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12 Re: Info needed on old but unused radial arm saw




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This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 4, by multiple authors.

12 Re: Info needed on old but unused radial arm saw

From: pdbain@bnr-public.uucp (Peter Bain)
Date: 17 Jul 89 15:18:49 GMT

In article <572@voodoo.UUCP> tomm@voodoo.UUCP (Tom Mackey) writes:
>Back in 1980 when I had more money than sense, I purchased a Sears 12
>inch Radial Arm Saw (Model 113.23301) which I think was a 1979 model.
>I can make do with a radial arm saw, if I don't have to fight to keep
>it adjusted all the time.

Radials are usually pretty easy to keep aligned

>
>The real question is whether or not a 1979 saw was made decently. What
>pieces were hardest hit as quality came down? What should I look for
>before I make a final decision to set the thing up? And if I do keep it,
>what are your favorite or most useful attachments for the thing?

Judging from the date, it's probably a reasonably good machine.
My brother has one of the same approximate vintage and he likes it.
Things to look for are:
1. The quality of the track. The best use a solid cast arm with the
track machined in. Ryobi uses formed sheet metal (ugh!). A
reasonable compromise is a cast arm with steel rods attached to the
sides on which the rollers run. Current Sears models use formed sheet
metal bolted to a cast track, which I like less.
2. (this one is important) Open (single) or closed (double) yoke.
Delta and DeWalt use an open yoke, where the motor is attached to the
carriage at both ends of the shaft. Current Sears and Ryobi models
attach the carriage to the motor only at the blade end of the shaft.
This is cheaper and easier, but the accuracy suffers.

>
>Someone mentioned a good book on care and feeding of a radial arm saw.
>What was the title and author? Should I plan on installing the table
>top per specs, or add something to the top?

(Finally I'm "someone". what an honour :-) )
"Fine Tuning your Radial Arm Saw" by Jan Eakes, available in
bookstores or by mail-order from Lee Valley Tools, 1080 Morrison Dr.,
Ottawa, Ont. Canada, K2H 8K7, (613) 596-0350.

Get a sheet of hardwood-veneer 1/4" ply and attach it with BRASS
(_not_ steel) tacks and rubber cement. Eakes gives the gory details.




 

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