safe unplug or turn of the machine. The machine and your workpiece are expendeble, your body parts not. (7) Take the time to get to know your machine(s), feel comfortable while working with them and keep them maintained and clean. (8) While maintaining your machines make sure the power is off and for extra safety unplug it! (9) Don't do stupid things! (10) Just don't! I work a lot with interns, students and volunteers. For a foundation in the Netherlands, so safety is really important to me. If I find the time to start my own tips and tricks KZbin channel. I would love to explain and show you all how and why. When the time comes I'll post a link in this comment, enjoy your work and stay safe 😉

[@someonespadre]

We were building a big plywood equipment box, one of the guys uses my 12” slider which I treat very carefully. He pulled down hard and fast then let go, I hate that. It’s a saw, not an axe.

[@wolfsegovia]

Great comment. You should definitively make a quick video showing your setup and all these great tips! I got a radial arm saw today from some older gentleman. I got it all cleaned and lubricated, since it was hard to move. It was made in 1976, so it probably sat in a garage for many years... I have to make a table for it, any suggestions?

[@someonespadre]

@@wolfsegovia solid core door blank

[@guybaehr8124]

On point #3, why would anyone be measuring or have their hand anywhere near a spinning blade in the first place? Set up the cut first, get everything into position, with the saw off. Then turn on the motor and make your cut with your hands well away from the blade and your body out of the line of fire. One reason a RAS seems safer to me is that you know where the blade it (right there in front of you with a guard between you and it) and you don't get distracted moving the wood around. I've never used a table saw because they seem much more dangerous to me, but that's just me.

[@oldkingcrow777]

@@guybaehr8124 why do people do anything foolish? I have in VERY rare cases left a machine running as I adjusted but it was more for electrical reasons and I also don't grt anywhere near said blade when making adjustments But people surprise you everyday. Simple as not thinking, I think 🤣

[@justingeneral1107]

I just my own RAS and I love. I've been watching my Father and Uncle using their for years and used them myself. I always advocate for the purchase of one. However, when it's a late night in the shop after a few beers, it's best to stick to hand sanding lol My Dad told me with all tools, "make sure you're focused, you've got a plan for how you'll move the material through the saw (or the saw through the material), and take your time before you ever light the saw up." He and my uncle have used RAS for 40-50 years with no incidents. Keep sharp blades and common sense with all tools. The other biggest thing is don't hurry or rush cuts.

[@Grumpyneanderthal]

If they didn’t listen the first time chances are not great that a change in perspective is likely.

[@StumpyNubs]

No, but it gets me on the record :)

[@mururoa7024]

Don't worry, the ones who saw the first video probably lost their fingers since then and are unable to thumb down this one. 😉

[@christophercollins868]

True. But at least it can be informative to thoes who are seeking knowledge

[@These_Old_Engines]

Why would they when he didnt?

[@billnorman4250]

An Excellent presentation. Thank you. (From a RA saw owner and daily user since 1971)

[@namAehT]

TL;DW: Radial arm saw works best when it's used as a saw. Keep to cross-cutting, ripping, and mitering. Don't put weird shit on the arbor.

[@theJonnymac]

i got a sears saw for cheap that that had all the attachments, and some of them I was like , so you want me to attach small hss cutters with screws, turn the assembly horizontal then do the cuts that remove a fair amount of material? no thanks.

[@austinpheiffer]

Oh man, i got my radial arm saw off craigslist with the original sears manual and they have SO MUCH WEIRD SHIT TO PUT ON THE ARBOR. And *then* there’s the ACCESSORY ARBOR!! Sawmill shaper moulding cutter milling machine disc grinder tap and diiiiieeee

[@someonespadre]

I saw one on Marketplace, the seller had the full set of shaper heads.

[@gordroberts53]

Hi James, seems that many of your loyal fans have already defended your earlier video on this topic so I will just say, thank you for continuing to produce the most thoughtful, accurate and varied woodworking content I have found to date. So far you have helped me understand table saw kickback, which convinced me to purchase one equipped with a riving knife, helped me design a dust control system that actually works and dozens of other useful tips that have moved my woodworking skills forward. I am forever in your debt. Cheers from BC!

[@ChingMih]

Excelent video. I´ve learn most of my safety knowledge back in the mid 80´s during the tecnical high scholl. At the metal working shop we dealed with much more powered and fast machines than the woodworking tools that I use know as an amateur wookworker. So safety was an issue, reinforced and practiced everyday. But there is one big difference: all pieces were firmily and securely holded in place. Now, it is not uncommon that I fell really unconfortable when using wood working tools. As a result, I stop and spend some more time making the operation safer.

[@zapa1pnt]

Marcio, very good thinking and if it Can be clamped, Clamp it.

[@guybaehr8124]

@@zapa1pnt You can never have too many clamps. They make a lot of work safer and more accurate, not just with power tools.

