Travis Johnson
Member
- Messages
- 2,369
Oh the Radial Arm Saw...it is a machine that has two camps behind it...those that strongly feel it is a dangerous saw and has no place in any workshop...and those that feel this is an amazing saw that they could not live without.
Myself I firmly place myself in the second camp. I have had two saws, a Craftsman 8-1/4 saw that worked, but really not that good, and now a mid-60's Dewalt. Without question though...whether or not you hate or love the saw, you must be amazed at what it can do.
No other saw I know of can saw on 5 different axis. In machinist terms, that is unheard of. A 5 axis milling machine will set you back about 4 million bucks. Of course our RAS cannot saw in 5 axis all at the same time, but it still is verstile.
In my honest opinion, I don't think the saw gets the credit it deserves. I even read an article in a woodworking magazine stating "that with the invention of the compound miter saw, there is no need for a RAS in any shop." That is blarney because this saw can cut circles (literally) around a compound miter saw, not to mention adding other devices like sanding attachments and routers.
So what are your thoughts on this woodworking machine? What camp are you in? Could you live without a RAS?
Myself I firmly place myself in the second camp. I have had two saws, a Craftsman 8-1/4 saw that worked, but really not that good, and now a mid-60's Dewalt. Without question though...whether or not you hate or love the saw, you must be amazed at what it can do.
No other saw I know of can saw on 5 different axis. In machinist terms, that is unheard of. A 5 axis milling machine will set you back about 4 million bucks. Of course our RAS cannot saw in 5 axis all at the same time, but it still is verstile.
In my honest opinion, I don't think the saw gets the credit it deserves. I even read an article in a woodworking magazine stating "that with the invention of the compound miter saw, there is no need for a RAS in any shop." That is blarney because this saw can cut circles (literally) around a compound miter saw, not to mention adding other devices like sanding attachments and routers.
So what are your thoughts on this woodworking machine? What camp are you in? Could you live without a RAS?