[@Walt1119]

I’ve owned a radial arm saw for 45 years and everything you’ve said here is TRUE!!!! Another great video, thanks so much for sharing w us!!

[@j2art]

In all honesty, I do not understand how anyone can misinterpret your clear, and concise explanations on your subject matter. I very much appreciate your videos for that very reason and look forward to watching them. Thank you for taking the time to make them.

[@barrykery1175]

Great video. Very informative. I've used my dependable radial arm saw for probably 40 years. I have never ever even cut or nicked a finger using it. It all comes down to common sense and knowing what you are doing. Yes, a radial arm saw can climb on what you are cutting. I have had it happen about two times in 40 years. Not a bad record. I would not trade my radial arm saw for a table saw. I put a lot of thought into getting my radial arm saw back when I purchased it. I knew I could do more of what I wanted to do with a radial arm saw. At that time it was a one tool multi purpose item. My take on this is, if you are building furniture, a table saw is the way to go. But, if you are not only building furniture but doing construction, the radial arm saw is the better choice. Try cross cutting a 2" x 16" x 20' length of lumber in half on a table saw ! Remember, I said a one tool do all. I've never made cuts were I could not see the blade all of the time nor have I ever removed the guard to make a cut. I also never use any power tool if I am not wide awake or not feeling well. It's all common sense and safety. Watch what you are doing and always be aware of where the blade is. Barry G. Kery

[@huejanus5505]

I see what you’re saying about a one tool option, but most of us have more than one tool. Cutting a large piece of lumber is usually done with a circular saw and a square, even easier than moving a 20 foot hunk of wood around. Growing up we had a table saw and my friend next door had a ra saw. Loved his saw for cross cutting but absolutely hated it for ripping. Pushing the wood through in that small space with 3 1/2” of blade exposed is just dangerous no matter how you cut it (pun intended).

[@terremolander5243]

I have had a Craftsman Radial Arm saw for over twenty-five years. I have always kept my anti-kick back paws, splitter, and blade guards installed. I generally make cross cuts and rip cuts with ease, and these cuts are very accurate. Thanks for your video.

[@tocboatman]

Don't put people off till I've sold mine! I really wanted one for years. Finally picked one up secondhand. Used it for a few months, was useful but not as life changing as I'd hoped and it did frighten me. Now been hidden untouched at the back of the workshop for over 5 years. Listed it for sale just a few days ago. Mind you, I'm in France, so hopefully there are people here who've not seen your videos and still want one!

[@lyndemar]

Yeah, I bought mine secondhand hoping to get into woodworking on the cheap, and I just never could get comfortable with it. I finally sold the RAS, but not before tripping over it for eight years.

[@3Repete]

I too grew up on radial arm saws. And I have become darn good at keeping them aligned. But I just recently bought my first table saw. It's a good contractor saw, a Powermatic, and I am really enjoying it. I still like my RAS for repeated cross cuts, but you can't beat the tablesaw for rips and quick varied cross cuts. As far as radial arm saw climbing, I heard in the 70's about keeping a straight or stiff elbow to be able to resist a climb. I do this most of the time as just an extra safety. And a zero or negative hook angle blade is an essential thing too. A really well set up radial saw can be made quite usable by being sure all the pivots and points of intersection are tight. Plus as in any saw the blade is properly aligned, sharp and a correct hook and type. I don't see a reason to make up a sled for 45 degree cuts yet, but I haven't made any picture frames, so I may find out! The RAS does a fine job on window trim and I made some rail and stile cabinet fronts on it before I got the contractor. So we will see. I'm enjoying your vids. Subbed

[@thisoldman7142]

I’m a 65 year old, radial arm saw user. Started using it in my dad’s shop as a kid, and have had one in my shop for 30 years. That being said, I wish I had a shop big enough to have a good table saw. A table saw is safer and much, much more accurate. A radial are saw must be “tuned in” weekly or on some projects daily to assure accuracy. The only advantage a radial arm saw has over a table saw is the amount of space need to operate it, period.

[@johnr9896]

You make some really good points. I’m an experienced prototype model maker. I have made some of everything. I thank you for your insight as I have seen so many people on you tube lack all sort of safe operation awareness. Many on you tube leave way more bade exposed on table saws bandsaws etc. it’s shocking and sad because the Viewer will not learn to use those tools properly. More should be said and done on KZbin to drive the idea home about safety first. Great video !

[@frankfronczak4469]

I've had a 12 inch DeWalt RAS for about 50 years, and, before that, I used a 9 inch DeWalt for at least 10 years. The saws helped me build furniture, cabinets, do major home remodeling, do roof framing, make custom moldings, bore holes and cut mortises, and a myriad of other projects and functions. While it served me well for decades, I always recognized that it had fundamental characteristics that presented some fundamental safety hazards, particularly when ripping (which led me to build my first table saw). I still have my 12 inch DeWalt, but it has been permanently relegated to use as a power source for a 24 inch drum sander. I can also still use it as a horizontal mortising machine if needed, but I can say with confidence that it will never be used as a saw again. With some ingenuity, these old radial arm saws can be repurposed for a host of other functions that can make use of the saws' inherent versatility (its greatest strength as well as its greatest weakness) while eliminating or significantly reducing its potential for serious injury. Don't think of those old DeWalts as radial arm saws - think of them as versatile power sources. Of course, the same can't be said about the Craftsman saws - those are best left on the curb to be picked up and recycled so that their material can be made into something worthwhile.

[@jamiethompson-x5n]

Good presentation! I am a cabinet maker and I grew up with a 1961 dewalt radial arm saw and it was a staple in the workshop. But it always just had its place in the shop just like every other tool in the shop. It is still n my shop but it makes great long cross cuts at 90’ with a great way to jig up for precision repeatability for the exact same cut over and over. Safety is a must in a shop with tools that just want to keep going. And if you think a radial can not climb you have not used and experienced a radial enough. You must always keep your guard up a stay in control. Thanks again Stumpy. The Scottish Craftsman out of Ohio

[@lgude]

Thanks for this explanation. I owned a Sears Radial Arm saw in the early 70s and really liked it. I think the main reason I liked it was because I could see the blade cut into the wood better than I could on a table saw which I had used in shop class in school. I fell into actually making money with it because my wife's weaving teacher kept buying looms with missing parts very cheaply and then asking me to make the parts. I never did anything where I had to take the blade guard off, but I liked it because I could always figure out a way to make it do what I wanted and then be able to see the saw doing it. That difference in visibility may be a key factor for those that like them today. It was a fun challenge and I learned a lot and lost no fingers. I gave it away when I moved to Australia in 1976, and have a sliding chop saw but have never seen a radial arm saw here. I always believed radial arm saws would be less precise than a table saw and wondered if that was a reason they seemed to fall out of favor. I never had the blade climb, but I recall I came to appreciate and always set the anti kickback pawls carefully. Given the choice I probably would still prefer the radial arm saw simply because I like and know how to use them. Truth be told, I now do most cuts with a circular saw and some kind of guide - and am therefore considering a track saw.

[@kennethsouthard6042]

To me you have to look why they went into favor vs. falling out of favor. They were in favor due to the fact that most men had the ability to craft and use tools back then, but were limited by space in either a garage or a basement workroom and since an RAS went up against the wall and did not have to move it fit the bill. Sears more than anyone else jumped into this niche. However, as subsequent the generations of men who craft with bench power tools has dwindled and since the advent of sliding miter saws and portable table saws have become more prevalent, the RAS became obsolete.

[@coreygrua3271]

Three generations of experience make a James Hamilton recommendation truly worthwhile to me. He’s always thinking about the tools and materials I love. No weekend wood worker this. I’ve enjoyed his videos for several years now and find his opinions to be spot on, over and over. JH is a treasure for wood workers.

[@MrCantabrigian]

I love your comment about growing up around your grandfather's radial arm saw and connecting with woodworking. I had the same experience!

[@pittschapelfarm2844]

I always set my wood up safely in front of the radial arm saw then leave the room and turn it on remotely.. I've never cut anything, but haven't been hurt.

[@joemassanova7184]

It give me the chills when I look at those pictures in the manual. You don’t have to apologize, maybe others have to learn to listen.

[@scotttovey]

"Don't demand more from a tool than it can safely do." Don't work for an employer that demands that you wear a tie while using a dangerous power tool.

[@coalbuster]

When I had wood shop as a kid, The teacher always wore a tie in the shop and we wore button down shirts. We relied on our shop aprons for safety. If you showed up to school in a T-shirt, you'd be spending the day in the principal's office.

[@cuebj]

@@coalbuster I remember those days. It wasn't necessarily bad, though I chafed at it, as did most of us. Dressing smart by modern standards was also tied to taking care, working methodically, and being self-disciplined across the board - both metaphorically, about life in general, and literally, about cutting boards with machinery. Tying long hair to avoid scalping, no loose clothing, neat workbench, tidy workshop or site - all fell out of fashion (mea culpa). Perhaps greater safety levels of the machinery tempts us to be sloppy in our use if it? Not just woodwork. Similar in offices with badly written and laid out letters and data sheets as the old typing pools got replaced by word processing. Result - junk communications about serious cases of child protection and abuse investigations by social services with lethal consequences.

[@darrellhebert1725]

Why are some folks so sensitive. I do realize that you have the best interest of the viewers in mind with your videos. Many years ago my father gave me a Craftsman Radial Arm Saw. After making a few cuts I returned the saw to him. My father was a highly skilled carpenter. He taught me how to safely use a table saw and circular saw. Every time I use my table saw or circular I think of my father and the safe practices he taught me. I just wanted to let you know that I do really enjoy your channel. I especially like how you always through in some safety tips for the tool you are using. Keep up the good work. Darrell Hebert (A-Bear).

[@kubtastic]

My RAS is displayed at my garage door as a theft deterrent. Passers-by will think my shop equipment is old and useless.

[@hudsonpereira2657]

This is hilarious lol

[@brucesannino6181]

Good video. I had a Sears RAS in the mid70's. I had ripped some barnside oak to build kitchen cabinets and counters and was mitering some long edges. I just ignored the anti kickback pawls. The saw kicked back a one inch on the side triangle of oak that passed most of the way through my left hand. I had a little farm in Capon Bridge West, Virginia at the time. The nearest hospital was in Winchester, Virginia. No permanent damage but the scar is still visible in my palm. You are absolutely right in every detail of your video. If I may add most of the RAS in your video are very old Dewalt machines. They are very different tools than the Sears saws many of us have used. The Sears tools are capable of some accurate work but are extremely fussy. They can't hold their settings, you have to readjust for square to the table and square to the fence just about every tenth cut. And a radial is not the best, not even an acceptable choice for rip cutting. A client gave me an old Sears saw. I took the motor and mounting bracket off and threw the rest away. That very powerful 3,500 RPM motor and its now very solid bracket is now my bench mounted disk sander. I have a ten year old Harbour Freight 12" sliding compound miter saw that serves quite well. If a radial was the only saw I had I'd use it until I could find a table saw.

[@robw2379]

Well, I like my RAS primarily because it will crosscut up to about 20", and when used for partial depth cuts, it is extremely rigid and consistent. Putting a thin-kerf negative-hook blade on it has made it WAY safer in terms of its tendency to grab and climb. In the course of tuning up my saw, I have used some RAS enthusiast web sites for reference. Some are quite dogmatic that: 1) The RAS is the most perfect, safest tool ever, and can be used for anything, and 2) a negative hook blade is not necessary and some argue less safe than a regular blade. The denial of basic logic on these web sites is jarring. There is nothing in your video that I disagree with in the least, although I am sure that you will very quickly get flamed for suggesting negative hook blades from members of the church of radialarmology.

[@roscoejones4515]

We're probably thinking of the same guy, 'Big Tuna', or something like that, he's absolutely positive that the RA is safer and better than a table saw, and eliminates all comments that might support a different view. Scary.

[@zapa1pnt]

Always be careful, about those who appear to get angry, when countering someone else's opinion. But always cut the YTer some slack, when addressing a bunch of negative BS.

[@Aubreykun]

I never even considered how a RAS would break down plywood til Stumpy's video. It makes sense that someone who never uses sheet goods would see it as a "perfect tool" since he wouldn't need half of the tablesaw's intended uses

[@chrisbentham2729]

I acquired an old De Walt radial arm saw that needs renovation. This is not a particulary difficult job, but your very informative video regarding the use of more suitable alternatives has convinced me to scrap it.

[@johntaylor1947]

The reason I sold my radial arm saw was it required a lot of space for the in and out feed tables. Miter / chop saws have made them obsolete.

[@davecooper5751]

Exactly, they where the way to go in the pre-sliding miter saw days but now why bother. It not 1965 anymore.

[@g.fortin3228]

I agree for the most part.. but I do use my RAS for shallow-dado's in softer wood such as Poplar, when making a book case or shelf unit that will be painted. I dont get my hand near it, use a clamp to hold the wood. Mine does have the full blade guard as provided by the recall kit. That kit is very good. If it were not for that I would get rid of it. I use an Incra 1000 for miters on the table saw. My RAS is basically there for crosscuts and dado use. Saves my from swapping to dado stack back and forth on the TS.

[@stansova3138]

How so, I have my radial arm saw, and two chop saws, one for mitering and one that will cut wood up to 10 inches, but my radial arm saw can cut up to 26 inches in an outbound swing, never used it for that, but may here in the next couple days. Had a cheap table saw made by the Big "R" company. Want to see a dangerous saw, get one of them there cheap ones. Can't cut a straight line, throws wood at you no matter what you do, and when it does cut a straight line it is 1/8 inch off or slanted only good cut I got on that table saw was when I used my sawz all to cut that piece of junk up. Got straighter cuts by my home made circ table saw, at least on that one I get accurate straight cuts 99% of the time, only thing missing is dado cuts on my circ table, but then again I still got my radial arm saw for that.

[@weslaws74]

I teach building construction at a juvenile correctional facility and I have been a Project Manager, a General Contractor and a Journeyman Carpenter in the Union! Needless to say have used different types of saws and tools over the years. I agree with your comments! Radial Arm Saws are very versatile but are very dangerous!!!! I would say that the Radial Arm Saw is “The Great White Shark” of wood working tools and you must be extremely careful when using this tool! I own one and am very fond of it and I love it and respect the tool! I have an old Craftsman Contractors Saw that I love and don’t use it as much any more but I love that saw! A lot of memories and I respect the tool! You should respect your tools otherwise you’ll get hurt or killed! Keep up the good work!

[@2shoestoo]

Maybe more caution stickers would help. Takes hours to get them off.

[@manualdidact]

I remember my middle school shop teacher (mid 1980s) and his advice about climb. He instructed us to move the blade carriage back with a straight arm, so if the blade did suddenly climb and lurch toward you, it would be more likely to throw you back away from the saw, rather than running into you. Whether or not this was good advice, it was clear that he was aware of the danger. He definitely fit the stereotype of a shop teacher who'd "seen a few things".

[@marclucas5100]

I haven't seen an ad for a radial arm saw in any tool catalog in years, maybe decades. I get a lot of tool catalogs.

[@AHustleIsLikeASideOfFries]

^This^ is very astute. Probably other tools are doing the same job cheaper and more conveniently.

[@Aubreykun]

@@AHustleIsLikeASideOfFries RAS don't handle sheet goods well, but people who use near-exclusively solid wood tend to be working with more precision than a cheap tool can provide.

[@nafitron]

Just setting up a saw given to me from a family member. Haven't used one before, so I'm grateful for your words of wisdom! Thank you!

[@cbarnettcti123]

I just want to add to the many commenters who have said you should not be troubled by negative comments from people who have not watched the video. Your presentations are logical, well-thought out, and well-organized. Despite that, people will hear what they want to.

[@patrickweckermann9121]

I'M SPEAKING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE YOU INSULTED MY FAVORITE TOOL AND I CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SAYING.

[@hectorlara1717]

hahaha!!!!! Radial Arm Saws SUCK!!!!!!

[@stansova3138]

@@hectorlara1717 I have been using one since 1970, have suffered more pain trying to use a table saw, my only suggestion is that if it is cheap watch out for flying wood. Just got done calibrating my RAS, now I can once again just set the pointers on the length in inches I want to cut and it gets done, today I cut a 26 x 19 inch top on a radial arm saw and it was straight just like my Circular saw table saw with Harbor Freight 4 foot clamp fence. Where is my table saw, sitting in pieces out at the dump, going to build a John Heinz table with the old table saw motor and electric parts.

[@MarriedManWoodworking]

I remember only making one project with a radial arm saw in school. In 7th grade shop class we made fish shaped bookends. We used a radial arm saw and the band saw to cut the boards followed by glue and nails for assembly. A propane torch lightly burnt the grain and some brushed on poly to finish it up. Simple yet memorable. I remember on the written test a question asking which machine in our shop is the most dangerous. My answer was something like "whichever machine I am using if I do not focus on safety". I received partial credit for that answer but he was looking for "Radial Arm Saw". I guess that I should have focused more when he was teaching.

[@alexllc2958]

I grow up around radial arm saw and I feel more safe using them than table saw ! It is the skill you inherit …

[@jeremyo3072]

Love your videos James! I love my old DeWalt RAS’s too! YOU are the softest, most easiest damaged thing in your shop! Use ALL tools accordingly! Be safe and make stuff!

[@dinosworkinonit3563]

My father was a cabinet maker and I learned from him. He had an RAS to crosscut and dado cuts on wide plywood. That's all he ever used it for. I still have it, and use it for those same cuts.

[@JP-up3ok]

Just swapping out to a negative rake blade made all the difference for a controlled cut. Thank you for explaining that is the proper blade for it.

[@majorfrost8206]

I think you comments are rational and fair. I've been using my father's Rockwell for almost 60 years. I finally got a table saw about 30 years ago because ripping on a RA always scared the hell out of me. I have the RA perfectly set up for cross cuts and that's all I use it for, just as I only use the table saw for ripping or squaring large panels. (and I've been hurt several times on the table saw but never the RA). I can see why mitre saws have replaced RAs but I can do much more accurate cuts on my old Rockwell and I wouldn't be without it.

[@CaptK-py8rq]

Nice video Stumpy! I've had and used radial arms since the 60's, not much now, mostly for dadoing, I've had it climb towards me, kick back and literally shoot the section of fence it just snapped off along with the shredded wood I was cutting, kicking back though my shop wall (drywall, insulation,1/2" OSB sheathing and siding) putting a nice sized hole through all of it. I have pretty much everything, 3 shapers, 2 radial arm saws, 3 table saws, 3 drill presses, 8 -10 chop saws, 20+ routers (all with different cutters) 2 band saws, 30+ drills, 2 thickness planers, an 8" jointer, blah, blah. My point is, I've been woodworking for close to sixty years, sure I've had some pretty violent kickbacks on pretty much every tool except the band saws and scroll saws, but I still have all my fingers, eyes, etcetera...(lots and lots of scars though). I ALWAYS anticipate a kickback every time I do anything, and if/when it happens, I'm somewhat ready for it. I never put my body parts in line with anything that could in anyway possibly go south in the blink of an eye, just plain common sense, and never, ever do anything where your hand could be pulled into harms way, always use a screw clamp, push block...take the time to plan things out, if you don't you'll wish you did the rest of your life! In case anyone's curious, the shop is 40x60, packed full of a lifetime's collection of cool tools I told my wife I just had to have to make something for her. You think a radial arm saw is scary, run a 3 hp shaper swinging a 5" raised panel cutter...now that's some scary shit! Okay, I'll get off my little walnut and maple soapbox with hand cut dovetails ...🤓 Have fun woodworking, but always be alert, use common sense, and if you're tired, turn everything off and get some sleep! 😔

[@jerryloper3688]

I am now 74. I did a lot of wood carpentry in my younger days and am now just getting back into it. I love my Craftsman radial arm saw, and yes, I have had it to climb onto the top of the board I was cutting, mostly when sawing 2x's. I didn't have a miter saw back then, but now I do, and I used my radial to cut angles, and crosscutting.

[@denniscrumbley8274]

I grew up with one too, my dad had a DeWalt radial arm saw in the 60's and 70's. We lost it to a hurricane in FL. I'm with you, I have nothing against them really but I have so many other tools that are more convenient and can do more that I never use the radial arm saw.

[@12string]

Great work on your video and all you talked about is so true. As a career woodworker I totally avoid a RAS. It is the last tool that we all wanted to use in the whole shop and the only tool that will actually come toward your hands at light speed. Just retire it and get a 12" miter saw that you can pull forward on rails for wider cuts. The table saw is way more versatile and you should remember to hook your fingers on the fence as you push items through so it never gets pulled in toward the blade or use a push stick.

[@erictheviking672]

Another thoughtful video. I must be different from many of the comments you mention in that not only did I watch both videos from start to finish but I also listened to what you said. Consequently I have no beef with your thoughts, rather I am glad to listen in the hope that following sound safety advice will help keep me out of harm's way. Also, my favourite tools are not the same as my wife/ kids so I won't take it as a huge insult if someone says they aren't the best! Cheers James.

[@neilpountney9414]

No video that focuses on safety should be critiqued based on equipment used. We can all have safer practices both experienced and inexperienced. Hospital waiting rooms are all the proof you need. Woodworking can be very dangerous and the more knowledge and practice we have putting that knowledge to use is a very good thing in my view. Thank you James.

[@Chef_PC]

“But my dad taught me to use a radial arm saw when I was 9!” This same dad had a board kickback and would have likely killed him if it weren’t for his big belt buckle he was wearing when it fired that board right at his waist. The buckle looked like it was shot with a gun.

[@DasShaten]

Actually I did learn from my mother at 9 or 10. The 70s were a good time, and safety was always taught. Always ask your self where can the blade go and make sure your never there....

[@tomt9543]

I bought a Sears Craftsman RAS in 1980, and had several close calls with it, until one day I needed to rip a board in half. As the manual showed, I turned the motor/blade sideways, turned it on and proceeded to ripping the board. A little past the halfway point of the 8’ 2x something, the saw grabbed, the arm raised up, and in a split second that board shot out of that saw and pierced the garage door, shattering a couple of the window panes in the process! I never turned that saw on again, and ultimately wound up giving it away! I know of several people recently who have had some pretty ugly injuries from improper use of sliding miter saws also!

[@BigRaku]

I also grew up with a RAS as a key shop tool and subsequently held on to my bias that it was a necessary component of a "complete" shop. In recent years however, it's become clear that there are much safer and more effective ways to accomplish the tasks that traditionally justified its large footprint. I credit a healthy respect for cutting tools for still having all my parts (and negligible scars) after 50 years of woodworking. Sometimes, healthy respect means knowing when it's time for a tool to exit.

[@blacknorce]

Don't let the fan boys and haters change your mind on these types of videos. There is a reason you don't see these for sale in any store across the country. Both of these radial arm videos were done very well and thought out. Keep up the great work

[@no1beatsj]

Having seen both videos - I see and hear nothing but sense and safety

[@TheHarrUTube]

Stumpy, your videos are well organized and clearly explained. I enjoy your videos, please include more live action woodworking demonstrations.

[@eyvonnethompson1877]

I appreciate ur thorough opinions on both the negative and the positives of this saw.

[@davidclink2032]

Well done. Have a Craftsman from 1980 and got the CPSC free upgrade. Best feature is space saving. Put against a wall and build in- out feed tables and it is great for more stable rips and cross cuts. Table saw consumes a lot of floor space so small shops in past liked them. I have a job site table saw and use it most. Never sawed sheet goods with either, that's what track saws are for. I was able to make a rare 58 degree cut. Chop saws like added to RAS demise. Dave

[@WallyFuller]

I used my dad's Shop Smith radial arm saw growing up. We couldn't afford to buy a table saw. So we used that saw for everything. The wobbler dado set from Sears scared the crap out of me. I think I was lucky to come out of it with all my fingers intact. I agree with everything you said.

[@duallity2403]

I've been a hobbyist woodworker for about 15 years and my neighbor just gave me an old Craftsmen radial arm saw. I'm looking forward to learning how to use it and seeing what it is SAFELY capable of. I'm hoping it will replace the HUGE Ridgid miter saw that I bought without doing my research.

[@bengtkorswing5279]

Thank you for explaining the safety needs on using a radial arm saw. Take care and God bless.

[@mururoa7024]

It's called a radial arm saw because it's good at sawing arms in a radial way. 😉

[@danbgt]

My dad was a commercial glass glazer. He spent hundreds of hours cutting 2x4 hollow aluminum tubing with a big out radial arm saw. It always scared the crap of of me! I spent several summers in my early life working in jobs with him. I did not follow in his footsteps but because of being around him, I have a nice hobby shop in my garage where I “tinker”. But I do not have a radial arm saw. But the saw does occupy a memorable spot in my heart.

[@steveholman5978]

Owning a radial arm saw is the incentive needed to buy a table saw.

[@mikedillon9417]

I still have the radial arm saw that I started with although I don't have is set up anymore. I do have a couple stories about radial arm saws. A friend of my father owned a commercial stair company. He was making a cross cut when his industrial radial saw caught. The head pull from his hand and was propelled on the track. It took his arm off at the forearm. Another story, I worked a company that built radial arm saw for a national retailer. One day when I came down to one of the shops, there was an engineer and a lawyer down there with a radial arm saw and a number of mannequin arms. They wouldn't say what they were investigating but could imagine.

[@tomblanar2592]

I couldn't agree with you more. When I first started in woodworking as a teenager (in the 70's) I didn't have a lot of money for saws so I bought a Sears radial arm saw. My logic was this tool can do cross cuts, rips, bevels, dados, and more....at least according to the advertising & manuals. I built a few pieces of furniture with it but felt it was not the Swiss Army knife of saws that I had envisioned. The day I shot a board across the basement into the wall was the last time I tried anything other than a crosscut. As I was able I bought other shop tools that are purpose built for the operation and much safer. After I got a miter saw the radial saw just became a junk collector surface for the next 30 years and I finally sold the "like new" saw just to recover the space. Having a radial around for basic cross cutting, miter and bevel work might be Ok but the newer miter saws are much safer to use and (in my opinion) tend to be more accurate. I'm 67 now and fortunately still have all my fingers which I attribute to my early lessons in how dangerous any machine can be. Study best practice and don't proceed if it doesn't feel right. Great work Stumpy!

[@kurtlanford1448]

Thanks for all you do sir! Education requires listening thinking,and not talking!

[@TheOtherGuybo]

Totally agree. I have a RAS and now use it only for cross cuts. It was so fiddly to set up it just isn't worth moving it. But now when I do, it makes reliable 90deg cuts every time. And until I got a negative rake blade, I too had many instances of unwanted climbing cuts. Even now I have to pay attention. Thanks for all your work.

[@ET-cj8jo]

I was given an old radial arm saw and after some maintenance used it for cross cutting until I bought a mitre saw. Now I use both but the RAS just for rough cross cutting. I could see that using the RAS for ripping was a bad idea so never did as I thought it safer to set up a long ripping cut outside using a hand power saw on a sledge (my shed is not really so big so I use outside a lot). I later inherited an old table saw and have set that up with pressure fingers (top and side) and made a riving knife, for keeping the wood nicely controlled through the saw blade. I made the fingers from a plastic kitchen cutting board, works rather well. The RAS also came with a dado guard and set of cutters, but they look so dangerous to use I have never done so. I can't imagine using the machine for routing, and besides I have now made a router table with dedicated router. I realise that the RAS was originally marketed as an all-in-one, but quite honestly as Stumpy Nubs has stated, they are really not designed for many of the jobs suggested. I plan to make a better guard for it, but so far in 20 years I have not had any kickback using a variety of soft and hardwood.

[@BlisterBang]

About thirty years ago I bought my first radial arm saw and a stack-dado kit to make a headboard with shelves. This was not at all my first woodworking project, but the first to use an RA saw. Thinking it was safer, since it couldn't kick back at me and that's the direction it goes when a board is up against the fence, I started feeding a 1" into it with the dado parallel to the fence. The dado sucked it right out of my grip, crawled up onto the board and shot it across the garage, through one inner wall and embedded it in the outer wall. Once I got done shaking, I retrieved the board. You could tell by the increasing distance between teeth how the saw had accelerated the board. I bought a table saw.

[@armorguy1108]

Great response, sir. I think the key here is, as you said, "don't ask more of your tools than you should". I used to own a radial arm saw and it was great. In my current shop I just don't have the space and prefer to use my table saw and miter saw to get done what I need. I hope the Radial Arm Saw Mafia can realize that we all want to be safe, keep our fingers, and just make stuff and avoid the nastiness I saw in the comments from the last video. Be safe, y'all.

[@donc9260]

As always, you provide a straight forward, thoughtful and objective discussion even in the face of criticism. Thank you and Go Wings!

[@josephsastre464]

I agree. Though I have far less experience I let go of a table saw a few years ago because I was being given a RAS and thought the RAS was going to replace my table saw. It didn’t. And soon enough I got a table saw again and now the RAS is dedicated to just one or two very specific tasks and the table saw is my workhorse.

[@JD-8-1971]

My wife found an old Black and Decker Dewalt radial arm saw at a yard sale and bought it for me for Father's Day. I thought I really don't have the room for it. I have a sliding compound miter saw. I also thought how much work does this old saw need. The saw is like new I believe the blade is the one that came with it. I have wanted one to do crosscuts, plus cut dados and lap joints on 2x framing lumber. I cleaned the saw went through and checked everything. Replaced the blade with a negative hook blade. One thing I quickly found out is I didn't like sticking my face down that close to the direction of travel to line the blade with the line on what I was cutting. So, I started looking at lasers. I found a laser that replaces the arbor washer bought it. This laser is better than the one on my miter saw. So now I am using my radial arm saw for all my crosscuts. I am planning on making a tool bench along one wall in the future. I now plan on mounting the radial arm saw next to the compound miter now.

[@timdouglass9831]

I grew up where the RAS was the only large power tool in my dad's shop. Later he added a table saw, lathe, drill-press and others, but that RAS was the central figure in my early woodworking experience. We used it for everything, from simple crosscuts to every imaginable rip cut to serving as a drill press, router, lathe, planer and possibly even a coffee maker. We tended to be careful and approached tasks thoughtfully, but overall, there was a lot of high-risk work done with that tool. (even used one of those infamous shaper heads on it quite a bit) When Dad was working as a contractor that saw went on job sites to cut framing (chop saws were pretty rare and it was far more accurate than using a circular saw and square) then back to the shop. That meant we got good at adjusting it and kept things well maintained. Looking back I'm surprised we didn't have any accidents with it. A couple kickbacks when ripping, but not being in the line of fire meant no one got hurt. Still, when it came into my possession after he died I more or less relegated it to the "storage" side of the shop. (and truthfully I don't think he had used it much after getting more appropriate tools) I've always been amazed at how versatile a RAS is, but sometimes it's just too scary to use. Still kind of glad I had all that experience with it.

[@davidm2645]

James, I enjoyed your video. Well thought out and explained about not only the radial arm saw, but all of the woodworking power tools in general. I just acquired a 1963 DeWalt model GA radial arm saw. This saw has a 14" blade. I plan on "only" using this saw for cross cuts. I have other saws for the other cuts. This saw has a 3 hp motor and 3 phase power requirement. It's certainly a beast of a machine. Looking forward to getting it set up and using it. Thanks again for your your video.

[@jorglange2666]

Totally agree! I got rid of my radial arm saw for various reasons long ago. There are better tools now to do the job. I believe there are some industrial ones that are safe but have not seen or used one myself. I have seen missing fingers due to operator error from a radial arm saw. I have had close encounters with various tools and full attention and caution is required when operating dangerous equipment, especially for an old experienced carpenter like myself.

[@andypoe1966]

Love those comments, you nailed it, grew up with a craftsman in the 70's very difficult to keep aligned, would be set on the pull but the return would be different (off alignment] . This requires you to move both pieces if wood out of the way prior to returning blade to home position. We made many nice pieces with it, but sold it recently because I never used it, sliding mixer much better. Thank you

[@Pseudo-Geek]

I bought a Craftsman radial arm saw decades ago because of the demonstrations in the store of how incredibly versatile they were. I paid extra for professional installation and setup. The gentleman that did the setup warned me that I should never be ripping on it, and should only use it for crosscutting. Also said that if I ever used it for anything other than 90 degree crosscutting, that I needed to recalibrate it, and he taught me how to do that.

[@mrkrharris]

Love my Radial arm saw. Quick set up, and like seeing where the blade is actually touching the wood . I rip 2x's of wet pressure treated 12' with no problems. In 40 years have only had one kick back. And baby that thing took off, glad your to the side when ripping wood. Leave it to people that are safe, know the limitations of the tool, and set it for what you are doing at that time. PS. I have all my digits..

[@billdirlam744]

Soon after I got my first woodworking job in the late 1970s I was told that the most danger power tool was the radial arm saw. Just the same we used one to cut rough cut boards to length and to this day most wood-shops use a radial arm saw for this task. Those big industrial sized radial arm saws (usually with 3 phase motors) are the best for this task and I would prefer to never have to use the less robust models because they don't have enough power to cut through thick lumber and because they typically don't have a useful counterweight to control the cutting action. Using a radial arm saw for any other task is just not worth the risk. That being said the radial arm saw can be the most versatile power tool in the right hands but it is a jack of all trades, master at none. There are much better tool choices out there today.